In the challenging world of Elden Ring, where every weapon choice can define your path to victory or defeat, few armaments stand out as much as the Bloodhound’s Fang paired with its devastating Ash of War. This curved greatsword has become a fan-favorite for players who prefer a mix of agility, raw damage, and style. Its unique weapon art allows for aggressive hit-and-run tactics, making it a strong option in both PvE and PvP scenarios. While many weapons offer brute force, the Bloodhound Fang’s real charm lies in its Ash of War: Bloodhound’s Finesse, a move that blends elegance and lethality into one deadly package.
Understanding Bloodhound’s Fang
The Bloodhound Fang is a curved greatsword that scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity. It’s a weapon that offers heavy-hitting attacks with sweeping motions, perfect for players who like to stay mobile while delivering punishing blows. What sets it apart from other weapons in its class is not just its stats, but the built-in Ash of War that turns it into a precision instrument of destruction.
This weapon drops early in the game when defeating the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in Limgrave, making it one of the strongest early-game weapons available. Despite its early access, it remains viable well into the late game due to its excellent scaling and weapon skill synergy.
Weapon Stats and Requirements
The Bloodhound Fang requires:
- 18 Strength
- 17 Dexterity
Its scaling favors Dexterity slightly more than Strength, making it perfect for quality builds that invest in both stats. Fully upgraded, it delivers a combination of high base damage and excellent scaling, ensuring strong performance against even the toughest bosses.
What is Ash of War: Bloodhound’s Finesse?
Ash of War: Bloodhound’s Finesse is an exclusive skill attached to the Bloodhound Fang. This skill defines the playstyle of the weapon and gives it a unique edge in combat. When activated, the character performs a swift, spinning upward slash, then flips backward to create space between themselves and the enemy.
This move is incredibly fast and hard to predict, especially in PvP. It not only deals solid damage but also functions as an evasive maneuver. Players can use it to land a hit and immediately retreat before an enemy has time to react. It combines offense and defense in one fluid motion, rewarding timing and positioning.
Key Advantages of Bloodhound’s Finesse
- High Mobility: The backward somersault grants distance, allowing the player to disengage or set up the next strike.
- Low Recovery Time: Compared to other heavy weapon skills, Bloodhound’s Finesse has short cooldown, enabling quicker follow-ups.
- Great for Dodging: The skill can be used reactively to avoid dangerous enemy attacks while still dealing damage.
- Synergizes with Buffs: Players can enhance the effectiveness by applying temporary buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength or Blood Grease.
This makes the Ash of War a perfect fit for aggressive yet calculated playstyles, giving players control over both their positioning and momentum in battle.
Combat Strategies Using Bloodhound’s Fang
To fully capitalize on the potential of the Bloodhound Fang and its Ash of War, players should adopt an adaptive combat approach. Here are a few tips for effective use:
1. Hit and Retreat
Thanks to Bloodhound’s Finesse, players can close the gap quickly, deal a hit, and flip away to avoid counterattacks. This is particularly useful against bosses with delayed swings or area-of-effect attacks.
2. Interrupt and Reposition
The initial slash of the Ash of War can interrupt some enemy actions. The backward flip gives time to reposition or apply buffs. Use this to regain control of pacing during tough fights.
3. Combine with Fast Roll and Light Armor
While the Bloodhound Fang is a heavy weapon, it benefits greatly from a lightweight build. Equip light armor to maintain fast roll speed, maximizing the mobility provided by Bloodhound’s Finesse.
4. PvP Mind Games
In player-versus-player duels, the quick backward leap often causes opponents to whiff their attacks. Players can then punish those missed swings with charged heavy attacks or another Ash of War strike.
Scaling, Upgrades, and Buffing Options
One of the most appealing features of the Bloodhound Fang is its natural scaling. When upgraded using Somber Smithing Stones, the weapon’s Dexterity and Strength scaling improves, reaching a point where it becomes a core part of any quality build.
Although it cannot be infused with other Ashes of War, players can still apply temporary weapon buffs using items or incantations. Some of the best choices include:
- Flame, Grant Me Strength: Boosts physical attack power, enhancing the initial strike of Bloodhound’s Finesse.
- Blood Grease: Adds bleed buildup, stacking with the weapon’s innate blood loss effect for faster procs.
- Golden Vow: Increases both offense and defense, great for prolonged fights where trading blows is unavoidable.
While the weapon is powerful on its own, using it in combination with support spells and buffs can elevate its performance to another level.
Comparison to Other Curved Greatswords
Among curved greatswords, the Bloodhound Fang is often considered top-tier due to its unique skill and high base damage. Other curved greatswords may offer different Ashes of War or elemental affinities, but few match the mobility and versatility of the Bloodhound’s Finesse.
- Beastman’s Cleaver: Strong raw power but lacks mobility and built-in Ash of War utility.
- Dismounter: Versatile and can be infused, but lacks the blood loss effect and movement potential of the Fang.
- Zamor Curved Sword: Focuses more on frost buildup, requiring different stat investments and playstyle.
Overall, for players who value speed, evasion, and sustained pressure, the Bloodhound Fang remains one of the most reliable and enjoyable choices in its category.
the Ash of War Bloodhound’s Finesse
The Ash of War attached to the Bloodhound Fang is what makes the weapon shine among others in Elden Ring. Its fast, agile movement combined with strong offensive output gives players a level of control that’s rare in heavier weapons. It allows for fluid combat that feels rewarding and reactive, no matter the enemy.
Whether used in PvE boss fights or competitive PvP arenas, Bloodhound’s Finesse transforms the wielder into a relentless, elusive force. It encourages an aggressive yet intelligent approach, rewarding those who learn its timing and use the skill with precision.
As the game continues to evolve with updates and future expansions, the Bloodhound Fang and its Ash of War remain a staple for anyone seeking power without sacrificing grace. For players new and veteran alike, mastering this weapon can provide both an edge in battle and a uniquely satisfying experience.