Navigating the expansive and treacherous Lands Between in Elden Ring can be daunting. Knowing where to go and when is crucial for survival and progress. While there isn’t a strict “level map,” understanding the difficulty of each region and equipping yourself appropriately is key to conquering the game. This guide focuses on how the powerful Rivers of Blood build, also known as the Sanguine Samurai, can be your ultimate tool for exploring and dominating the Elden Ring map at higher levels.
This Dexterity/Arcane build, centered around the devastating Rivers of Blood katana, is designed for endgame challenges and map completion. It allows you to efficiently clear areas, defeat bosses, and uncover the secrets hidden across the Lands Between.
- Class: Any
- Flask Spread: Mostly HP, some FP
- Weapon: Rivers of Blood, Sacrificial Axe, and Dragon Communion Seal
- Shield: None
- Armor: White Mask or Okina Mask, and any armor that allows you to med roll
- Talismans: Lord of Blood’s Exultation, [Rotten Winged Sword Insignia](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Rotten+Winged Sword Insignia), [Carian Filigreed Crest](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Carian Filigreed Crest), [Shard of Alexander](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Shard of Alexander), and [Green Turtle Talisman](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Green Turtle Talisman)
- Primary Stats: Arcane & Dexterity
- Secondary Stats: Vigor & Mind
- Skills: [Corpse Piler](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Corpse Piler)
- Spells: Flame, Grant Me Strength
This Sanguine Samurai build is designed for players around level 150, optimized for tackling the toughest areas on the Elden Ring map. Its focus on bleed damage and rapid attacks makes it exceptionally effective against a wide range of enemies you’ll encounter across the Lands Between.
| Beginner Builds | Level 50 Builds | Level 100 Builds | Level 150 Builds | Level 150-200 Builds | All Game Builds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samurai | Moonveil Samurai | Moonveil ShinobiBlazing Bushido | Sanguine SamuraiBlackflame BushidoSerpent Samurai | Waterfowl WarriorSoul SamuraiDragonscale Daimyo | Rime RoninSupreme Samurai |
Equipment for Map Domination with Rivers of Blood
The cornerstone of this build, and your map-exploring arsenal, is the Rivers of Blood katana. Its reputation for power is well-earned, delivering a potent mix of physical and fire damage. Scaling primarily with Dexterity and Arcane, this weapon becomes increasingly lethal as you venture deeper into the Elden Ring map and level up.
Rivers of Blood
Interestingly, focusing on Arcane yields superior damage output compared to solely investing in Dexterity, despite the B-scaling in Dexterity and D-scaling in Arcane. This is crucial for maximizing the Rivers of Blood’s potential as you navigate higher-level areas marked on the Elden Ring map. Furthermore, Arcane directly enhances blood loss buildup, accelerating the Hemorrhage status effect. This synergy makes Arcane a top priority for this build, boosting both damage and bleed potency, essential for tackling challenging zones on the map.
The weapon skill, Corpse Piler, mirrors the weapon’s damage profile, dealing both fire and physical damage. Its effectiveness scales with weapon level, Arcane, and Dexterity, making it a devastating tool for dispatching enemies quickly across the map. Upgrading Rivers of Blood is paramount to ensure you remain powerful as you explore further regions indicated on your Elden Ring map.
While similar to double slash abilities found on weapons like the Nagakiba and Uchigatana, Corpse Piler stands out with increased bleed buildup and damage. Even against weapons with higher base blood loss, Corpse Piler triggers the Hemorrhage status effect faster, making it invaluable when facing tough enemies guarding key locations on the Elden Ring map.
Two swings of Rivers of Blood are often enough to trigger Hemorrhage, despite a moderate blood loss buildup stat. This efficiency in applying bleed is a significant advantage when exploring areas teeming with enemies.
Hemorrhage
Corpse Piler’s extended range surpasses that of Nagakiba and Uchigatana, allowing you to initiate attacks from a safer distance. This range advantage is particularly useful when exploring unknown territories on the Elden Ring map, enabling you to engage enemies proactively. The skill’s combo, while not staggering, relies on the Hemorrhage proc to interrupt enemy attacks, allowing for follow-up strikes. Mastering the timing and range of Corpse Piler is crucial for efficient map traversal and combat.
The Sacrificial Axe, wielded in the offhand, complements the Rivers of Blood by passively regenerating FP upon each enemy kill. Given Corpse Piler’s FP-intensive nature, the Sacrificial Axe ensures you can sustain your offensive output during extended map exploration sessions. While not directly used in combat, its passive FP regeneration is invaluable for maintaining your ability to use Corpse Piler frequently as you clear areas on the Elden Ring map.
![The Sacrificial Axe in Elden Ring, a useful offhand weapon for FP regeneration during map exploration.] (https://fextralife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/elden_ring_sanguine_samurai_build_equipment_sacrifical_axe.webp)
Image of the Sacrificial Axe, highlighting its role in FP recovery for sustained use of Corpse Piler while exploring the Elden Ring map.
Combined with the Carian Filigreed Crest talisman, which further reduces skill FP cost, you can liberally use Corpse Piler as your primary attack while exploring the Elden Ring map. This synergy ensures you have the FP to consistently unleash Rivers of Blood’s powerful weapon skill.
For spellcasting, the Dragon Communion Seal is recommended, though the specific seal isn’t critical for this build at level 150. The primary spell, Flame, Grant me Strength, provides a significant boost to both physical and fire damage, synergizing perfectly with Rivers of Blood’s damage types. This buff enhances your damage output against tougher enemies and bosses encountered across the Elden Ring map.
Consider investing 10 more points into Faith to reach 25 Faith for Golden Vow. While optional at level 150, Golden Vow provides a further 15% damage increase, offering a substantial damage boost for tackling endgame areas on the Elden Ring map if you choose to level up further.
![Close-up of the White Mask in Elden Ring, emphasizing its attack-boosting effect when exploring bleed-vulnerable areas on the map.] (https://fextralife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/elden_ring_grim_reaper_build_equipment_white_mask-1.png)
Image of the White Mask, showcasing its stat-boosting and thematic relevance for a Samurai build optimized for map exploration in Elden Ring.
Armor choice is flexible, prioritizing medium roll capability for maneuverability during map exploration. However, headpieces like the Okina Mask, which boosts Dexterity by 3, and the White Mask, which increases attack power by 10% upon blood loss in the vicinity, offer valuable bonuses. The White Mask, in particular, synergizes exceptionally well with the Rivers of Blood build, consistently triggering its damage buff as you explore areas and encounter enemies susceptible to bleed on the Elden Ring map.
Talismans for Efficient Elden Ring Map Exploration
Talismans play a crucial role in optimizing the Rivers of Blood build for effective map exploration. Key talismans include Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Carian Filigreed Crest, Shard of Alexander, and Lord of Blood’s Exultation.
![The Rotten Winged Sword Insignia talisman in Elden Ring, boosting attack power for rapid strikes during map exploration.] (https://fextralife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/elden_ring_sanguine_samurai_build_talismans_rotten_winged_sword_insignia.webp)
Image of the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, emphasizing its role in enhancing attack power with successive hits, ideal for clearing areas on the Elden Ring map quickly.
The [Rotten Winged Sword Insignia](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Rotten+Winged Sword Insignia) significantly enhances attack power with successive attacks. Given Corpse Piler’s rapid multi-hit nature, this talisman substantially boosts your damage output as you engage groups of enemies while traversing the Elden Ring map. Millicent’s Prosthesis is a viable alternative, offering 5 Dexterity and a similar, albeit less potent, attack power boost. However, the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia’s higher attack power scaling generally makes it superior for maximizing damage during map exploration at level 150.
As previously mentioned, the [Carian Filigreed Crest](https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Carian Filigreed Crest) is essential for reducing Corpse Piler’s FP cost, ensuring you can liberally use it as your primary attack throughout your map explorations. However, consider swapping it for the Green Turtle Talisman during boss encounters. The Green Turtle Talisman accelerates stamina regeneration, mitigating the stamina-intensive nature of Corpse Piler combos and allowing for more sustained aggression during prolonged fights or when exploring stamina-taxing environments on the Elden Ring map.
![The Shard of Alexander talisman in Elden Ring, amplifying Corpse Piler damage for efficient enemy clearing across the map.] (https://fextralife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/elden_ring_sanguine_samurai_build_talismans_shard_of_alexander.webp)
Image of the Shard of Alexander talisman, highlighting its function in boosting weapon art damage, crucial for maximizing Corpse Piler’s effectiveness while exploring and fighting on the Elden Ring map.
The Shard of Alexander directly increases Corpse Piler’s damage by 15%. As your primary offensive tool for both exploration and combat, maximizing Corpse Piler’s damage is paramount. This talisman is a non-negotiable component of the build, ensuring your weapon skill hits as hard as possible as you progress through the Elden Ring map.
![The Lord of Blood’s Exultation talisman in Elden Ring, providing a significant attack boost upon bleed procs, constantly active in bleed-focused map exploration.] (https://fextralife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/elden_ring_sanguine_samurai_build_talismans_lord_of_blood_s_exultation.webp)
Image of the Lord of Blood’s Exultation talisman, showcasing its attack power increase upon bleed status infliction, a frequent occurrence with the Rivers of Blood build during map exploration.
Finally, Lord of Blood’s Exultation provides a substantial 20% attack power boost for 20 seconds whenever blood loss occurs nearby. Given the Rivers of Blood build’s bleed-centric nature, this buff will be consistently active as you explore the Elden Ring map and encounter enemies. This talisman significantly amplifies your damage output, making it an indispensable part of the Sanguine Samurai build for map domination.
While spells are not central to this build, Flame, Grant me Strength remains a valuable addition for tougher encounters. Consider incorporating Golden Vow for a further damage and defense boost if you invest more in Faith as you level up beyond 150 and explore the most challenging areas of the Elden Ring map.
Recommended Attributes for Map Leveling in Elden Ring
The attribute distribution for this level 150 Rivers of Blood build is optimized for endgame map exploration and combat: 50 Vigor, 30 Mind, 18 Endurance, 12 Strength, 48 Dexterity, 9 Intelligence, 15 Faith, and 50 Arcane.
Remember that the displayed Dexterity is boosted by 3 from the Okina Mask; the base Dexterity is 45. 50 Vigor provides ample health to withstand hits during exploration. 30 Mind offers a sufficient FP pool for frequent Corpse Piler usage, minimizing reliance on FP flasks as you explore the map.
18 Endurance provides adequate stamina for Corpse Piler combos and sufficient equip load for medium armor. 12 Strength meets the minimum requirement for Rivers of Blood. Dexterity at 48 enhances weapon damage and Corpse Piler effectiveness, although damage scaling from Dexterity begins to diminish beyond this point.
15 Faith is allocated solely to meet the requirement for Flame, Grant me Strength. Increasing Faith to 25 for Golden Vow is a worthwhile consideration for further damage amplification in later map areas. 50 Arcane is crucial for maximizing weapon scaling and blood loss buildup, making the build incredibly potent for tackling enemies across the Elden Ring map.
A key combat tip for map exploration is to initiate Corpse Piler combos preemptively, especially against aggressive enemies. This allows you to capitalize on the skill’s range and interrupt enemy attacks, ensuring you land subsequent hits.
Greenburst Crystal Tear Thorny Cracked Tear
Against large enemies, position yourself close to their chest to evade wide-reaching attacks and maximize your hit accuracy with Corpse Piler. Utilize the Flask of Wondrous Physick with the Greenburst Crystal Tear for increased stamina recovery and the Thorny Cracked Tear for boosted consecutive attack damage. These crystal tears further enhance your combat prowess during map exploration, especially in challenging regions.
In conclusion, the Rivers of Blood “Sanguine Samurai” build is an exceptional choice for conquering the Elden Ring map at level 150. Its potent bleed damage, rapid attacks, and efficient FP management make it ideal for exploring diverse regions, defeating challenging enemies, and uncovering the secrets of the Lands Between. Use this guide to optimize your build and confidently navigate every corner of the Elden Ring map. And if you are still struggling to pinpoint locations, remember to consult the Elden Ring Map for assistance in finding items, equipment, and points of interest to further enhance your journey across the Lands Between.
