Elden Ring weapons: The best weapons and how to get them

In Elden Ring, selecting the best weapon is critical for building your character's strength and efficiency in combat, and the right weapon can elevate your experience whether you're fighting bosses, invading other players, or just exploring. Here's a deeper dive into some of the best weapons in the game, as well as how to acquire them:

Best Weapons in Elden Ring

Rivers of Blood

Type: Katana

Requirements: 12 Str, 18 Dex, 20 Arc

Damage Type: Slash, Fire

Unique Skill: Corpse Piler - A devastating, rapid slash attack that deals bleed and fire damage.

How to Get: Dropped by the Bloody Finger Okina, an NPC invader at the Church of Repose in the Mountaintops of the Giants.

Sacred Relic Sword

Type: Greatsword (Unique)

Requirements: 20 Str, 14 Dex, 24 Faith

Damage Type: Standard, Holy

Unique Skill: Wave of Gold - Unleashes a powerful wave of golden light that damages enemies in its path.

How to Get: This sword is obtained by defeating the final boss of the game, Radagon of the Golden Order.

Sword of Night and Flame

Type: Straight Sword (Unique)

Requirements: 12 Str, 24 Dex, 24 Int, 24 Faith

Damage Type: Standard, Magic, Fire

Unique Skill: Night Comet / Flame of the Fell God - Offers two powerful weapon arts: a magical projectile and a fiery burst attack.

How to Get: Located in the Caria Manor in Liurnia of the Lakes, you must defeat Royal Knight Loretta to obtain the sword.

Moonveil

Type: Katana

Requirements: 12 Str, 18 Dex, 23 Int

Damage Type: Slash, Magic

Unique Skill: Transient Moonlight - A fast, ranged magic attack that can be performed even while walking.

How to Get: Dropped by the Magma Wyrm in the Gael Tunnel, which is located in the Caelid region.

Bloodhound's Fang

Type: Curved Greatsword

Requirements: 18 Str, 16 Dex

Damage Type: Slash

Unique Skill: Bloodhound's Finesse - A quick, evasive skill that allows you to dash and deal with a powerful backstab-like attack.

How to Get: Defeat the Bloodhound Knight in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, located in Limgrave.

Best Early Game Weapons

Reduvia

Type: Dagger

Requirements: 5 Str, 13 Dex, 13 Arc

Damage Type: Slash, Pierce

Passive: Bleed (50)

Unique Skill: Reduvia Blood Blade - Launches potent airborne blood blades to cause hemorrhaging damage.

How to Get: Defeat Bloody Finger Nerijus outside Murkwater Cave in Limgrave to claim this weapon.

Uchigatana

Type: Katana

Requirements: 11 Str, 15 Dex

Damage Type: Slash, Pierce

Passive: Bleed (45)

Default Skill: Unsheathe - Performs a swift slash from a sheathed position.

How to Get: It is the starting weapon for the Samurai class, but if you're not a Samurai, head to the Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave to find it.

Great Épée

Type: Heavy Thrusting Sword

Requirements: 15 Str, 16 Dex

Damage Type: Standard, Pierce

Default Skill: Impaling Thrust - A long-range thrust that overcomes enemy shields.

How to Get: Found in a chest inside a mercenary encampment northeast of the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave.

Best Strength Weapons

Prelate's Inferno Crozier

Type: Colossal Weapon

Requirements: 45 Str, 8 Dex

Damage Type: Strike

Unique Skill: Prelate's Charge - Slam the crozier into the ground and charge forward with fiery devastation.

How to Get: Defeat the Fire Prelate inside Fort Laiedd in Mt. Gelmir.

Brick Hammer

Type: Great Hammer

Requirements: 31 Str

Damage Type: Strike

Default Skill: Barbaric Roar - Boosts attack power and turns strong attacks into savage combos.

How to Get: Found inside Stormveil Castle in Limgrave. Use the Rusty Key to open a door and climb up to the platform with the corpse.

Grafted Blade Greatsword

Type: Colossal Sword

Requirements: 40 Str, 14 Dex

Damage Type: Standard

Unique Skill: Oath of Vengeance - Buffs all attributes temporarily, increasing poise and making you more resilient.

How to Get: Dropped by the Leonine Misbegotten boss inside Castle Morne in the Weeping Peninsula.

These weapons are highly rated by players due to their power, effectiveness, and unique abilities. Whether you prefer quick, agile attacks or powerful, slow swings, there's a weapon to suit every playstyle. Many of these weapons also have synergistic effects with specific builds, so be sure to choose one that complements your strengths and attributes.

If the Elden Ring runes and Elden Ring items you have, you've got plenty of flexibility! If I were to choose, I'd be looking at weapons like the Rivers of Blood for a bleed build, or Greatswords like the Ruins Greatsword for something that can deliver massive damage while also allowing for a bit of mobility. For something a little more dexterous, the Nagakiba or Moonveil could be great for a strength/dex hybrid or intelligence build.

Are you leaning towards any specific weapon right now, or do you want advice on how to build around a weapon you already like?