You pick up a frankly unreasonable number of weapons during the opening hours of Elden Ring. Swords fall out of chests. Soldiers drop spears. Merchants sell weapons you cannot currently use. Some enormous knight inevitably leaves behind something requiring the strength of a small tractor.
The natural assumption is that early weapons are temporary. Grab whatever works, survive Limgrave, then replace it once the serious equipment starts appearing.
That is not really how Elden Ring works.
Some weapons available surprisingly early remain excellent for most, or even all, of the game. Weapon upgrades, Ashes of War, affinities and stat scaling mean a humble sword found in Limgrave can eventually become considerably nastier than something acquired 60 hours later.
So before selling half your inventory to fund another unsuccessful attempt at Margit, these are the early game weapons I would keep.
Bloodhound’s Fang
Weapon type: Curved Greatsword
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Skill: Bloodhound’s Finesse
Passive: Blood loss build-up
Upgrade material: Somber Smithing Stones
If there is one early weapon I would actively warn new players against discarding, it is Bloodhound’s Fang.
You can obtain it by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in southern Limgrave. That encounter is accessible almost immediately, although Darriwil may have opinions about whether you are actually ready for it.
Bloodhound’s Fang combines high physical damage with bleed and a superb unique skill. Bloodhound’s Finesse performs a powerful slash followed by an evasive movement, and its follow-up attack lets you surge back towards the target.
It feels good almost immediately and gets better as you invest in it.
More importantly, this is not merely a beginner weapon. Bloodhound’s Fang can comfortably carry a Dexterity-focused or quality-style character through huge sections of the game.
Keep it if: You like aggressive melee builds, Dexterity, bleed or large weapons that still feel relatively mobile.
Long-term value: Exceptional.
Uchigatana
Weapon type: Katana
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Passive: Blood loss build-up
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
The Uchigatana is almost suspiciously good considering how early you can get one.
Samurai characters begin with it, while other classes can find an Uchigatana inside the Deathtouched Catacombs in northern Limgrave.
It has everything you want from an early weapon. Its moveset is quick, its reach is respectable, bleed remains useful against many enemies, and its standard upgrade path gives you plenty of freedom with affinities and Ashes of War.
That flexibility is the important bit.
You might start with a fairly ordinary Uchigatana and gradually turn it into something tailored around Dexterity, bleed, frost or another build direction. Instead of forcing you into a specific character setup, the weapon adapts surprisingly well.
There are flashier katanas later. That does not make the Uchigatana obsolete.
Keep it if: You are considering Dexterity, bleed, frost or katana builds.
Long-term value: Excellent.
Claymore
Weapon type: Greatsword
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Skill: Lion’s Claw
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
The Claymore is one of those FromSoftware weapons that seems contractually obliged to be good.
In Elden Ring, it can be found at Castle Morne in the Weeping Peninsula. That makes it obtainable very early without requiring you to progress particularly far through the main story.
Its biggest strength is reliability.
The Claymore hits hard without becoming painfully slow, has excellent reach and includes thrusting attacks that give it more versatility than many comparable greatswords. Its compatibility with different Ashes of War and affinities also gives it considerable room to evolve alongside your build.
There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about it. You do not need an elaborate status setup or three buffs before every encounter. Sometimes the correct tactical decision really is just hitting the horrible thing with a large sword.
Keep it if: You want a versatile Strength or quality weapon.
Long-term value: Excellent.
Reduvia
Weapon type: Dagger
Damage: Physical and Magic
Scaling: Strength, Dexterity and Arcane
Passive: Blood loss build-up
Skill: Reduvia Blood Blade
Upgrade material: Somber Smithing Stones
Reduvia is one of the earliest signs that bleed builds might be slightly ridiculous.
It drops from Bloody Finger Nerijus during his invasion near Murkwater Cave in Limgrave. The fight can be unpleasant for a fresh character, but surviving it gives you one of the more interesting early Arcane weapons.
Reduvia is fast, causes blood loss and has a unique skill capable of launching bloody projectiles at enemies.
Its biggest limitation is obvious: it is still a dagger. Reach is limited, and players who prefer heavier weapons may find the moveset less forgiving.
For an Arcane character, though, Reduvia is absolutely worth putting aside.
Keep it if: You are building around Arcane or bleed.
Long-term value: Very good for the right build.
Twinblade
Weapon type: Twinblade
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
The Twinblade can be found in the Dragon-Burnt Ruins in Limgrave, making it another weapon available during the opening stretch of the game.
Its appeal comes from attack frequency.
Twinblades can land multiple hits quickly, particularly when used two-handed. This makes them naturally attractive for builds involving status effects or effects triggered by repeated attacks.
The basic Twinblade eventually faces serious competition from more specialised weapons, so I would not call it an automatic endgame choice. It is still worth keeping because of how flexible the standard upgrade system makes it.
It can also be a useful introduction to an entire weapon class. If you discover that spinning around like a homicidal ceiling fan is your preferred combat philosophy, congratulations, Elden Ring has several more Twinblades waiting for you.
Keep it if: You enjoy fast multi-hit weapons or want to experiment with status builds.
Long-term value: Good.
Lordsworn’s Greatsword
Weapon type: Greatsword
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
You can acquire the Lordsworn’s Greatsword almost immediately from the carriage near Gatefront Ruins.
Because it appears so early, it is easy to assume it exists mainly as starter equipment.
That undersells it.
The weapon offers solid damage, useful reach and access to interchangeable Ashes of War. It can become a dependable early and mid-game weapon, especially if you upgrade it consistently rather than abandoning it whenever something shinier appears.
Will I choose it over Bloodhound’s Fang or the Claymore for most characters? Probably not.
Would I sell it for a handful of runes? Also no.
Keep it if: You want a conventional greatsword while experimenting with Strength and Dexterity builds.
Long-term value: Good.
Morning Star
Weapon type: Hammer
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Passive: Blood loss build-up
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
The Morning Star deserves considerably more respect than its appearance suggests.
It can be acquired early in the Weeping Peninsula and combines strike damage with bleed build-up.
Strike damage is particularly useful against certain heavily armoured or mineral-based enemies. That alone gives the Morning Star value as a secondary weapon even if it never becomes your main choice.
Then there is bleed.
Having both properties on a relatively accessible weapon makes the Morning Star an excellent piece of equipment to leave upgraded in your inventory.
You do not necessarily need to marry it. Just keep it around.
Keep it if: You want a useful strike weapon or secondary bleed option.
Long-term value: Good as a specialist tool.
Great Épée
Weapon type: Heavy Thrusting Sword
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
The Great Épée can be found in Limgrave and is one of the best early weapons for players who discover that stabbing is considerably safer than dramatic sword swinging.
Heavy Thrusting Swords offer excellent reach and strong forward pressure. They can be particularly effective when you want to maintain distance while still dealing respectable melee damage.
The Great Épée also benefits from the flexibility of standard Smithing Stone upgrades and interchangeable Ashes of War.
It may not immediately look as exciting as a katana dripping blood or a curved greatsword that lets you perform acrobatics, but its moveset is extremely practical.
Practical is underrated when everything in the Lands Between wants you dead.
Keep it if: You like thrusting attacks, shields or controlled melee combat.
Long-term value: Very good.
Zweihander
Weapon type: Colossal Sword
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
The Zweihander is available from the Isolated Merchant in the Weeping Peninsula.
Yes, you can obtain a colossal sword this early.
No, your character may not be remotely prepared to use it properly.
The Zweihander has enormous reach and strong stagger potential while being relatively manageable by colossal sword standards. Its thrusting heavy attack is particularly useful and gives the weapon more precision than its enormous size might suggest.
It also remains adaptable thanks to its compatibility with different Ashes of War and affinities.
If your eventual plan involves Strength and very large pieces of sharpened metal, buy it and keep it.
Keep it if: Your solution to most problems is “larger sword”.
Long-term value: Excellent for suitable builds.
Dismounter
Weapon type: Curved Greatsword
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
The Dismounter can drop from Kaiden Sellswords wandering Limgrave.
It is easy to overlook because it comes from relatively ordinary enemies rather than a boss or dramatic treasure chest.
That would be a mistake.
The Dismounter offers strong reach, substantial damage and the excellent curved greatsword moveset. Unlike Bloodhound’s Fang, it also accepts different Ashes of War and affinities, giving you considerably more control over its development.
The only annoying part is getting one to drop.
Welcome to FromSoftware farming. Please enjoy defeating the same bloke repeatedly until he finally hands over his sword.
Keep it if: You want a customisable curved greatsword.
Long-term value: Very good.
Misericorde
Weapon type: Dagger
Damage: Physical
Scaling: Strength and Dexterity
Upgrade material: Smithing Stones
Misericorde is worth keeping for a slightly different reason.
Found in Stormveil Castle, it has exceptionally high critical damage. That makes it an excellent weapon for critical attacks after parries, stance breaks and backstabs.
You do not necessarily need to use it during ordinary combat.
Instead, you can keep Misericorde in another weapon slot and switch to it when an enemy becomes vulnerable to a critical hit.
It is a specialised tool rather than an all-purpose weapon, but specialised tools become increasingly useful as you understand Elden Ring’s combat systems.
Keep it if: You use parries or regularly break enemy stance.
Long-term value: Excellent specialist weapon.
Which Early Weapons Are Actually Worth Upgrading?
Smithing Stones are limited enough during the early game that upgrading everything you find is not realistic.
I would prioritise weapons roughly like this:
| Weapon | Early Game | Mid Game | Late Game | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodhound’s Fang | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Dex/quality |
| Uchigatana | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Dex/status |
| Claymore | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Str/quality |
| Zweihander | Very Good | Excellent | Excellent | Strength |
| Great Épée | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Thrust builds |
| Reduvia | Excellent | Very Good | Very Good | Arcane/bleed |
| Misericorde | Situational | Excellent | Excellent | Critical attacks |
| Dismounter | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Curved greatsword builds |
| Morning Star | Very Good | Good | Situational | Strike/bleed |
| Twinblade | Very Good | Good | Good | Multi-hit/status |
Bloodhound’s Fang, Uchigatana and Claymore are the three I would be happiest recommending without knowing much about your eventual build.
They are powerful early, scale effectively with upgrades and remain relevant for an unusually long time.
Why Early Weapons Stay Good in Elden Ring
Elden Ring does not follow the traditional RPG model where equipment becomes obsolete simply because you entered a higher-level region.
A weapon’s effectiveness depends heavily on:
- Upgrade level
- Character attributes
- Scaling
- Affinity
- Ash of War
- Status effects
- Moveset
- Your ability to actually use the thing without being flattened
That last point matters more than damage spreadsheets sometimes suggest.
A technically stronger weapon is not necessarily better if you dislike its attacks, constantly miss enemies or cannot find safe opportunities to use its skill.
Comfort with a weapon matters.
Once you find something that clicks, upgrading it is usually smarter than constantly switching to whatever has the largest number on the equipment screen.
Weapons You Should Avoid Selling
Selling weapons in Elden Ring rarely gives you enough runes to justify losing them.
That is especially true for unique weapons and equipment obtained only once during a playthrough.
Even if a weapon does not suit your current character, keep it.
You may respec later. You might discover an Ash of War that completely changes how you feel about it. A future boss might also make you suddenly appreciate a damage type you previously ignored.
If you need runes, killing enemies is usually a better solution than turning your weapon collection into a medieval Cash Converters.
Best Early Weapon for Strength Builds
For pure Strength characters, the Zweihander is one of the most interesting weapons available early.
The Claymore is the safer recommendation for players who want something faster and more versatile.
Both can remain useful deep into the game.
Best Early Weapon for Dexterity Builds
The Uchigatana is extremely difficult to beat.
It is fast, flexible and naturally applies bleed. Its ability to accept different affinities also allows it to follow your character as the build develops.
Bloodhound’s Fang is another outstanding option if you prefer heavier attacks.
Best Early Weapon for Bleed Builds
The obvious candidates are:
- Uchigatana
- Reduvia
- Bloodhound’s Fang
- Morning Star
Reduvia is particularly attractive for Arcane builds, while Uchigatana offers greater flexibility.
Bloodhound’s Fang sits somewhere between the two philosophies, providing strong raw physical damage alongside blood loss.
Best Early Weapon Overall
If I had to choose one, Bloodhound’s Fang gets my vote.
You can acquire it in Limgrave, its damage is excellent, bleed gives it additional offensive potential, and Bloodhound’s Finesse is useful against both ordinary enemies and bosses.
Most importantly, you are unlikely to reach some arbitrary point where Bloodhound’s Fang suddenly feels like starter equipment.
The Uchigatana comes extremely close and arguably wins if you value customisation.
The Claymore deserves third place simply because the Claymore has spent several FromSoftware games refusing to become irrelevant.
Don’t Abandon a Weapon Just Because You Found It Early
One of Elden Ring’s better design choices is that your first few hours can contain equipment capable of defining the next hundred.
Bloodhound’s Fang can become an endgame weapon. The Uchigatana can form the foundation of several powerful builds. The Claymore remains wonderfully dependable. Misericorde can sit quietly in your inventory until you realise just how nasty critical attacks can become.
So resist the urge to treat Limgrave equipment as disposable starter loot.
Upgrade carefully, experiment with Ashes of War and pay attention to movesets rather than obsessing over base damage.
Sometimes the legendary weapon you have been waiting for is already sitting in your inventory at +3.
