I might do an arcane build just for fun too.

How many are there and what do they do besides a trophy?

Doing a second run and the game is incredibly easy when you've gone through it once lol

4, two are missable, they get you the true ending of the game.

You only need 3 for the true ending

i actually beat the cleric beast. and after that the game got easier. mind u i restarted and went with a skill build with the cane. love how fast i can atteck. would always get hit in the middle of my attack before.

I rolled arcane with an elemental Ludwig's my first time around. Idk but arcane seems kinda useless for NG and NG+ until you get yourself some high-level gems which are very difficult to find. Theoretically a strength or quality build can scale just as well and then you can further buff with fire/bolt papers or Phantasm shell. The elemental damage has its advantages against different enemies, but a physical build will be much more consistent I've found. Kinda wishing I had gone with a Skill/Bloodtinge build now, especially considering my starting class (Noble Scion) was heavily geared towards it. Either way some people have been talking about absolutely decimating certain bosses with the Flamesprayer/Rosmarinus on an Arcane build, but I just don't find those weapons viable for the more difficult bosses in the Chalices. Regardless, my little arcane throwtogether got me through to a Platinum finishing at lvl 150 pretty easily. I'd imagine I could've gotten away with a lower SL had I not invested the extra points in strength to dick around with the cannon, and vita didn't need to be so high either.

Eventually you will learn of a safe place and you are given the option to tell her about it if you want.