Welcome to the definitive Elden Ring weapons tier list 2024. The Lands Between has evolved massively since its initial launch, especially with the release of the massive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Whether you are diving into New Game Plus, prepping for the DLC, or just starting your journey as a fresh Tarnished, knowing which armaments reign supreme is vital for your survival.
Finding the best Elden Ring weapons can save you countless hours of frustration against punishing bosses like Malenia and Consort Radahn. From devastating Bleed builds to overpowered Intelligence sorcery staves, this comprehensive guide ranks the absolute meta for patch 1.12 and beyond. Let us dive straight into the ultimate arsenal.
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Understanding the Elden Ring Meta in 2024
To truly grasp where a weapon stands, we have to look at the current meta. Balance patches have shifted the landscape dramatically. While physical damage scaling remains reliable, status effects like Blood loss and Frostbite continue to dominate high-tier PvE and PvP. Furthermore, posture damage and stagger potential are now heavily factored into how quickly you can melt boss health bars.
When evaluating the best weapons in Elden Ring, we look at several core criteria: raw damage output, moveset versatility, poise damage, Ash of War synergy, and overall utility. A weapon might have incredible raw AR (Attack Rating), but if its recovery frames leave you vulnerable, it drops down the rankings.
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S-Tier: The Absolute Best Elden Ring Weapons
The S-Tier is reserved for weapons that break the game wide open. These armaments offer unmatched crowd control, staggering boss-melting capabilities, and incredible flexibility across different builds. If you want to breeze through the hardest encounters, these are your go-to choices.
Bloodhound's Fang
The Bloodhound's Fang remains the undisputed king of early-to-late-game progression. Accessible right from the start in Limgrave, this curved greatsword boasts an incredible Skill called Bloodhound's Finesse, which allows you to deliver a heavy slash followed by a graceful backward evade. It deals bleed buildup, can be buffed with greases and spells, and carries you effortlessly from Limgrave to the final boss.
Rivers of Blood
Despite past nerfs, Rivers of Blood is still an S-Tier monster for Dexterity/Arcane builds. Its unique Ash of War, Corpse Piler, unleashes waves of blood-soaked physical and fire damage that can stagger-lock humanoid enemies and rapidly stack hemorrhage on massive bosses. It is aggressive, flashy, and exceptionally lethal.
Blasphemous Blade
If there is one weapon that trivializes Elden Ring, it is the Blasphemous Blade. Scaling primarily with Faith, its signature Ash of War—Taker's Flames—sends a wave of fire forward that knocks down enemies and heals you for a massive percentage of your maximum HP upon connection. You do not even need a healing flask if you manage your FP correctly. It is arguably the strongest PvE weapon in the entire game.
Moonveil
For Intelligence builds, the Moonveil katana is a mandatory pick. Its Transient Moonlight skill launches a lightning-fast vertical or horizontal beam of magic energy that deals staggering amounts of poise damage. You can break boss stances in just two or three fully charged skill uses, making it a staple for spellswords.
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A-Tier: Exceptional Weapons and Hidden Gems
While not quite as game-breaking as the S-Tier, A-Tier weapons are fantastic choices that can easily carry you through any endgame content with the right stat investment.
Eleonora's Poleblade
This twinblade delivers a whirlwind of fiery, bleeding death. Its Ash of War features multi-hit combos that rapidly stack hemorrhage while granting you intrinsic iframe mobility. It is stylish, fast, and devastating in the hands of a dedicated Arcane user.
Starscourge Greatsword
Radahn's signature colossal swords pack a devastating punch. Dual-wielded by default, their Starcaller Cry pulls enemies inward before slamming them into the earth with massive gravity damage. They excel at crowd control and room-clearing.
Dark Moon Greatsword
Ranni's questline rewards you with one of the most iconic magic greatswords in Soulsborne history. Its Moonlight Greatsword skill buffs the blade with frost-inflicting magic projectiles that cost zero FP to fire once active. Paired with magic-boosting talismans, it melts health bars from a safe distance.
Reduvia
A dagger that punches far above its weight class. Reduvia Blood Blade lets you hurl crimson projectiles from a distance that build up bleed rapidly. It is incredible for early-game boss fights and remains viable well into the endgame.
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B-Tier: Niche, Balanced, and Fun Options
B-Tier weapons are entirely viable, but they often require specific builds, precise timing, or lack the raw versatility of the higher tiers. They are fun to use for playthrough variety, but might struggle against the hardest late-game bosses.
- Uchigatana: A reliable standard katana that can be infused with various ashes of war, though usually overshadowed by Moonveil or Rivers of Blood.
- Godslayer's Greatsword: Offers blazing-fast colossal sword attacks with a high-damage Faith-scaling Ash of War, but suffers from a lengthy wind-up animation.
- Ruins Greatsword: A colossal sword that scales with Strength and Intelligence, firing a gravity shockwave that hits like a truck, albeit with heavy stat requirements.
- Meteoric Ore Blade: A solid alternative katana for early magic builds, though its reach and scaling fall off slightly compared to Moonveil.
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Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Weapon Additions
The 2024 expansion introduced entire weapon categories that completely shook up the Elden Ring weapon tier list. Let us highlight the standout additions that have dominated the meta since the DLC release.
Backhand Blades
Instantly beloved for their Naruto-esque sprinting attacks and incredible frame data, the Blind Spot skill allows you to dodge around enemy attacks while simultaneously counter-attacking. They are fast, light, and easily claim an S-Tier spot for dexterity builds.
Milady (Light Greatswords)
The Milady is a masterpiece of a weapon class. Offering fluid, fencing-like combos, incredible reach, and compatibility with the Wing Stance ash of war, it delivers graceful yet punishing offense.
Bloodfiend's Arm
A colossal weapon that scales ridiculously well with Arcane when given a blood infusion. It has become legendary in the speedrunning and meta community for staggering bosses in a single charged heavy attack while proccing hemorrhage instantly.
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How to Choose the Right Weapon for Your Build
Choosing the best weapon ultimately comes down to your preferred playstyle. If you prefer a slow, heavy-hitting approach, lean toward colossal weapons and strength builds. If you prefer agility, status effects, and dodging through attacks, dexterity and arcane are your best friends.
Remember to upgrade your weapons using Smithing Stones or Somber Smithing Stones as quickly as possible. Raw character level matters far less than weapon enhancement levels in Elden Ring. Pick a weapon that resonates with you, master its moveset, and conquer the Lands Between.
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FAQ
Q: What is the absolute best weapon in Elden Ring for beginners?
A: The Bloodhound's Fang is widely considered the best weapon for beginners. It is available early in Limgrave, deals high physical damage, causes blood loss, and has an evasive Ash of War that helps you dodge boss attacks safely.
Q: Are bleed builds still meta in Elden Ring 2024?
A: Yes, bleed builds remain among the strongest in the game. Weapons like Rivers of Blood, Eleonora's Poleblade, and the Bloodfiend's Arm shred boss health bars quickly through hemorrhage procs.
Q: Is the Blasphemous Blade still good after patches?
A: Absolutely. Despite receiving minor adjustments, the Blasphemous Blade remains an S-Tier weapon due to its incredible ranged skill that knocks down enemies and heals the player.
Q: What are the best weapons added in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC?
A: Standouts include the Backhand Blades for incredible speed and evasion, the Milady light greatsword for fluid combos, and the Bloodfiend's Arm for devastating arcane-scaling stagger potential.
Q: How important is weapon upgrading compared to character level?
A: Weapon upgrading is significantly more important than your character level. Increasing your weapon's tier via Smithing Stones provides a massive boost to your base attack rating, which dictates your overall damage output.
Q: Can I beat the entire game with a standard non-unique weapon?
A: Yes! Standard weapons infused with heavy, keen, quality, magic, or occult ashes of war can be just as powerful—and sometimes more versatile—than legendary armaments.
