How to Unlock and Use Rivers of Blood in Elden Ring
1. Where to Find Rivers of Blood
Unlike many weapons in Elden Ring, Rivers of Blood cannot be found in a chest or random drop—it comes from defeating a special NPC invader.
Location: Rivers of Blood is obtained from Bloody Finger Okina, an invading NPC found at the Church of Repose in the Mountaintops of the Giants region.
Timing Requirement: You must wait until you’ve reached this area late in the game. The Mountaintops of the Giants is only accessible after defeating Morgott, the Omen King, in Leyndell, Royal Capital.
Important Warning: If you’ve already defeated Bloody Finger Okina’s quest-related NPC, Shabriri, or progressed too far into certain endings, Okina may not invade. To ensure you don’t miss it, head to the Church of Repose before advancing the story too far.
Once you approach the Church of Repose, Bloody Finger Okina will invade. Defeating him rewards you with the Rivers of Blood katana.
2. Weapon Stats and Requirements
Rivers of Blood is a katana, meaning it naturally inflicts bleed build-up. But its true power comes from its unique skill and scaling.
Weapon Type: Katana
Scaling:
Dexterity (primary)
Arcane (secondary, boosts bleed build-up)
Strength (minor contribution)
Requirements:
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 18
Arcane: 20
Passive Effect: Causes blood loss build-up (natural bleed effect, enhanced by Arcane).
Weapon Skill – Corpse Piler: A series of rapid slashes that deal both physical and fire damage while rapidly building up blood loss. This is the weapon’s signature ability and what makes it infamous.
Tip: Rivers of Blood cannot be infused with Ashes of War, but it can be upgraded with Somber Smithing Stones up to +10.
3. Best Builds for Rivers of Blood
Since Rivers of Blood scales well with Dexterity and Arcane, it fits naturally into Dex/Arcane hybrid builds.
Recommended Build Stats:
Dexterity: 40–50 (for solid damage scaling)
Arcane: 40+ (for maximizing bleed build-up and weapon scaling)
Vigor: 40 (to survive late-game encounters)
Endurance: 20–25 (to allow enough stamina for Corpse Piler spam and medium equip load)
Talisman Suggestions:
Lord of Blood’s Exultation: Boosts attack power when blood loss occurs nearby—synergizes perfectly with bleed procs.
Shard of Alexander: Enhances weapon skill damage, making Corpse Piler hit even harder.
Erdtree’s Favor +2: Boosts health, stamina, and equip load for survivability.
Millicent’s Prosthesis / Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: Increases attack power with successive hits, synergizing with Corpse Piler’s rapid slashes.
Incantations/Spells:
Bloodflame Blade: Cannot be applied to Rivers of Blood (it has a unique skill), but consider bleed-enhancing spells like Swarm of Flies for added pressure.
Seppuku Ash of War: Again, not usable directly on Rivers of Blood, but useful on an off-hand bleed weapon to boost bleed further.
4. How to Use Corpse Piler Effectively
The Corpse Piler skill is the heart of the weapon. When activated, your character performs a flurry of slashes that deal both physical and fire damage while stacking bleed extremely fast.
PvE Strategies:
Against bosses, two or three consecutive uses of Corpse Piler can often trigger a bleed proc, removing a massive chunk of health.
Use a Spirit Ash summon to distract bosses, then punish them with Corpse Piler spam.
Conserve FP for when you need it most, as Corpse Piler consumes 6 FP per slash (12 for the full combo).
PvP Strategies:
Corpse Piler has deceptively long reach and wide hitboxes, catching roll attempts.
Mix up your timing—don’t spam it blindly, or experienced opponents will roll-catch you.
Bleed builds excel in PvP due to pressure, forcing your enemy to play defensively.
5. Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Extremely fast bleed build-up.
High DPS in both PvE and PvP.
Corpse Piler covers a wide area, good for crowd control.
Strong late-game scaling with Arcane.
Weaknesses:
Only obtainable late in the game.
Cannot be infused or buffed with external weapon skills.
Requires high Arcane investment.
Some bosses and enemies resist bleed (e.g., constructs, stone enemies).
6. Tips for Maximizing Rivers of Blood
Dual Katana Setup: Dual-wielding Rivers of Blood with another bleed katana (like Uchigatana or Nagakiba with Seppuku) maximizes bleed potential.
Invest in Arcane: Higher Arcane not only boosts damage but significantly speeds up bleed procs.
FP Management: Carry plenty of Cerulean Flasks if you plan to spam Corpse Piler.
Know Bleed-Immune Enemies: Against bleed-immune foes, lean on fire damage from Corpse Piler and standard katana attacks.
Spirit Summons Synergy: Aggro from summons allows you to unleash Corpse Piler freely without interruption.
7. Is Rivers of Blood Worth It?
Absolutely. Rivers of Blood is widely regarded as one of the strongest weapons in Elden Ring. While some players consider it “overpowered” or even controversial in PvP, there’s no denying that it’s fun, stylish, and highly effective. If you’re looking for a weapon that melts bosses and dominates duels, Rivers of Blood delivers.
Final Thoughts
Unlocking Rivers of Blood in Elden Ring requires patience—you won’t see it until the late game—but buy Elden Ring Runes it’s well worth the wait. Once you defeat Bloody Finger Okina at the Church of Repose, you’ll wield one of the deadliest katanas in the Lands Between. With its rapid bleed procs, flashy Corpse Piler skill, and strong scaling with Dexterity and Arcane, Rivers of Blood stands as a top-tier choice for both PvE and PvP. Master its timing, build around bleed, and you’ll carve through anything the game throws at you.