The Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang is one of the strongest early weapons a Tarnished can grab, and most players never even realize how fast they can get it. This curved greatsword hits like a truck, bleeds enemies out, and looks incredible doing it.
If you are chasing raw damage without waiting fifteen hours for a late game drop, the Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang deserves a spot at the top of your list. It combines a huge blood loss buildup with a flashy dual input skill that lets you dodge, dash, and slash in one smooth motion.
So where do you actually get it? The Bloodhound's Fang Elden Ring players hunt for sits inside the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave, guarded by Bloodhound Knight Darriwil, and you can claim it before touching a single major boss.
This guide covers everything: exact location, stat requirements, scaling, the best Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang Build for both early and late game, plus mistakes that waste runs. We will also touch on why your online connection matters just as much as your build when you are fighting alongside friends or invading other worlds.
Where Do You Find The Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang?
The weapon sits inside a boss arena tucked into southern Limgrave. Consequently, most first time players walk right past it without noticing the golden mist gate.
The Forlorn Hound Evergaol Location
The Forlorn Hound Evergaol is located south of the Bridge of Sacrifice, the crossing that connects Limgrave to the Weeping Peninsula. Look for a small ruin with a glowing arena marker on your map.
To reach it, follow these steps:
- Travel to the Bridge of Sacrifice site of grace in Limgrave.
- Head south along the cliffside path until you spot the golden Evergaol shimmer.
- Approach the crystal at the center and interact to trigger the fight.
- Defeat Bloodhound Knight Darriwil to claim the weapon and his armor set.
Who Is Bloodhound Knight Darriwil?
Darriwil is a fast, aggressive knight who wields the exact sword you are trying to steal from him. He relies on sweeping slashes and a dash attack that closes distance quickly, so learning his rhythm matters more than raw stats at this stage.
Since he is an early boss, most builds can handle him with patience and a decent shield. Furthermore, using a Spirit Ash summon like the Lone Wolves makes the fight considerably easier for newer players.
Elden Ring Bloodhound's Fang Stats And Scaling
Before committing to this weapon, it helps to understand exactly what it demands and what it rewards in return. The Bloodhound's Fang Elden Ring community loves it precisely because the investment to payoff ratio is so favorable.
Attribute Requirements
The Elden Ring Bloodhound's Fang requires the following stats to wield without a penalty:
- Strength: 18 points needed for proper handling.
- Dexterity: 17 points needed for proper handling.
- Intelligence, Faith, Arcane: no requirement at all.
- Weapon type: Curved Greatsword, a hybrid class between speed and heft.
Scaling And Damage Growth
At base level, the weapon leans toward a balanced split between Strength and Dexterity. However, once you start upgrading it with Somber Smithing Stones, Dexterity scaling pulls ahead noticeably.
At +10, the Bloodhound's Fang reaches B scaling in Dexterity and C scaling in Strength. As a result, most Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang Build guides recommend prioritizing Dexterity investment past the early game.
Bloodhound Fang Build Elden Ring: Best Stat Setup
Building around this weapon means balancing survivability with the offensive stats it actually scales from. Notably, this sword rewards a hybrid approach rather than a pure one stat dump.
Recommended Attribute Spread
For a strong endgame setup, many experienced players settle around 60 Vigor, 60 Dexterity, and 40 Strength. This keeps your health pool safe for late game bosses while still pushing damage close to the practical ceiling.
Here is a general leveling path for the Elden Ring Bloodhounds Fang Build:
- Early game (levels 1-40): meet the 18 Strength and 17 Dexterity requirement, then dump extra points into Vigor.
- Mid game (levels 40-90): push Dexterity toward 40-50 while keeping Vigor above 30.
- Late game (levels 90-150): aim for roughly 60 Vigor, 60 Dexterity, and 40 Strength for a balanced quality build.
- Optional respec: consider Larval Tears once you find a stat spread you enjoy, since respeccing lets you fine tune without restarting.
Best Talismans And Skill Usage
The weapon's unique skill, Bloodhound's Finesse, is what separates it from every other greatsword. The first input unleashes an upward slash before launching you backward, and following it with a heavy attack triggers a rapid dash forward called Bloodhound's Step into another slash.
To get the most out of this Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang Build, consider these talismans:
- Radagon's Soreseal: raises multiple core attributes at once, including Dexterity.
- Claw Talisman: boosts jump attack damage, which pairs well with the sword's mobility.
- Green Turtle Talisman: improves stamina recovery so you can chain attacks longer.
- Erdtree's Favor: raises max HP, stamina, and equip load for overall survivability.
Is The Bloodhound's Fang Good For Bleed Builds?
Yes, and this is arguably the single biggest reason players farm this weapon so early. The blood loss buildup on this curved greatsword is exceptional for its stat requirements.
Blood Loss Buildup Explained
The Elden Ring Bloodhound's Fang carries a passive blood loss buildup of 55, which is high for a weapon available this early. Once the bleed proc triggers, it deals a chunk of the target's max health as instant damage, which is devastating against bosses with large health pools.
Therefore, pairing this sword with bleed boosting items multiplies its value dramatically. Rotten Winged Sword Insignia and the Lord of Blood's Exultation talisman both synergize well once you start proccing status effects regularly.
How Does It Compare To Other Early Weapons?
To put things in perspective, here is how the Bloodhound's Fang stacks up against a few other early to mid game options.
| Weapon | Str/Dex Requirement | Status Effect | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodhound's Fang | 18 Str / 17 Dex | Blood Loss (55) | Immediately, no boss required |
| Uchigatana | 12 Str / 15 Dex | Blood Loss (38) | Early, found in a chest |
| Longsword | 10 Str / 13 Dex | None | Starting area, very common |
| Nagakiba | 12 Str / 18 Dex | None | Requires a mid game boss drop |
As the table shows, the Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang offers the highest bleed buildup among early weapons while asking for reasonable stat investment.
Pro Tips: Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang
- Farm Darriwil at low level: the fight is manageable even under level 20 if you use a shield to block his combos and punish openings.
- Use Bloodhound's Step defensively: the skill's backward hop grants brief invulnerability frames, so it doubles as a panic button against grab attacks.
- Pair it with bleed talismans: stacking Lord of Blood's Exultation after a proc gives a short but powerful damage buff window.
- Upgrade before exploring further: since the weapon is available so early, funnel your first Smithing Stones into it rather than spreading them thin.
Common Mistakes Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang Players Make
- Ignoring Vigor for pure damage stats: dumping everything into Dexterity and Strength leaves you fragile against late game bosses. Fix: keep Vigor around 40-60 depending on your current game stage.
- Fighting Darriwil without a ranged option: meleeing him blind at low level often ends in repeated deaths. Fix: bring a bow or Sorcery to soften him before closing the gap.
- Never upgrading past +5: many players grab the sword and forget to invest Smithing Stones as they progress. Fix: prioritize upgrades whenever you visit a Smithing Stone vendor or Blacksmith.
- Skipping bleed synergy items: using the weapon without any blood loss boosting talismans wastes its best trait. Fix: equip Rotten Winged Sword Insignia or similar gear once available.
Why Connection Stability Matters For Your Bloodhound Fang Build
Running an aggressive, dash heavy weapon like this one demands precise inputs, especially in co-op or PvP. A laggy connection during a boss fight or invasion can turn a clean Bloodhound's Step into a wasted opening and a lost run.
This is where ExitLag comes in. ExitLag is not a VPN, it is a connection optimizer that finds the fastest, most stable route between your PC and the game's servers in real time.
For a game built around online co-op and invasions, that stability translates directly into fewer desyncs during boss fights and smoother sword swings when timing matters most. ExitLag supports 4000+ games, runs on 1500+ servers spread across 190+ countries, and is trusted by over 30 million players who rely on it for more than 18 million optimizations every week.
If your Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang Build keeps getting interrupted by rubber banding during summons or invasions, it is worth testing a smoother route. You can grab ExitLag Download and see whether a more stable connection changes how consistent your Bloodhound's Finesse combos feel online.
Final Thoughts On The Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang
The Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang remains one of the best early pickups in the entire game, and that reputation is well earned. Between its accessible stat requirements, heavy blood loss buildup, and mobile unique skill, it fits almost any early to mid game build.
Whether you are chasing a pure bleed playstyle or just want a reliable greatsword before Stormveil Castle, this weapon delivers. Grab it from the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, invest in Dexterity as you level, and the Elden Ring Bloodhound Fang will carry you through a large chunk of the Lands Between.
All game images used in this blog post belong to FromSoftware and Bandai Namco. They are used for informational and educational purposes only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation with the rights holders.
