Four years, countless patches, meta shifts, and a full DLC later, Elden Ring is a different beast from launch day. Some weapons have been buffed into relevance, others nerfed into obscurity, and a few newcomers from the DLC have absolutely broken the game. It's time for an updated, fresh tier list of the best weapons in the Lands Between-not just the obvious meta staples, but unique picks, hidden gems, and devastating builds you might have overlooked Elden Ring Items.
This is not every weapon in the game. This is the best of the best, from A-Tier powerhouses to God-Tier game-enders.
A-Tier-The Heavy Hitters
These weapons aren't quite broken, but in the right hands they dominate.
Black Blade
The Black Blade dagger is a universal opener. No matter your build-Strength tank, Dex bleed, or pure caster-its weapon art chops off 10% of an enemy's max HP. Against bosses with massive health pools, that's huge. Open a fight with it, then switch to your main damage dealer.
Falx Curve Sword + Ironjar Aromatic
Normally, Ironjar Aromatic makes you move like you're wading through tar. But pair it with the Falx Curve Sword's weapon art, and suddenly you're gliding across the arena while shredding enemies. Minimal stat requirements make this an easy bleed-focused setup.
Scarlet Rot Burst Build
If a boss is vulnerable to Scarlet Rot, abuse it. Equip a Rot-capable weapon with Repeating Thrust, or go full style with a dual-status burst build:
Bleed infusion
"Flower blooms twice" mechanic
Both Exultation talismans
This setup detonates both bleed and rot in rapid succession for absurd DPS. Dual-wield thrusting swords make it even nastier.
Venomous Fangs
Same burst-status logic as above, but in claw form. Keen affinity + high Dexterity + Bloodflame = Bloodflame Fangs. Short, fast, and devastating.
Great Katana
Weapon arts like Blood Tax or Stormblade swing at the same speed regardless of weapon size-which means putting them on a Great Katana lets you hit like a truck from mid-range.
Carian Thrusting Sword
A true spellblade weapon. It can cast sorceries directly from its blade, catching PvP opponents off guard. Great for hybrid magic/physical builds.
Lizard Greatsword
Style points plus function. Charged heavy attacks fire a projectile that applies full status buildup. Pierce damage + status stacking makes this one surprisingly versatile.
S-Tier-The Meta Monsters
Weapons here are elite in their class and can carry you through NG+ without breaking a sweat.
Great Stars
One of the best great hammers in the game:
Innate bleed
Restores 1% HP on hit
Works with multiple weapon arts (Wild Strikes, Savage Lion's Claw, etc.)
Bloodflame infusion turns it into a boss-melting, health-draining juggernaut.
Guts Greatsword
Available early if you know where to ride. Requires big stats, but once wielded, it's simple, adaptable, and devastating. A true "easy mode" weapon.
Fire Knight's Greatsword
Unique light and thrusting heavies, plus Flame Art infusion makes it a pyro faith monster. Anything that bleeds or staggers will crumble.
Bloody Helice & Obsidian Scythe
Thrusting swords with vicious weapon arts that deal 55 stance damage, making stance breaks easy. Helice is an arcane king; the Scythe is its deadly DLC sibling.
Bandit's Curved Sword
Easy to farm early, excels with elemental infusions. A strong alternative to rarer curved swords.
Bloodfiend's Arm
Nerfed but still strong. Heavy attacks double up status buildup-perfect for poison or frost-and they smash stances with ease.
Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear
An OG classic. Even after patches and DLC, its design, power, and reach make it one of the most iconic and effective faith weapons.
God-Tier-The Absolute Best
These are the cream of the crop-weapons that are broken, versatile, or just so effective they're practically cheating.
Star Fist & Pata
The Star Fist is the king of fist weapons, but the Pata is the overlooked rival. Same brutality, more range-which breaks the balance of fist weapons entirely. Excellent in PvP for its reach and speed.
Rivers of Blood & Eleonora's Poleblade
Rivers of Blood remains the bleed boss killer; Eleonora's is better for humanoid enemies thanks to its stagger-locking speed. Both are top-tier bleed options.
Backhand Blades
DLC royalty. Light, versatile, and strong on any build-bleed, fire, frost, you name it. The perfect secondary weapon.
Magma Blades
The ultimate Strength/Faith curved swords. Farm rate is atrocious, but worth every second. Power-stance one with a Flame Art curved sword for unmatched pyro DPS.
Naga Kiba
The true katana king. Absurd range, insane scaling, and works with lightning, Bloodflame, or just raw slicing speed. Simple, effective, deadly.Why These Weapons Shine in 2025
Elden Ring's patches and DLC have shifted the meta, but certain traits still define top-tier weapons:
1.Status Buildup Synergy-Bleed, frost, and rot remain king, especially when stacked in burst combos.
2.Versatility-The best weapons work across multiple builds and infusions buy Elden Ring Items.
3.Reach + Speed-Mid-to-long range weapons that swing quickly often outperform heavier, slower options.
4.Early Accessibility-Some of the strongest gear is obtainable early, letting you dominate from the start.
This tier list isn't about pure DPS calculators-it's about practical, real-world effectiveness across PvE, PvP, and multiple NG cycles.
Final Thoughts
After four years, Elden Ring's arsenal has only gotten richer. DLC weapons like the Backhand Blades and Obsidian Scythe have shaken things up, while OG legends like Mohgwyn's Sacred Spear and Rivers of Blood still reign supreme. Whether you want to status-burst bosses into oblivion, bleed-lock PvP opponents, or just look incredibly cool while swinging, there's a weapon here for you.
