With hundreds of weapons to choose from, Elden Ring offers players a staggering range of build possibilities. From colossal greatswords and legendary katanas to arcane whips and holy spears, the sheer variety means there is no single “best” weapon for every situation. However, some stand out for their versatility, raw damage, unique weapon skills, or synergy with dominant builds in both PvE and PvP.
This tier list ranks the most effective weapons in Elden Ring, based on weapon performance in version 1.10 and community consensus from high-level players. It prioritises general viability across different builds, with consideration for boss fights, invasions, duelling, and late-game scaling.
S-Tier: Best-in-Class Weapons
These weapons define the current meta. They combine high damage output with exceptional scaling, unique weapon arts, or build-enabling versatility.
- Rivers of Blood (Katana)
- Scaling: Arcane/Dexterity
- Speciality: Bleed builds
- Why it’s here: Corpse Piler’s blood loss stacks absurdly fast. It remains top-tier for PvP pressure and PvE mob clearing.
- Blasphemous Blade (Greatsword)
- Scaling: Strength/Faith
- Speciality: Life-steal and flame damage
- Why it’s here: A mainstay of Faith builds. Taker’s Flames heals you while dealing huge damage at range.
- Moonveil (Katana)
- Scaling: Intelligence/Dexterity
- Speciality: Magic builds
- Why it’s here: Transient Moonlight can stagger and delete enemies before they react. Devastating in invasions and boss fights.
- Bloodhound’s Fang (Curved Greatsword)
- Scaling: Strength/Dexterity
- Speciality: Early-game to endgame carry
- Why it’s here: Easy to obtain, hard to replace. Strong scaling, innate bleed, and Bloodhound’s Finesse keep it viable throughout the game.
- Dark Moon Greatsword (Greatsword)
- Scaling: Intelligence
- Speciality: Charged magic attacks
- Why it’s here: For pure Intelligence builds, this weapon remains iconic and powerful. Frostbite and projectile beams make it deadly at range.
A-Tier: Extremely Strong and Reliable
Powerful weapons that fall just short of the top due to slightly lower scaling, niche requirements, or reduced PvP effectiveness.
- Sacred Relic Sword (Greatsword)
- Scaling: Faith/Dexterity
- Speciality: Rune farming, wide AoE
- Why it works: While only available in NG+, the wave of gold weapon skill dominates groups and bosses alike.
- Nagakiba (Katana)
- Scaling: Dexterity/Arcane
- Speciality: Customisable bleed katana
- Why it works: Superior range and flexibility. Excellent when paired with Seppuku or Flaming Strike.
- Ruins Greatsword (Colossal Sword)
- Scaling: Strength
- Speciality: Pure Strength scaling
- Why it works: One of the hardest-hitting weapons in the game. Slow, but devastating in strength builds.
- Winged Scythe (Reaper)
- Scaling: Faith/Dexterity
- Speciality: Anti-healing
- Why it works: Effective in PvP due to its ability to prevent flasks. Fast, aggressive, and stylish.
- Morgott’s Cursed Sword (Curved Greatsword)
- Scaling: Arcane/Dexterity
- Speciality: Bleed and flame mix
- Why it works: Explosive burst damage with unique animations and excellent status application.
B-Tier: Solid Choices with Specific Strengths
Weapons in this tier are perfectly viable, though often require specific builds or are outshined by others in their class.
- Sword of Night and Flame (Straight Sword)
- Scaling: Intelligence/Faith
- Speciality: Dual-scaling beam or flame
- Why it’s here: Formerly overpowered, now solid for hybrid casters who want variety in combat.
- Reduvia (Dagger)
- Scaling: Arcane/Dexterity
- Speciality: Bleed projectiles
- Why it’s here: A menace in early PvP and still useful late game with Arcane investment.
- Marais Executioner’s Sword (Greatsword)
- Scaling: Strength/Arcane
- Speciality: Homing corkscrew projectile
- Why it’s here: Fun and stylish, but overshadowed by other Arcane weapons in terms of consistency.
- Cleanrot Spear (Spear)
- Scaling: Strength/Faith
- Speciality: High poise damage, fast thrusts
- Why it’s here: A great spear for Faith builds, especially in duels or hybrid melee-casting roles.
C-Tier: Niche or Outclassed
These weapons can still perform, but they tend to be outclassed or rely on a very specific playstyle to shine.
- Great Épée (Heavy Thrusting Sword)
- Scaling: Strength
- Speciality: PvP rolls and counters
- Why it’s here: Less effective in PvE. Punishes whiffs in duels but lacks status effect synergy.
- Giant-Crusher (Colossal Weapon)
- Scaling: Strength
- Speciality: Raw burst damage
- Why it’s here: Hits like a truck but its speed and stamina cost limit general usability.
- Lucerne (Polearm)
- Scaling: Strength/Dexterity
- Speciality: Guard breaking
- Why it’s here: Fun to use, but limited by lack of unique scaling or special effects.
- Vykes War Spear (Spear)
- Scaling: Faith/Dexterity
- Speciality: Madness buildup
- Why it’s here: Madness is powerful, but this spear is only effective in very specific PvP scenarios.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
There is no single perfect weapon in Elden Ring, and part of the game’s brilliance lies in tailoring gear to suit your preferred approach. That said, certain weapons offer such a high return on investment in damage, versatility, or status buildup that they dominate both PvE and PvP play. Whether you’re chasing bleed builds, faith-based nukes, or strength-smashing strategies, the current meta still allows for variety, but also clearly defines the strongest contenders.
If you’re starting out or looking to respec, the weapons in S and A tier are consistently powerful choices that will carry you through nearly every challenge the game has to offer.
