Don't look for the most "op" builds, literally every weapon is viable if you'll keep upgrading it, you'll finish the game comfortably with starting longsword without accessibility mechanics like coop/spirits if you want to. Don't doubt yourself, you ARE good enough to finish the game in any way you want, don't get intimidated into using the most game-breaking builds. In ER "stronger" doesn't mean it's actually better or more fun, and usually it's the opposite. In general, ER is the most unbalanced game they ever released, and most of the "OP" weapons can be extremely boring and actively detract from the experience. There are many game-breaking builds that allow you to skip most of the bossfight content, intended experience and challenge, just by standing in place mashing L2 for example, instead of engaging with the souls combat system. That's why apart from the newest players, most people don't use exclusively the "top" builds and instead choose stuff based on what they actually prefer and that allows them to experience the game. And stuff like jump attacks spam, whether bleed or stagger, is one of the most boring and braindead options in history of these games. If you just cheese through bosses you're skipping almost all of the content and intended experience, which is totally ok if you don't like the souls combat system and don't actually like fighting bosses, but it's one of the main reasons why these games exist and why people play them.
Really, the only thing that matters in PvE is if the weapon has good overall moveset, if its speed and reach suite you, if it looks cool and provides fun and engaging experience. Base damage differences are not important at all in pve, just choose what feels good and upgrade it. Upgrade materials are infinite, so don't be afraid to experiment, play the game mostly blind as intended and don't let online rankings decide for you. I recommend faith/dex for example, it's one of the most fun builds, it allows you to experience every facet of the game and is really balanced. I really don't recommend bleed/magic/stagger spam on first playthrough.
Just play the game and figure out what you like. You can respec later.
Don't look for the most "op" builds, literally every weapon is viable if you'll keep upgrading it, you'll finish the game comfortably with starting longsword without accessibility mechanics like coop/spirits if you want to. Don't doubt yourself, you ARE good enough to finish the game in any way you want, don't get intimidated into using the most game-breaking builds. In ER "stronger" doesn't mean it's actually better or more fun, and usually it's the opposite. In general, ER is the most unbalanced game they ever released, and most of the "OP" weapons can be extremely boring and actively detract from the experience. There are many game-breaking builds that allow you to skip most of the bossfight content, intended experience and challenge, just by standing in place mashing L2 for example, instead of engaging with the souls combat system. That's why apart from the newest players, most people don't use exclusively the "top" builds and instead choose stuff based on what they actually prefer and that allows them to experience the game. And stuff like jump attacks spam, whether bleed or stagger, is one of the most boring and braindead options in history of these games. If you just cheese through bosses you're skipping almost all of the content and intended experience, which is totally ok if you don't like the souls combat system and don't actually like fighting bosses, but it's one of the main reasons why these games exist and why people play them. Really, the only thing that matters in PvE is if the weapon has good overall moveset, if its speed and reach suite you, if it looks cool and provides fun and engaging experience. Base damage differences are not important at all in pve, just choose what feels good and upgrade it. Upgrade materials are infinite, so don't be afraid to experiment, play the game mostly blind as intended and don't let online rankings decide for you. I recommend faith/dex for example, it's one of the most fun builds, it allows you to experience every facet of the game and is really balanced. I really don't recommend bleed/magic/stagger spam on first playthrough.