Our guide will list only the best weapons in Elden Ring in a tier list fashion. Most of these can be obtained in the latter stages of the game, but there are a few surprising weapons that can be found early on as well.
Elden Ring: S-Tier Weapons
Carian Regal Scepter
Type: Glintstone Staff Attack: Phy-24 / Crit-100 / Sor-140 Requires: Str-8 / Dex-10 / Int-60
Magic is a very powerful source of damage in Elden Ring. That’s why pure or hybrid mage builds can really shine in this game, especially with Carian Regal Scepter in hand, which has a passive ability that boosts all Full Moon spells.
This is a unique staff that has a special Spinning Weapon skill, which allows you to both protect yourself and hit enemies at the same time, if those are close by.
In order to obtain this weapon players need to defeat Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, who resides at the Raya Lucaria Academy. Once defeated she will drop the Remembrance of The Full Moon Queen, which you need to bring to Enia at Roundtable Hold.
If you want to play as caster mage or astrologer, then this staff would be the best pick.
Hand of Malenia
Type: Katana Attack: Phy-269 / Crit-100 Requires: Str-16 / Dex-48
Fast and brutal are the two words that come to mind when speaking of Hand of Melania.
This unique weapon possesses the Waterfowl Dance skill, which allows players to perform a deadly slashing combo that can be repeated several times in a quick sequence, leaving not a single enemy alive.
Hand of Melania can only be obtained after defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella boss, who can be found at the Consecrated Snowfield. She will drop the Remembrance of the Rot Goddess that can be exchanged for the katana at Enia’s.
You can use this powerful weapon on your tank build with some heavy armor.
Starscourge Greatsword
Type: Colossal Sword Attack: Phy-129 / Mag-83 / Crit-100 Requires: Str-38 / Dex-12 / Int-15
Elden Ring players have a few favorites when it comes to the best main sword in the game, but there is no doubt that Starscourge Greatsword is the weapon any DPS melee build would want.
Just like all unique weapons, it has its own special skill Starcaller Cry, which creates a wave that pulls all surrounding enemies in and slams them down with a powerful blow.
This weapon can be obtained after defeating Starscourge Radahn boss, who resides in the Redmane Castle, Caelid. He will drop the Remembrance of the Starscourge, which you need to bring to Enia at Roundtable Hold and exchange it for this magnificent sword.
Starscourge Greatsword would be the best for for such classes like Vagabond, Warrior, or Hero, with a medium or heavy armor.
A-Tier Weapons
Azur’s Glintstone Staff
Type: Glintstone Staff Attack: Phy-24 / Crit-100 / Sor-166 Requires: Str-10 / Int-52
Azur’s Glintstone Staff may have higher sorcery scaling and lower requirements than Carian Regal Scepter, but it consumes 50% more FP, which is why it is only Tier A.
This staff also has no passive or special abilities, which is another reason it is a little bit worse than the Carian Regal Scepter. Still it is one of the best mage staffs in the game, and no caster should ignore this powerful weapon.
It can be found on the floor at the Raya Lucaria Academy. You need to go up to the second floor at the Church of the Cuckoo, and search for a room with crystals and Lucarian Stone Masks in the eastern side.
Dark Moon Greatsword
Type: Greatsword Attack: Phy-82 / Mag-98 / Crit-100 Requires: Str-16 / Dex-11 / Int-38
Some weapons need to be enchanted in order to produce a certain magical effect, but with Dark Moon Greatsword you don’t need anything, as it already has frost damage imbued in its steel.
It also has the Moonlight Greatsword ability, which allows you to charge it up with the Dark Moon power and send crushing blasts of moonlight at your enemies. Combine this with frost magic, and you will have a rather deadly weapon in your hands.
In order to obtain this excellent sword you need to complete the Renna’s quest. This NPC can be found at the Ranni’s Rise tower in the Three Sisters, Liurnia of the Lakes.
During this quest you need to obtain the Dark Moon ring and bring it back to Renna. Afterwards, go to Cathedral of Manus Celes, and you will find the Dark Moon Greatsword below it.
Bloodhound’s Fang
Type: Curved Greatsword Attack: Phy-141 / Crit-100 Requires: Str-18 / Dex-17
Here is a weapon that can cause serious blood loss, which can be absolutely devastating when properly upgraded with the help of smithing stones.
It has a unique Bloodhound’s Finesse attack combo that starts with an upward slash, continues with the backwards somersault, and finishes everything off with a strong attack.
This weapon can be obtained only after defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil, located at the Forlon Hound Evergaol in Limgrave.
B-Tier Weapons
Ruins Greatsword
Type: Colossal Sword Attack: Phy-124 / Mag-37 / Crit-100 Requires: Str-50 / Int-16
There is a special breed of players who enjoy playing Souls games with nothing but the biggest and heaviest weapons in the game. If you care about nothing but the strength of your character, then this would be a great choice.
Its Wave of Destruction ability allows you to perform a slamming AoE that can destroy or break any kinds of defenses that enemies might possess. It’s a true stagger enabler!
Getting this weapon won’t be easy, as you will have to defeat both Crucible Knight and Misbegotten Warrior at the Redmane Castle Plaza.
Moonveil
Type: Katana Attack: Phy-73 / Mag-87 / Crit-100 Requires: Str-12 / Dex-18 / Int-23
While most players choose pure melee builds, and others choose pure magic builds, the rest of us go for hybrid builds that combine both of those elements.
This katana could be a perfect companion to your magic staff, as a highly precise and fast melee weapon that deals tons of damage with its Transient Moonlight ability.
Moonveil can be obtained as a drop from an optional boss Magma Wyrm, who can be found inside the Gael Tunnel at Caelid. This enemy is weak to magic, so casters will have no trouble taking him out.
Such a fine weapon would be the best fit for Wretch and Prisoner classes that are most suitable for melee mage hybrid builds.
Astrologer’s Staff
Type: Glintstone Staff Attack: Phy-25 / Crit-100 / Sor-166 Requires: Str-7 / Int-16
If you’re just starting out and don’t want to use brute force, but choose to use magic in order to subdue enemies, then this is the weapon for you.
Although Astrologer’s Staff is a regular weapon, its sorcery scaling is out of this world, which will allow you to perform really well in such demanding game like Elden Ring.
Players who choose the Astrologer class at the beginning of the game will get the Astrologer’s Staff for free, but if you’ve chosen a different class, and still want to try it out, then you can purchase it for 800 Runes from the Nomadic Merchant at Liurnia of the Lakes.
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Those are the best weapons in Elden Ring. If you want to read more on Elden Ring tips and tricks, then go to our dedicated hub page, where you can find out where to get the Sword of Night and Flame or the Blasphemous Blade.
