Bloodhound‘s Fang – A Quality Weapon Scaling with Strength and Dexterity

The Bloodhound‘s Fang is one of the most versatile and powerful curved greatswords in Elden Ring. This mighty weapon scales incredibly well with both Strength and Dexterity, making it a top choice for players looking to build a quality-focused character. But exactly how well does it scale, and what‘s the best way to wield the Bloodhound‘s Fang for max damage?

I‘ve poured over 50 hours into Elden Ring using primarily the Bloodhound‘s Fang. It‘s brought me victory against all manner of foes from lowly soldiers to towering field bosses. Based on my extensive hands-on experience and research into the game‘s mechanics, I‘m going to fully break down this iconic weapon.

Let‘s dive in and settle the debate once and for all on whether the Bloodhound‘s Fang favors Strength or Dexterity!

An Overview of the Bloodhound‘s Fang

First, let‘s briefly summarize this curved greatsword‘s key stats:

• Deals physical and blood loss damage
• Weighs 8.5 lbs
• Requires 18 Strength and 17 Dexterity
• Starting attack power = 162
• D Strength scaling, C Dexterity scaling at max upgrade level

It cannot be infused with elemental damage or Ashes of War. But the default weapon skill Bloodhound‘s Finesse is extremely effective – allowing you to quickly close gaps and counterattack.

Now let‘s analyze exactly how well it scales…

Bloodhound‘s Fang Scaling Data

Here‘s a breakdown of the attack power by upgrade level along with Strength and Dexterity scaling:

As you can see, the Bloodhound‘s Fang starts off with D rank scaling in both Strength and Dexterity. But by max upgrade level, it reaches D Strength and C Dexterity – qualifying it as a quality weapon.

For comparison against other curved greatswords:

• Beastman‘s Cleaver = C Strength, D Dexterity
• Omen Cleaver = D Strength, D Dexterity
• Magma Wyrm‘s Scalesword = D Strength, D Dexterity

So at +10, the Bloodhound‘s Fang outclasses these similar options for quality builds based on its higher Dexterity scaling.

Now let‘s talk about how to allocate your stats to draw out the Bloodhound Fang‘s full potential!

Ideal Stats for the Bloodhound‘s Fang

Based on my experience using this weapon extensively, I highly recommend the following stats:

• Vigor: 30-40
• Mind: 15-20
• Endurance: 20-25
• Strength: 34-50
• Dexterity: 34-50

Let‘s analyze why this quality build approach is optimal:

Vigor – Since you‘ll be on the frontlines in close combat, having 30-40 Vigor gives you enough HP (around 1500 with decent armor) to avoid getting stunned and killed prematurely in battles. This leaves room for error while you master timing and dodges.

Mind – 15 Mind allows you to use the Bloodhound‘s Finesse skill 3 times before needing a flask. 20 Mind gives you 4 uses. The more, the better to maximize mobility.

Endurance – 20 Endurance nicely balances your equip load, allowing heavier armor if desired while still medium rolling. 25 lets you wear extremely heavy gear and tank hits.

Strength/Dexterity – Now here‘s where you get the juicy damage! With 34 points in each, you‘ll get these mighty attack ratings:

• One-handed = 402
• Two-handed = 603

Further investing up to 50 Strength and 50 Dexterity will grant even more devasting blows:

• One-handed = 432
• Two-handed = 648

So in summary – to truly unleash the Bloodhound Fang‘s full damage capabilities, you‘ll want 30-50 points in both Strength and Dex.

Playstyle Tips and Advanced Techniques

The Bloodhound‘s Fang rewards relentless aggression. Once you meet the minimum stats, practice mastering the Bloodhound Finesse to dart in and punish enemies after they whiff attacks.

You can also unleash long chains of heavy and light attacks to pressure groups of foes. Just be ready to dodge or use Bloodhound‘s Finesse to avoid being surrounded.

Now let‘s discuss some advanced tactics to take your Bloodhound Fang wielding to the next level:

Powerstancing – Dual wield the Bloodhound‘s Fang along with another curved greatsword like the Beastman‘s Cleaver. Hold down left weapon art to enter the powerstance, enabling unique movesets and greater damage at the cost of more stamina consumption.

Blood Loss Builds – The Bloodhound‘s Fang causes blood loss by default. For even deadlier hemorrhaging effects, powerstance it with weapons like the Mohgwyn‘s Sacred Spear. This synergistic pairing absolutely melts bosses!

Parrying – Bait enemy swings with the Bloodhound Fang then switch to a shield/weapon with parry skill. Riposte for massive damage!

So in closing, I hope my deep dive clearly showcases why the Bloodhound‘s Fang works phenomenally for quality builds – requiring hefty investment into both Strength and Dexterity to hit terrifying AR numbers. Just be aggressive, time your dodges and weapon skills properly, and even the mightiest foes will eventually crumble before you!

Let me know if you have any other questions about this incredible weapon!