Summary
Elden Ringhas an extensive range of weapons for players to wield, from simple knives to ornate swords and colossal axes. FromSoftware’s latest release is not lacking in choice. Including such a large selection of weapons in the game massively increases the replay value ofElden Ringand allows players toexperiment with buildsand playstyles. Where one weapon may struggle against a particular boss, another may be incredibly effective.
BeatingElden Ringis no simple task, though, and with various build options available, weapon choice changes from player to player. While every weapon in the game is viable, some are just better than others. The weapons on this list can be effective tools against the many enemies ofElden Ring, but for the most part, there are just too many better options available.
Updated on July 05, 2025, by Andy Chapman: With the release of Elden Ring’s seminal DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, players have been busy discovering all the new weaponry now available in the Land of Shadow. With these latest additions, new weapon categories have been introduced that have changed how the game is played. As such, new favorites have emerged, creating exciting possibilities for victory. While many of these weapons are effective tools for defeating enemies, some are more underwhelming. Every weapon in Elden Ring is a viable option. However, certain weapons provide little benefit for a quick victory and are better suited to challenge runs. This article has been updated to include even more of theworst weapons in Elden Ring, and not even those found in Shadow of the Erdtree are safe.
Requires
Found in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC,Moonrithyll’s Knight Swordis a solid choice for intelligence-based characters looking for strong melee damage. However, players may feel a strange sense of deja vu when wielding this large sword. This is because it is a virtual copy of theTroll Knight’s Swordfound in Caria Manor, down to the scaling and level requirements.
While this doesn’t make it a terrible weapon choice, few players will pick the sword over more interesting options. The unique weapon skill found on Monirthyll’s Knight Sword does nothing to elevate it above the largely forgotten colossal sword found in the base game.
Used mainly for strength builds, theTroll’s Golden Swordcan be a versatile weapon, as it can be buffed with consumables and spells. Players will find the weapon near the Erdtree-Gazing-Hill site of grace, in a carriage chest.
The weapon offers decent scaling but fails to impress much beyond this. In a weapon category filled with exceptional swords, the Troll’s Golden Sword will rarely be taken by most players. Although the damage output is good and has lower use requirements than most swords of its type, it just can’t compete with theGreatsword,Grafted Blade Greatsword, orStarscourge Greatsword.
Found on the bodies of the defeated Lesser Kindred of Rot, who are mainly located within Caelid, thePest’s Glaiveis one of the weaker halberd options in the game. For dex builds, the weapon can be effective against enemies with its fast slash attacks. It can also be improved withdifferent ashes of war. With its stylish look, the weapon feels like it should be better. But with its standard weapon art, it’s simply a better-looking Glaive that deals less damage.
The Pest Glaive may be a cool-looking weapon but is outclassed bystronger halberds inElden Ring. This could be an effective early-game choice for dex players willing to travel into the Caelid region, but for most, the Pest Glaive will likely never leave the inventory.
Another of the Halberd-style weapons featured inElden Ring, theVulgar Militia Shotelis one of two weapons dropped by the Vulgar Militiamen, who are found throughout the Lands Between. The Shotel offers decent range and can bypass enemy shields, but it lacks anything more that would make it a weapon of choice.
The weapon is a reasonableoption for dexterity buildswith its good dex scaling, but it deals less damage than other weapons of its kind. Of the two Vulgar Militiamen weapons, theVulgar Militia Sawis the more preferable option, which inflicts blood loss on enemies. For Dex players, there are just better options available.
The Bloodfiends are new enemies found all over the Land of Shadow. Theselarge troll-like beingsworship the Formless Mother, the outer god of blood, and sometimes use blood incantations against the player. TheBloodfiend’s Forkis their commonly used weapon and can be easily picked up after defeating Bloodfiends.
While the Spear does inflict blood loss on enemies, fewer players will choose the Bloodfiend’s Fork above other armaments. Its low damage output, weak scaling, and generic weapon skill do little to excite. There are just too many powerful options for arcane players, making this one of the more forgettable weapons in theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC.
Fist weapons inElden Ringare generally best left for more experienced players. Their short range and low damage make boss fights difficult to win, especially in the late stages where the game’s difficulty increases significantly.Shadow of the Erdtreehas introduced several new weapons to this category, with theGolem Fistscaling with Strength, rather than the more usual Dexterity.
While the Golem Fist deals decent damage, compared to other fist weapons, most strength-based characters are better off choosing a larger, more effective armament. While the weapon skill, Endure, is underwhelming, the Golem Fist does have the bonus of a ranged attack. However, this does not save the weapon from being underwhelming and easily bypassed.
This mainly faith-based weapon can be found in Castle Sol in the Mountaintop of the Giants region. TheEclipse Shotelis one of the legendary armaments in the game but fails to live up to its status. The Shotel’s weapon art is effective at breaking an enemy’s stance but just doesn’t offer the damage output of other weapons. In addition, it is also supposed to inflict deathblight on contact. Unfortunately, the vast majority of enemies inElden Ringare unaffected by this effect.
The weapon is only effective in PvP scenarios, as other tarnished can be affected by deathblight. As a legendary armament, the Eclipse Shotel is let down by its poor range, low damage, and near-useless weapon art.
Of all the weapon categories found inElden Ring, the Flails are one of the weakest. With low damage and a short range,these weapons are best duel-wieldedfor the greatest effect.Elden Ring’s impressive expansion,Shadow of the Erdtree,does little to improve the Flails, with the most prominent new addition being theSerpent Flail.
While its unique weapon skill is fun to use, its slow wind-up leaves players wide open to attack. Many may miss this weapon altogether, as it is located in the often ignored Fog Rift Fort, in a well-guarded chest. However, with its unimpressive damage output, the Serpent Flail is probably best left there, as it will rarely find its way out of the player’s inventory anyway.
Family Headsis one of the creepier weapons inElden Ring. Thisbizarre-looking flailis wielded by the Necromancer Garris. The flail heads have been made to resemble the necromancer’s wife and children, creating a truly morbid tribute. Found in a hidden tunnel in Sage’s Cave, located in the Altus Plateau region, Garris will drop the flail upon defeat. With its low damage, poor range, and bad scaling, the weapon is likely to be only usable for a challenge run.
Its weapon art, Familial Rancor, is a decent attack that summons deadly spirits that chase enemies close by. Unfortunately, the attack falls flat when compared to other sorceries. For players looking for a mixed build of Dex and Int, there are justfar better weapon optionsavailable.
In theory, theCoded Swordshould be a highly sought-after weapon; it’s an unblockable blade that can deal damage even through the thickest shield. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Only usable withpure faith builds, the Coded Sword is best used in challenge runs.
The weapon can be found in Leyndall, Royal Capital, within the throne room of the Fortified Manor. Found later in the game, the Coded Sword is a rarely used weapon, as most players would have decided on their build by this point. The fact that the Coded Sword offers an underwhelming damage output doesn’t help much either. The weapon requires a lot of points in faith to be effective, which is a stat worth leveling. However, there are just too many better faith weapons to choose from.
