February 5, 2026
Is Putrescent Knight Weak To Bleed?
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Is Putrescent Knight Weak To Bleed?

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The Putrescent Knight, a fearsome optional boss in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, plays like a relentless foe mixing heavy melee, frost-fire magic, and mounted charges all wrapped in an aura of decay. If you’re wondering whether the Putrescent Knight is weak to bleed, holy, fire, or other statuses, this guide breaks down its vulnerabilities and how to exploit them for an easier battle.

Key Weaknesses

1. Bleed Vulnerability

One of the most effective strategies is to stack Bleed buildup. Dexterity or hybrid Arcane builds work well with fast Attacks — especially katanas, twinblades, or bleed-infused weapons. Once the Bleed bar fills, a massive burst of damage follows, making this a top-tier tactic.

2. Susceptible to Holy Damage

The Putrescent Knight takes significantly increased damage from Holy-infused weapons or incantations. Sacred-affinity weapons like Black Steel Greathammer or Devonia’s Hammer, and incantations such as Discus of Light, exploit this weakness.

3. Physical and Fire Weaknesses

Raw physical attacks also deal solid damage, though not as potent as bleed or Holy damage. Fire works moderately well, but is not as effective as Holy or Bleed.

4. Scarlet Rot Susceptibility

Unusually, the Putrescent Knight is not immune to Scarlet Rot. Using Rot-inflicting gear, like Rotbone Arrows or a Rotten Staff, can whittle down its health over time.

Building an Effective Strategy

Bleed Build Setup

  • Equip fast bleed weapons (katanas, twinblades).
  • Boost Dexterity and Arcane stats for maximum effect.
  • Use bleed-infused Ashes of War or Talismans that increase Bleed buildup.

Apply pressure quickly with fast combos to trigger devastating Bleed bursts.

Holy Build Setup

  • Use Sacred-affinity weapons like Black Steel Greathammer or Devonia’s Hammer.
  • Cast Holy incantations like Discus of Light for ranged Holy damage.
  • Consider faith-based Talismans (e.g. Faith-Knot Crystal Tear, Holy-Shrouding Tear).

Holy builds excel at burst damage and bypassing the boss’s resistances.

Combat Tactics and Boss Moveset

Mounted Charges & Spin Attacks

Watch for the Putrescent Knight’s mounted combos: he jumps off his horse, spins with his cleaver, and the horse charges. Dodge toward the boss during spins; dodge toward the horse during charges.

Blade Boomerangs

When he throws his cleaver like a boomerang, stay still and let it pass you don’t need to dodge.

Frost-Fire Phase

Below half health, the Knight conjures black goo and emits frost-fire that inflicts Frostbite. Dodge or jump over these areas especially the spiraling flames.

Mounting-Up Window

After dismounting from his horse and performing combos, he pauses briefly to remount. That’s your opening for one to two quick strikes.

Recommended Builds and Setup

You can excel with either tactical setup:

  • Bleed-focused DPS: Katanas or twinblades with bleed scaling, Arcane boosts, bleed Talismans (e.g., Crimson Seed).
  • Holy burst build: Black Steel Greathammer or Sacred Relic Sword with Faith-enhancing Talismans and Holy incantations.
  • Scarlet Rot support: Rotbone Arrows or Rotten Staff as fallback to apply continuous damage.

Using Spirits & Summons

Spirit Ashes especially the Mimic Tear or NPC summon Thiollier greatly improve your chances. They distract the boss and give you openings for critical hits.

Survival Tools

  • Use Crystal Tears or Wondrous Physick mixing Ice Resistance and Damage Negation for frost-fire protection.
  • Consider Fire-resistance Talismans like Flamedrake Talisman.

Should You Go Bleed or Holy?

If you’re agile and wielding a dex-based bleed build, Bleed is optimal quick burst kills and effective against this high-health boss. For summoned builds or slower players, Holy offers powerful, glamorously thematic damage, especially when combined with ranged incantations.

So yes the Putrescent Knight is weak to bleed. But don’t overlook its holy vulnerability or the unusual Scar­let Rot option. Tailor your build: bleed for fast burst, holy for heavy strikes, or rot for status degradation. Combine your chosen strategy with Spirit Ashes and defensive tools, and you’ll conquer this tough yet beatable enemy. With patience, timing, and strategic planning, you’ll bring down the Putrescent Knight and claim his Remembrance of Putrescence.