Bloody Helice

Notes

• Requires 16 Strength, 19 Dexterity and 17 Arcane, and weighs 8. Arcane is its strongest Physical scaling attribute, followed by Dexterity and then Strength. It deals Physical piercing damage rather than split elemental damage.
• Its starting 55 Blood Loss buildup improves through Arcane and reinforcement. An Arcane investment helps both its ordinary damage and bleed, provided the enemy is vulnerable to blood loss.
• Dynast's Finesse begins with an evasive backward turn for 5 FP. A heavy attack follows with the long thrust for 7 FP, and another heavy input adds two more cuts for 7 FP. All three stages cost 19 FP.
• The first damaging thrust deals 33 stance damage, while the final two contacts deal 11 each. You do not have to spend FP on the last pair if the first thrust already creates a safe chance to retreat or riposte.
• Its follow-ups use the weapon's attack power and carry its bleed. The opening movement has an evasive window, but that protection does not cover every later thrust.
• Shard of Alexander improves the damaging follow-ups. Ansbach's clothing improves the dynastic skill attacks, while Spear Talisman improves Physical piercing damage when you hit during an enemy's attack.
• Godfrey Icon does not improve this sequence. Waiting after the backward movement is not charging the thrust.
• As a heavy thrusting sword, it has long forward attacks but needs more recovery time than a small thrusting sword. Watch your spacing when fighting beside a wall or a drop.
• Uses Somber Smithing Stones to +10. Its skill and affinity are fixed, and grease or weapon enchantments cannot be applied.
• The weapon is inside the chest beyond Writheblood Ruins' Sanguine Noble. Magnus the Beast Claw's nearby invasion sign belongs to Varre's quest and is not required to open this chest.