Elden Ring Weapon Tier List for June 2026: Top S-Tier Weapons

With over 400 weapons available in Elden Ring (including 102 new DLC weapons from Shadow of the Erdtree), choosing the right weapon for your build can be overwhelming. This comprehensive tier list ranks every weapon based on performance in Patch 1.16, considering both PvE and PvP viability, scaling potential, unique weapon arts, and current meta dominance.

Quick Overview: Top Weapons by Category

What Makes a Weapon S-Tier in Elden Ring?

S-Tier weapons in Elden Ring represent the pinnacle of weapon design, combining exceptional damage output with unique mechanics that define the current meta. These weapons typically excel in multiple areas: high base damage, excellent scaling with key stats, powerful weapon arts that can turn the tide of battle, and versatility across different game modes.

In Patch 1.16, the introduction of Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has shaken up the meta significantly, with several new weapons immediately establishing themselves as S-Tier contenders. The current S-Tier weapons share common traits: they either deal massive damage quickly, provide unique utility that can’t be found elsewhere, or enable entirely new playstyles that dominate both PvE and PvP scenarios.

S-Tier: Meta-Defining Weapons (Patch 1.16)

These weapons define the current Elden Ring meta. They combine devastating damage output with unique mechanics that make them essential for optimal builds.

Blasphemous Blade (Greatsword)

• Scaling: Strength/Faith (C/C at +10)
• Requirements: 22 Str, 15 Fai
• Speciality: Life-steal and fire damage
• Why it’s S-Tier: Taker’s Flames weapon skill creates an explosive blast that heals you for a percentage of damage dealt. This self-sustain makes it nearly unbeatable in prolonged fights, especially against bosses. The fire damage scales directly with your Faith stat, and at 60+ Faith with proper talismans, this weapon can consistently hit for 1000+ damage while keeping you healed through most attacks. It’s the ultimate “win button” for Faith builds and remains untouched by nerfs in Patch 1.16.

Rivers of Blood (Katana)

• Scaling: Arcane/Dexterity (D/E at +10, S/D with Blood affinity)
• Requirements: 12 Str, 18 Dex, 20 Arc
• Speciality: Bleed buildup and Corpse Piler weapon art
• Why it’s S-Tier: Corpse Piler is arguably the most powerful weapon art in the game, delivering rapid successive slashes that build up bleed incredibly fast. In PvP, it creates overwhelming pressure that’s difficult to counter, while in PvE, it can melt bosses and clear groups of enemies effortlessly. With 50+ Arcane and proper bleed-focused talismans, Rivers of Blood can trigger hemorrhage multiple times in a single weapon art use, making it the undisputed king of bleed builds even after the DLC release.

Moonveil (Katana)

• Scaling: Intelligence/Dexterity (C/D at +10)
• Requirements: 12 Str, 18 Dex, 23 Int
• Speciality: Magic damage and Transient Moonlight weapon art
• Why it’s S-Tier: Transient Moonlight fires a powerful magic projectile that can be charged for additional damage and stagger potential. This weapon art is incredibly fast, has excellent range, and can be spammed to devastating effect. For Intelligence builds, Moonveil provides the perfect balance of melee and ranged capabilities, allowing you to poke enemies from safety while still maintaining strong melee damage. It’s particularly devastating in PvP, where the quick projectile can catch opponents off guard and lead to easy kills.

Backhand Blade (DLC – Paired Swords)

• Scaling: Dexterity (B at +10)
• Requirements: 10 Str, 13 Dex
• Speciality: Paired weapon with unique dodge-strike mechanic
• Why it’s S-Tier: This DLC weapon has immediately established itself as a top-tier choice for Dexterity builds. When two-handed, it enables dual-wielding with a unique moveset that includes a dodge-strike mechanic, making you incredibly mobile while dealing damage. The weapon reaches S-tier Dexterity scaling at +25, and its fast attacks combined with excellent range make it perfect for both PvE and PvP. It’s relatively easy to obtain early in the DLC and scales well throughout the entire game.

Bloodfiend’s Arm (DLC – Fist Weapon)

• Scaling: Strength/Arcane (D/D at +10, B/B with Blood affinity)
• Requirements: 16 Str, 8 Arc
• Speciality: Rapid bleed buildup and unique grab attacks
• Why it’s S-Tier: This DLC fist weapon has revolutionized Strength/Arcane builds. Its heavy attacks build up bleed incredibly quickly, and it has unique grab animations that can’t be parried, making it deadly in PvP. With Blood affinity and proper investment in both Strength and Arcane, Bloodfiend’s Arm can trigger hemorrhage multiple times in a single combo while dealing massive physical damage. It’s particularly effective against bosses due to its rapid attack speed and high stance damage.

Dark Moon Greatsword (Greatsword)

• Scaling: Intelligence (B at +10)
• Requirements: 16 Str, 11 Dex, 38 Int
• Speciality: Magic damage and frostbite buildup
• Why it’s S-Tier: As the iconic Intelligence weapon, the Dark Moon Greatsword continues to dominate in Patch 1.16. Its unique weapon art creates a magic beam that deals high damage and applies frostbite, while also buffing the blade with additional magic damage. For pure Intelligence builds, this weapon offers unmatched versatility, allowing you to fight effectively at both melee and range. The frostbite buildup adds significant damage over time, making it particularly effective against tanky bosses and in PvP scenarios.

Bloodhound’s Fang (Curved Greatsword)

• Scaling: Strength/Dexterity (D/D at +10)
• Requirements: 18 Str, 17 Dex
• Speciality: Early-game accessibility and Bloodhound’s Finesse
• Why it’s S-Tier: Bloodhound’s Fang remains one of the best weapons in the game due to its early accessibility and incredible scaling. Bloodhound’s Finesse is a powerful weapon art that deals significant damage while providing a dodge-like animation, making it both offensive and defensive. The weapon has innate bleed buildup and excellent scaling that carries it from early game to endgame. It’s particularly effective in quality builds (equal Str/Dex) and remains a top choice for both PvE and PvP.

A-Tier: Extremely Strong and Reliable

These weapons are just a step below S-Tier but still offer exceptional performance. They might have slightly more niche requirements or minor drawbacks compared to S-Tier choices.

Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword (DLC – Colossal Sword)

• Scaling: Strength/Arcane (B/B at +10)
• Requirements: 35 Str, 14 Arc
• Speciality: White Light Charge weapon art with explosive AoE
• Why it’s A-Tier: This DLC colossal sword offers incredible damage potential with its unique weapon art that creates an explosive AoE effect. The Strength/Arcane hybrid scaling makes it perfect for quality builds that want to incorporate bleed effects, and the weapon art is particularly effective against groups of enemies and large bosses. It’s slightly slower than S-Tier options but makes up for it with raw damage output and excellent crowd control capabilities.

Giant-Crusher (Colossal Weapon)

• Scaling: Strength (A at +10, S at +25 with Heavy affinity)
• Requirements: 60 Str (two-handable at 40)
• Speciality: Highest raw physical damage in the game
• Why it’s A-Tier: When properly upgraded with Heavy affinity and paired with Royal Knight’s Resolve, Giant-Crusher becomes the ultimate “bonk” weapon capable of one-shotting many enemies and dealing massive posture damage to bosses. While its slow speed and high stamina requirements prevent it from reaching S-Tier, no other weapon can match its raw damage potential. It’s the go-to choice for pure Strength builds that want to maximize damage output above all else.

Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear (Great Spear)

• Scaling: Arcane/Faith (D/D at +10, C/C with Blood affinity)
• Requirements: 24 Str, 14 Dex, 21 Fai, 20 Arc
• Speciality: Bloodboon Ritual weapon art
• Why it’s A-Tier: Bloodboon Ritual creates a powerful blood explosion that deals massive damage and builds up bleed in a large area. This makes it incredibly effective for crowd control and dealing with groups of enemies. While its high stat requirements make it more niche than S-Tier options, the weapon art’s damage output and AoE potential make it invaluable for Arcane/Faith hybrid builds. It’s particularly effective in the Consecrated Snowfield and other areas with groups of weaker enemies.

Sacred Relic Sword (Greatsword)

• Scaling: Faith/Dexterity (E/D at +10)
• Requirements: 10 Str, 14 Dex, 24 Fai
• Speciality: Wave of Gold weapon art for rune farming
• Why it’s A-Tier: While primarily known as the best rune farming weapon due to its wide-sweeping Wave of Gold weapon art, the Sacred Relic Sword is also highly effective in regular combat. The weapon art deals massive damage to groups of enemies and has excellent range, making it perfect for clearing out mob areas. While its scaling isn’t the best, its utility and AoE capabilities earn it a solid A-Tier placement, especially for players who frequently farm runes or engage in group content.

Hand of Malenia (Katana)

• Scaling: Dexterity (A at +10)
• Requirements: 16 Str, 32 Dex
• Speciality: Waterfowl Dance weapon art
• Why it’s A-Tier: Waterfowl Dance is one of the most iconic and powerful weapon arts in the game, delivering a flurry of slashes that can delete bosses if all hits connect. The weapon also has excellent Dexterity scaling and innate bleed buildup. However, its placement in A-Tier rather than S-Tier reflects its difficulty to use effectively – Waterfowl Dance requires precise timing and positioning to land all hits, and the weapon is only obtainable after defeating Malenia, one of the game’s toughest bosses.

Winged Scythe (Reaper)

• Scaling: Faith/Dexterity (D/D at +10)
• Requirements: 16 Str, 16 Dex, 24 Fai
• Speciality: Angel’s Wings weapon art and anti-heal effect
• Why it’s A-Tier: Angel’s Wings creates a powerful vortex that pulls enemies in and deals continuous damage, making it excellent for crowd control. More importantly, the Winged Scythe has an innate anti-heal effect that prevents enemies from healing, making it invaluable in PvP scenarios where opponents rely on healing flasks. While its damage output isn’t quite S-Tier level, its unique utility and effectiveness against healing-focused opponents earn it a solid A-Tier placement.

B-Tier: Solid Choices with Specific Strengths

These weapons are perfectly viable but often require specific builds or are outshined by options in higher tiers. They excel in particular situations but may have noticeable drawbacks.

Sword of Night and Flame (Straight Sword)

• Scaling: Intelligence/Faith (C/C at +10)
• Requirements: 10 Str, 12 Dex, 24 Int, 24 Fai
• Speciality: Dual magic and fire damage options
• Why it’s B-Tier: Once considered S-Tier before nerfs, the Sword of Night and Flame is now a solid choice for hybrid Intelligence/Faith builds. It offers both magic beam and fire AoE attacks, providing versatility that few other weapons can match. However, both options have been significantly nerfed in terms of damage output and FP efficiency, preventing it from competing with top-tier choices. It’s still a fun and viable option for hybrid builds but requires more stat investment for less damage than specialized weapons.

Nagakiba (Katana)

• Scaling: Dexterity/Arcane (D/D at +10, B/D with Blood affinity)
• Requirements: 18 Str, 25 Dex
• Speciality: Extended range and customizable with Ashes of War
• Why it’s B-Tier: The Nagakiba offers superior range compared to other katanas and can be customized with various Ashes of War, making it versatile for different build types. However, it’s outshined by Rivers of Blood and Moonveil in terms of raw power and unique weapon arts. While it’s an excellent weapon for Dexterity builds that want katana moveset with extended reach, it lacks the defining characteristics that would push it into higher tiers.

Cleanrot Spear (Spear)

• Scaling: Strength/Faith (D/D at +10)
• Requirements: 22 Str, 12 Dex, 22 Fai
• Speciality: High poise damage and Scarlet Aeonia weapon art
• Why it’s B-Tier: The Cleanrot Spear offers excellent poise damage and a powerful weapon art that creates a large flower explosion. It’s particularly effective against enemies with high poise and in Faith builds that want spear moveset. However, it’s overshadowed by other Faith weapons like the Blasphemous Blade and Winged Scythe in terms of overall utility and damage output. It’s a solid choice for spear enthusiasts but requires specific build considerations to truly shine.

Marais Executioner’s Sword (Greatsword)

• Scaling: Strength/Arcane (D/D at +10)
• Requirements: 28 Str, 12 Dex, 18 Arc
• Speciality: Eochaid’s Dancing Blade weapon art
• Why it’s B-Tier: Eochaid’s Dancing Blade creates a spinning corkscrew attack that deals significant damage and builds up bleed. It’s a fun and stylish weapon that can be effective in both PvE and PvP. However, it’s outclassed by other Arcane weapons like Rivers of Blood and Bloodfiend’s Arm in terms of consistency and damage output. The weapon art, while powerful, can be difficult to land consistently and leaves you vulnerable if missed.

C-Tier: Niche or Outclassed Options

These weapons can still perform in specific situations but are generally outclassed by alternatives or require very specific builds to be effective.

Great Épée (Heavy Thrusting Sword)

• Scaling: Strength (D at +10, B with Heavy affinity)
• Requirements: 18 Str, 12 Dex
• Speciality: Powerful counter attacks and PvP utility
• Why it’s C-Tier: The Great Épée excels at punishing whiffs in PvP with its powerful counter attacks, making it a solid choice for duel-focused builds. However, it’s largely ineffective in PvE content and lacks the status effect synergy or unique weapon arts that define higher-tier weapons. It’s a niche option that only truly shines in specific PvP scenarios.

Giant-Crusher (Colossal Weapon)

• Scaling: Strength (A at +10, S at +25 with Heavy affinity)
• Requirements: 60 Str (two-handable at 40)
• Speciality: Raw burst damage potential
• Why it’s C-Tier: While the Giant-Crusher can hit incredibly hard, its extremely slow speed and massive stamina consumption make it impractical for most content. It requires very specific build setups and playstyles to be effective, and even then, it’s often outperformed by faster Strength weapons that can deal more consistent damage over time. It’s a fun option for players who enjoy “big bonk” gameplay but isn’t optimal for most situations.

Vyke’s War Spear (Spear)

• Scaling: Faith/Dexterity (D/D at +10)
• Requirements: 20 Str, 14 Dex, 21 Fai
• Speciality: Madness buildup and unique weapon art
• Why it’s C-Tier: Vyke’s War Spear builds up Madness, which can be powerful in specific situations, particularly against certain bosses and in PvP. However, Madness is generally less reliable than bleed or frostbite as a status effect, and the spear’s overall damage output is underwhelming compared to other Faith weapons. It’s a niche option that only excels in very specific scenarios where Madness buildup is particularly effective.

How to Redeem Elden Ring Weapon Codes in June 2026?

Wait – that’s not quite right for Elden Ring! Unlike many modern games, Elden Ring doesn’t use traditional “codes” for weapons. Instead, weapons are obtained through exploration, boss defeats, merchant purchases, or specific questlines. However, if you’re looking to get the best weapons efficiently, here’s the optimal approach:

How to Get the Best Weapons Fast in June 2026?

1. Start with Bloodhound’s Fang – Defeat Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in Limgrave for this S-Tier curved greatsword that will carry you through the entire game
2. Grab Moonveil early – Head to Gael Tunnel in Caelid and defeat the Magma Wyrm for this Intelligence/Dexterity powerhouse
3. Farm for Blasphemous Blade – Progress through Volcano Manor to defeat Rykard and exchange his Remembrance
4. DLC weapons route – If you have Shadow of the Erdtree, start with Backhand Blade and Bloodfiend’s Arm which are available relatively early in the expansion
5. Use weapon upgrades – Prioritize Smithing Stone upgrades for your chosen weapons – a +10 weapon will always outperform a higher-tier weapon at lower upgrade levels

What Are the Best Early Game Weapons in Elden Ring?

Early game weapon choice can significantly impact your Elden Ring experience. Here are the best weapons you can obtain within the first few hours of gameplay:

Top Early Game Weapons (Obtainable in Limgrave/Liurnia)

Pro Strategies for Early Game Weapon Progression

1. Two-hand weapons – Don’t be afraid to two-hand weapons you don’t meet the Strength requirements for – this gives you 1.5x your Strength stat for wielding purposes
2. Focus on upgrade materials – A +3 Uchigatana will outperform most unupgraded weapons you find later
3. Plan your build – Look at weapon scaling and plan your stat distribution accordingly – there’s no point investing in Strength if you plan to use Dexterity weapons
4. Use Ashes of War – Early Ashes of War like Stormcaller or Bloody Slash can dramatically improve weapon effectiveness
5. Consider DLC weapons – If you have Shadow of the Erdtree, some DLC weapons like Backhand Blade can be obtained early and are extremely powerful

What Are the Best DLC Weapons in Shadow of the Erdtree?

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced 102 new weapons, many of which have immediately established themselves as meta-defining options. Here are the standout weapons from the expansion:

Top 10 DLC Weapons (Patch 1.16)

1. Backhand Blade (Paired Swords) – The new king of Dexterity builds with unique dual-wielding mechanics
2. Bloodfiend’s Arm (Fist Weapon) – Revolutionized Strength/Arcane builds with rapid bleed buildup
3. Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword (Colossal Sword) – Excellent Strength/Arcane hybrid with explosive AoE
4. Star Fist (Fist Weapon) – Surprisingly powerful Strength weapon with incredible attack speed
5. Milady (Straight Sword) – Versatile Dexterity weapon with excellent moveset
6. Iron Greatsword (Carian Sovereignty) – Top-tier Intelligence weapon with unique magic mechanics
7. Fire Knight’s Greatsword (Greatsword) – Excellent Faith weapon with fire damage and utility
8. Rakshasa’s Great Katana (Katana) – Powerful Dexterity weapon with unique heavy attacks
9. Dane’s Footwork (Fist Weapon) – Interesting Arcane option with unique movement mechanics
10. Obsidian Lamina (Katana) – Solid Arcane/Dexterity hybrid with good bleed potential

How DLC Weapons Changed the Meta in June 2026?

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has significantly shaken up the Elden Ring meta in several ways:

1. New build options – Many DLC weapons enable entirely new build archetypes that weren’t viable before
2. Power creep – Some DLC weapons outperform base game options in their respective categories
3. Hybrid builds strengthened – Many DLC weapons excel with hybrid stat distributions
4. Early game power – Several DLC weapons can be obtained relatively early and are extremely powerful
5. PVP evolution – New weapon arts and mechanics have changed the competitive landscape

What Are the Best Weapons for Each Build Type in June 2026?

Different builds require different weapons to maximize effectiveness. Here are the best weapon choices for each major build archetype in Patch 1.16:

Strength Build Weapons

Top Choices:

• Giant-Crusher – Maximum raw damage potential
• Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword (DLC) – Excellent hybrid option with AoE
• Star Fist (DLC) – Surprisingly powerful with incredible speed
• Ruins Greatsword – Great for quality builds with unique weapon art
• Blasphemous Blade – Best Faith/Strength hybrid with life-steal

Key Considerations: Strength builds should focus on weapons with Heavy affinity and prioritize two-handing for maximum damage output. The Giant-Crusher in particular can reach S-tier Strength scaling and deals devastating damage when properly built.

Dexterity Build Weapons

Top Choices:

• Backhand Blade (DLC) – New meta king with dual-wield potential
• Bloodhound’s Fang – Excellent all-around choice available early
• Hand of Malenia – Highest damage potential but late-game
• Nagakiba – Extended range for safer play
• Uchigatana – Reliable early game option with bleed

Key Considerations: Dexterity builds benefit from weapons with Keen affinity and should prioritize attack speed and bleed buildup. The Backhand Blade has particularly revolutionized Dexterity builds with its unique mechanics and excellent scaling.

Intelligence Build Weapons

Top Choices:

• Dark Moon Greatsword – Iconic choice with magic damage and frostbite
• Moonveil – Versatile option with projectile attacks
• Iron Greatsword (DLC) – New top contender with unique magic mechanics
• Carian Sorcery Sword – Excellent for hybrid melee/caster builds
• Wing of Astel – Great option with unique weapon art

Key Considerations: Intelligence builds should look for weapons with Magic affinity and prioritize spellblade options that allow both melee and ranged combat. The Dark Moon Greatsword remains the iconic choice, but several DLC weapons now offer compelling alternatives.

Faith Build Weapons

Top Choices:

• Blasphemous Blade – Undisputed king with life-steal
• Fire Knight’s Greatsword (DLC) – Excellent new option with fire damage
• Sword of Night and Flame – Versatile hybrid option
• Winged Scythe – Great for PvP with anti-heal
• Black Knife – Unique option with stealth and assassin playstyle

Key Considerations: Faith builds should focus on weapons with Flame affinity and prioritize utility effects like healing, fire damage, or status effects. The Blasphemous Blade remains the best overall choice due to its life-steal mechanic.

Arcane Build Weapons

Top Choices:

• Bloodfiend’s Arm (DLC) – New king of Arcane builds
• Rivers of Blood – Still excellent for pure bleed focus
• Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear – Great for AoE and crowd control
• Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword (DLC) – Excellent hybrid option
• Eleonora’s Poleblade – Solid choice with bleed and fire damage

Key Considerations: Arcane builds should prioritize weapons with Blood affinity and focus on status effect buildup. The Bloodfiend’s Arm has particularly revolutionized Arcane builds with its unique mechanics and rapid bleed application.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Weapons in Elden Ring

Even experienced players can make suboptimal weapon choices. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid:

1. Ignoring Upgrade Levels

A +10 standard weapon will almost always outperform a +0 unique or boss weapon. Many players make the mistake of switching to a “better” weapon without upgrading it first, resulting in lower damage output. Always prioritize upgrading your chosen weapons with Smithing Stones or Somber Smithing Stones.

2. Spreading Stats Too Thin

Trying to use weapons that require multiple high stats (like the Sword of Night and Flame requiring 24 Intelligence AND 24 Faith) without proper planning can leave your character weak in all areas. Focus on weapons that align with your primary stat investment.

3. Neglecting Ashes of War

Many players ignore Ashes of War or don’t experiment with different ones. The right Ash of War can completely transform a weapon’s effectiveness. For example, adding Bloody Slash to a standard straight sword can make it vastly more effective than many unique weapons.

4. Overlooking DLC Weapons

With Shadow of the Erdtree introducing so many powerful new weapons, sticking only to base game options means missing out on some of the best weapons in the current meta. Even if you’re early in the game, some DLC weapons are accessible and extremely powerful.

5. Ignoring Move Sets

Damage numbers aren’t everything. A weapon’s move set – how it handles, its attack speed, and its range – can be more important than raw damage. For example, the Bloodhound’s Fang is prized not just for its damage but for its excellent move set and the dodge-like animation in its weapon art.

Pro Strategies for Maximizing Weapon Effectiveness in June 2026

To get the most out of your chosen weapons, consider these advanced strategies:

1. Talisman Synergy

The right talismans can dramatically boost weapon effectiveness:

• Rotten Winged Sword Insignia – Boosts attack power with successive attacks (perfect for rapid weapons like Rivers of Blood)
• Lord of Blood’s Exultation – +20% attack power when bleed is proc’d
• Kindred of Rot’s Exultation – +20% attack power when poison is proc’d
• Millicent’s Prosthesis – Boosts dexterity and attack power with successive attacks
• Taker’s Cameo – Boosts attack power when using Taker’s Flames (Blasphemous Blade)

2. Buff Stacking

Combine weapon buffs for maximum damage:

• Use weapon buffs like Golden Vow or Flame, Grant Me Strength before combat
• Apply consumable buffs like Fire Grease or Magic Grease
• Use spell buffs like Scholar’s Armament or Flame, Grant Me Strength
• Stack with appropriate talismans for multiplicative effects

3. Stance Breaking

Learn to break enemy stances for critical hits:

• Use heavy attacks or jump attacks to build posture damage
• Weapons like the Giant-Crusher or Star Fist excel at stance breaking
• Guard counters with shields can also build posture damage quickly
• Critical hits after stance breaks deal massive damage

4. Range Management

Master weapon range for optimal effectiveness:

• Understand your weapon’s effective range and stay at that distance
• Use weapon arts to extend range when needed (like Moonveil’s projectile)
• Learn to space attacks to avoid getting hit while dealing damage
• Some weapons like the Nagakiba excel at range control

5. Status Effect Optimization

Maximize status effect buildup:

• Use weapons with innate status effects (bleed, frostbite, poison)
• Apply appropriate Ashes of War to enhance status buildup
• Use talismans that boost status effect buildup
• Learn enemy weaknesses to different status effects

Platform-Specific Weapon Considerations

While Elden Ring’s weapon mechanics are largely consistent across platforms, there are some platform-specific considerations:

PC-Specific Considerations

• Mouse and keyboard allows for more precise control of attack angles and timing
• Mod support on PC can enable additional weapon customization (though this disables online features)
• Higher frame rates can make fast weapons like katanas even more effective
• Graphics settings can be adjusted to improve visibility of attack tells

Console-Specific Considerations

• Controller vibration provides important feedback for weapon timing
• Console performance is more consistent but locked at 60fps
• Crossplay means you’ll encounter players on all platforms in PvP
• Console exclusives don’t apply to Elden Ring, but platform-specific communities may favor different weapons

FAQ: Elden Ring Weapon Tier List

What is the absolute best weapon in Elden Ring?

The Blasphemous Blade is widely considered the best overall weapon in Elden Ring due to its incredible versatility, life-steal mechanic, and excellent damage output. It performs well in virtually all content types and remains effective throughout the entire game.

Are DLC weapons better than base game weapons?

Many DLC weapons are indeed superior to base game options in their respective categories. Weapons like Backhand Blade and Bloodfiend’s Arm have immediately established themselves as top-tier choices that outperform many base game alternatives.

What weapon should I use for a first playthrough?

For a first playthrough, the Bloodhound’s Fang is an excellent choice. It’s obtainable relatively early, scales well with quality builds (Strength/Dexterity), has a great move set, and remains effective throughout the entire game.

How important are weapon upgrades?

Weapon upgrades are extremely important – arguably more important than the base weapon choice. A +10 standard weapon will typically outperform a +0 unique or boss weapon. Always prioritize upgrading your chosen weapons.

What’s the best weapon for PvP?

Rivers of Blood is often considered the best PvP weapon due to its incredible pressure with Corpse Piler, rapid bleed buildup, and excellent range. However, weapons like Moonveil and Winged Scythe (with anti-heal) are also top-tier PvP choices.

Are fist weapons viable in Elden Ring?

Yes! Fist weapons like the Star Fist and Bloodfiend’s Arm are actually top-tier choices in Patch 1.16. They offer incredible attack speed, high stance damage, and unique mechanics that make them surprisingly effective.

What’s the best weapon for strength builds?

The Giant-Crusher offers the highest raw damage potential for pure Strength builds, especially when upgraded with Heavy affinity and paired with Royal Knight’s Resolve. However, the Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword (DLC) offers a more versatile hybrid option.

How do I get the Dark Moon Greatsword?

The Dark Moon Greatsword is obtained by completing Ranni’s questline, one of the longest and most complex questlines in the game. It requires significant progress through the main story and multiple specific steps.

What’s the best early game weapon?

The Uchigatana, obtainable from Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave, is arguably the best early game weapon. It has excellent Dexterity scaling, innate bleed, and a great move set that will carry you through the early and mid-game.

Are katanas the best weapon type in Elden Ring?

Katanas are certainly among the best weapon types, with multiple S-Tier options like Rivers of Blood, Moonveil, and Hand of Malenia. However, other weapon types like greatswords, fist weapons, and curved greatswords also have excellent top-tier options.

Final Wordings

This comprehensive Elden Ring Weapon Tier List for June 2026 provides everything you need to make informed weapon choices for your build. Remember that while tier lists are helpful guides, the best weapon is ultimately the one that fits your playstyle and that you enjoy using. Experiment with different options, don’t be afraid to respec if needed, and most importantly, have fun exploring the vast arsenal that Elden Ring has to offer!

Save this page as your definitive Elden Ring weapon guide – I’ll keep it updated with the latest patch changes and meta shifts as they happen.