Elden Ring Best Weapons Tier List (September 2024)

This is a best weapons tier list for Elden Ring. Learn about all the best weapons per build, best ranged weapons, and the best weapons to get early!

Best Weapons Overall

Top 15 Best Weapons in Elden Ring

Rank	Weapon	Evaluation and Requirements
1	Blasphemous Blade	Evaluation: ・The Taker's Flames weapon skill heals on hit and its Fire damage scales directly with your Faith stat. ・Can deal with mobs and bosses easily by simply spamming the skill. Requirements: ・High Faith stat to maximize Taker's Flames' damage. ・Can only be obtained after defeating Rykard.
2	Backhand Blade (DLC)	Evaluation: ・Very easy to obtain early on. ・DEX scaling can reach S level. ・Has a useful weapon skill that lets you dodge to the side for a strike. ・Is a paired weapon (enables dual-wield when two-handed). Requirements: ・Requires the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
3	Bloodfiend's Arm (DLC)	Evaluation: ・Can easily proc Bleed with heavy attacks ・Deals high physical damage ・Easily staggers enemies Requirements: ・Requires the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC ・Needs to be upgraded with Blood affinity
4	Bloodhound's Fang	Evaluation: ・Can be obtained early in the game and will scale all the way to endgame. ・Can proc Bleed for high damage ・Bloodhound's Finesse weapon skill deals a lot of damage while giving you a free "auto dodge" animation. Requirements: ・Dexterity build to maximize the damage dealt.
5	Giant-Crusher	Evaluation: ・Gets S-Strength scaling at Heavy +25. ・When infused with Royal Knight's Resolve, it becomes the ultimate bonk weapon for one-shot setups. ・Versatile and open to different Ash of War setups since it's a non-Somber weapon. Requirements: ・High Strength stat to maximize the bonk damage. ・Need to reach Altus Plateau before you can get it.
6	Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword (DLC)	Evaluation: ・High Strength (B) and Arcane (B) multiplier when upgraded to max. ・White Light Charge skill is fast and has good reach. ・Great against multiple enemies due to the explosive AoE effect of the weapon skill. Requirements: ・Requires the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
7	Milady (DLC)	Evaluation: ・Easy to obtain early on. ・Good reach and attack speed due to being a Light Greatsword. ・Reaches B scaling for STR when infused with Heavy. ・Can be used for excellent damage and posture break when used with Wing Stance. Requirements: ・Requires the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
8	Rivers of Blood	Evaluation: ・Despite the nerfs, this weapon can still easily build up Blood Loss in PvE for easy Bleed procs. ・Corpse Piler weapon skill also has pretty quick animations and can deal decent poise damage against bosses like Malenia. Requirements: ・Can only be obtained by defeating Okina at the Mountaintops of the Giants.
9	Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana (DLC)	Evaluation: ・Has scaling of STR at C and DEX at C when fully upgraded. ・Weapon skill is easy and quick to use. Skill releases a ranged attack when charged. ・Applies Bleed status effect. Requirements: ・Requires the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
10	Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear	Evaluation: ・Inflicts AoE Blood Loss buildup with its weapon skill, Bloodboon Ritual. ・Weapon skill is spammable, allowing you to easily proc Bleed multiple times against enemy mobs and bosses. Requirements: ・24 Strength, 27 Arcane, and 14 Dexterity to equip. ・Can only be obtained after beating Mohg, Lord of Blood.
11	Black Steel Greathammer (DLC)	Evaluation: ・Deals a strong holy damage attack on guard counter. ・STR is scaled to A when Heavy-infused. ・Best when paired with a shield. Requirements: ・Requires the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
12	Moonveil	Evaluation: ・Its weapon skill, Transient Moonlight, hits for high damage relative to your INT stat and its low FP cost ensures it is spammable. ・Perfect weapon for Wizards since its regular attacks also deal Magic damage. Requirements: ・High Intelligence stat to maximize its regular attack and weapon skill damage. ・Can only be obtained after beating the Gael Tunnel Magma Wyrm.
13	Greatsword	Evaluation: ・Offers high versatility for Strength builds due to its many available Ash of War infusions. ・Regular attacks deal high HP and poise damage on hit making it perfect for boss staggers. Requirements: ・Strength build to maximize its damage potential.
14	Dark Moon Greatsword	Evaluation: ・Once buffed with its weapon skill, Moonlight Greatsword, it becomes charged with Frost. ・Allows you to deal Frost buildup on hit while also changing your charged R2s into projectiles. ・The projectiles deal decent poise damage with a high chance to inflict the Frostbite debuff. Requirements: ・High Intelligence stat is required to use it (38 INT). ・Can only be obtained by finishing Ranni's questline.
15	Carian Thrusting Shield (DLC)	Evaluation: ・Can block enemy hits while attacking. ・When you're blocking hits while attacking, only the attacking animations consume stamina. Requirements: ・Requires the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

Best Weapons to Get Early

Weapon	Evaluation & Location
Bloodhound's Fang	Why Get it Early? Can proc Bleed and scales all the way to late game when upgraded fully. It also has a unique weapon skill that allows you deal damage and dodge at the same time. How to Get: Defeat Bloodhound Knight Darriwil inside the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave.
Greatsword	Why Get it Early? One of the most versatile Strength weapons in the game. Deals a lot of HP and poise damage once you have the stats to wield it. How to Get: Found inside a carriage chest to the north west of the Caelem Ruins site of grace in Caelid.
Uchigatana	Why Get it Early? Procs Bleed easily due to its quick moveset and its Unsheathe weapon skill deals amazing poise damage on hit. Can be powerstanced if you started as a Samurai. How to Get: Found inside the Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave.
Reduvia	Why Get it Early? Its weapon skill can inflict Blood Loss on hit, making it perfect for proc'ing Bleed from a safe distance especially against bosses. How to Get: Defeat Blood Finger Nerijus outside of Murkwater Cave in Limgrave.
Great Turtle Shell	Why Get it Early? Acts as a free stamina regen boost since its passive still procs while carried on your back. Perfect for two-handing large weapons. How to Get: Use the spirit spring jump near the Castle Morne Ramparts site of grace to reach the tower containing the shield.
Meteorite Staff	Why Get it Early? S Intelliegence scaling right off the bat and can be paired with Rock Sling for an early game, spell spam build that deals high poise damage. How to Get: Found inside a broken tower at the Street of Sages Ruins in Caelid.

Best Weapons by Build

Best Strength Build Weapons

Tier	Giant-Crusher	Greatsword	Ruins Greatsword
	Starscourge Greatsword	Rusted Anchor	Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword
	Star Fist	Black Steel Greathammer	-
Tier	Rotten Staff	Ghiza's Wheel	Gargoyle's Twinblade
	Great Mace	-	-
Tier	Rosus' Axe	Bloodhound Claws	Grafted Blade Greatsword
	Rotten Greataxe	-	-

The Giant-Crusher is the best weapon for Strength builds since it deals the most damage with the potential to one-shot with the right setup. However, for versatility, the Greatsword is the better option, especially when looking to PvP instead of PvE.

Best Dexterity Build Weapons

Tier	Bloodhound's Fang	Nagakiba	Hand of Malenia
	Bolt of Gransax	Rogier's Rapier	Backhand Blade
Tier	Uchigatana	Misericorde	Godskin Peeler
	Antspur Rapier	Raptor Talons	Venomous Fang
Tier	Hoslow's Petal Whip	Urumi	Hookclaws
	Wakizashi	Spiked Caestus	Dragonscale Blade

The Hand of Malenia and the Nagakiba are some of the best weapons you can use for your Dexterity build due to their extended reach and ability to proc Bleed. If looking for better poise damage, go with either the Bloodhound's Fang or Rogier's Rapier.

Alternatively, for a heavy-hitting ranged option that also deals decent poise damage, you have the Bolt of Gransax whose lightning attack scales exclusively with DEX.

Best Intelligence Build Weapons

Tier	Carian Regal Scepter	Moonveil	Dark Moon Greatsword
	Death's Poker	Wing of Astel	-
Tier	Azur's Glintstone Staff	Lusat's Glintstone Staff	Meteorite Staff
	Rotten Crystal Sword	Carian Knight's Sword	Bastard's Star
Tier	Royal Greatsword	Lazuli Glintstone Sword	-

Melee intelligence builds will find more mileage with weapons that deal Frost or Magic damage. The best among these are the Dark Moon Greatsword and the Moonveil.

For pure casters, the Carian Regal Scepter is the best sorcery scaling Glintstone Staff in the game. However, if you don't have the required INT to wield it just yet, you can opt for either Azur's or Lusat's Glintstone Staff in a pinch.

Best Faith Build Weapons

Tier	Blasphemous Blade	Black Knife	Godslayer's Greatsword
	Magma Blade	Sword of Night and Flame	-
Tier	Winged Scythe	Coded Sword	Cipher Pata
	Gargoyle's Black Blades	-	-
Tier	Devourer's Scepter	Vyke's War Spear	Sacred Relic Sword
	Halo Scythe	-	-

The Blasphemous Blade is the best Faith weapon for many players new to Elden Ring. Once you have it, PvE becomes a breeze due to its life-leeching Taker's Flames weapon skill.

For veteran players, you can opt to go for the Godslayer's Greatsword which helps with the final boss of the game, or the Magma Blade for maximum stagger damage bolstered by flame attacks.

Best Arcane Build Weapons

Note: The tier list below also includes the best Bleed weapons in the game.

Tier	Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear	Eleonora's Poleblade	Bloody Helice
	Rivers of Blood	Bloodfiend's Arm	Bandit's Curved Sword
Tier	Reduvia	Marais Executioner's Sword	Regalia of Eochaid
Tier	Ripple Blade	Varre's Bouquet	-

In Elden Ring, Bleed reigns supreme, which makes Bleed weapons the go-to for Arcane builds. For multiple Bleed procs, go with Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear. For faster Bleed procs, go with Eleonora's Poleblade. For high poise damage and Bleed, use the Bloody Helice.

Best Ranged Weapons

Tier	Black Bow	Serpent Bow	Golem Greatbow
Tier	Jar Cannon	Hand Ballista	Lion Greatbow
Tier	Pulley Bow	Erdtree Bow	Horn Bow

While not as popular, Ranged builds do exist in the game. Since regular bows tend to go for status effect procs in order to deal damage, your best bet for chunking bosses will be the Black Bow and its Barrage weapon skill.

Alternatively, you can opt to go for the Serpent Bow if you want better poison procs or the Golem Greatbow with Golem's Great Arrows which are knockback kings in PvP.

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