Elden Ring: Bleeding Thorns Mage Build
Starting Class: Astrologer
For this build, the Astrologer class is the perfect choice. As a sorcerer-focused class, it gives you high initial Intelligence and Faith—two stats that are crucial for scaling your magic power. The Astrologer class starts with access to many powerful spells and provides a strong foundation for quickly leveling up your core stats, making it ideal for the Bleeding Thorns Mage build.
To maximize your potential, focus on Intelligence (50) and Faith (50), as these stats will ensure that your Impenetrable Thorns spell does the most damage possible, while boosting your overall spellcasting ability. You'll also want to invest in Vigor (50) to ensure you can tank hits and continue casting without being interrupted, which is key in surviving the start-up frames of Impenetrable Thorns.
Key Stats: Intelligence 50, Faith 50, Vigor 50
For the Bleeding Thorns Mage build, your primary stats will be:
Intelligence (50): This is your core stat for magic damage. Impenetrable Thorns scales off Intelligence, so this stat is critical for maximizing your offensive capabilities.
Faith (50): While Faith is typically associated with incantations, for this build, it helps you achieve the necessary scaling for certain Elden Ring Items that boost sorceries, such as Alberich's Set. Faith also aids in enhancing other spells, adding synergy to your overall magical toolkit.
Vigor (50): The more Vigor you have, the more health you can stack, which is essential when using a glass-cannon-like build. With the ability to cast powerful spells like Impenetrable Thorns, you'll want enough Vigor to stay alive while dodging or tanking incoming damage.
Essential Elden Ring Items for the Bleeding Thorns Build
Now that we've covered the key stats, let's talk about the Elden Ring Items that will elevate your Bleeding Thorns Mage Build. The items we're going to highlight will boost your Thorn sorceries, give you more protection during spellcasting, and increase the damage of your Impenetrable Thorns spell.
1. Albinauric Staff
The Albinauric Staff is one of the most important Elden Ring Items for this build. This staff not only increases your Intelligence but also enhances the power of Thorn sorceries, including Impenetrable Thorns. By using this staff, you can drastically boost the damage output of your spell, allowing you to melt through even the toughest enemies and bosses. To find the Albinauric Staff, travel to Volcano Manor and look for the Prison Town Church Site of Grace. From here, head out of the church, go right, and jump along the rooftops to reach the staff's location.
2. Alberich's Set
To complement your powerful sorceries, you'll need a solid armor set that boosts your magical abilities. Alberich's Set is perfect for this build, as it boosts the power of Thorn sorceries, including Impenetrable Thorns. The armor set can be found in the Fortified Manor, located near a Site of Grace in the Lands Between. Once you have this set, you'll gain both magical protection and a significant damage boost to your thorns-based spells. The set's focus on sorcery scaling makes it a great choice for any mage looking to harness the power of thorns.
3. Opaline Hardtear and Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear
When it comes to enhancing your defensive capabilities while casting Impenetrable Thorns, Opaline Hardtear and Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear are vital Elden Ring Items. The Opaline Hardtear provides a shield against incoming damage, preventing you from being interrupted during the spell's start-up frames. On top of that, the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear boosts your magic damage, further enhancing the power of your thorns spells.
These two tears work together to create a buffer against damage while allowing you to cast at full strength, ensuring that you're not at risk when launching your devastating attacks. Keep in mind that you can use these in combination with your flask, adding an extra layer of protection and offense when facing tough enemies.
4. Impenetrable Thorns Spell
Impenetrable Thorns is the cornerstone of this entire build, and rightfully so. The spell itself is incredibly potent: it sends out three spiraling thorns that track and ensnare enemies. Once hit by these thorns, enemies begin to accumulate bleed buildup, dealing substantial damage over time. The power of this spell doesn't just lie in its offensive capabilities; it also offers a slowdown effect, making it a fantastic choice against both multiple enemies and single bosses.
When used up close, Impenetrable Thorns can create an instant wall of thorns in front of you, trapping enemies and preventing them from attacking, which makes it a brilliant crowd control tool. This spell is essential for clearing large groups or fighting off aggressive bosses without needing to rely solely on physical attacks.
How to Use the Bleeding Thorns Mage Build Effectively
To master the Bleeding Thorns Mage build, the key is timing and positioning. You'll want to use Impenetrable Thorns when you're at a safe distance, allowing the thorns to track your enemies and cause them to suffer the Hemorrhage buildup. For bosses and tougher enemies, casting Impenetrable Thorns up close can keep them from moving, which is crucial for avoiding their high-damage attacks.
As mentioned earlier, Opaline Hardtear and Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear will provide the protection you need to safely cast your spells without worrying about incoming damage. Using these in combination with Alberich's Set will allow you to enhance both your defense and offensive output, ensuring that you're fully prepared to handle whatever Elden Ring throws at you.
Final Thoughts
The Bleeding Thorns Mage build in Elden Ring is one of the most satisfying sorcery-based playstyles you can experiment with. By combining the power of Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane, you create a devastating combination of magic and bleed effects that can quickly overwhelm your enemies. With the right Elden Ring Items—such as the Albinauric Staff, Alberich's Set, and Opaline Hardtear—this build becomes a formidable force in both PvE and PvP.
Whether you're fighting bosses or clearing mobs, Impenetrable Thorns makes quick work of any foe foolish enough to stand in your way. With some clever positioning and the right item synergy, you'll be unstoppable.