Elden Ring Best Early Game Weapons

Summary

• Starting with a weapon that feels right is essential for survival in Elden Ring.
• Players can acquire already upgraded weapons early on, such as the Banished Knight’s Halberd +8 or the Spear +7, both of which offer higher damage than their unupgraded counterparts.
• The early areas of the game provide plenty of great options, including powerful choices like the Greatsword, the Meteorite Staff, and the Great Stars. However, some of these weapons may require players to venture further into the world to obtain them.

Like many other titles by FromSoftware, Elden Ring can be quite a challenge. Fans of the series will surely remember their first FromSoftware game and how the first boss beat them down to oblivion. There is a learning curve present in these games, and if the Tarnished refuses to learn, then the Tree Sentinel boss will beat the knowledge into them.

Elden Ring does a great job of informing the player when they are not ready to take on certain portions of the game. After getting smacked down by a boss so many times, eventually, the player should seek more upgrades. In these scenarios, players like to do the most plausible thing: bring better weapons. Starting with a weapon that is good, but most importantly, feels right, is key to survival in this expansive and challenging game.

Updated January 20, 2025, by Vlad Mazanko: New Elden Ring players should know that many excellent weapons can be found within minutes of starting a new game. What’s more, they can remain viable throughout the entire journey if properly infused, upgraded, and paired with the right character build. This list of top-tier early-game weapons has been updated to reflect the latest balance changes in both the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Additionally, several previously overlooked yet powerful weapons from Caelid which are surprisingly easy to obtain early on have also been added.

1

Banished Knight’s Halberd +8

A Stylish, Long-Reaching Melee Weapon

• Location: A +8 version is dropped by Edgar the Revenger upon his defeat at either Castle Morne or the Revenger’s Shack.

The Banished Knight’s Halberd
can be challenging to obtain early on, but players have the opportunity to acquire an upgraded +8 variant relatively early, ensuring high damage output right from the start with no extra investment. While the base Halberd is farmable from Banished Knight enemies — who can be tough in the early hours — the +8 version, along with the Spinning Strikes Ash of War, is dropped by Edgar the Revenger after his defeat either at Castle Morne (Weeping Peninsula) or the Revenger’s Shack (Liurnia of the Lakes).

With its stylish design, decent damage, impressive range, and a menacing thrusting attack, the Banished Knight’s Halberd is a strong choice for any melee build that prioritizes staying out of the enemy’s reach. Acquiring the +8 variant allows the Tarnished to become nearly unstoppable for a significant portion of the game, dishing out high-damage swings and thrusts. Additionally, its scaling makes it a versatile weapon for both Strength and Dexterity builds.

2

Spear +7

A High-Damage Early-Game Choice

• Location: A +7 version is dropped by Patches in Murkwater Cave if he is killed after pleading for mercy.

The Spear
is a powerful weapon with excellent reach, although its playstyle can feel somewhat repetitive due to its reliance on poking attacks. What makes the Spear particularly valuable early in Elden Ring is that players can obtain an upgraded +7 variant in Limgrave. This enhanced version is dropped by Patches when defeated in Murkwater Cave, provided the player chooses to kill him despite his pleas for mercy. With this high-damage melee weapon, Tarnished can easily defeat several early- to mid-game bosses with minimal effort.

The Spear’s Impaling Thrust is especially effective against slow, high-HP enemies. However, if players prefer not to kill Patches, a non-upgraded version of the Spear can still be farmed from Exile Soldiers wielding it in Stormveil Castle. Fortunately, there are plenty of these enemies in the legacy dungeon, so obtaining one should be fairly quick.

3

Sword Of St. Trina

An Elegant Sword With Unique Sleep-Building Skill

• Location: Forsaken Ruins in Caelid; needs one Stonesword Key.

The Sword of St. Trina
is an excellent choice for magical builds, primarily due to its unique skill, Mists of Slumber. Activating this skill releases a purple mist across a wide frontal area. This inflicts Sleep on enemies, while also imbuing the sword with a special effect for 30 seconds, enhancing its Sleep buildup with each hit. The sword’s low stat requirements and an easy process of acquisition make it a fantastic early-game weapon, allowing players to quickly incorporate it into their build and focus on its strengths for at least the first third of the game.

The Sword of St. Trina is located in the Forsaken Ruins in Caelid, near the Rotview Balcony Site of Grace. Players will need one Stonesword Key to unlock the Imp Seal and access the weapon.

4

Venomous Fang

Probably The Best Poisonous Weapon In The Game

• Location: Abandoned Cave in Caelid, behind a Giant Poison Flower.

Poisonous weapons are relatively rare in Elden Ring, but the Venomous Fang
stands out as one of the strongest. These bladed fists deliver a hefty Deadly Poison buildup of 72 by default, and they can be further infused with Poison, enhancing the buildup to 95 — one of the highest in the game. When combined with investments in Arcane, players can significantly boost the Poison effect’s potency, allowing for quick and lethal status buildup with rapid strikes.

What makes the Venomous Fang even more appealing is how easy it is to acquire — it simply lies waiting to be claimed in a specific cave in Caelid, requiring minimal combat to obtain. However, there’s a catch: the Abandoned Cave, where the weapon is found, is tricky to reach and filled with deadly rot. Players should come prepared with items like Preserving Boluses to counter the rot before venturing inside. While exploring the cave, don’t forget to also pick up the Serpent Bow, another powerful weapon with poison synergy.

5

Serpent Bow

Great Early-Game Bow With A Unique Poisonous Effect

• Location: Abandoned Cave in Caelid, by the pool of Scarlet rot.

Another standout among the rare poisonous weapons in Elden Ring is the Serpent Bow
, a sleek and effective ranged weapon perfect for poisonous builds, especially when paired with the Venomous Fang. When shooting from this bow, every arrow gains a 15 Poison buildup, making it ideal for slow poisoning from a safe distance. It’s best paired with Serpent Arrows or Poisonbone Arrows for faster poison buildup. While its scaling isn’t the greatest, the Serpent Bow still stands out as one of the best early-game bows available.

Caelid seems to be home to some of the most potent poison weapons in the game, and the Serpent Bow is no exception. Interestingly, it can be found in the same Abandoned Cave as the Venomous Fang, and obtaining it involves little to no combat. However, players should be cautious of the rot that fills the cave floor, so make sure to come prepared with items like Preserving Boluses.

6

Uchigatana

One Of The Best Starting Weapons With A Sleek Moveset

• Location: Found on a dead body inside the Deathtouched Catacombs, Stormhill, Limgrave.

As the starting weapon for the Samurai class, the Uchigatana
is an excellent early-game option and can be easily acquired by other classes. This sharp blade primarily deals piercing and slashing damage, while also causing blood loss — perfect for the early stages of Elden Ring. What’s more, its scaling makes it suitable for both Strength and Dexterity builds, ensuring high damage output for either path.

For players who want to commit to this powerful weapon from the start, choosing the Samurai class is an obvious choice. For other classes, the Uchigatana can be found in the Deathtouched Catacombs in Stormhill, Limgrave. It’s located on a dead body hanging over a platform’s edge after pulling the lever to unlock a door in one of the dungeon’s earlier halls.

7

Meteorite Staff

Essential As A Secondary Weapon For Many Early-Game Builds

• Location: Found on a corpse in the Street of Sages Ruins, Aeonia Swamp, Caelid.

Few weapons are as essential for early- to mid-game as the Meteorite Staff
, especially when paired with the Rock Sling spell. Ideal for builds that invest slightly into Intelligence, this staff can replace any other ranged weapon, dealing significant damage and poise damage, making it effective against many bosses. Requiring only 18 Intelligence to use Rock Sling, this spell’s damage is boosted by 30% when cast with the Meteorite Staff. Even though it’s non-upgradeable, this staff remains viable throughout the game once players master its simple yet deadly combination.

To acquire the Meteorite Staff early, players need to brave the Aeonia Swamp in Caelid. The quickest way is by using the trapped chest in the Dragon-Burnt Ruins, which teleports players to Sellia Crystal Tunnel. After escaping the tunnel, players can find the staff on a corpse hanging from a ledge in a small room filled with poison flowers in the southwestern building of the Street of Sages Ruins. Don’t forget to grab the Rock Sling spell from a chest in an underground cellar just north of the ruins to make the most of the staff.

8

Greataxe

One Of The Highest Swing Damage Weapons For Pure Strength Warriors

• Location: Found in a chest inside the moving carriage followed by a caravan of Wandering Nobles in Limgrave.

This brutal, heavy Greataxe
is one of the earliest and strongest weapons of its class that Elden Ring players can obtain. It’s not only great for the early game, but powerful enough to carry players through the entire journey. The Greataxe’s charged attacks deliver devastating knockdown damage, further enhanced by its skill, Barbaric Roar. When activated, Barbaric Roar transforms the Heavy Attack into a three-hit combo with enormous damage potential. In fact, this weapon boasts the highest base attack damage in its class, though it requires a hefty Strength (80) to unleash its full potential.

Fortunately, the Greataxe can be obtained within minutes of reaching Limgrave. It’s located inside a chest on a moving carriage pulled by two Trolls, accompanied by a caravan of Wandering Nobles near the Waypoint Ruins. Players need at least 20 Strength to two-hand this weapon effectively, so it’s advisable to level up a bit before wielding this formidable axe.

9

Shortbow

A Fast-Firing Bow That Can Be Used While Mounted

• Location: Can be purchased from a merchant near Coastal Cave.

The Shortbow
can be used to devastating effect in Elden Ring when used properly, and best of all it can be found (or purchased) very early into the game. This is actually one of the starting weapons for the Bandit class. The Shortbow gives the player exceptional reach and a quick attack speed.

The Shortbow has several advantages over larger bow types. For starters, the Shortbow can be fired while jumping and then fired again quickly upon landing. The Shortbow can also be used while riding a horse at full gallop. Unless a player is going for a bow build, they shouldn’t waste their efforts with any other bow.

10

Nightrider Glaive

Superb Range And Quick Attack Speed Make It Ideal For Horseback Combat

• Location: Dropped by the Night’s Cavalry, found patrolling the road between Bellum Church and the East Raya Lucaria Gate (only appears at night).

Halberds are an often overlooked weapon type — which is a shame. These weapons provide superior reach, high damage attacks, and can be swung fairly quickly. Among the best of this weapon type in Elden Ring, and one that can be picked up reasonably early into the game, is the Nightrider Glaive.

A somewhat hidden aspect of this weapon is that it gets a higher damage boost than other halberds when on horseback. Players will want to focus on Strength when using the Nightrider Glaive
; with the Heavy infusion, the scaling for Strength is S.

11

Nagakiba

A Larger Version Of The Katana That Causes Bleed Damage

• Location: Dropped by Bloody Finger Hunter Yura, either north of Murkwater Cave or at his camp near the Seaside Ruins.

Nagakiba
is a katana with an extended blade; allowing the wielder to swing it just as fast as a standard katana, but with a longer range. This weapon also has the ability to cause bleed damage, and its fast attack speed ensures the bleed damage will begin stacking quickly.

The ability requirements are low for such a powerful weapon, but to acquire this weapon the player will have to defeat Bloody Finger Hunter Yura. Nagakiba can be infused with Ashes of War. The Cold infusion works well, which becomes overpowered when combined with its bleed damage.

12

Twinblade

A Double-Bladed Spinning Sword With Excellent Crowd Control Potential

• Location: Found inside a chest in the underground cellar with four intact walls, located at the entrance of the Dragon-Burnt Ruins.

The Twinblade
allows players to bring out their inner Darth Maul. Essentially two swords attached at the handle, the Twinblade is a weapon whose best attribute is the speed with which it can be wielded. With this weapon, the player can slash through groups of enemies like a tornado. The special ability of Twinblade, Spinning Slash, allows players to attack an entire group of enemies — as long as they’re crowded around the player. Spinning Slash is also useful in PvP fights. It is perfect for punishing players that roll toward you.

Twinblade can be made even deadlier by infusing it with the Hemorrhage ability. This will let the player stack bleed damage on the target extremely quickly. Cold infusions also work well with the Twinblade. The best aspects of this weapon are that it has low requirements, and is relatively easy to obtain; in fact, this weapon is very close to the starting location.

13

Great Stars

Massive Damage And Healing Perk, But Slower Than Most Weapons

• Location: Located on a guarded carriage in Altus Plateau, along the road southwest of the Road of Iniquity Side Path.

Players looking to use something other than a bladed weapon as their main should try the Great Hammer by the name of Great Stars
. Being a large weapon, wielding this weapon effectively requires a high-strength build. The trade-off is having a weapon that can crush enemies with only a swing or two.

This weapon causes the Hemorrhage status effect on the target, which inflicts bleed damage. That would be good enough, but Great Stars has the added benefit of healing the wielder by 1% health per hit — even if the attack was blocked. With this weapon, the player can inflict an enormous amount of damage per hit, destroy armor, cause bleed damage, and heal themselves in the process. Not bad.

14

Grafted Blade Greatsword

A Massive, Hard-Hitting Behemoth Of A Weapon

• Location: Defeat the Leonine Misbegotten optional boss in Castle Morne, Weeping Peninsula.

This behemoth of a weapon can be acquired in the Castle Morne region in Southern Limgrave and is one of the best early weapons in Elden Ring. Players will find this castle in the middle of a siege, falling to the Misbegotten enemies. Along with an NPC side quest and a pretty fun castle to explore, the Tarnished will eventually face the area’s boss, the Leonine Misbegotten, which can definitely pose a threat to newcomers. This boss is a perfect chance to learn the basics of the game. It doesn’t do too much damage, but it will punish players for being too aggressive.

After the player defeats the Leonine Misbegotten, they will be rewarded with this Colossal Sword, which is the host of great skill scaling. Grafted Blade Greatsword
can be a wonderful strength weapon for a build or a placeholder for later. It can pack a punch and looks cool doing it. The sword’s Ash of War, Oath of Vengeance, boosts all the user’s attributes. This can provide that extra edge needed to take down the next boss.

15

Axe Of Godrick

A Great Reward For The First Major Victory

• Location: Trade with Enia at Roundtable Hold after defeating Godrick the Grafted in Stormveil Castle.

This weapon is one of the best axes in the game and can be acquired very early on in the Stormveil Castle legacy dungeon. The weapon has a C scaling in both strength and dexterity. This means that it is a great weapon for those interested in a “quality” build. The Axe of Godrick
can be obtained after defeating the Demigod of Stormveil Castle, Godrick the Grafted. After this fight, the player will earn the Remembrance of the Grafted, which can be traded with the Enia at Roundtable Hold for the weapon.

The weapon’s Ash of War I Command Thee, Kneel! will send a cool-looking shockwave out from where the axe meets the ground. Any Tarnished who uses this skill knows the devastation it can cause — because it has probably killed them multiple times in the fight with Godric.

16

Reduvia

A Great Dagger For Dealing Bleed Status From Afar

• Location: Defeat the Bloody Finger Nerijus invader near the Murkwater Catacombs.

This little blood weapon is one of the first weapons with the bleed status effect that players can get. It can be obtained by going up the right ravine in Agheel Lake. While players travel upstream, they will be invaded by Bloody Finger Nerijuss. After slaying him (with the help of Yura) they will receive the weapon.

Reduvia
is a Dagger, so it doesn’t do too much base damage. The beauty of this weapon lies within its status effect and skill. The bleed status effect is a boss melter, considering how many swings the weapon can throw out before the player needs to dodge a boss’s attack. This bleed damage more than makes up for the lack of base damage. Pair this with the amazing projectile the Reduvia can throw, the result is a weapon that enemies won’t want to be close to, or too far away from.

17

Bloodhound’s Fang

Can Easily Carry Players Through The Entire Game

• Location: Kill Bloodhound Knight Darriwil optional boss at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, Limgrave.

This weapon has seen some attention from the community, and there is a reason why. The Bloodhound’s Fang
is a Curved Greatsword that players can acquire by beating the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in Limgrave. The weapon has amazing scaling for quality builds and does ridiculous amounts of damage.

Normally, with bigger weapons, there is a common drawback of slower speed. With the larger weapon doing more damage often, the Tarnished forfeits their rate of swinging — but not for the Bloodhound’s Fang and its Ash of War. The weapon’s Ash of War, Bloodhound’s Finesse, is a swing and a quick back step that makes it a safe getaway attack, just in case the player is a little too aggressive. This weapon’s lack of flaws makes it one of the deadliest starting weapons in the game.

18

Golden Halberd

Hard To Get, But One Of The Best In Its Class

• Location: Kill the Tree Sentinel in Limgrave.

The Golden Halberd has slain more Tarnished than any weapon in the game. The Tree Sentinel, who wields this weapon, has been a menace to the newly Tarnished since the game’s release. After the player finally defeats this boss, they will have acquired the Golden Halberd
. This weapon’s amazing reach makes it a great option for newcomers to the game.

Often, players will find themselves being killed after extending too much or being too aggressive. Bosses in FromSoftware games love to punish greed. However, the person with the bigger stick usually laughs last. The Golden Halberd also has an amazing Ash of War called Golden Vow, which increases attack and defensive power. All of these attributes make for a perfect starting weapon.

19

Lordsworn’s Greatsword

A Reliable Choice With Decent Damage And Scaling

• Location: In a chest located at the back of a carriage along the western road leading out of Gatefront Ruins.

Sometimes, the Tarnished does not need anything flashy. Sure, the weapons with the sparks and tricks are fun to use, but sometimes the most reliable weapon is the right tool for the job. This is where the Lordsworn’s Greatsword
(found in the Gatefront Ruins) comes in.

With its low skill requirement and amazing scaling when fully upgraded, it is a reliable option for the early game. Players can also infuse it with whatever Ash of War they like. This might make it the best option for newcomers because it offers the most versatility.

20

Morning Star

A Great Choice For Quickening Fights While Carrying A Shield

• Location: Found in a chest within a broken carriage located just south of the bridge in Weeping Peninsula, Limgrave.

For players that prefer the tried-and-true method of a weapon and shield, the Morning Star (found in Limgrave) is a great option. Often, when a player uses a shield, the fight’s pacing can come to a screeching halt. This strategy effectively makes the fight a waiting game of block and strike. The Morning Star
offers a solution to this problem: bleed.

Bleed weapons in Elden Ring currently reign supreme because of how much damage the status effect does. The Morning Star’s innate bleed is a great way to speed up the pacing of what would otherwise be a slow fight. Players can also infuse it with any Ash of War they prefer, making it a versatile weapon to boot.