One of the most devastating builds in Elden Ring revolves around the Blasphemous Blade — a greatsword that not only unleashes massive fire damage, but also heals you with each successful hit. By focusing your stats around Faith and choosing the right complementary gear, you can create a character capable of demolishing bosses while staying alive longer thanks to the sword’s powerful life-stealing ability.
This build is centered on Rykard’s signature weapon, the Blasphemous Blade, and particularly its weapon skill, Taker’s Flames. This skill raises the sword into the air, ignites it, and slams it down to release a wave of flames that damages enemies and restores health. By scaling this skill with Faith and ensuring consistent access to it through proper stat distribution and equipment, you can make your character a true force of destruction in the Lands Between.
Let’s break down how to make the most of the Blasphemous Blade — from stats and playstyle to armor and talismans.
How the Blasphemous Blade Build Works
To access the Blasphemous Blade, you must defeat Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, at Volcano Manor. After claiming his Remembrance, trade it with Finger Reader Enia at the Roundtable Hold to receive this mighty weapon. The true value of the Blasphemous Blade lies in its Taker’s Flames ability — which not only inflicts considerable fire damage but also returns a portion of health to the user with every successful strike.
This dual benefit of offense and healing makes the Blasphemous Blade a favorite among players who want sustainability in battle without constantly relying on flasks. The goal of this build is to maximize the frequency and effectiveness of Taker’s Flames through high Faith scaling, increased Focus Points (FP), and sufficient stamina to handle the sword’s weight and usage cost.
Since the weapon scales with Strength, Dexterity, and Faith, it’s technically a hybrid weapon, but prioritizing Faith is the most effective path to making this build truly shine — both in terms of raw damage and incantation support.
Recommended Stats for the Blasphemous Blade Build
To wield the Blasphemous Blade, you need minimum stats of 22 Strength, 15 Dexterity, and 21 Faith. From there, we suggest investing in the following core attributes:
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Faith (60): This stat is your priority. It boosts the power of Taker’s Flames and your incantations.
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Vigor (55): High health is key to surviving late-game encounters.
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Mind (29): Increases your FP pool, allowing more frequent use of Taker’s Flames.
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Endurance (30): Ensures you have enough stamina for attacks and dodging, while also managing equip load.
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Strength (22) and Dexterity (15): These meet the minimum requirements for the weapon.
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Intelligence and Arcane (9): These are not necessary for this build and can remain at base level.
This stat distribution assumes a character around level 150, which is typical for late-game builds. If you’re not satisfied with your progression, you can always respec using the game’s rebirth system.
Starting Class and Progression
The Confessor class is arguably the best starting point for a Blasphemous Blade build. It begins with high Faith and decent Strength and Dexterity, making the early game more manageable and smoothing your path toward the required stats.
While you won’t be able to obtain the Blasphemous Blade until later in the game, most players will naturally reach or surpass the weapon’s minimum requirements by the time they defeat Rykard, making any class viable in the long run.
Supporting Weapons and Incantations
To get the most out of your build, pair the Blasphemous Blade with a Sacred Seal to cast powerful Faith-based incantations. We recommend the Erdtree Seal +10 for its exceptional Faith scaling. It can be found in Volcano Manor, not far from where you acquire the Blasphemous Blade. Look for it in a locked cell guarded by an Omenkiller after entering from the Prison Town Church Site of Grace.
Some useful incantations to support this build include:
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Flame, Grant Me Strength – Boosts physical and fire attack power.
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Blessing of the Erdtree – Offers healing over time for extra survivability.
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Golden Vow – Temporarily increases attack and defense for you and nearby allies.
These buffs allow you to amplify your offensive potential while also ensuring that you’re not reliant solely on the healing effect of Taker’s Flames.
Armor and Talismans
For armor, look for pieces that strike a balance between poise, weight, and resistances. The Raging Wolf Set or Veteran’s Set are solid choices depending on your endurance and equip load.
As for talismans, the following are particularly effective with this build:
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Shard of Alexander – Enhances the power of Taker’s Flames.
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Erdtree’s Favor – Increases HP, stamina, and equip load.
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Radagon’s Scarseal or Sourceal – Boosts Strength for more damage (at the cost of taking slightly more damage).
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Fire Scorpion Charm – Increases fire damage output, synergizing well with Taker’s Flames.
With the right talismans equipped, you can push the potential of the Blasphemous Blade to incredible heights, especially when combined with incantation buffs and high Faith scaling.
Final Thoughts
The Blasphemous Blade build is both powerful and beginner-friendly. It offers incredible damage, the ability to self-heal during combat, and a flexible playstyle supported by Faith-based magic. Whether you’re facing tough bosses or hordes of enemies, this build gives you the tools to survive and dominate in Elden Ring.
By investing in the right stats, equipment, and incantations, you’ll transform your character into a divine juggernaut, capable of carving through any obstacle with flaming fury and unshakable endurance.