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In this Elden Ring article, I'm going to be showcasing my Blazing Black Blade build. This is another all-game build that can be played from the very beginning of the game, and it utilizes the Hook Claws, one of the claw weapons I got to use in our Claws article. I really, really like this Elden Ring Items weapon, so let's get into the build.

Why Hook Claws?

The reason I prefer the Hook Claws over other claws in Elden Ring is twofold. First, you can acquire these weapons relatively early in the game, specifically in Stormveil Castle. This makes it an excellent early-game build that you can continue using throughout your playthrough. Some other claws are not available until much later, limiting their utility for an early-game focused build.

Second, the Hook Claws have the longest reach among all the claw weapons in the game. When using shorter weapons, attack length can become a significant issue, particularly against weirdly shaped enemies and bosses. The extra reach provided by the Hook Claws compensates for their lower damage compared to some other claws. While their damage is not the lowest, it’s not among the highest either. However, the additional length makes up for this because missing an enemy means dealing no damage at all. Therefore, I highly value the length of these claws.

Weapon Setup

For this build, I’ve equipped the Flaming Strike Ash of War on the Hook Claws and set it to the Flame Art infusion. Flaming Strike can be found near or behind Redmane Castle, making it accessible relatively early in the game. You might have to make a bit of a journey to get there, but it's worth it. Alternatively, you can use something like Endure until you can pick up Flaming Strike. The key feature of Flaming Strike is the flame art setting it provides.

Flame Art Infusion

The Flame Art infusion allows us to meet the minimum requirements for the weapon—8 Strength and 14 Dexterity—and then significantly boost Faith, enabling the use of a wide range of incantations. This build primarily focuses on physical and fire damage, making Flame Grant Me Strength particularly beneficial as it boosts both damage types. You can use any seal you prefer, but eventually, the Erdtree Seal is the best choice due to the high Faith requirement (80 Faith) for maximum effectiveness.

Buffing and Spells

The Flaming Strike Ash of War adds fire damage to the Hook Claws, significantly increasing their overall damage output. This effect is further amplified by buffs like Golden Vow and Flame Grant Me Strength. These buffs are typically reserved for boss fights or tough enemies since the Hook Claws' inherent damage is usually sufficient for general exploration.

Recommended Spells

· Flame Grant Me Strength: Boosts physical and fire attack power.

· Golden Vow: Increases overall damage and defense.

These buffs, combined with the Flaming Strike enhancement, can elevate your attack power to incredible heights, sometimes reaching over 1,000 attack power. This setup allows for rapid and powerful attacks, often triggering hemorrhage effects that can deal massive damage chunks, particularly effective against bosses.

Armor

For armor, I recommend the Malenia's Set. Although not available early in the game, it's a fantastic choice for mid-to-late game or New Game Plus. It offers excellent poise, which is crucial for this build as it allows you to continue attacking through enemy hits. If you're in the early game, consider the Knight Set from the Roundtable Hold, which also provides decent poise.

Poise and Style

· Maliketh's Armor Set: Provides great poise and fits the aesthetic of a blazing, claw-wielding warrior.

· Knight Set: A good early-game alternative available at the Roundtable Hold.

Talismans

The talismans are critical for maximizing the effectiveness of this build. Here are my recommendations:

1. Fire Scorpion Charm: Increases fire damage but reduces physical damage negation. This boosts both the Flaming Strike fire damage and the regular attack fire damage.

2. Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: Enhances physical damage negation, compensating for the Fire Scorpion Charm's drawback.

3. Shard of Alexander: Boosts the attack power of skills like Flaming Strike. If you're early in the game, use the Warrior Jar Shard instead.

4. Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: Increases attack power with successive hits. This can be substituted with Millicent's Prosthesis or Winged Sword Insignia based on availability.

Attributes

The attribute distribution for this build is designed to maximize damage output while maintaining survivability and spellcasting capability:

· Vigor: 50

· Mind: 35

· Endurance: 25

· Strength: 8

· Dexterity: 14

· Intelligence: 16 (Note: Intelligence is not necessary; this is specific to my character's background as an Astrologer)

· Faith: 80

· Arcane: 10

The high Vigor ensures you have enough health to trade blows with enemies, while the high Mind stat supports the frequent use of buffs and Flaming Strike. Endurance is sufficient for the stamina demands of continuous attacks. Strength and Dexterity are just enough to meet the weapon requirements, and the high Faith allows for powerful incantations and maximum damage with the Flame Art infusion.

Flask of Wondrous Physick

For your Flask of Wondrous Physick, consider the following options:

· Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear: Boosts fire damage, enhancing both Flaming Strike and your regular attacks.

· Thorny Cracked Tear: Increases damage with successive attacks, synergizing with the rapid attack nature of the Hook Claws.

Due to the stamina issues you might encounter, you can also consider using a stamina-boosting tear to ensure you can maintain your attack chains without running out of stamina.

Great Rune

The best Great Rune for this build is Radahn's Great Elden Ring Runes. It increases HP, FP, and stamina, all of which are crucial for the sustained combat style of this build. The additional stamina is particularly beneficial, allowing you to keep up your relentless assault.

Conclusion

That wraps up the Blazing Black Blade build! This is another really fun build I've been enjoying immensely. Revisiting Elden Ring and experimenting with new builds has been a blast, especially with the anticipation of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on the horizon. As always, if you have any tips or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Let's keep the Elden Ring community thriving and ready for the challenges ahead!

Stay tuned to P2Pah for more builds and in-depth guides, including upcoming content on different weapons, seals, and staffs. Can't wait to delve into Shadow of the Erdtree and bring you even more exciting builds and strategies!