Best Elden Ring weapons and their locations

Black Knife

Weapon type: Dagger
Damage type: Slash, Pierce
Skill: Blade of Death – Leap into the air and fire a projectile blade that deals Holy damage, reduces the enemy’s maximum HP by 10% for 15 seconds, and continues to sap HP for five seconds.
FP cost: 25
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 8, Dexterity 12, Faith 18
Attribute scaling: Strength E, Dexterity D, Faith D
Weight: 2.0

The Black Knife is a strong pick for Dexterity/Faith builds that value speed over power. Like all daggers, the Black Knife demands good reflexes to avoid attacks while battling at such a close range, but its weapon art excels in both PvE and PvP. Its health reduction is percentage-based, so you’ll get more mileage out of it when going up against enemies with larger health pools, and it leaves you light on your feet to orchestrate backstabs.

Black Knife’s primary flaw is the surfeit of Holy resistant bosses that await at endgame. While it does make a supreme mid-game option, you might want to dual-wield or switch it up entirely when moving into the final leg of your journey.

Location: Drops from Black Knife Assassin outside the Sainted Hero’s Grave in Altus Plateau.

Reduvia

Weapon type: Dagger
Damage type: Slash, Pierce
Skill: Reduvia Blood Blade – Slash forward continuously with Reduvia to fire projectile blades that deal Stance damage and inflict Bleed.
FP cost: 6
Passive: Bleed (50)
Stat requirements: Strength 5, Dexterity 13, Arcane 13
Attribute scaling: Strength E, Dexterity D, Arcane D
Weight: 2.5

Reduvia is a go-to weapon for Dexterity/Arcane Bleed builds, with a weapon art that just won’t quit. The damage you sacrifice by opting for a dagger over a heavier Bleed weapon is offset by the quick-stack Bleed buildup you can achieve on successive hits. Reduvia does demand that you get up close and personal with enemies to make the most of its melee strikes, so be prepared to parry and dodge on the fly.

Naturally, Reduvia stalls against enemies resistant to Bleed, so counterbalance it with an off-hand weapon that can pick up the slack. Alternatively, pair it with the Occult Great Knife to sate your bloodlust.

Location: Drops from Bloody Finger Nerijus who invades south of Murkwater Catacombs in Limgrave.

Eleonora’s Poleblade

Weapon type: Twinblade
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: Bloodblade Dance – Perform a mid-air whirlwind attack that deals Stance damage with an optional follow-up attack to dodge backward.
FP cost: 11 (-6)
Passive: Bleed (55)
Stat requirements: Strength 12, Dexterity 21, Arcane 19
Attribute scaling: Strength E, Dexterity D, Arcane D
Weight: 6

Eleonora’s Poleblade is a staple weapon for pure Arcane builds that want to hit hard and look good doing it. The one-two punch of poise break and Bleed buildup is a killer in its own right. The slick animation attached to its weapon art deals successive hits with a high chance to stun lock, culminating in an evasive maneuver to avoid any swift reprisals. Even better? You can pick it up again in NG+1 and dual-wield it in a graceful dance of death.

Location: Drops from Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger at the Second Church of Marika in Altus Plateau.

Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear

Weapon type: Great Spear
Damage type: Pierce
Skill: Bloodboon Ritual – Raise the spear aloft and stab every enemy within its area of effect up to three times, dealing Fire damage and inflicting Bleed buildup for each thrust.
FP cost: 20 (-20)
Passive: Bleed (55)
Stat requirements: Strength 24, Dexterity 14, Arcane 27
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity E, Arcane D
Weight: 10

Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear continues to dominate in PvE and PvP long after launch, making it an ideal choice for both pure Arcane and Strength/Arcane builds. Its AoE weapon art boasts enormous crowd control – highly uncommon for melee weapons – and you can consolidate all that damage into successive attacks on a single target if the situation arises. Despite the range nerfs it’s received in balance patches, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear still has excellent reach and poise break, allowing you to easily force some breathing room if enemies get too close for comfort.

Location: Purchase from Enia at the Roundtable Hold. This trade requires Remembrance of the Blood Lord, which drops from Mohg, Lord of Blood at the Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum in the Mohgwyn Palace beneath Caelid. You can only reach this area by passing through the teleporter northwest of Yelough Anix Ruins or via the Pureblood Knight’s Medal acquired by White Mask Varré at the culmination of his questline.

Moonveil

Weapon type: Katana
Damage type: Slash, Pierce
Skill: Transient Moonlight – Sheathe your katana then release it via a light or heavy attack to unleash a horizontal slash dealing 27.5 Poise damage or a vertical slash dealing 30 Poise damage, respectively. The magic projectile alone deals 12.5 Poise damage and can be aimed in any direction.
FP cost: 15 (20)
Passive: Bleed (50)
Stat requirements: Strength 12, Dexterity 18, Intelligence 23
Attribute scaling: Strength E, Dexterity D, Intelligence C
Weight: 6.5

Moonveil is an exceptional choice for Dexterity/Intelligence builds, and can comfortably carry spellswords right to the endgame with minimal issues. It’s considered a ‘safe’ option thanks to its high poise break and swift Bleed proc, while its weapon art functions as an ideal emergency button in both PvP and PvE. If all that weren’t enough, Moonveil also has decent range, allowing you to poke mobs and inflict stagger long before they get close enough to return the favor.

Location: Drops from the Magma Wyrm in the Gael Tunnel that connects Limgrave and Caelid.

Rivers of Blood

Weapon type: Katana
Damage type: Slash, Pierce
Skill: Corpse Piler – Slash forward in a cross formation to deal Physical and Fire damage with additional Bleed buildup and Stance damage per slash. Perform up to two successive follow-up attacks for a total of six slashes, culminating in a vertical slice.
FP Cost: 17
Passive: Bleed (50)
Stat requirements: Strength 12, Dexterity 18, Arcane 20
Attribute scaling: Strength E, Dexterity D, Arcane D
Weight: 6.5

Rivers of Blood may have received a heavy post-launch nerf, but there’s a reason the venerable Elden Ring player ‘Let Me Solo Her’ still carried it in their off-hand during their copious victories against Malenia. This katana continues to excel in PvE to this day, and its weapon art inflicts copious Bleed buildup thanks to the number of successive hits you can pull off in a single sustained animation. This forward momentum also gives it superior range to Moonveil’s weapon art, with decent stagger capability to boot. Rivers of Blood is a versatile weapon that’s compatible with Dexterity/Arcane builds or their single-stat equivalents. Be aware that its damage is split between Physical and Fire if you’re looking into specific buffs.

Location: Drops from Bloody Finger Okina outside the Church of Repose in Mountaintops of the Giants.

Sword of Night and Flame

Weapon type: Straight Sword
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: Night-and-Flame Stance – Enter the stance and perform a light attack to cast Comet Azur or a heavy attack to execute a sweep of your sword that deals Fire damage.
FP Cost: 26 (32)
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 12, Dexterity 12, Intelligence 24, Faith 24
Attribute scaling: Strength E, Dexterity E, Intelligence D, Faith D
Weight: 4

Picking up the Sword of Night and Flame might demand more platforming than you’d ordinarily ever want to do in Elden Ring – but rest assured, it’s more than worth the effort if you’re running an Intelligence/Faith build. With the Comet Azur sorcery on demand, the only major drawbacks are the hefty stat requirements and extended animation times. Pair it with the Golden Order Seal and Rogier’s Spellblade armor set to boost incantations and sorceries, respectively.

Location: Inside a chest in Caria Manor. From the Manor Lower Level Site of Grace, head out onto the raised walkway and run to the first tower, avoiding the ghostly knights who appear. Turn left at the tower and run towards the next tower, then turn right when you reach the second tower. Proceed to the gap between the second and third towers where the path has eroded on the left and drop to the building beneath. Drop to the next building, then descend the ladder to reach the chest.

Wing of Astel

Weapon type: Curved Sword
Damage type: Slash
Skill: Nebula – Release a cloud of stars directly ahead in a wide arc that explodes, dealing Magic damage and 13 Stance damage per explosion.
FP Cost: 20
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 7, Dexterity 17, Intelligence 20
Attribute scaling: Strength E, Dexterity D, Intelligence D
Weight: 2.5

Wing of Astel joins Moonveil as another contender for Dexterity/Intelligence builds, though it excels far better in PvE than PvP. Curved swords usually suffer from restricted range, but Wing of Astel makes up for it with its weapon art, which offers decent crowd control against mobs attacking from the front. It also excels against large single targets thanks to the sheer amount of Stance damage it can inflict in one fell swoop. This makes Wing of Astel perfect for poise breakers, and with a free sorcery attached to its heavy attack, it’s also a firm favorite with spellcasters.

Location: Inside a chest above the ruins in the Uhl Palace Ruins. Head south from the Nokstella Eternal City Site of Grace and proceed through the tunnel until you reach the cliff edge. Turn right then follow the path along the cliff wall to the top of the ruins. Bait the Withered Astel’s Rock Sling ranged attack then sprint across to the chest on the ledge.

Death’s Poker

Weapon type: Greatsword
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: Ghostflame Ignition – Thrust forward to summon a ball of Ghostflame. Follow up with either a light attack to set the ground ablaze in a forward line or a heavy attack to trigger a large explosion, dealing Magic damage and Frost buildup.
FP Cost: 15
Passive: Frost (65)
Stat requirements: Strength 15, Dexterity 17, Intelligence 11
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D, Intelligence E
Weight: 8.5

Death’s Poker? I hardly know her. This greatsword requires careful timing, but once you’ve grown accustomed to detonating the Ghostflame attached to its weapon art, it’s a force to be reckoned with. The extended animation time means high poise is vital to prevent being staggered out of it, but it’s highly versatile and Frostbite makes for a refreshing alternative to Bleed. All in all, Death’s Poker is an excellent choice for pure Intelligence builds that don’t want to settle for a catalyst to do their dirty work.

Location: Drops from the Death Rite Bird that spawns to the southeast of the Southern Aeonia Swamp Bank site of grace at night.

Dark Moon Greatsword

Weapon type: Greatsword
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: Moonlight Greatsword – Activate a weapon buff that applies an additional 65 Magic damage and 15 Frost buildup to attacks for 60 seconds. Heavy attacks unleash a moonlight projectile directly ahead.
FP cost: 32
Passive: Frost (55)
Stat requirements: Strength 16, Dexterity 11, Intelligence 38
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D, Intelligence C
Weight: 10

Obtaining the Dark Moon Greatsword is no mean feat, but jumping through all those hoops nets you FromSoftware’s signature sword and the best weapon for pure Intelligence or Strength/Intelligence builds. Like most weapons of its type, the Dark Moon Greatsword is slow but devastating, capable of inflicting high stagger while being large enough to free aim and pummel crowds of enemies in one fell swoop. However, its real power lies in its weapon art, which transforms it into a combination melee and ranged weapon that can be buffed even further with talismans like the Shard of Alexander and Magic Scorpion Charm. Once Frostbite sets in, you can polish off your foes with a final blast of magic, either from your blade or your arsenal of spells.

Location: Rewarded at the end of Ranni’s lengthy questline, so follow our Elden Ring quests guide to avoid breaking it.

Blasphemous Blade

Weapon type: Greatsword
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: Taker’s Flames – Slam your sword into the ground to deal Fire damage in a forward blast and heal 10% of your maximum HP plus 150 HP upon hit.
FP cost: 30
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 22, Dexterity 15, Faith 21
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D, Faith D
Weight: 13.5

Blasphemous Blade is beloved in Elden Ring fan circles, and it’s not difficult to see why. This Greatsword is considered the best PvE weapon in the game, and can comfortably carry you through to the credits and beyond. It primarily scales off Faith with an equal stake in both Strength and Dexterity, though Strength/Faith builds will see the most returns. Aside from the usual damage you’d expect from a greatsword, it also does something that the vast majority of Elden Ring weapons can’t: it heals you every time its weapon art skill hits an enemy. The value of this ability cannot be overstated, not least because the skill itself hits like a truck.

The only main drawback to Blasphemous Blade is that it lags against enemies resistant to Fire damage, but you can compensate for this minor issue by pairing it with another greatsword for a devastating power stance. There’s also a wealth of talismans and seals to boost its effects even further, from the Clawmark Seal to the Shard of Alexander. Elden Ring doesn’t come with difficulty settings, but if you’re looking for an easy mode, opt for Blasphemous Blade.

Location: Purchase from Enia at the Roundtable Hold. This trade requires Remembrance of the Blasphemous, which drops from Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy at the Volcano Manor in Mt. Gelmir.

Bloodhound’s Fang

Weapon type: Curved Greatsword
Damage type: Slash
Skill: Bloodhound’s Finesse – Slash upwards to deal 22 Physical damage and immediately somersault backwards. Perform a follow-up heavy attack to initiate Bloodhound’s Step and dash forward to deal additional Physical damage.
FP cost: 8 (-12)
Passive: Bleed (55)
Stat requirements: Strength 18, Dexterity 17
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity C
Weight: 11.5

Bloodhound’s Fang is an extraordinarily powerful weapon for Strength/Dexterity builds in PvE. As a curved greatsword, it deals respectable base damage at reliable speed, so the punishment of a poorly timed swing isn’t as severe as a full-blown greatsword. The innate Bleed buildup alone makes Bloodhound’s Fang worth your time, but its weapon art is the killer here. Unique weapon arts are ordinarily offset by their FP cost or extended animation times, but Bloodhound Finesse is comparatively swift and cheap to cast. This forward slash hits hard, and grants you invincibility frames during its follow-up dodge, alleviating the risk attached to all melee weapons.

To top it off, Bloodhound’s Fang can be enhanced even further with buffs and incantations. You can pick it up relatively early, and it’ll serve you well as a main weapon right up to the endgame. If you want to really spice up your build, you can pair Bloodhound’s Fang with Morgott’s Cursed Sword for an explosive finish to your flips and twirls.

Location: Drops from Bloodhound Knight Darriwil at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave.

Giant-Crusher

Weapon type: Colossal Weapon
Damage type: Strike
Skill: Endure – Fortify your stance to activate a three-second buff that increases all damage absorption by 45% and raises poise.
FP cost: 9
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 60
Attribute scaling: Strength C
Weight: 26.5

Giant-Crusher is the weapon for a full Strength build to live up to its name. Its slow animation time is offset by the damage inflicted once this colossal hammer finally comes down, with a bonus somersault heavy attack for some forward mobility that can flatten smaller enemies. Its sheer weight demands light armor to wield it, but its skill and hefty guard stat keep you surprisingly robust. Giant-Crusher can drain the largest health pools in just a couple of blows, and we recommend dual-wielding a second Giant-Crusher in NG+1 if you want to get silly with it.

Location: Inside a chest on the back of a carriage in the campsite south of the Outer Wall Phantom Tree site of grace in the Capital Outskirts.

Fallingstar Beast Jaw

Weapon type: Colossal Weapon
Damage type: Pierce
Skill: Gravity Bolt – Summons a bolt of lightning that deals Physical and Magic damage with high stagger potential.
FP cost: 13 (-13)
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 34, Dexterity 12, Intelligence 20
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D, Intelligence E
Weight: 21.5

Fallingstar Beast Jaw might be a real slog to get your hands on, but this ostentatious weapon is the jewel of any Strength/Dexterity build. While you do have to dump a few points in Intelligence to wield it, the Fallingstar Beast Jaw deals far greater Physical damage than Magic damage overall. Its unique weapon art is a boon against single targets, and while it doesn’t stagger to the same degree as it did at launch, it still lets you unleash some serious firepower from a safe distance. As a Colossal weapon, it should also go without saying that when this puppy hits, it hits hard, and while its melee attack animations are a bit slow, it makes up for it with good range.

Location: Drops from the Full-Grown Fallingstar Beast in the crater north of Volcano Manor in Mt. Gelmir.

Rellana’s Twinblade

Weapon type: Light Greatsword
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: Moon-and-Fire Stance – Imbues both swords with magic. Light attacks emit glintstone light waves while slashing forwards, with up to two follow-up attacks. Your heavy attack creates a spinning AoE fire tornado.
FP cost: 10 – 25
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 13, Dexterity 16, Intelligence 16, Faith 16
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D, Intelligence D, Faith D
Weight: 8.0

Rellana’s Twinblade might be difficult to repossess from its owner, but the reward is more than worthwhile. This light greatsword is extraordinarily agile for its weapon class, with a two-handed moveset that allows you to close the gap between foes without going on the defensive. It suits Intelligence/Faith builds thanks to its unique weapon art – an obvious boon against foes weak to Magic or Fire, but an excellent panic button when swarmed by weak enemies.

However, the speed of Rellana’s Twinblade comes at a cost. The main drawback is its low poise damage; unlike many weapons on this list, you’ll have to rely on dodging and parrying over staggering. Its extensive stat requirements also demand you invest points across four attributes, which might not appeal if you prefer a more streamlined build. That said, If you’re a die-hard Sword of Night and Flame user looking for an upgrade in Shadow of the Erdtree, Rellana’s Twinblade is the one for you.

Location: Purchase from Enia at the Roundtable Hold. This trade requires Remembrance of the Twin Moon Knight, which drops from Rellana Twin Moon Knight in the East Wing of Castle Ensis, a dungeon to the northeast of the Three Path Cross Site of Grace.

Milady

Weapon type: Light Greatsword
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: Impaling Thrust – Gather your strength then lunge forward to perform a long thrust that pierces through enemy shields
FP cost: 9
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 12, Dexterity 17
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D
Weight: 6.5

Milady has quickly become a fan favorite in Shadow of the Erdtree, and it’s not difficult to see why. This light greatsword comes with the Impaling Thrust weapon art as standard, but it’s tailor-made for the Wing Stance weapon art. This adds a three-slash combo and a leaping thrust to Milady’s moveset. If you’re partial to heavy attacks but don’t want to sacrifice your speed, then Milady fits the bill. Naturally, talismans like Shard of Alexander and Winged Sword Insignia are a must to maximize this sword’s attack power. Milady’s only real drawback is that it’s outclassed by Rellana’s Twinblade – but given that both weapons cater to very different builds, this may not be an issue for you.

Location: Inside a chest in Castle Ensis, located in Gravesite Plain. Cross the bridge from the Castle Front site of grace, then take the stairs on the left and follow the path as it curves around to the watchtower. Climb the ladder to find Milady at the top.

Backhand Blade

Weapon type: Backhand Blade
Damage type: Slash, Pierce
Skill: Blind Spot – Dodge to either the left or right, then lunge forward to slip below your opponent’s guard and attack from the side.
FP cost: 9
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 10, Dexterity 13
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D
Weight: 2.0

Backhand Blade takes the name of its weapon class, which is fitting given that it’s mostly the gold standard as far as backhand blades are concerned. This incredibly lightweight DLC weapon offers a different moveset than the hacking and slashing of typical blades, instead transforming the Tarnished into a graceful, deadly dancer. Its Blind Spot weapon skill is effectively the older cousin of the much-beloved Bloodhound’s Step, allowing you to dodge incoming attacks and then mete out punishment while ignoring a block. This combination of offense and defense is an excellent way to take control of the cadence of battle, and is useful during the Messmer, the Impaler boss fight.

Backhand Blade suits Strength/Dexterity builds just fine, though pure Dexterity builds will see the most benefit from its S scaling once fully upgraded. It might not reach the upper echelons of damage output in comparison to the other weapons on this list, but it’s inarguably the best early DLC weapon thanks to its unique moveset and skill – and you can always equip the Spear Talisman to give it a stronger bite.

Location: Next to an altar tomb in a graveyard to the northeast of the Scorched Ruins Site of Grace, not far from where the Brazer Giant patrols.

Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana

Weapon type: Great Katana
Damage type: Slash, Pierce
Skill: Dragonwound Slash – Cloak the armament in a gravel-stone aura then perform a leaping slash. Fire off the aura using a charged attack.
FP cost: 9
Passive: Bleed (55)
Stat requirements: Strength 15, Dexterity 20
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D
Weight: 10.5

“What’s this?” I hear you groan. “Another katana?!” You betcha. True to its name, Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana should be a Strength/Dexterity build’s go-to weapon when it comes to slaying the many dragons that roam the Lands Between. Its impressive size means that it’s quite a bit slower than your standard katana, but its reach more than makes up for it. The Dragonwound Slash skill is a chargeable attack that gives you enough height to reach the vulnerable weak points of many large enemies and bosses. While its bleed effect is less noticeable on dragons thanks to their voluminous health pools, it’s a great bonus when going up against regular enemies.

Location: Drops from the Ancient Dragon-Man in the Dragon’s Pit, located south of the Castle Front Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain.

Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword

Weapon type: Colossal Sword
Damage type: Standard, Pierce
Skill: White Light Charge – Charge forward to pierce foes, then initiate a follow-up attack to trigger an explosion of white light.
FP cost: 10
Passive: N/A
Stat requirements: Strength 35, Dexterity 10, Arcane 19
Attribute scaling: Strength D, Dexterity E, Arcane D
Weight: 22

The Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword has the raw power, range, and speed you’d expect from a colossal sword when it comes to its regular attacks, but its unique skill is the real head-turner here. In stark contrast to the slow and calculated swings of its basic and heavy attack, the White Light Charge weapon skill is a forward thrust that’s devastatingly quick, capable of closing the gap between enemies and finishing off with a shockwave AoE. This is a perfect weapon for Strength builds looking for a colossal weapon flashy enough to rival that of Intelligence builds without sacrificing that classic ‘unga bunga’ playstyle. It might take a little time to track it down, but this is one colossal sword you won’t want to miss.

Location: On an altar in the Ruined Forge of Starfall Past, located in Scadu Altus. Head southeast from the Moorth Ruins Site of Grace until you reach a square stone structure surrounded by Misbegotten. Head through the back entrance and proceed until you reach a lever. Pull it to lower the gate below, then continue until you reach a ladder on the right. Climb up, then proceed until you can drop into a similar room containing a lever. Pull it, head through the gate, then pull the lever to the immediate right. This raises the gate once more; stand on it before it rises to reach the upper level. The altar holding the Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword is directly ahead.

Of course, getting your hands on the best Elden Ring weapons is only the first step to success in the open-world game. If you want to reign supreme in Shadow of the Erdtree, you need to pair these instruments of death with the best Elden Ring armor and Elden Ring talismans. Magic users should also check out the best Elden Ring staffs to amplify their power even further. Finally, brush up on the Elden Ring hand-to-hand arts if you’re looking for an alternative form of melee combat in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.