The Best Elden Ring Weapons for Each Main Stat
In Elden Ring, there are a wide range of weapon builds to satisfy every playstyle.
We’ve collected our list of the top 5 weapons for every stat (STR, DEX, IN, FTH, and ARC) to help you understand which you should target, and how to obtain them.
Note that there are a ton of viable weapons out there that didn’t make our list, and there were definitely arguments for what should be on here instead.
This tier list was updated by our two Elden Ring experts, AuraAmile and DigDug!
Here are our rankings for the best weapons in Elden Ring:
| Stat | Best Weapons |
|---|---|
| Strength | Star Fist, Nightrider Glaive, Giant-Crusher, Claymore, Greatsword |
| Dexterity | Guardian’s Swordspear, Bloodhound’s Fang, Bandit’s Curved Sword, Godskin Peeler, Nagakiba |
| Intelligence | Dark Moon, Carien Knight’s Sword, Wing of Astel, Glinstone Kris, Death’s Poker |
| Faith | Blasphemous Blade, Ordovis’ Greatsword, Winged Scythe, Envoy’s Long Horn, Coded Sword |
| Arcane | Marais Executioner Sword, Elonora’s Poleblade, Regalia of Eochaid, Cross-Naginata, Morgott’s Cursed Sword |
For a visual version of our list of best weapons, check out our infographic below!
The Best Strength Weapons
Star Fist
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Fist Weapon |
| Requirements | STR 12, DEX 8 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR D(A), DEX (E) |
| Max AR with soft caps | Str (60) + base stats = 460 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
The Star Fist is debatably one of the strongest weapons in the game against most bosses.It can deal incredibly high amounts of damage and stance damage accompanied by an extremely quick moveset.
Location: Can be found in front of one of the doors at the Colosseum in Leyndell Royal Capital.
Nightriders Glaive
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Halberd |
| Requirements | STR 26, DEX 10 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR C(S), DEX (E) |
| Max AR with soft caps | Str (60) + base stats = 734 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
The Nightrider Glaive is a Halberd with very high Strength scaling. This halberd has a strong moveset and can be infused with many powerful Ashes of War.
Location: Acquired by defeating the Night’s Cavalry roaming just north of the East Raya Lucaria Gate in Liurnia at night.
Giant-Crusher (Heavy)
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Colossal Weapon |
| Requirements | STR 60 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR C (S) |
| Max AR with soft caps | Str (60) + base stats = 911 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
With a high investment into Strength this weapon has the highest single-hit AR in the game.
Location: Found in a chest at the back of a carriage south of the Outer Wall Phantom Tree site of grace.
Claymore (Heavy)
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 16, DEX 13 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR D (B), DEX D |
| Max AR with soft caps | Str (60) + base stats = 694 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
This Greatsword has a solid moveset and can deal high amounts of damage from charged attacks or Ashes of War such as Giant Hunt and Lion’s Claw.
Location: Found in a chest inside of Castle Morne in the Weeping Peninsula.
Greatsword (Heavy)
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Colossal Sword |
| Requirements | STR 31, DEX 12 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR C (A), DEX E |
| Max AR with soft caps | Str (60) + base stats = 839 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
The Greatsword has a very solid roll-attack with good range and can be infused with many powerful Ashes of War that can be used to quickly dispatch enemies.
Location: Found in a chest at the back of a carriage north-west of the Caelem Ruins site of grace.
The Best Dexterity Weapons
Guardian Sword Spear
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Halberd |
| Requirements | STR 17, DEX 16 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR E, DEX D (B), INT D |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (60) + INT (60) +base stats = 735 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
Guardian Sword Spear has very solid damage, especially when combined with its best Ash of War the Ice Spear. This weapon is a monster Into any boss and only gets better the higher NG you get.
Location: Dropped from Erdtree Guardians near minor Erdtree’s
Bloodhounds Fang
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Curved Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 18, DEX 17 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR D (C), Dex C (B) |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (80) +base stats – =755 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
Bloodhound’s Fang has an amazing Ash of War unique to the weapon that gets you safe damage on bosses. Great damage and scaling together with the great moveset from Curved Greatswords
Location: Dropped from the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in Limgrave
Bandit’s Curved Sword (Occult, Lightning, Cold, Keen)
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Curved Sword |
| Requirements | STR 11, DEX 13 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR D (C), DEX C (B), INT C, ARC D |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (80) + ARC (50) + base stats = 551 DEX (80) + base stats = 670 DEX (60) + Int(60) + base stats = 621 DEX (80) + base stats = 590 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
When dual-wielded, this weapon had one of the most insane damage in the game. Curved Swords have a unique running and jump attack that both do 4 quick hits that all apply either bleed or frostbite depending on which infusion you choose. Very high damage when going lightning or cold per hit as well.
Location: Dropped by Skeletal Bandits
Godskin Peeler (Occult)
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Twinblade |
| Requirements | STR 17, DEX 22 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR E (D), DEX D (B), ARC D |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (80) + ARC (50) + base stats = 565 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
Twinblades have amazing jump attacks especially when wielded together with another twin blade. This makes it very easy to apply hemorrhage onto enemies.
Location: Dropped by the Godskin Apostle in the Windmill Village, Altus Plateau.
Nagakiba (Occult)
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Katana |
| Requirements | STR 18, DEX 22 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR E (D), DEX D (B), ARC D |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (80) + ARC (50) + base stats = 563 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
Nagakiba has one of the longest reaches in the game. Together with it being a katana, which gives it innate bleed buildup, it’s an amazing weapon. Katanas also have a very good Ash of War which works amazingly on the Nagakiba cause of its extra range.
Location: Dropped by Bloody Finger Hunter Yura.
The Best Intelligence Weapons
Dark Moon Greatsword
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 16, DEX 11, INT 36 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR D, DEX D, INT C (B) |
| Max AR with soft caps | STR (30) INT (80) +base stats = 802 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
This is the pinnacle of Intelligence weapons and has been in pretty much every Souls game. It has an insanely good Ash of War which has been a staple in all souls games and inside Elden Ring its strength is no different.
Location: This weapon is rewarded upon completing Ranni’s questline.
Carien Knight’s Sword
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Straight Sword |
| Requirements | STR 10, DEX 10, INT 18 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR D (C), DEX D, INT D |
| Max AR with soft caps | STR(60) INT(60) +base stats = 684 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
Straight Swords in general have a very good move set with fast attacks, but this sword also has an amazing unique Ash of War which can be charged for massive damage. Overall one of the best weapons in the game.
Location: This weapon is found in a carriage guarded by 2 trolls in Liurnia on the northwest side of the lake.
Wing of Astel
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Curved Sword |
| Requirements | STR 7, DEX 17, INT 20 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR E (D), DEX D (C), INT D (B) |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (60) INT (60) + base stats = 639 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
This weapon has a great moveset but the real power comes from its unique Ash of War only shared by the Bastard’s Stars. It deals a massive AOE explosion dealing a very big chunk of damage.
Location: Found in a chest on top of the Southern Uhl Ruins, only accessible from the northern section of the Ainsel River.
Glintstone Kris
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Dagger |
| Requirements | STR 18, DEX 12, INT 16 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR E, DEX D (C), INT D (C) |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (60) INT (60) +base stats = 496 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
Daggers aren’t the best weapons in Elden Ring, but the Glintstone Kris is an outlier. This weapon has that mostly to thank to its great Ash of War it has amazing damage, good reach, and in general good mobility.
Location: Reward for siding with Sorceress Sellen near the end of her quest.
Death’s Poker
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 15, DEX 17, INT 11 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR D (C), DEX D (B), INT E (D) |
| Max AR with soft caps | DEX (60) INT (60) +base stats = 686 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
The Death’s Poker is another weapon where it’s Strength comes from the Ash of War it does insane amounts of Frostbite Damage to enemies with either an explosion or a Line of Fire
Location: Dropped by the Deathrite Bird in the Southeast of Caelid
The Best Faith Weapons
Blasphemous Blade
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 22, DEX 15, INT 21 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR D (C), DEX D (C), FTH D (B) |
| Max AR with soft caps | FTH (60) +base stats = 755 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
Blasphemous Blade comes equipped with the Ash of War Taker’s Flames, which is one of the most powerful Ashes of War in the game. This Ash of War is capable of dealing high fire damage while simultaneously healing the player for each enemy hit, and knocking down smaller foes.
Location: Acquired by trading in Rykard’s Remembrance to Enia in the Roundtable Hold.
Ordovis’ Greatsword
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 25, DEX 13, FTH 15 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR C (A), DEX E (E), INT D (C) |
| Max AR with soft caps | FTH (60) +base stats = 718 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
Ordovis’ Greatsword comes equipped with the Ash of War Ordovis’s Vortex.This Ash of War is capable of dealing high physical damage and good amounts of stance damage when fully charged. This Ash of War can also knock down smaller enemies when connecting.
Location: Acquired by defeating the Crucible Knight duo boss in Auriza Hero’s Grave in the Altus Plateau.
Winged Scythe
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Scythe |
| Requirements | STR 16, DEX 16, INT 24 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR E (D), DEX D (C), INT D (C) |
| Max AR with soft caps | FTH (60) +base stats = 697 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
The Winged Scythe is a great weapon with the Reaper moveset which can circumvent shields. To go with that the Ash of War, Angel’s Wings has great damage.
Location: Found in the Tombsward Ruins on the North of the Weeping Peninsula.
Envoys Longhorn
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Great Hammer |
| Requirements | STR 23, DEX 11, INT 18 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR D (C), DEX D (D), FTH C (B) |
| Max AR with soft caps | FTH(60) +base stats = 773 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
The Envoy’s Longhorn is a very unique and situational Weapon with its super unique Ash of War, Bubble Shower. This shoots ranged projectiles with heavy knockback which makes this weapon a monster in PVP. It works great in PVE too because of its high stance damage and the Ash of War doing good Damage.
Location: Found near Miquella’s Haligtree or near Leyndell’s, Royal City’s East Capital Rampart.
Coded Sword
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Straight Sword |
| Requirements | FTH 20 |
| Scaling (+10) | FTH B (A) |
| Max AR with soft caps | FTH (60) = 510 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
This is another very unique weapon having only Faith Scaling, making it perfect for full Faith spellcasters as a weapon. Its Ash of War is also unique being able to go through shields making it a great weapon to deal with greatshielded targets.
Location: Found on top of the Throne Room in Leyndell (cannot be obtained in the Ashen Capital version).
The Best Arcane Weapons
Marais Executioner Sword
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 24, DEX 14, ARC 23 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR C (B), DEX E (E), ARC D (D) |
| Max AR with soft caps | ARC (60) +base stats = 687 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
The Marais Executioner’s Sword is a Greatsword with the Ash of War Eochaid’s Dancing Blade. This Ash of War is one of the most powerful in the game and can deal insane amounts of damage when charged.
Location: Acquired by defeating Elemer of the Briar located at the top of the Shaded Castle in the Altus Plateau.
Eleonoras Poleblade
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Twinblade |
| Requirements | STR 12, DEX 21, ARC 19 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR E (E), DEX D (C), ARC D (D) |
| Max AR with soft caps | ARC (60) +base stats = 560 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
Eleonora’s Poleblade is a Twinblade with the Ashe of War Bloodblade Dance. This Ash of War can deal massive fire damage and bleed buildup. It is also capable of stun-locking smaller enemies like Malenia.
Location: Acquired by defeating Eleonora, Violet Bloody Finger at the Second Church of Marika in the Altus Plateau.
Regalia of Eochaid
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Straight Sword |
| Requirements | STR 12, DEX 18, ARC 15 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR E (D), DEX D (C), ARC D (C) |
| Max AR with soft caps | ARC (60) +base stats = 608 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
The Regalia of Eochaid is a Straight Sword variant of the Marais Executioner’s Sword. It also has Eochaid’s Dancing Blade but deals less damage than Marais.
Although it deals less damage, you gain the advantage of a quicker moveset, allowing you to get more hits in.
Location: Found on the ground at the end of the Gaol Cave dungeon in Caelid.
Cross-Naginata (Occult)
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Spear |
| Requirements | STR 16, DEX 20 |
| Scaling (+25) | STR D (E), DEX C (D), ARC B |
| Max AR with soft caps | ARC (60) +base stats = 567 |
| Upgrade Material | Smithing Stones |
The Cross Naginata is a Spear in Elden Ring witha unique moveset and innate bleed buildup which can be increased when Occult infused.
When equipped with the Ash of War Seppuku, it can bleed enemies extremely quickly and deal tons of damage.
Location: Found on a corpse near a Giant Land Octopus in the Gael Tunnel in Caelid
Morgott’s Cursed Sword
| Stats and Requirements | |
| Weapon Type | Curved Greatsword |
| Requirements | STR 14, DEX 35, ARC 17 |
| Scaling (+10) | STR E (D), DEX C (B), ARC D (D) |
| Max AR with soft caps | ARC (60) +base stats = 607 |
| Upgrade Material | Somber Smithing Stones |
Morgott’s Cursed Sword is a Curved Greatsword with the Ash of War Cursed-Blood Slice. This Ash of War can deal decent amounts of damage with good bleed buildup that scales well with arcane.
Location: Acquired by trading in the Remembrance of the Omen King to Enia at the Roundtable Hold
Want to stay on top of the meta for other games? Check out all our other Mobalytics tier lists.
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