The Ultimate Elden Ring Weapon Tier List

An Elden Ring weapons tier list reflects the game’s highly diverse combat mechanics. Based on the build you excel at (or simply trying out), a weapon can amplify your synergy with the rest of your loadout. Since there are almost 400 weapons available in the game, we won’t blame you for feeling the weight of the paradox of choice! 

In this article, we will closely look at the best (and worst) weapons based on different playstyles. Whether you’re wielding a STR-with-DEX build like a samurai or a pure STR build like a praiseworthy Elden Lord, there’s a top-tier weapon waiting to be in your hands.

Table of Contents

• S Tier Weapons
• A Tier Weapons
• B Tier Weapons
• C Tier Weapons
• D Tier Weapons
• E Tier Weapons
• F Tier Weapons

S Tier Elden Ring Weapons

S Tier weapons in Elden Ring offer the best reliability, movesets, and damage output in all scenarios. They are easily the best PvP weapons in Elden Ring and can melt bosses and mobs across the Lands Between.

Recommended Weapons: Blasphemous Blade, Dark Moon Greatsword, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear, Rivers of Blood, Sword of Night and Flame

Weapon	Description	Stat Requirements	Best For Build Type
Fallingstar Beast Jaw	Gravity weapon that shoots projectiles and staggers foes	STR 34, DEX 12, INT 20	STR / INT
Blasphemous Blade	Greatsword that restores HP on kills and unleashes a strong fire wave via Taker’s Flame	STR 22, DEX 15, FAI 21	STR / FAI
Dark Moon Greatsword	INT weapon that inflicts frost damage (beam) on heavy attacks, and boosts magic damage	STR 16, DEX 11, INT 38	INT
Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear	Colossal spear with Bloodboon Ritual that causes massive AoE bleed buildup	STR 24, DEX 14, ARC 27	ARC / STR
Rivers of Blood	Katana with Corpse Piler that inflicts Hemorrhage damage and quick slashes	STR 12, DEX 18, ARC 20	DEX / ARC
Sword of Night and Flame	Casts either a magic beam or a fiery slash with Night-and-Flame Stance	STR 15, DEX 17, INT 11	DEX / INT
Death’s Poker	Ghostflame greatsword that triggers an AoE explosion	STR 15, DEX 17, INT 11	DEX / INT
Moonveil	Katana that fires a projectile with Transient Moonlight	STR 12, DEX 18, INT 23	DEX / INT
Star Fist	Spiked fists with poise damage and high bleed buildup	STR 15, DEX 9	STR / ARC
Bloodfiend’s Arm (SotE)	A colossal club with high bleed buildup	STR 28, ARC 16	STR / ARC
Messmer’s Flamberg (SotE)	Greatsword with Flame Skewer that inflicts fire and madness thrusts	STR 14, DEX 17, FAI 14	DEX / FAI
Milady (SotE)	Fast greatsword with powerful reach, scaling, and speed	STR 12, DEX 18	DEX / Quality
Beast Claw Greathammer (SotE)	Colossal hammer with powerful shockwave skill	STR 27, DEX 7	STR
Dragon Slayer’s Cragblade (SotE)	Colossal weapon with rock-shattering strikes and powerful STR scaling	STR 25. DEX 14	STR
Envoy’s Long Horn	A unique bubble-shooting hammer with AoE scaling	STR 23, DEX 11, FAI 18	FAI
Black Bow	Shortbow with great range, scaling and speed	STR 9, DEX 20	DEX
Lion Greatbow	Extremely strong greatbow with Radahn’s Spears	STR 22, DEX 18	STR
Pulley Crossbow	Fires three bolts at once, leading to massive burst damage output	STR 16, DEX 16	DEX

1. Fallingstar Beast Jaw

Weapon Type: Colossal Weapon

Damage Type: Magic / Strike

This gravity-charged weapon fires multiple gravity projectiles and looks awesome while doing so. It’s a great pick for STR/INT hybrid builds, especially if you are a sorcerer looking for a melee weapon. You can get this weapon by defeating the Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast on Mt. Gelmir.

Stat requirements:

Str: 34

Dex: 12

Int: 20

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

2. Blasphemous Blade

Weapon Type: Greatsword

Damage Type: Standard / Fire

This Greatsword scales well with STR, DEX, and FAI, and is known for its powerful self-sustain capabilities and unique fire-based weapon art. The Taker’s Flame skill lets you release a wide cone of fire that deals massive damage and heals you for each enemy hit. This makes it a highly reliable weapon when you’re surrounded or clearing out several enemies at popular rune farming locations. You can get it by trading Rykard’s Remembrance at the Roundtable Hold.

Stat requirements:

Str: 22

Dex: 15

Int: 0

Fai: 21

Arc: 0

3. Dark Moon Greatsword

Weapon Type: Greatsword

Damage Type: Standard/Frost/Magic 

This iconic Greatsword is a must-have for INT-based builds, since it’s basically the successor to the classic Moonlight Greatsword. This one builds Frost and Magic damage, and once the skill is activated, it fires a frost-infused projectile on every heavy attack. Even with its high INT requirement and weight, it has a perfect synergy with INT-based playstyles that use staves. You earn this sword at the end of Ranni’s quests in Nokstella and use it once you’ve leveled up enough.

Stat requirements:

Str: 16

Dex: 11

Int: 38

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

4. Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear

Weapon Type: Great Spear

Damage Type: Pierce / Hemorrhage / Fire

This is a three-pronged spear that causes blood loss buildup and powerful AoE bleed explosions, thanks to its Bloodboon Ritual skill. It’s extremely powerful in most scenarios, given its crowd-control potential and bloodflame fire damage. While its moveset is a bit slow, it’s still worth the hassle for ARC-heavy builds prioritizing area-wide attacks. You can get it through Mohg’s Remembrance.

Stat requirements:

Str: 24

Dex: 14

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 27

5. Rivers of Blood

Weapon Type: Katana

Damage Type: Slash / Hemorrhage

This katana has earned its reputation through its Corpse Piler skill that lets you multi-slash and build Hemorrhage damage with a lightning-fast speed. Its quick moveset and boss-killer damage make it an easy pick for most classes, but ARC-focused players may make the most of it. You can find it by defeating Bloody Finger Okina around the Church of Repose in the Mountaintops of the Giants region.

Stat requirements:

Str: 12

Dex: 18

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 20

6. Bloodfiend’s Arm (SotE)

Weapon Type: Great Club

Damage Type: Strike / Hemorrhage

This weapon’s Bloodfiend’s Arm pairs well with STR and ARC builds, offering you a chance at inflicting incredible Hemorrhage buildup and poise-breaking attacks. It can apply pressure to even the mightiest bosses in the SotE, making the progression much smoother once you’re done with the base game bosses. You can acquire this weapon by farming Bloodfiend enemies in the Shadow Realm, near Prospect Town.

Stat requirements:

Str: 28

Dex: 0

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 16

7. Sword of Night and Flame

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Magic / Fire

This unique weapon casts powerful beam and flame attacks based on how you use its Night-and-Flame Stance. It adds a lot more versatility to your combat, and is a great pick for INT/FAI-based builds in most PvE situations. To get this sword, you’ll need to travel to Caria Manor, which is locked behind a door accessible through some rooftop parkour. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 12

Dex: 12

Int: 24

Fai: 24

Arc: 0

8. Death’s Poker

Weapon Type: Greatsword

Damage Type: Standard / Magic / Frost

This one’s high up on the Elden Ring greatsword tier list due to its frost damage potential, thanks to the Ghostflame Ignition skill. This technique creates a lingering flame that detonates with a heavy attack, leading to burst and stagger effect. It’s a solid DEX/INT-based weapon that can be acquired by defeating the Death Rite Bird in southern Caelid, near the Southern Aeonia Swamp Bank.

Stat requirements:

Str: 15

Dex: 17

Int: 11

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

9. Moonveil

Weapon Type: Katana

Damage Type: Slash / Hemorrhage / Magic

As one of the best INT-based weapons in the game, Moonveil thrives on the Transient Moonlight skill that lets you perform a fast-projectile-based slash that inflicts physical and magical damage. It’s ideal in situations where you need a melee fallback option. You can obtain this stylish sword by defeating the Magma Wyrm enemy in Gael Tunnel (Caelid). 

Stat requirements:

Str: 12

Dex: 18

Int: 23

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

10. Star Fist

Weapon Type: Fist Weapon

Damage Type: Strike / Hemorrhage

This weapon turns a set of spiked gauntlets into a powerful weapon that lets you perform bleed buildup and poise damage to foes around you. Every strike is balanced by rapid attacks and high stagger output, making it a superb pick in PvP fights due to its stun effect. Find it on a corpse in Leyndell, Royal Capital. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 15

Dex: 9

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

A Tier Elden Ring Weapons

Elden Ring’s A Tier weapons are powerful and viable across most of the game. Even though these weapons lack sheer dominance, they still provide a unique edge that excels in multiple builds and scenarios. They often require high commitment and stat investment to show true potential. In the right hands, these weapons are capable of making it to the endgame without any problems. 

Recommended Weapons: Black Knife, Bloodhound’s Fang, Nagakiba, Rellana’s Twin Blades (SotE), Anvil Hammer (SotE)

Weapon	Description	Stat Requirements	Best For Build Type
Black Knife	Dagger with Blade of Death that deals max HP depletion + Holy damage over time	STR 8, DEX 12, FAI 18	DEX / FAI
Black Blade	Colossal sword with Destined Death skill that deals Holy damage and applies a debuff to an enemy’s HP	STR 34, DEX 12, FAI 20	STR / FAI
Ruins Greatsword	Heavy colossal sword with pure STR scaling and gravity wave attacks	STR 50, DEX 16	STR
Starscourge Greatsword	Dual colossal swords that use gravity magic to pull and slam with the Starcaller Cry skill	STR 38, DEX 12, INT 15	STR / INT
Magma Blade	Curved sword with fire-based slashes and a skill that creates lava pools	STR 9, DEX 15, FAI 16	DEX / FAI
Wing of Astel	Curved sword that deals a charged heavy attack that sends forward a magic arc	STR 7, DEX 17, INT 20	DEX / INT
Bloodhound’s Fang	Curved Greatsword with Bloodhound’s Finesse skill that blends slashing and dodging	STR 18, DEX 17	STR / DEX
Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword	Curved greatsword with lava-based attacks and innate fire damage	STR 24, DEX 15, FAI 18	STR / FAI
Hand of Malenia	Unique katana with Waterfowl Dance that performs a multi-slash storm of attacks	STR 18, DEX 22	DEX
Nagakiba	A long katana with an impressive range and Ash of War compatibility	STR 18, DEX 22	DEX
Eleonora’s Poleblade	Twinblades with fire and bleed attack, and rapid spinning moves	STR 12, DEX 21, ARC 19	DEX / ARC
Antspur Rapier	Rapier with Rot buildup and Ash of War flexibility that dominates in PvP	STR 10, DEX 20	DEX / ARC
Bloody Helice	Heavy thrusting sword with Dynast’s Finesse skill that lets you bait and punish foes	STR 16, DEX 19, ARC 17	DEX / ARC
Dragon King’s Cragblade	Heavy thrusting sword with a unique lightning teleport attack	STR 18, DEX 37	DEX
Devourer’s Scepter	Colossal weapon with Devourer of Worlds skill that deals AoE fire and knockback attacks	STR 24, DEX 20, FAI 25	STR / FAI
Great Stars	Great hammer with a passive bleed and HP restoration upon hits	STR 22, DEX 10	STR / ARC
Prelate’s Inferno Crozier	Large flaming great hammer with Prelate’s Charge that melts through PvE enemies	STR 45, DEX 8	STR
Axe of Godfrey	Great axe with a powerful shockwave skill that’s solid in PvP fights	STR 42, DEX 14	STR
Giant-Crusher	Strong STR-based colossal weapon with immense poise-breaking potential	STR 60	STR
Cross-Naginata	Spear with a katana’s moveset and innate bleed damage	STR 16, DEX 20	DEX / ARC
Siluria’s Tree	FAI-based great spear with strong projectile damage	STR 27, DEX 13, FAI 20	FAI
Dragon Halberd	Frost and lightning slacking with a unique spinning attack skill	STR 22, DEX 10	STR / DEX
Golden Halberd	High base damage and powerful buff skill	STR 30, DEX 14, FAI 12	STR / FAI
Guardian’s Swordspear	Halberd-esque weapon with high Ash of War flexibility	STR 15, DEX 16	DEX
Nightrider Glaive	Top-tier standard halberd with STR-scaling and reliable moveset	STR 26, DEX 10	STR
Halo Scythe	Reaper with Miquella’s Ring of Light, which deals Holy damage at range	STR 13, DEX 15, FAI 17	DEX / INT
Rellana’s Twin Blades (SotE)	Twin blades with dual-element slashes and magic or frost AoE	STR 10, DEX 20, INT 21	DEX / INT
Rakshasa’s Great Katana (SotE)	Katana with high raw power, a wide reach, and decent bleed buildup damage	STR 22, DEX 18	STR / ARC
Anvil Hammer (SotE)	Colossal hammer that scales well with STR and lands simple yet heavy attacks	STR 36, DEX 6	STR
Sword Lance (SotE)	Polearm with sword-esque attacks that are fast, with flexible Ash of War compatibility	STR 12, DEX 20	DEX
Backhand Blade (SotE)	Unique sword with a reverse grip moveset and fast combos, ideal for PvP	STR 10, DEX 20	DEX
Pulley Bow	Long-range and solid scaling, making it great for sniping	STR 11, DEX 11	DEX
Erdtree Greatbow	Deals holy damage and synergizes well with FAI-based builds	STR 20, DEX 12	FAI / STR
Light Crossbow	Basic but solid early-game pick, decent reload speed	STR 8, DEX 10	DEX
Jar Cannon	A colossal weapon with huge burst potential	STR 34, DEX 12	STR

1. Black Knife

Weapon Type: Curved Greatsword

Damage Type: Slash

This is one of the best early-game weapons that can be scaled and carried into the endgame, thanks to its excellent skill called Bloodhound’s Finesse. It lets you perform a wise slash, followed by a quick backward leap. This punishes your enemy while avoiding a counter-attack. It has strong stagger potential, bleed building, and powerful DEX/STR scaling. You can find it in Limgrave by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil (a boss hunted by Blaidd during his quests) in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol.

Stat requirements:

Str: 18 (D)

Dex: 17 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

2. Bloodhound’s Fang

Weapon Type: Curved Greatsword

Damage Type: Slash

This is one of the best early-game weapons that can be scaled and carried into the endgame, thanks to its excellent skill called Bloodhound’s Finesse. It lets you perform a wise slash, followed by a quick backward leap. This punishes your enemy while avoiding a counter-attack. It has strong stagger potential, bleed building, and powerful DEX/STR scaling. You can find it in Limgrave by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil (a boss hunted by Blaidd during his quests) in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol.

Stat requirements:

Str: 18 (D)

Dex: 17 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

3. Nagakiba

Weapon Type: Katana

Damage Type: Slash / Hemorrhage / Pierce

This katana’s exceptionally long blade lets you perform long-range attacks, which can be great for creating some space between you and the enemy. Its high compatibility with several Ashes of War makes it a beast in the right hands, offering a versatile approach to both PvE and PvP scenarios. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 18 (D)

Dex: 22 (B)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

4. Rellana’s Twin Blades (SotE)

Weapon Type: Twinblades

Damage Type: Slash / Frost / Magic

These twinblades are among the most stylish and fastest weapons in the game, letting you inflict magic and frost damage. Its unique skill unleashes a swift, swirling AoE elemental attack ideal for fast-paced builds. You can find this weapon in one of the early-game boss locations in SotE, by defeating Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, in Castle Ensis.

Stat requirements:

Str: 13 (D)

Dex: 16 (D)

Int: 16 (D)

Fai: 16 (D)

Arc: 0

5. Antspur Rapier

Weapon Type: Thrusting Sword

Damage Type: Pierce / Scarlet Rot

This one’s a deceptively powerful weapon with Scarlet Rot buildup compatible with a wide range of Ashes of War. Its speed and range allow you to constantly apply pressure on enemies, especially in PvP scenarios. You can find this weapon in the Altus Plateau, dropped by Maleigh Marais near The Shaded Castle. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 10 (D)

Dex: 20 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

6. Prelate’s Inferno Crozier

Weapon Type: Great Hammer

Damage Type: Strike / Fire

This colossal weapon is an easy recommendation on Elden Ring’s strength weapons tier list, thanks to its brutal, flame-based skill, Prelate’s Charge. When you time it correctly, you’ll become a battering ram that can clear several foes and melt down bosses when needed. Find this in Fort Laiedd on Mt. Gelmir. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 45 (C)

Dex: 8 (E)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

7. Cross-Naginata

Weapon Type: Spear

Damage Type: Pierce / Hemorrhage

In the casual and competitive PvP scene, this weapon shows off its potential with its katana-speed thrusts and innate bleed damage. Its Ashes of War flexibility lets you create strong status-inflicting builds. You can find this one in the Gael Tunnel (Caelid), dropped by a Cleanrot Knight. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 16 (D)

Dex: 20 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

8. Wing of Astel

Weapon Type: Curved Sword

Damage Type: Magic / Slash

This curved sword blends fast swings with charged heavy attacks that launch magic projectiles. Its Nebula skill lets you create an AoE void burst that’s great for crowd control, making it a good pick for DEX/INT hybrid builds. Find this weapon in a chest inside Uhl Palace Ruins (Ainsel River). 

Stat requirements:

Str: 7 (E)

Dex: 17 (D)

Int: 20 (D)

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

9. Anvil Hammer (SotE)

Weapon Type: Colossal Hammer

Damage Type: Strike

This heavy hammer hits hard and can potentially break an enemy’s stance instantly. Even with its slow swing speed, you can land impactful blows that are extremely strong against one-on-one encounters, especially in PvE situations. You can find this hammer on a corpse in Taylew’s Ruined Forge. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 39 (B) 

Dex: 10 (E)

Int: 11 (E)

Fai: 20 (D)

Arc: 0

10. Bloody Helice

Weapon Type: Heavy Thrusting Sword

Damage Type: Hemorrhage / Pierce

This ARC-scaling sword is built around aggressive movesets, showing off those ARPG sword moves. Its Dynast’s Finesse skill lets you dodge and counter in one fluid motion, making it a popular PvP pick that comes with passive bleed buildup damage. You can find this sword in Writheblood Ruins in Altus Plateau.

Stat requirements:

Str: 16 (E)

Dex: 19 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 17 (D)

11. Great Stars

Weapon Type: Great Hammer

Damage Type: Strike / Hemorrhage

This one’s a great blend of sustain and aggressive damage. The passive bleed buildup and unique effect that stores HP on hits and rewards a relentless, close-range combat style. Combine it with something like Godrick’s Great Rune, and you’ll have a reliable synergy! Find the weapon in a carriage in the Altus Plateau.

Stat requirements:

Str: 22 (C)

Dex: 12 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

B Tier Elden Ring Weapons

The B Tier weapons aren’t the greatest, but aren’t the worst either. Weapons here are situationally strong pics that are a bit uncommon, and a niche-pick for many. B-Tier is where weapons are designed specifically for certain builds, and are usually outclassed by others. However, they can be strong in early-game scenarios and synergize well with certain stat scaling. 

Recommended Weapons: Claymore, Zamor Curved Sword, Sword of St. Trina, Zweihander, Scavenger’s Curved Sword

Weapon	Description	Stat Requirements	Best For Build Type
Blade of Calling	Lightweight dagger with holy projectile skill that’s great for FAI builds	STR 6, DEX 13, FAI 15	DEX / FAI
Cinquedea	Dagger with powerful STR scaling that boosts bestial incantations	STR 10, DEX 10	STR
Scorpion’s Stinger	Dagger with innate Scarlet Rot buildup, great for PvP builds	STR 6, DEX 12	DEX / ARC
Coded Sword	FAI-focused sword that deals pure Holy damage and bypasses shields	STR 0, DEX 0, FAI 20	FAI
Ornamental Straight Sword	A dual Straight sword that’s dual-wielded with its skill	STR 10, DEX 14	DEX
Regalia of Eochaid	Straight sword with Eoichaid’s Dancing Blade that manipulates the weapon	STR 12, DEX 18, ARC 15	DEX / ARC
Sword of St. Trina	Inflicts Sleep status effect with its Misty skill, powerful in certain PvP situations	STR 10, DEX 14, INT 16	DEX / INT
Velvet Sword of St. Trina (SotE)	The DLC’s version of the same sword from the base game, with a fast, piercing moveset	STR 10, DEX 14, INT 16	DEX / INT
Warhawk’s Talon	Unique straight sword that’s fast, sharp, and ideal for early-game PvE	STR 10, DEX 16	DEX
Alabaster Lord’s Sword	Curved greatsword with stylish gravity magic	STR 18, DEX 12, INT 16	STR / INT
Banished Knight’s Greatsword	A powerful greatsword with high base damage and Ashes of War compatibility	STR 17, DEX 9	STR
Claymore	Iconic greatsword with a well-balanced moveset and scaling	STR 16, DEX 13	STR / DEX / Quality
Flamberge	Greatsword with innate bleed damage, powerful when infused	STR 15, DEX 14	STR / ARC / Quality
Helphen’s Steeple	Magic greatsword with a unique trait that buffs itself with ghostflame	STR 19, DEX 10, INT 22	INT
Iron Greatsword	Heavy greatsword with high base damage that works in a few situations	STR 18, DEX 10	STR
Knight’s Greatsword	Basic greatsword with balanced DEX/STR scaling	STR 16, DEX 12	STR / DEX
Sword of Milos	Grants FP recovery on kills, great for spam-heavy PvE builds	STR 15, DEX 19	DEX / ARC / INT
Grafted Blade Greatsword	Colossal sword with good poise damage	STR 40, DEX 14	STR
Royal Greatsword	Sword with strong INT scaling and frostburst skill	STR 26, DEX 18, INT 22	STR / INT
Watchdog’s Greatsword	Colossal sword with decent Ashes of War flexibility and scaling	STR 30	STR
Zweihander	Lightweight colossal sword with strong stagger potential	STR 19, DEX 11	STR / Quality
Bandit’s Curved Sword	Light curved sword with fast attacks and innate bleed damage	STR 9, DEX 13	DEX / ARC
Scavenger’s Curved Sword	Curved sword with innate bleed damage, powerful when dual-wielded	STR 9, DEX 14	DEX / ARC
Shamshir	Fast curved sword with strong crit modifier	STR 7, DEX 16	DEX
Beastman’s Cleaver	Curved greatsword with strong base damage and swift swings	STR 25, DEX 8	STR
Omen Cleaver	Curved greatsword with strong poise damage and bleed buildup	STR 19, DEX 16	STR / ARC
Zamor Curved Sword	Frost curved sword with AoE attacks and ice damage	STR 16, DEX 18	DEX / INT
Meteoric Ore Blade	Katana with magic and physical damage, along with a gravity skill	STR 15, DEX 14, INT 18	DEX / INT
Gargoyle’s Twinblade	Heavy twinbade with pure STR scaling that deals high poise damage	STR 18, DEX 15	STR
Godskin Peeler	Twinblade with excellent scaling and Black Flame Tornado skill that helps in PvP situations	STR 17, DEX 22	DEX / ARC / INT
Cleanrot Knight’s Sword	Sword with Holy scaling and great Ashes of War compatibility	STR 16, DEX 16, FAI 14	FAI / DEX
Estoc	Thrusting sword with long range and solid critical damage	STR 11, DEX 13	DEX
Frozen Needle	Rapier with projectile thrusts that inflict ice damage	STR 11, DEX 18	DEX / INT
Godskin Stitcher	Thrusting sword with good reach and poise damage, useful in several situations	STR 14, DEX 17	DEX
Icerind Hatchet	Axe with Hoarfrost Stamp that applies frost in AoE attacks	STR 11, DEX 16	DEX / INT
Iron Cleaver	Basic axe with strong STR scaling, fast swings, and poise damage	STR 15, DEX 7	STR
Ripple Blade	Scales purely with ARC and is great for status builds	STR 11, DEX 11, ARC 20	ARC
Sacrificial Axe	Axe that restores FP on kills, making it a solid pick for PvE gameplay	STR 16, DEX 19	STR
Stormhawk Axe	Axe with wind-based AoE skill that can be fun in certain situations	STR 19, DEX 15	STR
Warped Axe	Slow and heavy-hitting base damage that works with STR builds	STR 24, DEX 8	STR
Axe of Godrick	Great early-game pick with wide swings in certain scenarios	STR 34, DEX 22	STR / DEX
Executioner’s Greataxe	STR-scaling great axe with wide sweeping attacks	STR 34	STR
Great Omenkiller Cleaver	Curved weapon with wide AoE attacks and bleed damage	STR 23, DEX 13	STR / ARC
Longbow	Standard long-range bow with good accuracy	STR 9, DEX 14	DEX
Greatbow	Generic hard-hitting ranged option	STR 20, DEX 20	STR
Heavy Crossbow	Slow but strong, effective with explosive or status bolts	STR 10, DEX 8	STR / DEX
Hand Ballista	Similar to the Jar Cannon, but weaker in damage potential	STR 30, DEX 14	STR

1. Claymore

Weapon Type: Greatsword

Damage Type: Standard / Pierce

This classic greatsword is known for its versatility and balanced scaling. Its thrusting attacks let you perform heavy swings compatible with most Ashes of War, making it an ideal pick for a no-brainer weapon early on in the game. You can find it at Castle Morne in the Weeping Peninsula.

Stat requirements:

Str: 16 (D)

Dex: 13 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

2. Zamor Curved Sword

Weapon Type: Curved Greatsword

Damage Type: Slash / Frost

This sword’s curved design and unique Zamor Ice Storm skill make it one of the most iconic weapons in the game, especially when you just wish to have fun. It deals solid INT-scaling frost damage with wide swings, making it great for crowd control. You can get it by defeating the Ancient Hero of Zamor in the Giant-Conquering Hero’s Grave.

Stat requirements:

Str: 16 (D)

Dex: 18 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

3. Sword of St. Trina

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Sleep

This rare weapon inflicts the Sleep status effect, putting your enemies to sleep when you perform Mists of Slumber weapon art. It’s good in PVE situations, but it needs to synergize well with the rest of your build. You can find it in the Forsaken Ruins behind a Stonesword Key gate.

Stat requirements:

Str: 10 (D)

Dex: 12 (D)

Int: 14 (E)

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

4. Zweihander

Weapon Type: Colossal Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Pierce 

This sword is known for its deceptive speed and low weight relative to other weapons in this class. Unlike bulkier colossal swords, the Zweihander lets you quickly recover from its swing animations, making it a viable pick during aggressive stagger-focused fights. You can purchase it from the Isolated Merchant in Weeping Peninsula, just south of the Fourth Church of Marika. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 19 (D)

Dex: 11 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

5. Scavenger’s Curved Sword

Weapon Type: Curved Sword

Damage Type: Slash / Hemorrhage

This curved sword has one of the highest DPS potentials on a B Tier list, especially when dual-wielded. Its innate bleed pairs great with an aggressive playstyle, making it extremely versatile, regardless of the class you pick. It provides consistent damage against foes over time. You can get this weapon by looting a corpse in Mt. Gelmir.

Stat requirements:

Str: 9 (D)

Dex: 14 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

6. Frozen Needle

Weapon Type: Thrusting Sword

Damage Type: Frost / Pierce

This rapier is decent for frost-based builds and INT hybrids, since it launches ice projectiles with heavy attacks. Its lightweight design and ranged utility make it an excellent pick for early-to-mid-game PvE. You can find this weapon in Kingsrealm Ruins, Liurnia.

Stat requirements:

Str: 11 (E)

Dex: 21 (S)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

7. Meteoric Ore Blade

Weapon Type: Katana

Damage Type: Magic / Slash

This weapon shows off gravity-infused attributes and offers high base damage that deals massive stagger to enemies. It may fall off a bit during endgame scenarios, but it’s still a solid pick for INT/DEX-based builds. You can find it in a chest in Caelid Waypoint Ruins.

Stat requirements:

Str: 15 (D)

Dex: 14 (E)

Int: 18 (D)

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

8. Godskin Stitcher

Weapon Type: Thrusting Sword

Damage Type: Pierce

This unique weapon is a great choice if you’re into a mix of reach and reliability when attacking. It offers a swift, thrust-focused moveset with impressive poise damage that works well with infusions. You can acquire this weapon by defeating Godskin Noble at Volcano Manor. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 14 (D)

Dex: 17 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

9. Sword of Milos

Weapon Type: Greatsword

Damage Type: Standard / Pierce

This solid greatsword restores +5 FP upon each kill, making it a superb pick for Spirit Ash-heavy playstyles or sorcerers who wish to experiment a little. Its Shriek of Milos skill debuffs enemy defenses, simplifying fights. You can get this weapon by eliminating Dung Eater through his quests, or his invasion at the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.

Stat requirements:

Str: 15 (D)

Dex: 19 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

C Tier Elden Ring Weapons

Welcome to the C Tier, where weapons are functional but deeply flawed. Much like you, Tarnished. They have niche utility, cool designs, or decent performance, but usually suffer from either awkward movesets or underwhelming skills. Regardless of their performance, they’re still true to the all-too-familiar Soulslike mechanics. 

Recommended Weapons: Miquellan Knight’s Sword, Golden Epitaph, Uchigatana, Flowing Curved Sword (SotE), Bloodstained Dagger

Weapon	Description	Stat Requirements	Best For Build Type
Bloodstained Dagger	Fast dagger with innate bleed damage, decent for early builds	STR 5, DEX 9	DEX / ARC
Erdsteel Dagger	Dagger with FAI-based scaling, useful for buffing builds	STR 6, DEX 12, FAI 14	FAI / DEX
Great Knife	Bleed dagger with a stealthy playstyle for PvE	STR 6, DEX 12	DEX / ARC
Wakizashi	Off-hand dagger/katana hybrid, great when dual-wielded	STR 9, DEX 13	DEX
Broadsword	Classic sword with high base damage potential	STR 10, DEX 10	STR / Quality
Golden Epitaph	Straight sword with Holy buffs, best against undead foes	STR 10, DEX 10, FAI 14	FAI
Longsword	Standard starter sword with good foundation	STR 10, DEX 10	Quality
Lordsworn’s Straight Sword	Standard starter sword with good early PvE potential	STR 10, DEX 10	Quality
Miquellan Knight’s Sword	Stylish sword with Frost AoE skill	STR 11, DEX 13, INT 13, FAI 13	INT / FAI
Noble’s Slender Sword	Thin blade with great reach, good for PvP	STR 7, DEX 17	DEX
Sword of Light (SotE)	Straight sword with a glowing Holy weapon art	STR 10, DEX 15, FAI 14	FAI
Sword of Darkness (SotE)	A dark counterpart to Sword of Light, with similar Holy/Shadow traits	STR 10, DEX 15, FAI 14	FAI
Bastard Sword	Midweight greatsword with decent stats that can be reliable in certain situations	STR 16, DEX 10	STR
Gargoyle’s Blackblade	Holy-based colossal sword that can be fun in FAI builds	STR 18, DEX 10, FAI 22	STR / FAI
Gargoyle’s Greatsword	Colossal sword with reliable STR scaling	STR 24, DEX 10	STR
Inseparable Sword	FAI-based weapon with Holy damage and interesting lore	STR 18, DEX 18, FAI	FAI
Lordsworn’s Greatsword	Greatsword with solid moveset and infusion potential	STR 16, DEX 10	STR / Quality
Troll’s Golden Sword	Colossal sword with Holy-based scaling and decent damage	STR 29, FAI 10	STR / FAI
Beastman’s Curved Sword	Swift curved sword with strong base damage	STR 13, DEX 11	DEX
Flowing Curved Sword (SotE)	A stylish sword with fluid animations, decent for PvE	STR 9, DEX 17	DEX
Grossmesser	Large curved sword with strong poise damage	STR 15, DEX 15	STR
Mantis Blade	Curved sword with a unique folded blade moveset	STR 9, DEX 14	DEX
Scimitar	Basic curved sword with fast swings, decent for early-game scenarios	STR 7, DEX 13	STR
Serpent-God’s Curved Sword	Restores HP on kills, best used as a utility item	STR 9, DEX 13	DEX
Dismounter	Large curved sword with strong stagger potential	STR 19, DEX 16	STR
Onyx Lord’s Greatsword	Gravity-based curved greatsword with a stylish skill	STR 20, DEX 16, INT 16	STR / INT
Dragonscale Blade	Lightning katana with short range, good in certain situations	STR 12, DEX 20	DEX / FAI
Uchigatana	Started katana with bleed damage, decent for early-game fights	STR 11, DEX 15	DEX / ARC
Rogier’s Rapier	Rapier with magic damage and impressive visuals	STR 8, DEX 17, INT 13	DEX / INT
Highland Axe	Axe with a war cry buff (passive), good for STR builds	STR 20, DEX 8	STR
Gargoyle’s Great Axe	Heavy axe with strong stagger, slow recovery	STR 24, DEX 8	STR
Stone Club	Weapon with decent STR scaling but low versatility	STR 22	STR
Loretta’s War Sickle	Magic halberd with decent AoE damage	STR 20, DEX 15, INT 20	INT
Caestus	Simple fist weapon with decent speed	STR 8, DEX 8	STR / DEX
Katar	Fist weapon with piercing attacks, niche pick for PvP players	STR 8, DEX 13	DEX
Smithscript Dagger (SotE)	Dagger with a projectile skill that can be fun in certain fights	STR 5, DEX 13	DEX
Shortbow	Decent speed but poor range, can be useful in PvP	STR 6, DEX 8	DEX
Composite Bow	High fire rate and bleed compatibility, but limited range	STR 8, DEX 15	DEX / ARC
Arbalest	High-poise crossbow, but slow and heavy	STR 12, DEX 8	STR

1. Miquellan Knight’s Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Frost

This FAI-based straight sword is a stylish take on the Frost-infused theme of weapons, pushing you to scale it with INT and FAI for the best results. Its AoE frost effect can be a fun way to fight, but it may hold you back from endgame challenges. Find it at Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree, dropped by Miquellan Knights.

Stat requirements:

Str: 11 (D)

Dex: 11 (D)

Int: 0 

Fai: 16 (E)

Arc: 0

2. Golden Epitaph

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Holy

This Faith-based weapon applies a Holy weapon buff, which can turn a situation in your favor. It’s particularly useful in areas filled with undead enemies. It may feel underwhelming against other foes, however. You can get this weapon in Auriza Hero’s Grave.

Stat requirements:

Str: 12 (D)

Dex: 10 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 14 (D)

Arc: 0

3. Uchigatana

Weapon Type: Katana

Damage Type: Pierce / Slash / Hemorrhage

This starter katana is fast, reliable, and comes with innate bleed buildup. It’s early to mid-game, but it starts falling off the further you progress through Elden Ring. This is a starting weapon for the Samurai class, or you can later find it in the Deathtouched Catacombs.

Stat requirements:

Str: 11 (D)

Dex: 15 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

4. Flowing Curved Sword (SotE)

Weapon Type: Curved Sword

Damage Type: Slash

This one has an elegant moveset, with smooth combos and unique reverse-grip style attacks. It can be a situational pick, ideal if you’re a DEX player who wants style over substance. You can find it in the Shadow Keep’s Storehouse.

Stat requirements:

Str: 9 (D)

Dex: 17 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

5. Stone Club

Weapon Type: Great Hammer

Damage Type: Strike

This “bonk” weapon has little going for it, except for the mindless fun and STR-smashing power. In the right hands, it can stagger foes and break poise without any problems. It’s usually dropped by club-wielding Stone Diggers in caves. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 18 (C)

Dex: 8 (E)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

6. Bloodstained Dagger

Weapon Type: Dagger

Damage Type: Standard / Hemorrhage

This is a basic dagger with an innate bleed buildup trait with fast attack speeds. It’s great for early-game builds but suffers later in the campaign. You can find it by defeating the dagger-wielding Misbegotten in Leyndell and Castle Morne.

Stat requirements:

Str: 9 (C)

Dex: 12 (E)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

7. Beastman’s Curved Sword

Weapon Type: Curved Sword

Damage Type: Slash

This fast-swinging weapon has powerful base damage and decent early-game usage. It’s great for dual-wielding early on, but should be replaced when approaching mid-game content. You can get this weapon by eliminating Beastmen in Crumbling Farum Azula. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 13 (C)

Dex: 11 (E)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

8. Jawbone Axe

Weapon Type: Axe

Damage Type: Standard

This primitive-looking axe has a low stat requirement and minimal range, making it a decent starting weapon for the STR-focused Tarnished out there. However, its low stagger potential makes it a tough pick. This axe can be found by farming skeletal warriors in the Altus Plateau.

Stat requirements:

Str: 14 (C)

Dex: 8 (E)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

9. Noble’s Slender Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard

This thin, rapier-esque sword has fantastic reach and is a great pick in PvP duels. However, its lack of innate effects and weak scaling make it a niche pick. You can find this by farming wandering nobles in the Limgrave and Altus Plateau regions. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 8 (E)

Dex: 11 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

10. Gargoyle’s Greatsword

Weapon Type: Colossal Sword

Damage Type: Standard

This heavy sword has great STR scaling, but suffers from a slow moveset. In the best hands, it can easily break an enemy’s poise and land punishing hits when timed correctly. You’ll need to eliminate Valiant Gargoyles in Siofra Aqueduct to find this weapon. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 18 (C)

Dex: 10 (E)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

D Tier Elden Ring Weapons

D Tier weapons are either completely outclassed by their peers or suffer from a design flaw that keeps them in the underwhelming range. However, you can effectively use them in highly specific circumstances and require some level of investment and commitment based on your build. They can certainly be fun in themed builds or roleplay sessions. 

Recommended Weapons: Lazuli Glintstone Sword, Nox Flowing Sword, Main-Gauche, Crescent Moon Axe, Shotel, Rapier, Twinblade, Greataxe, Spiked Spear

Weapon	Description	Stat Requirements	Best For Build Type
Dagger	The most basic dagger with fast and light attacks	STR 5, DEX 9	DEX
Main-Gauche	Decent dagger with good critical hit damage	STR 6, DEX 12	DEX
Parrying Dagger	Designed entirely for parrying, good for practicing	STR 5, DEX 13	DEX
Cane Sword	Stylish but low damage straight sword	STR 8, DEX 11	DEX
Carian Knight’s Sword	Straight sword for INT-based scaling and magical projectiles	STR 10, DEX 10, INT 18	INT
Lazuli Glintstone Sword	Has a sorcery projectile with strong INT-based scaling	STR 8, DEX 9, INT 16	INT
Forked Greatsword	Bleed-scaling greatsword with low base damage stats	STR 14, DEX 16	DEX / ARC
Eclipse Shotel	Unique FAI weapon with a Deathblight effect	STR 10, DEX 25, FAI 30	FAI
Falchion	Curved sword with a basic moveset	STR 9, DEX 13	DEX
Nox Flowing Sword	Fluid weapon with a transforming heavy attack	STR 8, DEX 15	DEX
Shotel	Armor-piercing curved sword with low Ashes of War compatibility	STR 9, DEX 14	DEX
Warpick	Piercing hammer with niche PvE damage potential	STR 11, DEX 9	STR
Serpentbone Blade	Katana with poison buildup and high DEX requirement	STR 11, DEX 22	DEX / ARC
Twinned Knight Swords	Twinblade with cool movesets but low poise damage	STR 16, DEX 18	DEX
Twinblade	Flashy and fast movesets without strong infusions	STR 10, DEX 18	DEX
Noble’s Estoc	Long thrusting sword with useful range	STR 7, DEX 17	DEX
Rapier	Fast and basic weapon, good for low-level farming	STR 7, DEX 12	DEX
Great Epee	Heavy thrusting sword with decent base damage	STR 15, DEX 15	Quality
Battle Axe	The most basic axe with decent early-game viability	STR 12, DEX 8	STR
Crescent Moon Axe	Stylish curved sword; only good for low-level fights	STR 15, DEX 11	STR
Greataxe	Heavy and slow with decent stagger potential	STR 30, DEX 8	STR
Club	Starting weapon for certain classes, decent for the first few hours of the game	STR 10	STR
Hammer	Simple blunt weapon with STR-based scaling	STR 12, DEX 8	STR
Mace	Slightly decent weapon against undead foes	STR 12, DEX 8	STR
Spiked Club	Adds bleed to the standard Club’s damage	STR 12, DEX 7	STR / ARC
Cleanrot Spear	Unique Holy spear with a strong thrusting moveset	STR 16, DEX 16, FAI 18	FAI
Spear	Basic version of a spear, decent for early-game scenarios	STR 10, DEX 10	DEX
Spiked Spear	Adds bleed to the basic spear, better with an infusion	STR 12, DEX 15	DEX / ARC
Glaive	Halberd-esque weapon with weighty swings	STR 18, DEX 15	STR
Halberd	Base halberd with balanced scaling and flexibility	STR 14, DEX 12	STR / Quality
Thorned Whip	Bleed whip with a decent range, useful against certain low-level foes	STR 8, DEX 16	DEX /ARC
Albinauric Bow	Poor stats and scaling, outclassed by other bows	STR 7, DEX 18	DEX
Crepus’s Black-Key Crossbow	High stealth value but weak overall	STR 14, DEX 16	DEX
Soldier’s Crossbow	A basic crossbow with weak stats and reload speed	STR 8, DEX 10	DEX

1. Lazuli Glintstone Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Magic

This magical straight sword shows off sorcery projectiles on heavy attacks, and fits into an INT-based build. If you’re a sorcerer looking for a melee backup, this can be it! You can find it as a rare drop from Raya Lucaria Scholars in the academy — a place for some of the best story moments in the game.

Stat requirements:

Str: 8 (D)

Dex: 9 (E)

Int: 16 (D)

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

2. Nox Flowing Sword

Weapon Type: Curved Sword

Damage Type: Slash

With a slick moveset and cool animations, this weapon stands out as a unique pick on this list. It collapses and extends like a whip, having a flowing, heavy attack. However, even with its Bloodborne-esque flair, its damage is mediocre. You can get this by defeating the Nox Swordstress & Nox Priest duo in Nokron.

Stat requirements:

Str: 8 (E)

Dex: 15 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

3. Main-Gauche

Weapon Type: Dagger

Damage Type: Standard

This weapon’s high critical damage multiplier makes it a riposte-focused dagger. While it’s fast and has decent critical scaling, its utility outside parry setups quickly falls off, making it hard to rely on. To find this weapon, you can explore Stormveil Castle. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 7 (D)

Dex: 15 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

4. Crescent Moon Axe

Weapon Type: Axe

Damage Type: Standard

This axe’s striking appearance, high poise damage, and strong STR-based scaling make it a decent choice for certain PvE scenarios. Yet, there aren’t really any unique traits that make it stand out from other axes. You can find it by defeating Leyndell Knights. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 25 (D)

Dex: 15 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

5. Shotel

Weapon Type: Curved Sword

Damage Type: Slash

This weapon is meant to bypass shields with its curved, armor-penetrating design. It can be helpful in certain situations, but its usage in PvP is rare to none. It’s a stylish pick, more than a competitive tool. You can find it by farming skeletal enemies and exploring the Altus Plateau region. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 9 (E)

Dex: 19 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

6. Rapier

Weapon Type: Thrusting Sword

Damage Type: Pierce

This one’s the most basic rapier in the game, with low stat requirements and quick pokes that can be useful when provoking certain enemies. While other such weapons easily outclass it, it’s still a decent pick early on if you’re just trying out a rapier for the first time. It’s available from Twin Maiden Husks or as a starting weapon for certain classes.

Stat requirements:

Str: 7 (D)

Dex: 12 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

7. Twinblade

Weapon Type: Twinblade

Damage Type: Slash

The basic Twinblade offers a fast and aggressive playstyle, with combos that are fun to use. Yet, it lacks innate status effects, which can worsen your playstyle if you’re not careful. If you still wish to try it out, find it in the Dragon-Burnt Ruins in Limgrave. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 10 (D)

Dex: 18 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

8. Greataxe

Weapon Type: Greataxe

Damage Type: Standard

This massive weapon with high poise has a raw impact early on in the game, but lacks flexibility and speed. However, it’s a great introduction to great axes (or colossal weapons in general) if you’re ready for an STR-based build. Purchase this one from a merchant in Mt. Gelmir.

Stat requirements:

Str: 30 (D)

Dex: 8 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

9. Spiked Spear

Weapon Type: Spear

Damage Type: Pierce / Hemorrhage

This basic spear includes bleed buildup, which gives it a certain edge in status-based builds, especially if you’re trying out something like this for the first time. Yet, it lacks the needed range and scaling for mid-to-late-game content. You can find the weapon in the Cliffbottom Catacombs. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 14 (D)

Dex: 16 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

10. Carian Knight’s Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Magic

This magical blade with projectile attacks is a lovely pick if you’re new to INT-based builds and playstyles. Ideally, you want to use it for a bit until you move to something much stronger and reliable. This weapon is dropped by Moongrum, Carian Knight, in Raya Lucaria.

Stat requirements:

Str: 10 (D)

Dex: 10 (D)

Int: 18 (C)

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

E Tier Elden Ring Weapons

In the E Tier, weapons are purely for novelty and aesthetic. Some do look cool, even if it means dying to the boss for the 100th time. These are usually the least effective weapons in Elden Ring, and usually only offer stats more suitable in early areas of the game.

Recommended Weapons: Crystal Knife, Crystal Sword, Gargoyle’s Black Blades, Celebrant’s Sickle, Short Sword

Weapon	Description	Stat Requirements	Best For Build Type
Crystal Knife	Dagger with innate Magic damage and slow weapon skill	STR 6, DEX 12, INT 9	DEX / INT
Ivory Sickle	Curved dagger with innate Magic damage for novelty builds	STR 6, DEX 11, INT 13	DEX / INT
Crystal Sword	Sword made of crystal, splits Magic and Physical damage without infusions or buffs	STR 13, DEX 10, INT 15	STR / INT
Rotten Crystal Sword	a Scarlet Rot variant of the Crystal sword with poor scaling and damage	STR 13, DEX 10, INT 15	STR / INT / ARC
Short Sword	A short and basic sword with a simple moveset	STR 8, DEX 10	Quality
Gargoyle’s Black Blades	Dual-wielded colossal weapons that look intimidating but are slow	STR 18, DEX 10, FAI 22	STR / FAI
Celebrant’s Sickle	A weak dagger that generates Runes on hits	STR 6, DEX 13	DEX

1. Crystal Knife

Weapon Type: Dagger

Damage Type: Standard / Magic

This one’s a short and fast weapon that splits magical and physical damage, and has a stylish crystalline design. However, it suffers from low base damage and poor scaling, making it a sluggish pick. Find this one in Academy Crystal Cave.

Stat requirements:

Str: 8 (D)

Dex: 12 (D)

Int: 9 (D)

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

2. Crystal Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard / Magic

This crystalline blade has a clean design and split damage type, making it a decent pick for INT-based sorcerers during the early hours of the game. However, it falls off the longer you use it in mid-game or endgame scenarios. You can find the sword in the Village of the Albinaurics.

Stat requirements:

Str: 13 (D)

Dex: 10 (E)

Int: 15 (D)

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

3. Gargoyle’s Black Blades

Weapon Type: Colossal Twinblades

Damage Type: Standard / Holy

These blades have a dominating look on the battlefield, and scale alright with FAI-based builds, but suffer from slow wind-ups and poor scaling. It’s ineffective against several endgame enemies, but can be a niche pick purely for aesthetic purposes. You can find them by defeating Black Blade Kindred in Forbidden Lands.

Stat requirements:

Str: 18 (C)

Dex: 10 (E)

Int: 0

Fai: 22 (D)

Arc: 0

4. Celebrant’s Sickle

Weapon Type: Dagger

Damage Type: Slash

While it’s one of the weakest daggers in the game, it does grant Runes on hits, which makes it a unique weapon. It can certainly be fun when you’re just farming resources and recording your gameplay for meme videos, but that’s about it. You can get it as a drop from Celebrant enemies in Dominula, Windmill Village.

Stat requirements:

Str: 6 (E)

Dex: 11 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

5. Short Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard

This basic weapon with a short reach and generic moveset is like a starter pack for those playing Elden Ring for the first time. It’s a nice pick for STR/DEX classes trying out melee combat, but they should seriously consider other weapons as their go-to options. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 8 (D)

Dex: 10 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

F Tier Elden Ring Weapons

Welcome to the worst of the worst in Elden Ring! These weapons are so bad, you’ll likely survive better by not using them. But, in case you’re a fan of the “You Died” screen or simply looking to make memes, by all means, have some fun with the following weapons.

Recommended Weapons: Weathered Straight Sword, Varre’s Bouquet, Torchpole, Celebrant’s Cleaver, Monk’s Flamemace

Weapon	Description	Stat Requirements	Best For Build Type
Weathered Straight Sword	A broken and rusted sword with extremely low damage	STR 8, DEX 10	Quality
Varre’s Bouquet	A bouquet of flowers that inflicts Bleed damage	STR 8, DEX 10, ARC 24	ARC
Torchpole	A torch and spear hybrid that lights up dark areas	STR 8, DEX 12	DEX
Celebrant’s Cleaver	A weak cleaver that rewards Runes per hit	STR 10, DEX 8	STR
Forked Hatchet	A twinblade axe with innate bleed damage	STR 9, DEX 14	DEX / ARC
Hand Axe	A basic axe with simple move sets	STR 9, DEX 8	STR
Monk’s Flamemace	A flame-infused hammer with awkward animations	STR 15, DEX 10	STR / FAI
Curved Club	A primitive weapon that offers little to no utility	STR 14, DEX 8	STR

1. Weathered Straight Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Damage Type: Standard

This sword is rusted, broken, and honestly, not too great to look at. Its base damage is pretty bad, and the weapon itself lacks any notable passive effects. It’s outclassed by almost every other weapon in Elden Ring, and players can find it in the hands of generic NPC enemies.

Stat requirements:

Str: 7 (D)

Dex: 10 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

2. Varre’s Bouquet

Weapon Type: Hammer

Damage Type: Strike / Hemorrhage

Equal parts hilarious, bittersweet, and disappointing, this “weapon” is wielded by White-Faced Varre himself (yes, the creepy dude). Its silly attack animations and minimal damage often make it a hilarious pick when you want to take a break from Elden Ring’s serious tones. You can get it by defeating Varre.

Stat requirements:

Str: 8 (E)

Dex: 16 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 24 (C)

3. Torchpole

Weapon Type: Spear

Damage Type: Standard / Fire

This weapon is exactly what it sounds like: It’s a torch on a stick that you can play around with. It can help you as a light source in dark spaces and caves, and even deal some fire damage, but that’s about it. It’s best left for roleplays or meme builds. You can buy it from Nomadic Merchants.

Stat requirements:

Str: 14 (D)

Dex: 15 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

4. Celebrant’s Cleaver

Weapon Type: Axe

Damage Type: Standard

This axe grants you a few Runes per hit, but the payoff isn’t as mighty as you’d expect it to be. Overall, it’s an awful weapon with no notable attributes, and possibly one of the weakest axes in the game. You can get it by eliminating celebrants in Dominula, Windmill Village. 

Stat requirements:

Str: 12 (D)

Dex: 8 (D)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

5. Monk’s Flamemace

Weapon Type: Hammer

Damage Type: Strike / Fire

While this weapon sounds cool and intimidating, it’s underwhelming and useless. Its fire damage does little to impact a fight, and you’re honestly better off using incantations with some of the best staves in Elden Ring. If you still want to try it, you can farm it through Fire Monk enemies.

Stat requirements:

Str: 13 (E)

Dex: 13 (C)

Int: 0

Fai: 0

Arc: 0

How To Choose The Best Weapons For Your Elden Ring Character

When looking for the best weapon in Elden Ring, forget about the highest damage. First, take a close look at your build. Then, pick a weapon that suits your playstyle. For instance, STR-based builds go well with colossal swords, while DEX-based builds prefer katanas. Before committing to any weapon, test it or watch gameplay videos of players showcasing its movesets.

Step Into Your Next Epic RPG Adventure

There are few experiences as exciting as going through an Elden Ring weapon tier list and finding something that suits you. Keeping that in mind, several RPG and survival games ask you to carefully survey options and make the best of your gameplay experience. 

If you’re thinking of doing so and picking your next best game from a solid RPG collection, we suggest trying new titles before committing to a single game. Like Elden Ring, several epic adventures await you, but only a few deserve your complete attention!

Elden Ring Weapon Tier List FAQ

If you have more questions about the best weapons in Elden Ring, we have the answers.

What Is the Strongest Weapon in Elden Ring?

The Blasphemous Blade is widely considered to be one of the most powerful weapons in Elden Ring, thanks to its Taker’s Flame skill that deals massive Fire damage and heals you when you land successful hits.

What Are the Best Elden Ring Weapons For PvP?

For PvP, something like the Rivers of Blood katana and Moonveil stand out. They have reliable movesets and combos that can be extremely punishing if your opponent isn’t careful. Mastering these weapons can win you a lot of 1v1s!

What Are the Best Elden Ring Weapons For PvE?

The Blasphemous Blade and Dark Moon Greatsword are awesome picks for most PvE situations. They’re also effective against mini-bosses and other challenging enemies.

What Are the Best Weapons To Get Early?

Early on, try to get your hands on the Twinblade (Dragon-Burnt Ruins) or Morning Star (Weeping Star). They are easy to wield and hold the potential to carry you through several encounters during the early hours of the game’s narrative. However, keep trying new weapons while keeping these as your backup.