These are informations I might have already written in different building threads but I will collect them here.
First thing you have to consider (and I can´t say it often enough): Do you want to level as a Bleeding Build or do you want to switch to Bleeding Damage near the end of leveling? Keep in mind, early in the game (Act 2) there is an area, which is really hard for Bleeding Builds with some enemies with the highest Bleeding Resistances ingame (up to117 % in Old Arkovia) and the bane of all DoT-Builds: Reflection.
If you want to do that (you must be a glutton for punishment like me…), some hints:
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Start leveling as Shaman. Get Devouring Swarm and Grasping Vines and you are relatively safe. If you want to go Melee, get a point in Dual Blades (Trickster) or wait till Level 22 (Archon) to get the relic which provides the use of two weapons. Use Savagery as LMB.
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Get Bloodsworn Talisman at Level 22. It gives a nice skill which helps (and you need the relic later for crafting). Use components on your weapons (and armor). Serrated Spikes are cheap and if you can afford, use things like Bloody Whetstone.
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Use whatever you find on gear. If you read “Gorefeast”…Jackpot. 3 Versions of this axe (23, 58, 82), all great. But there are more of really good epic weapons in game, just look out for bleeding damage. Boris always drops one of his Pit Master´s axes e. g…
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Don´t give up in Old Arkovia. Yeah, Undeads really suck without a lot of RR but just go through it and go to the next stage. I strongly recommend not to play Step of Torments. You will hate it.
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If you see items even “Redeemer” or something like that with the “Bloodletter”-Prefix…take it. It´s worth it for leveling.
Devotions:
I always take these devotions, which proccs need leveling, first. So starting with Falcon (with great Falcon Swoop (bind it to Devouring Swarm or Savagery for a shotgun in their face!) to get to Huntress and Rend as soon as possible. Rend is the most important procc you want to have. On the way to Huntress, take Ghoul for Chaos points and perhaps Fox for Eldritch…and then you soon will have enough for Mogdrogen (just some more Ascnedant,like Owl Empty Throne, Wolverine). The rest can wait for later.
Gear:
As said, use whatever you find and fits you. Boris is always nice (if he´s there) to give you his axes and Cronley might drop a nice ring. On Faction Items, I will only mention those especially for Bleeding Damage, feel free to have a look for other stats you need (OA,DA, Resistances).
- Devil´s Crossing: –
- Rover´s: Rhowari Grips (Gloves), Rhowari Footpads (Boots), Rhowari Justice (1H-Axe)
- Homestead: –
- Black Legion: Legion Casque (Helmet), Legion Spaulders (Shoulders), Legion Cuirass (Chest), Legion Slicer (1H-Sword), Legion War Seal (Epic Ring), Legion Mark of Blades (Epic Medal)
- Kymon´s Chosen: Chosen Crimsonguard (Shield)
- Order of Death´s Vigil: –
- The Outcast: – , but you want to have the augments later
- Coven of Ugdenbog: Coven Combatant Casque (Helmet), Coven Warder Spaulders (Shoulders), Coven Warder Chestguard (Chest), Coven Vile Effigy (Epic Off-Hand), Coven Blade Pendant (Epic Amulet), Mark of Lethal Intents (Legendary Medal (Blueprint))
- Barrowholm: Wendigo Bladed Headguard (Helmet), Wendigo Dread Mask (Helmet), Wendigo Vile Headguard (Helmet), Wendigo Tempered Pauldrons (Shoulders), Wendigo Tempered Cuirass (Chest), Wendigo Warder Waistguard (Belt), Wendigo Cleaver (Epic 1H-Axe), Howl of the Wendigo (Legendary 1H-Mace (Blueprint)), Wendigo Repeater (Epic 1H-Ranged), Wendigo Decapitator (Epic 2H-Axe), Wendigo Defender´s Mark (Epic Medal)
- Malmouth Resistance: Malmouth Blade Seal (Epic Ring)
- Cult of Bysmiel: Bysmiel Defender Puldrons (Shoulders), Bysmiel Lethal Waistguard/Girdle (Blueprints), Bloodborer (Legendary 1H-Ranged (Blueprint)), Ateph´s Command (Augment)
- Cult of Dreeg: Dreeg Protector (Epic Shield), Rancor (Legendary 2H-Sword (Blueprint)), Dreeg Blade Seal (Epic Ring), Mark of the Farseer (Legendary Medal (Blueprint))
- Cult of Solael: Solael Bloodshroud Mantle (Shoulders), Solael Combatant Spaulders (Shoulders), Bloodrender (Legendary 1H-Sword (Blueprint)), Solael Warhammer (Epic 1H-Mace), Solael Bloodweaver (Epic Scepter), Bloodsurge (Legendary Amulet (Blueprint))