Navigating the expansive and unforgiving landscapes of Elden Ring requires a powerful arsenal to survive the brutal challenges scattered across the Lands Between. Among the most popular and devastating armaments available to players is the Rivers of Blood katana, a unique weapon celebrated for its ability to shred enemy health bars through high bleed accumulation. Securing this coveted blade takes a significant amount of progress, as it is locked away in one of the game's late-stage environments.
Reaching the Mountaintops of the Giants
To begin your hunt for this legendary katana, you must first gain access to the frozen wastes of the Mountaintops of the Giants. This endgame biome becomes accessible only after you successfully navigate through Leyndell, Royal Capital, and defeat Morgott, the Omen King. Once this major narrative milestone is completed, Melina will grant you the Rold Medallion required to operate the Grand Lift of Rold.
After riding the massive lift upward, you will find yourself surrounded by dangerous snowfields and high-level adversaries. From the initial landing point, you need to traverse the treacherous terrain by moving toward the eastern region of the map. Players should stay alert during this journey, as the local environments feature steep cliffs, heavy blizzards, and powerful enemies that can quickly overwhelm unprepared adventurers.
Locating the Church of Repose
Your ultimate destination within the snowy peaks is a dilapidated structure known as the Church of Repose, located in the southern portion of the region. To reach this specific landmark safely, you can follow the main paths heading past the giant frozen lake and head further south of the First Church of Marika. Navigating this area requires careful exploration, as the path winds upwards through narrow passages guarded by massive hostile creatures.
As you approach the church courtyard, the atmosphere will shift, indicating that an NPC invasion is imminent. It is highly recommended to rest at a nearby Site of Grace before stepping into the immediate vicinity of the ruins to ensure you do not lose your hard-earned runes. Reaching this zone triggers the final trial standing between you and the blade.
Defeating Bloody Finger Okina
Upon entering the perimeter of the Church of Repose, your multiplayer capabilities will temporarily lock as Bloody Finger Okina materializes to challenge you. This hostile phantom aggressively wields the very weapon you are seeking, meaning he can inflict rapid hemorrhage damage if his strikes connect. Keeping a safe distance or relying on well-timed parries is essential to mitigating his swift combos.
Okina is a formidable opponent due to his relentless AI behavior and his tendency to use the weapon's devastating unique skill. You must look for brief openings when he finishes an attack animation or attempts to recover his stamina. Once you successfully deplete his health bar and defeat him, he will drop both the Okina Mask and the highly sought-after Rivers of Blood katana.
Important Missable Warning
A crucial factor that every Tarnished must keep in mind is the specific timing required to acquire this weapon during a single playthrough. If you progress too far into the main storyline and defeat the Fire Giant boss nearby, Bloody Finger Okina will no longer invade your world. Missing this encounter completely locks you out of obtaining the blade until you start a New Game Plus cycle or trade with another online player.
