Elden Ring is an open-world RPG with dynamic starting classes that offer different benefits to your Tarnished. Ranging from Vagabond, Samurai, Prisoner, Confessor, Bandit, and many more, players have free range to choose the one they want. Players might need assistance with their Elden Ring Bandit Build with a starting class like Bandit.
- The Bandit build can be considered a subsidiary of an Arcane build due to its dependence on the Arcane stat.
- The attributes players need to focus on for Bandit build are Vigor, Endurance, Dexterity, and Arcane.
- Since the Bandit build is much dependent on the Bleed ailment, the best weapon for this build is the Reduvia in close range.
- As for long-range, the Horn Bow does the job properly.
- For Bandit build like this, in close range, players will need an armor set that’s slightly light and sturdy, and nothing fits the description better than the Royal Remains Set.
Today, we will cover two different kinds of Bandit Builds. Here are their summaries:
Build | Stats | Weapons | Armor | Talismans | Ashes of War |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BANDIT BLEED BUILD | Vigor: 40 Mind:15 Endurance: 31 Strenght: 10 Dexterity: 18 Faith: 10 Arcane: 37 | Reduvia Dagger | Royal Remains Set | Lord of Blood’s Exultation Arrow’s Reach Talisman Kindred of Rot’s Exultation | Bloody Slash |
RANGED ARCHER BUILD | - | Horn Bow Golem Great Bow | Exile Set White Reed Set | Arrow’s Reach Talisman Arrow’s Sting Talisman | Mighty Shot Barrage |
Bandit Bleed Build
Players who choose to focus on a Bleed build will always aim to fill up the “Blood meter’ of opponents that they face and cause them as much damage as possible within a short period. After foes lose a significant amount of blood, their health bar deteriorates quickly, gaining players instant victory.
Attributes To Focus On

- Two primary stats: Endurance and Dexterity.
- Endurance helps manage stamina consumption and Equip Load, making it crucial for heavy builds like the Bandit Build.
- Dexterity determines the strength required to wield certain weapons, making it essential for melee weapon effectiveness, especially in builds like the Blood build with the Reduvia.
- Arcane is a secondary stat that influences item drops from defeated enemies and is important for weapons that scale with arcane.
- Vigor is another attribute to consider, as it governs overall HP.
Best Weapon For Bleed Build

Weapon | Physical | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy | Crit | Boost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reduvia Dagger | Attack: 79 Guard: 38 | Guard: 22 | Guard: 22 | Guard: 22 | Guard: 22 | Attack: 110 | Guard: 16 |
Reduvia Dagger is perfect for close combat due to its short range. Its passive ability, focusing on Backstabbing, inflicts consistent damage and blood loss, crippling enemies over time. Fast attack speed, though stamina-intensive. Upgrading boosts its “Blood Loss” effect.
Upgrades | Passive Effects |
Standard | 51 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +1 | 51 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +2 | 52 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +3 | 52 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +4 | 52 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +5 | 53 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +6 | 54 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +7 | 61 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +8 | 61 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +9 | 93 Blood Loss Buildup |
Standard +10 | 99 Blood Loss Buildup |
The weapon skill “Reduvia Blood Blade” also accounts for consistent blood loss buildup when launching projectiles that will cause opponents to take considerably greater damage.
Best Armor Sets For Bleed Build
Here’s a quick look at our choice for the Best Armor set for the Bleed Build:
Armor Set | Armor | Physical | Strike | Slash | Pierce | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Royal Remains Set | Royal Remains Helmet | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
Royal Remains Armor | 11.9 | 11.4 | 12.9 | 11.9 | 9.5 | 10.2 | 8.0 | 8.8 | |
Royal Remains Gauntlets | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.1 | |
Royal Remains Greaves | 6.8 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
Royal Remains Set
The Royal Remains Set is essential for the Bleed build, as it offers players consistent Resistance and increased damage negation, which allows players to intake minor damage and allows you to stay on the field for more extended periods. It is a heavy set with Chest Armor, Gauntlet, Leg Armor, and Helms.
Useful Talismans To Equip
When you focus on the Bleed build, you want to equip some of the best talismans that will offer offensive and defensive benefits to players so that enemies can take increased inflicted damage launched upon them.
Lord Of Blood’s Exultation

The Lord of Blood’s Exultation is aimed to increase blood loss in opponents. The main passivity of this talisman is to take note if there is blood loss in the arena where the player is present, increasing the player’s attack power to a certain degree.
This talisman is potent as it can enhance the attack power by a total of 20% if any opponent, whether small or large, is inflicted with heavy, ranged, charged, or basic lighter attacks.
Arrow’s Reach Talisman

The Arrow’s Reach Talisman aids the players with their Bleed builds; when they are on the battlefield, the talisman has three arrows in its arsenal, and it will allow for an increased range for combat against formidable enemies. Players will benefit from using this talisman if they stay in the arena for longer and their bow runs out of arrows.
Kindred Of Rot’s Exultation
The Kindred of Rot’s Exultation main passivity of increased attack power to players wielding the weapon allows players to slash and taunt opponents with ease. Whenever enemies surround players and inflict Poisoning damage on you, it will significantly increase your overall attack power and render them useless.
Ashes Of War To Equip
Ashes of War will typically act as items that can enhance their weapon and make it even more robust with different affinities that can be infused with their weapons. Each Ash of War can take on a different role in enhancing the weapon it is infused with, and this Ash of War is the best for the Bleed Build.
Bloody Slash

The Ash of War Bloody Slash is a crucial tool for players specializing in bleed melee builds. It grants the player the ability to unleash a series of consecutive slashes on their enemies, causing “Blood Loss Buildup” and gradually draining their health over time.
Consumables To Look Into
Next up, consumables can significantly help players provide special effects that temporarily buff them during brutal combat and help them achieve victory. Here are a few consumables that work for the Bandit Build.
Blood Grease
Firstly, Blood Grease’s main aim is to coast the weapon with itself, allowing players to launch regular attacks that will cause Blood Loss to enemies in the passing second. To craft Blood Grease, you can take help from one Root Resin and one Blood Rose.
Drawstring Blood Grease
This consumable directly supports the original Blood Grease, as Drawstring blood grease stems from the original one. It can be crafted using one Root Resin, one String, and one Bloodrose.
Kukri
Lastly, the next consumable that can come in handy in battle is the Kukri, which is located at a few locations such as the Liurnia of the Lakes, Stormveil Castle, and the Weeping Peninsula. Using this consumable to enhance the weapon will launch knives at the opponents, instantly increasing blood loss of enemies, and blood loss buildup will start, causing opponents to lose health quicker.
Bleed Build Playstyle
When facing tougher foes, wielding the Reduvia Dagger is a must. Get up close and personal with the enemies, using basic attacks to stab them with its sharp blades. The Backstab ability will quickly drain their HP. Enhance your attacks with blood grease, and use the Kukri consumable to launch knives at your enemies, securing victory with ease.
Ranged Archer Bandit Build
For players who want to go the other route and are looking for long-ranged combat against opponents, the Archer Build is essential for their victory. The main aim of the archer build is to stay at a safe distance and launch arrows at bosses to stagger, stun and shoot your way through their existence and gain victory.
Attributes To Focus On
Following are the character attributes players will need to invest runes into leveling up so as to make Bandit Archer build in Elden Ring. Also, read our Elden Ring Fastest Rune Farming guide.
- Primary attribute: Dexterity
- For long-ranged combat, players are highly advised to make considerable investments into Mind if they want to overtake their enemies and come out victorious.
- Secondary stat: Endurance, Vigor.
Best Weapons For Archer Build
Here are the best weapons for Bandit archer build in Elden Ring.
Weapon | Physical | Magic | Crit | RNG |
---|---|---|---|---|
Horn Bow | 65 | 30 | 100 | 50 |
Golem Greatbow | 130 | - | 100 | 50 |
Horn Bow

Stat | Physical | Magic | Crit | RNG |
Attack | 65 | 30 | 100 | 50 |
For the Bandit build, the Horn Bow is a top choice. This light bow is perfect for the Archer Build, boasting an S-tier rating. It’s infused with Magic, making it ideal for consistent long-range attacks.
With Strength E and Dexterity D scaling, it requires some Strength points but offers good damage output. Its passive skill, “Mighty Shot,” allows you to charge up shots, delivering devastating damage when released.
Enhance the Horn Bow with Smithing Stones and Ashes of War for increased damage, making it a great choice for the archer build.
Golem Great Bow

Stat | Physical | Crit | RNG |
Attack | 130 | 100 | 50 |
Consider the Golem Great Bow for a more powerful option. It’s a heavier bow, ideal for those with strong characters. This bow allows you to stay at a safe distance and shoot heavy arrows that can be charged to deliver devastating blows to your foes.
The “Through and Through” passive skill lets you twist the arrow before charging, increasing its physical damage output when released. With Dexterity E and Strength D scaling, it’s a solid choice for the archer build.
Armor Sets To Consider
To get the most out of this Bandit build, you can take the help of these armor sets.
Armor Set | Armor | Physical | Strike | Slash | Pierce | Magic | Fire | Light | Holy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exile Set | Exile Hood | 4.4 | 3.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 3.4 |
Exile Armor | 12.4 | 9.5 | 12.9 | 12.4 | 8.0 | 10.9 | 6.7 | 9.5 | |
Exile Gauntlets | 2.9 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.1 | |
Exile Greaves | 7.1 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 3.8 | 5.4 | |
White Reed Set | Okina Mask | 3.4 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.6 |
White Reed Armor | 9.5 | 10.2 | 11.4 | 8.8 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 10.2 | |
White Reed Gauntlets | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.5 | |
White Reed Greaves | 5.4 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 5.8 |
Exile Set
The Exile Set is a medium-weight armor that promises to protect the player when fighting long-ranged combat with all kinds of enemies. Its winning point is its physical protection against opponents that launch physical attacks. While under Exile’s protection, you can feel safe enough to launch powerful attacks at your opponents.
White Reed Set
The White Reed Set has an interesting backstory, but it is an armor set on the lighter side that will still be able to aid players when they are in the arena. With the Okina Mask, Armor, Greaves, and Gauntlets completing the set, players will find that they will stay alive for longer.
Talismans
There are a few accustomed Talismans that players are advised to invest in to enhance their gameplay experience with the archer build.
Arrow’s Reach Talisman
The Arrow’s Sting Talisman significantly aims to increase the overall attack power of players by launching three arrows at the opponents, taking them down, and depleting their overall HP. Physical damage is significantly enhanced, allowing players to shoot repeatedly until they win the battle.
Arrow’s Sting Talisman
Complimenting the Arrow’s Reach Talisman, the Arrow’s Sting Talisman will boost players’ long-range shots and improve the damage output. Greater emphasis is placed on average archer shots and buffing up charged bow shots, allowing players to deal a significant amount of physical damage to finish off more challenging bosses.
The talisman is excellent to use while in low health to save yourself and get higher damage shots.
Ashes of War
To get the most out of your Elden Ring Bandit Build, you might want to have these best ashes of War in your arsenal, as these will significantly enhance your weapon and let you do more significant overall physical damage.
Mighty Shot

The Ash of War Mighty Shot is an excellent one to have in your arsenal, as it can be applied to the Hornbow and greatly enhance your bowshot damage. Mighty Shot itself aims to support players by providing them with Standard affinity. Along with that, the Mighty Shot skill is also granted.
The skill increases the bow damage output as the player charges their bow shot. The further back the bow is pulled, the more clear the shot will be.
Barrage

Following through, the Barrage is yet another attractive Ash of War, as it grants consecutive attack speed from the bow to the players. When launching attacks on your opponents, you will be able to charge the shots and launch them in split seconds and obliterate your enemies in their wake.
This Ash of War can be implemented with the bow for lighter bows to enhance its damage and attack speed by a lot.
Archer Build Playstyle
In Elden Ring, the Archer Build is my winning strategy. I wield the Hornbow, taking advantage of its lightweight design. I keep my distance and unleash Mighty Shot to empower my attacks. I’ve invested heavily in Dexterity and Mind for maximum effectiveness. My strategy involves a mix of basic and charged attacks, allowing me to pierce through even the toughest foes.
With the Arrow’s Sting Talisman by my side, I rain down a relentless barrage of arrows, watching the white numbers stack up as I chip away at my enemies’ health. To ensure my survival, I rely on the Exile set for defense. This armor allows me to withstand ranged attacks, keeping my HP intact.
I always maintain a safe distance from my opponents, ensuring that my health remains stable while I win battles with style. In my opinion, this is the best Elden Ring Bandit Build. Feel free to share your thoughts below!
While you are here, also check out other Elden Ring Builds.
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