Bloodhound's Fang
Bloodhound's Fang is a unique curved greatsword earned from Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in Limgrave. Its strong Dexterity scaling, innate blood loss, buff compatibility, and two-part Bloodhound's Finesse make it unusually complete from the early game through the endgame.
Key Takeaways
Bloodhound's Fang combines the reach and sweeping attacks of a curved greatsword with innate Hemorrhage buildup and a distinctive evasive weapon skill. Its unusual ability to accept temporary weapon buffs gives it more build flexibility than many unique Somber weapons.
Curved greatsword with innate Hemorrhage
Bloodhound's Fang is a curved greatsword whose attacks combine substantial reach with innate Hemorrhage buildup. It occupies a heavier, more committed role than a standard curved sword, but retains the class's broad slashing patterns.
Bloodhound's Finesse defines its identity
Its unique skill, Bloodhound's Finesse, pairs a retreating slash with evasive movement; the follow-up attack can close distance with another strike. This gives the weapon both defensive repositioning and an aggressive approach tool.
Obtained through an Evergaol encounter
The weapon is obtained by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave. It is therefore available through a specific boss encounter rather than a random enemy drop or vendor stock.
Requires meaningful Strength and Dexterity investment
Bloodhound's Fang requires both Strength and Dexterity, with Dexterity playing an especially important role in builds that want to use it effectively. Its weight and greatsword commitment also matter when planning equipment load and stamina use.
Unique, but still compatible with temporary buffs
As a Somber-upgrade weapon with a fixed skill, Bloodhound's Fang cannot be infused or assigned a different Ash of War. However, it can receive compatible temporary weapon buffs, a notable exception among unique weapons and an important build consideration.
Flexible alternative to other curved greatswords
Compared with ordinary curved greatswords, it trades infusion and skill customization for a fixed moveset, innate Hemorrhage and a distinctive mobility skill. Its appeal is strongest for players who value reach, bleed pressure and evasive attacks over maximum weapon customization.
Overview
Bloodhound's Fang is a unique curved greatsword in Elden Ring, defined by its mobile weapon skill, innate Hemorrhage buildup, and unusually flexible buff compatibility for a Somber-upgraded weapon. It is a strong early-to-midgame option that remains relevant for characters built around Dexterity, Strength, or a mixture of both.
Unlike a standard curved sword, Bloodhound's Fang occupies the curved greatsword class: its attacks have more commitment and weight, but they also provide broader swings, substantial reach, and stronger individual hits. That combination gives it a role between a fast status weapon and a heavier greatsword. Its innate Hemorrhage buildup adds a pressure tool against many enemies, while the weapon's physical attacks remain useful when an opponent is resistant to bleed.
The weapon's defining feature is Bloodhound's Finesse. The skill combines a slashing attack with a backward acrobatic retreat, allowing the user to create distance instead of remaining locked in place. A follow-up attack can turn that retreat into a forward slash, so the skill supports both disengagement and re-entry. This movement is the main reason Bloodhound's Fang feels different from other curved greatswords: its damage is tied to spacing and timing as much as to direct trading.
Bloodhound's Fang is obtained through an optional early-game encounter rather than a late mandatory reward, making it accessible before many of Elden Ring's more specialized weapons. It uses the Somber reinforcement path and has a fixed weapon skill, so it is not a platform for changing Ashes of War or experimenting with affinities. In exchange, its identity is established from the moment it is acquired, and later upgrades improve a defined moveset rather than changing the weapon's role.
For build planning, the important distinction is that Bloodhound's Fang can receive temporary weapon buffs despite being a unique weapon. That gives it more room to work with grease or spell-based enhancement than many comparable Somber weapons, while its built-in bleed remains part of its baseline identity. It is a base-game weapon rather than a Shadow of the Erdtree variant, although it can be carried into the expansion. Players choosing between it and a lighter curved sword should weigh its reach, heavier commitment, mobility skill, and upgrade flexibility rather than treating raw damage as the only criterion.
Statistics
Elden Ring publishes no 0–100 stat bars, so this page lists the verified requirements, scaling and handling figures instead. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.
- CategoryCurved Greatswords
- Damage TypeSlash
- Primary ScalingDex C
- Weight8
- SkillBloodhound Step
- Str Req15
- Dex Req20
- How to ObtainDropped by Bloodhound Knight Darriwil
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar curved greatswords
| Weapon | Str Req | Dex Req | Weight | Primary Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodhound's Fang | 15 | 20 | 8 | Dex C |
| Omen Cleaver | 18 | 20 | 8.5 | Str D / Dex D |
| Magma Wyrm's Scalesword | 16 | 20 | 7 | Dex C |
| Godskin Peeler | 12 | 18 | 6.5 | Dex C / Arc D |
Requirements, scaling grades and weight are the game’s own published figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Access to southern Limgrave and the Forlorn Hound Evergaol; no DLC, vendor purchase, quest-completion, or specific story-progression requirement is required.
- The weapon is a one-per-playthrough boss reward. Optional Blaidd assistance has its own encounter-related condition but is not a prerequisite for the reward.
- 01Travel to the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in southern Limgrave, in the area near Agheel Lake South. The Evergaol is the circular stone arena marked on the map; interact with its central seal to enter the encounter.
- 02Defeat Bloodhound Knight Darriwil inside the Forlorn Hound Evergaol. Bloodhound's Fang is the guaranteed boss reward, so it is awarded after the fight rather than obtained from a random enemy drop, chest, vendor, or separate quest turn-in.
- 03The encounter can be completed without progressing a main-story quest. Blaidd may optionally be available as a summon for this fight after his related Mistwood interaction, but his assistance is not required to obtain the weapon.
- 04The reward is available in the base game and does not require Shadow of the Erdtree. The Evergaol and its boss remain available until defeated, so the weapon is not normally missable; defeating the boss simply removes the encounter from that playthrough. It can be obtained again in a subsequent NG+ cycle.
Availability
Requires No Shadow of the Erdtree, difficulty, vendor, or story-completion requirement; the relevant Evergaol encounter must be completed.
Bloodhound's Fang is not normal vendor stock and has no purchase price. One copy is obtainable in a playthrough as a unique boss reward.
Requires Reach the relevant encounter in the new cycle; no additional DLC or difficulty requirement is recalled.
A further copy can be obtained in each subsequent playthrough, so the weapon is not limited to the first cycle.
Mechanics and Handling
Bloodhound's Fang is a curved greatsword whose handling rewards committed pressure rather than rapid, low-risk pokes. Its broad swings cover a useful arc and have more reach than many ordinary curved swords, but the attacks also carry noticeable recovery. Spacing matters: the weapon is most comfortable when its wielder can stay just outside an enemy's immediate range and punish a whiff, stagger opening, or recovery animation.
The weapon's innate Bleed buildup gives repeated successful hits an additional payoff, but it is not a substitute for connecting attacks consistently. Bloodhound's Fang is also unusual among unique Elden Ring weapons because it can receive compatible weapon buffs even though its Ash of War and affinity cannot be replaced. That combination lets the weapon retain its distinctive skill while gaining temporary elemental or status support when the situation permits.
Bloodhound's Finesse: retreat, then re-enter
Bloodhound's Fang's fixed skill, Bloodhound's Finesse, begins with a forceful upward slash and a backward somersault. The first input therefore does more than add damage: it creates separation after an attack and can move the user out of an enemy's immediate retaliation range. It is most useful when the initial slash connects, trades favorably, or interrupts an approach; using it blindly can still leave the user out of position if the enemy does not commit.
A follow-up strong attack after the retreating portion performs the skill's forward somersaulting slash. This turns the retreat into a re-entry tool rather than a simple escape. The follow-up can catch an opponent who reacts to the backward movement by advancing, and it gives the weapon a distinctive attack rhythm: strike, disengage, then return with a second committed blow. The sequence is not a universal answer to every attack, however. Its timing and recovery still need to be judged against the enemy's reach and poise.
Jump attacks and the curved-greatsword rhythm
Bloodhound's Fang has a weapon-specific bonus to jump attacks, making aerial openings especially relevant to its handling. Jumping attacks can close distance and apply substantial pressure without requiring the wielder to begin with a grounded swing, while the weapon's bleed buildup gives repeated jump-ins a clear offensive purpose. They remain committal attacks, so a missed jump can be punished by enemies that track vertical movement or recover quickly.
On the ground, the light attack chain is a sequence of sweeping curved-greatsword cuts. These attacks are effective when the target is within the weapon's arc, but their lateral coverage does not remove the need to face the target correctly. The heavy attack is slower and more deliberate, making it better suited to punish windows and stance pressure than to probing at close range. The weapon's reach helps control space, while its weight and recovery make careless trading less forgiving than the raw damage profile may suggest.
Buffing, guarding, and commitment
Bloodhound's Fang is not an all-purpose defensive weapon. It can be held with a shield, but its two-handed attacks do not provide shield protection, and the weapon's large swings are better used to create or exploit an opening than to absorb repeated blows. Players who rely on guarding should treat the sword as an offensive tool between blocks rather than assuming its attacks will safely interrupt every enemy.
Because the skill is fixed, the weapon's identity is tied to Bloodhound's Finesse rather than to a selectable Ash of War. It cannot be converted through the normal affinity system, so its moveset and special attack remain stable across builds. That limits customization compared with an infusible curved greatsword, but it also preserves the weapon's characteristic retreat-and-return sequence while leaving room for compatible temporary buffs.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Its curved greatsword moveset combines broad, long-reaching swings with innate Hemorrhage buildup, giving Dexterity-focused characters both reliable physical pressure and a status payoff against bleed-vulnerable enemies.
- Bloodhound's Finesse provides an upward slash followed by a backward somersault, letting the wielder disengage after committing to an attack. The follow-up attack reverses that movement into a forward strike, so the skill can function as either an evasive reset or a re-entry tool.
- The weapon can receive temporary weapon buffs despite using Somber Smithing Stones and having a fixed skill, allowing compatible grease or spell buffs to supplement its innate status effect.
- Its curved greatsword attacks and jumping attacks can punish openings with substantial stagger pressure, while the skill's movement helps the user avoid trading every time they attack.
Weaknesses
- The weapon is heavier and slower than ordinary curved swords, so its attacks demand more spacing and stamina management and are easier to punish when used without an opening.
- Its fixed Bloodhound's Finesse cannot be replaced with an Ash of War, and its damage type, scaling profile, and innate bleed cannot be redesigned through affinities.
- Hemorrhage contributes little against enemies that resist or cannot suffer the status effect; in those matchups, the weapon's value rests more heavily on its physical attacks and skill.
- The somber upgrade path and fixed configuration make it less flexible than an infusible curved greatsword for builds that want to change affinities or adopt another weapon skill.
Best uses
- A general-purpose PvE weapon for Dexterity-centered characters who want reach, bleed pressure, and a built-in escape option without committing to a separate mobility skill.
- Boss and elite-enemy encounters with clear punish windows: use the skill's retreating motion to avoid retaliation, then use its follow-up or a normal attack when the opening remains safe.
- Bleed-vulnerable targets and buff-oriented melee setups, where innate Hemorrhage and compatible temporary weapon buffs can reinforce the same close-range attack plan.
- Players who prefer an aggressive hit-and-run style but still want a conventional two-handed melee moveset rather than a weapon dedicated solely to status buildup.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class and role | Damage/status profile | Skill and upgrade path | Build fit and trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodhound's Fang | Physical damage with innate blood loss buildup; can also receive weapon buffs despite its unique reinforcement path | Fixed Bloodhound's Finesse skill; Somber reinforcement and no Ash of War or affinity customization | Strong fit for builds that want reach, bleed pressure and a skill that creates separation. It is heavier and less customizable than regular curved greatswords. | — |
| Dismounter | Physical damage by default; regular affinities allow the damage and status profile to be tailored | Regular reinforcement; compatible with Ashes of War and affinity changes | A practical alternative when flexible infusion, skill selection or a different attribute emphasis matters more than Bloodhound's Fang's unique skill and innate bleed. | — |
| Omen Cleaver | Physical damage by default; can be configured toward bleed or another affinity through the regular weapon system | Regular reinforcement with customizable Ashes of War and affinities | Suits players who want curved-greatsword reach while tuning the weapon to a specific build. It lacks Bloodhound's Fang's fixed mobility skill and innate bleed. | — |
| Morgott's Cursed Sword | Physical damage with innate blood loss buildup and an Arcane-linked build identity | Somber reinforcement with the fixed Cursed-Blood Slice skill; no Ash of War or affinity swapping | A closer unique-weapon alternative for bleed-focused characters who meet its requirements. Bloodhound's Fang is the more broadly accessible choice, while Morgott's weapon is more specialized. | — |
| Zamor Curved Sword | Physical and frost-oriented damage profile rather than Bloodhound's Fang's bleed focus | Somber reinforcement with the fixed Zamor Ice Storm skill | Useful when frost buildup and area control are preferred. It does not fill the same bleed or mobile single-target role as Bloodhound's Fang. | — |
Used In
- Bloodhound Knight DarriwilDefeating this boss at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol awards Bloodhound's Fang.
- Forlorn Hound EvergaolThe Evergaol contains the encounter with Bloodhound Knight Darriwil, the weapon's source.
- Somber Smithing StoneBloodhound's Fang follows the somber reinforcement path and is upgraded with Somber Smithing Stones.
Lore and Design
Bloodhound's Fang is presented as a weapon of the Bloodhound Knights, a class of relentless trackers associated with close pursuit and disciplined hunting. Its name and item lore connect it to that order rather than to a named noble house, faction, or legendary smith. The weapon is encountered through Bloodhound Knight Darriwil, making the encounter the clearest direct story association attached to the blade.
The weapon's defining skill, Bloodhound's Finesse, reinforces that identity through a slashing attack followed by a backward evasive movement; its optional follow-up returns the wielder to the target. This supports a restrained reading of the weapon as designed around pursuit, disengagement, and re-entry rather than simple stationary trading. That is an interpretation of its documented skill and presentation, not a confirmed statement of developer intent.
Connection to the Bloodhound Knights
Bloodhound Knight Darriwil is encountered as a hostile, imprisoned Bloodhound Knight in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, and defeating him awards Bloodhound's Fang. The reward establishes a direct relationship between the blade and the order's warriors, while the item’s description identifies Bloodhound Knights as its wielders. The available lore does not establish that Darriwil personally forged the weapon or that every Bloodhound Knight uses this exact blade.
What the design communicates
Bloodhound's Fang combines an oversized curved blade with a named skill built around a sudden retreat and follow-up strike. Together, those elements evoke the Bloodhound Knights’ hunting role and give the weapon a stronger thematic identity than a generic curved greatsword. No reliable developer commentary or documented real-world design reference is established here, so broader claims about inspiration or intended symbolism should remain unconfirmed.
Trivia
- Bloodhound’s Fang is an unusual Somber-reinforced weapon because it can still receive temporary weapon buffs from compatible greases and spells. This interaction is separate from its fixed weapon skill and does not make the weapon infusible or allow its skill to be replaced.