Best weapons in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree
Here are the best weapons in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree
Looking for the best weapons in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree? Not only has Shadow Of The Erdtree dropped a tonne of new weapons to try out, but there are also 8 new weapon types (or categories) to choose from too.
This means that now is the perfect time to switch up your playstyle and try something new for the DLC. We've played through it ourselves and gathered up a list of the best weapons in Shadow Of The Erdtree that we've come across. We've tried to include a wide range that will suit a variety of builds. For the full list, see below.
What are the best weapons in Shadow Of The Erdtree?
Below are the best weapons in Shadow Of The Erdtree, with Rellana's Twin Blades taking the top spot. Scroll to see each weapon in more detail. Included are our top tips for each loadout and crucially, where to find each weapon.
- Devonia's Hammer
- Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword
- Anvil Hammer
- Greatsword of Solitude
- Rakshasa's Great Katana
- Red Bear's Claw
- Backhand Blade
- Milady
- Star-Lined Sword
- Euporia
- Spear of the Impaler
- Rellana's Twin Blades
12. Devonia's Hammer
- Weight: 20.0
- Damage Type: Strike.
- Requirements: Strength 30, Dexterity 13, Faith 19.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength C, Dexterity E, Faith D
- Weapon Skill: Devonia's Vortex.
- Attack Power: Physical 147, Holy 44.
Devonia's Hammer is one of many new Strength/Faith hybrid weapons to land in The Land of Shadow. Its Weapon Skill, Devonia's Vortex summons a chargeable torrent of Holy fire that can target multiple foes at once in a powerful AOE. To use it, the Tarnished spins the hammer around, charges it, and then brings it crashing down on enemies.
As such, it would benefit from the Godfrey Icon Talisman which enhances charged spell and Skill attacks. Thankfully, as a weapon that requires levels in three different skills, the stat requirements aren't too high.
Despite being categorised as a Colossal weapon, the standard attacks aren't too slow and can be powerful in the right hands. As always, when dealing with weapons that deliver Holy damage, check the resistance of bosses before fights.
How to get Devonia's Hammer
To get Devonia's Hammer, you must defeat Crucible Knight Devonia in the upper Ancient Ruins of Rauh. To find them, travel to the Rauh ruins from the entrance via The Shadow Keep. (Take the lift left of the First Floor Site Of Grace in the Specimen Storehouse). Devonia is located just before the large bridge, guarded by the Furnace Golem.
11. Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword
- Weight: 22.0
- Damage Type: Standard/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 35, Dexterity 10, Intelligence 16.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength D, Dexterity E, Arcane D.
- Weapon Skill: White Light Charge.
- Attack Power: Physical 138.
The Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword looks like a giant piece of flint that has a mixture of slash and thrust attacks. Its heavy thrust attack can launch foes if they are near death and its slash attack is heavy but not cumbersome.
The Weapon Skill, White Light Charge does exactly what it says it does. It lights the blade with a bright light and allows the Tarnished to leap forward with a thrusting attack. This leap can cover a large distance and pincer more than one foe at once.
To make the most out of this, we recommend pairing the blade with the Axe Talisman for enhanced charged attacks and something to lighten your equip load and make it easier to dodge after using the skill, like the Arsenal Charm.
How to get the Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword
To get the Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword, you need to complete the Ruined Forge of Starfell Past dungeon and retrieve it from the altar at the end. The key to getting the sword is using the second door as a lift. Pull the lever to raise it, then stand on top of it to gain access to the altar room.
10. Anvil Hammer
- Weight: 22.0
- Damage Type: Strike.
- Requirements: Strength 39, Dexterity 10, Intelligence 11, Faith 20.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength C, Dexterity E, Intelligence E, Faith D.
- Weapon Skill: Smithing Art Spears.
- Attack Power: Physical 131, Fire 85.
The Anvil Hammer is a Colossal weapon that can deal both physical and Fire damage to enemies. Repetitive hits don't feel too slow given the size, but the real beauty of the weapon comes through with its Weapon Skill, Smithing Art Spears.
With this, the Tarnished slams the hammer down to the ground and raises it back up again. As it rises, several spears erupt from the earth and deliver an AOE of piercing damage to foes. Usually, this is enough to cut through crowds of enemies.
We recommend pairing this huge hammer with the Fire Scorpion Charm Talisman for added Fire damage, and the Two Fingers Heirloom for added points to Faith.
How to get the Anvil Hammer
The Anvil Hammer is located on an altar, accessible once you complete the Ruined Forge Lava Intake dungeon and climb the large pipe up to the top of the room.
9. Greatsword of Solitude
- Weight: 15.5
- Damage Type: Standard/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 27, Dexterity 13.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength B, Dexterity E.
- Weapon Skill: Solitary Moon Slash.
- Attack Power: Physical 120.
The Greatsword of Solitude is quite simple in nature but can be highly effective. The Weapon Skill, Solitary Moon Slash emits a downward thrust of light-infused damage which, when followed up by a heavy attack, can emit a step forward followed by a powerful chain of slashes. This move set will quickly become your bread and butter after using the sword for a while.
The trajectory of light can travel quite far and is especially satisfying when you get a few enemies at once in a line. Although it is a Greatsword, normal attacks are speedy enough and you can increase this further by triggering attacks after running.
For this weapon, we recommend picking up something to help with Stamina regeneration. You can also use the Shard of Alexander to increase the damage dealt by the Weapon Skill projectile.
How to get the Greatsword of Solitude
To get the Greatsword of Solitude, you must defeat the Blackgaol Knight boss, within the Western Nameless Mausoleum. This is located directly west of the Scorched Ruins Site of Grace in the Gravesite Plain.
8. Rakshasa's Great Katana
- Weight: 9.5
- Damage Type: Slash/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 12, Dexterity 27.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength E, Dexterity C.
- Weapon Skill: Weed Cutter.
- Attack Power: Physical 155.
- Passives: Blood loss buildup (55).
The Great Katana category is another fantastic new type to come with the Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC. It offers the same blood-loss buildup and high-damage capabilities as regular Katanas but offers more range and heft. Rakshasa's Great Katana is slightly slower than an average Katana but makes up for it with its high-damage mixture of slash and thrust attacks.
Due to its impressive scaling attributes it is best suited for a Dexterity build and you can still have an off-hand armament when wielding it. When executing the Weapon Skill 'Weed Cutter' the Tarnished takes a step forward as the Katana delivers two consecutive slash attacks that cover a large range and can hit multiple enemies at once.
The Great Katana is a slightly earlier game option that is also a good choice. Rather than executing two slashes with its Weapon Skill, it makes the Tarnished hold a stance and deliver three downward cuts to enemies. The scaling and damage output is slightly lower than Rakshasa's Great Katana, however.
For most samurai builds we recommend using the Rellana's Cameo Talisman which enhances attacks executed after maintaining the same stance for a period of time.
How to get Rakshasa's Great Katana
As the name might suggest, to get Rakshasa's Great Katana you need to defeat the optional boss, Rakshasa. He is located at the Eastern Nameless Mausoleum, located opposite the Reclus' River Downstream Site of Grace south of The Shadow Keep.
To reach this lower waterway, you must access the secret coffin within the Shadow Keep. See our guide to getting to the Abyssal Woods for details on the passage in question. Once you hit the Ruins of Unte, make your way south, down the waterways.
7. Red Bear's Claw
- Weight: 4.0
- Damage Type: Slash.
- Requirements: Strength 20, Dexterity 10.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength C, Dexterity E.
- Weapon Skill: Red Bear Hunt.
- Attack Power: Physical 104.
- Passives: Blood loss buildup (45).
The Red Bear's Claw is essentially the upgraded version of the Beast Claw Weapon. It's an especially great option for anyone interested in a Strength-based bleed build. The claws will quickly wrack up and deliver blood loss to foes when combos are executed successfully.
The Weapon Skill, Red Bear Hunt is a charged-up version of the normal attack and instantly deals large amounts of damage. When used three times in a row, the Skill will emit a claw attack from both hands individually, then together for a huge chunk of instant blood loss damage. This is super powerful, even more so if you can successfully stagger enemies in between these prompts so that they have no time to respond.
The standard and heavy attacks can be issued immediately after running and this enables the Tarnished to do a step-dodge move. As this build is speedy and will take a chunk of your stamina, consider equipping a Talisman to buff this. We also recommend the Twinblade Talisman for an extra boost to chain attacks and the Claw Talisman for the extra boost to jump attacks.
How to get the Red Bear's Claw
To get the Red Bear's Claw, you must defeat the Red Bear boss located within the Northern Nameless Mausoleum in Rauh Base. This area is accessible by traversing two Spiritsprings opposite the pillar where the Rauh Map Fragment is located. Check out our Map Fragment locations guide for more info.
6. Backhand Blade
- Weight: 2.0
- Damage Type: Slash/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 10, Dexterity 13.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D.
- Weapon Skill: Blind Spot.
- Attack Power: Physical 105.
FromSoftware players are no strangers to the age-old tradition of skirting around bosses and stabbing them in the rear. Well, with the new Backhand Blade, this is not only celebrated but required. The Backhand Blade has a powerful 'Blind Spot' Weapon Skill that allows the Tarnished to execute several side steps followed by a side-slash to enemies.
With this skill, you can essentially dance around your foes and chip away at them before they have a chance to react. The FP cost of this skill is remarkably low (9) and can be a recipe for success.
As this weapon caters to more of a stab-and-dodge playstyle, we recommend picking up the Retaliatory Crossed-Tree Talisman, which enhances attacks executed after rolling or backstepping. This can be obtained by following Leda's questline.
How to get the Backhand Blade
You can pick up the Backhand Blade immediately when starting Shadow Of The Erdtree. Simply travel to the central east area of the Gravesite Plain, past the Smoldering Ruins. The sword is located within a mausoleum, on a corpse next to the stone coffin. (Beware of the Furnace Golem patrolling this area).
5. Milady
- Weight: 6.5
- Damage Type: Standard/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 12, Dexterity 17.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D.
- Weapon Skill: Impaling Thrust.
- Attack Power: Physical 116.
Milady was one of the weapons available via the Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree preview and made waves due to its humourous name and powerful sweep attacks. The blade belongs to the new 'Light Greatsword' weapon category, meaning it doesn't jeopardise speed for strength.
Its Impaling Thrust Weapon Skill delivers great damage for very little FP cost (9), meaning you can prioritise stat levels in endurance and either Strength or Dexterity. When experimenting with this blade, I noticed that the Impaling Thrust had surprising range and I was able to target foes from a distance and then close the space with a chain of slash attacks. The move set for this weapon is geared towards combo attacks and the heavy attack prompt makes the Tarnished deliver two consecutive sweeping blows to targets.
Due to this, I recommend investing in Talismans that can bolster your Stamina recovery, seeing as you'll be using a lot of combo and dodge moves. The Two-Headed Turtle Talisman is a great option for this. I also recommend pairing it with the Wing Stance Ash of War, which is only available for Light Greatswords and allows the Tarnished to perform a quick three-slash combo, or a powerful leaping thrust towards a single enemy.
How to get Milady
We have an extensive guide on how to get Milady in Elden Ring but essentially, you need to travel to Castle Ensis, east of the Gravesite Plain. The main road within this region will naturally lead to the castle and once you're past the entrance and Troll Knight, the sword will be at the top of a tower. The tower in question will be patrolled by a soldier and dog and is located opposite the cave entrance which marks the route forward into the castle.
4. Star-Lined Sword
- Weight: 5.0
- Damage Type: Slash/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 10, Dexterity 23, Intelligence 21.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength E, Dexterity C, Intelligence D.
- Weapon Skill: Onze's Line of Stars.
- Attack Power: Physical 82, Magic 82.
- Passives: Blood loss buildup (45).
The Star-Lined Sword is a curious and unassuming Katana at first. Its Weapon Skill, Onze's Line of Stars has three variant movements that get more powerful as they are executed. The first prompt results in two large magical slash attacks, and the second is a charged form that emits two attacks (one in a jump). The last of the three enables the Tarnished to disappear, then reappear in the air and perform a powerful downward slash.
The FP cost is surprisingly low (10) and doesn't get higher with each consecutive Weapon Skill attack. If you manage to pull off all three attacks, it can have a devastating impact on your foes. What's more, with the passive bleed damage of the katana, the normal attack is quick enough for you to deliver multiple blows and reap the benefit of its status effect capabilities.
We recommend pairing this blade with the Lord of Blood's Exultation Talisman which increases your attack power when blood loss is in the vicinity. This is usually a great option if you're wielding a Katana or Claws weapon.
How to get the Star-Lined Sword
To get the Star-Lined Sword you must defeat Demi-Human Queen Marigga, the optional boss within the northwest region of the Cerulean Coast. We have a handy guide on how to get to the Cerulean Coast here.
Take the pathway east of the Cerulean Coast West Site Of Grace (right of the large shipwreck) and follow this path all around, past the glowworms and demi-human enemies until you reach the other side of the western coastline where the boss resides on the beach with more shipwrecks.
3. Euporia
- Weight: 8.5
- Damage Type: Standard/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 16, Dexterity 16, Faith 24.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D, Faith D.
- Weapon Skill: Euporia Vortex.
- Attack Power: Physical 84, Holy 100.
The Euporia is one of the best Twinblades in Elden Ring (possibly the best). It has a host of moves that meld together to form a formidable build. Essentially, the Weapon Skill, Euporia Vortex allows the Tarnished to spin the blade around and emit a circular wave of Holy energy.
Although this can potentially be interrupted, if you pull it off, you can continuously hit enemies and deal sustained damage whilst doing so. When you follow this with a normal attack you may automatically stun enemies. What's more, this Skill is fuelled by delivering consecutive hits. The blades will glow with every hit and chime once they are fully charged (for up to 2 charges). This fuels the Weapon Skill and allows it to deliver even more damage.
The glow does have a cooldown, so once charged you'll want to trigger the Weapon Skill fairly quickly. Additionally, when running, if you perform an attack you will deliver a thrust or two slash attacks immediately.
The Euporia has huge potential, which you can capitalise on further if you pair it with the Godfrey Icon Talisman (which enhances charged spells and Skills). Make sure you keep an eye on your stamina as the Weapon Skill will consume this as well as FP.
How to get the Euporia
To get the Euporia requires traversing a route along the battlements of Enir-Ilim. This means you need to progress the main DLC storyline a fair way to unlock this late-game area. Namely, you must defeat Messmer and set fire to the tree beyond the Church of the Bud.
Once completed, you can then take the route from Enir-Ilim back to the Belurat Tower and loot Euporia from a shrine on the way. Specifically, you'll want to follow these steps:
- From the Spiral Rise Site Of Grace in Enir Ilim, travel back to where you came from, past the mage enemies.
- Take the stairs to the left and go through the antechamber below.
- From here, there will be a set of stairs you can jump down from the southeast.
- From the stairs, walk up and there will be a hole in the stone railing, jump down.
- You should now see a pathway you can take along the battlements. Here, there will also be a few items to loot.
- Make your way around and jump to the dragon head sculpture on the opposite building.
- Walk around these ramparts and drop down through the hole - watch out for the enemy that will immediately attack you.
- Walk to the end of the stairs. There will be a platform that juts out and leads to an open window in the building opposite. Make sure you run and jump at the last minute or you won't make it.
- Once you've dropped down you'll get the message that you're back in Belurat Tower.
- Exit the room and take the stairs down from the statue (southeast).
- Take the lift down.
- Exit the room, walk downstairs and defeat the three enemies in the next room.
- Continue your descent and defeat the Lion Knight.
- Take the next lift down.
- Open the large double doors ahead and loot the sword from the corpse at the altar.
Warning: The next two entries contain spoilers for the main featured bosses in Shadow Of The Erdtree.
2. Spear of the Impaler
- Weight: 9.5
- Damage Type: Standard/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 14, Dexterity 35, Faith 18.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength E, Dexterity C, Faith D.
- Weapon Skill: Messmer's Assault.
- Attack Power: Physical 85, Fire 102.
What better way to celebrate defeating Messmer than controlling his own flames? The Spear of the Impaler is capable of three successive Weapon Skill attacks. When performed one after another, they get stronger.
The first of Messmer's Assault summons three sweeping torrents of flames, which emit around the Tarnished as they leap into the air. The second attack makes the Tarnished leap and perform three thrust attacks. Lastly, if you have used the Weapon Skill prompt three times in a row, the Tarnished will plunge the spear into the ground and summon a field full of spears.
Additionally, the spear can be thrown (and will automatically return to your hand) either on foot or from the back of Torrent. We suggest pairing the Spear with something like the Fire Scorpion Charm for an extra buff to all fire attacks.
How to get the Spear of the Impaler
To get the Spear of the Impaler you must defeat Messmer the Impaler at the Shadow Keep and exchange his Remembrance in with Enia at the Roundtable Hold. Thankfully, you can return to the Lands Between at any point in your playthrough of the DLC.
The Shadow Keep is located in the Scadu Altus region and to get to Messmer (at the Dark Chamber Entrance Site Of Grace) you'll need to navigate to the top of the complex maze-like Specimen Storehouse.
1. Rellana's Twin Blades
- Weight: 8.0
- Damage Type: Standard/Pierce.
- Requirements: Strength 13, Dexterity 16, Intelligence 16, Faith 16.
- Attribute Scaling: Strength D, Dexterity D, Intelligence D, Faith D.
- Weapon Skill: Moon-and-Fire Stance.
- Attack Power: Physical 103, Magic 66, Fire 66.
As another boss reward on this list, Rellana's Twin Blades should be slightly easier to obtain and is just as impressive. You can quite literally get the best of both worlds with this weapon's Moon-and-Fire Stance.
This Weapon Skill charges the twin blades with Fire and Magic damage. The next strong attack you make afterwards will emit a fiery torrent of damage or, if you use a light attack, it will summon arcs of glintstone light.
Dealing three different types of damage means it naturally requires more investment into different stats. These stat requirements aren't too high, however, especially by the time you get to the DLC opening. We recommend using a Talisman which will bolster your Fire and Magic damage like the Fire Scorpion Charm and Magic Scorpion Charm Talismans.
How to get Rellana's Twin Blades
To get Rellana's Twin Blades you must defeat Rellana, outside the Castle-Lord's Chamber within Castle Ensis (east of the Graveste Plain). This is also one of the ways to gain access to the Scadu Altus region so it's worthwhile coming here anyway.
That rounds up our guide to the best weapons in Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree. For more Elden Ring tips and tricks, check out our best weapons, best armor, Talismans, builds or boss locations guides.