In the vast, unforgiving world of Elden Ring, choosing the right weapon is more than a preference—it's a matter of survival. With the metagame constantly evolving, especially after the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, knowing which katana to wield can mean the difference between glorious victory and a humiliating defeat. For Samurai mains and dexterity-focused builds, the katana remains the quintessential weapon of choice, offering speed, bleed potential, and unparalleled style. But with over a dozen options scattered across the Lands Between, which ones truly stand the test of time in 2026? Let's break down the top contenders, from situational tools to absolute meta-kings.
Starting near the bottom, we have the Serpentbone Blade. This katana has a niche—poison buildup—but that's about it. 😕 It lacks the coveted bleed effect that makes other katanas so powerful, and its locked-in Double Slash Ash of War feels basic. You can't enchant it or buff it with consumables, which severely limits its flexibility. While it uses standard Smithing Stones (a plus), it's really only a left-hand option for a dedicated poison build. For everyone else? It's a low-priority pickup.
Next up is the Dragonscale Blade. True to its name, it deals bonus damage to dragon-type enemies. This makes it incredibly situational—fantastic for farming dragons, but mediocre everywhere else. Its Ice Lightning Sword skill got a buff, now lasting 45 seconds instead of 20, which is nice. However, investing precious Somber Smithing Stones into a weapon with such a narrow use case is hard to justify in 2026, unless you're on a dedicated dragon-hunting spree.
🎌 The Solid Mid-Tier Performers
The Meteoric Ore Blade is a unique early-game option. Its Gravitas skill pulls enemies in and deals damage, making it excellent for crowd control against swarms of weaker foes. It has standard bleed buildup and a cool unique heavy attack. A solid choice for exploration and rune farming early on, but it tends to fall off later when boss battles demand more specialized tools.
Now, let's talk Great Katanas! 🗡️ These are the heavier, slower cousins of standard katanas, but they hit like a truck.
The Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana is another dragon-slayer. Its Dragonwound Slash skill is devastating against dragon bosses. For Shadow of the Erdtree players hunting the terrifying Ghostflame Dragons, this is a must-have. But again, its utility outside of draconic battles is limited. Other Great Katanas are more versatile.
Speaking of versatile, the standard Great Katana is a fantastic entry to the weapon class. It has good bleed buildup, is fully customizable with Ashes of War, and has low stat requirements (18 DEX, 14 STR). Its default Overhead Slash skill is powerful. For Strength/Dexterity hybrid builds looking for a heavy-hitting, bleed-inflicting weapon, this is a top-tier and reliable choice.
⚔️ The Legendary & DLC Powerhouses
The Hand of Malenia is a trophy weapon, earned by defeating the game's hardest boss. Just wielding it feels like an achievement. Its Waterfowl Dance skill lets you unleash Malenia's iconic flurry of slashes, which is incredibly satisfying. However, as a pure physical damage weapon with only average bleed, it's often outshined by other katanas in pure effectiveness for bleed builds. It's more about style and flexing your skills. 💪
The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced some bangers, and the Sword of Night is one of them. This katana looks utterly cool and has a fantastic gimmick: its semi-corporeal blade ignores shields and guards! It also deals magic damage without needing Intelligence investment. Its Witching Hour Slash skill is a quick, unblockable series of attacks perfect for aggressive players. A must-find for any DLC adventurer on the Count Ymir questline.
For Intelligence builds, the Star-Lined Sword is a game-changer. It deals massive magic damage and has one of the most devastating skills in the game: Onze's Line of Stars. This attack can be chained up to three times, creating a spectacle of wide, jumping magical slashes. While its physical damage and bleed are low, that's not the point—it's a magical nuke in katana form, dropped by Demi-Human Queen Marigga in the DLC.
🏆 The S-Tier GOATs (Greatest Of All Time)
Don't sleep on the starter weapon! The Uchigatana is a legend for a reason. It has everything you need:
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Great bleed buildup ✅
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Fully customizable with Ashes of War (change damage types and skills!) ✅
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Low stat requirements ✅
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Powerful default skill, Unsheathe, which absolutely shreds stance ✅
It's the perfect all-rounder. You can use it from the first step in Limgrave to the final boss, especially if you keep it upgraded. It also makes a phenomenal left-hand weapon in a dual-wield setup. A timeless, reliable masterpiece. ✨
And finally, the king of range and versatility: the Nagakiba. This beast takes everything the Uchigatana does and adds one crucial feature: INSANE range. Its blade is nearly twice as long as other katanas, letting you hit enemies from a safe distance they can't match. This makes it arguably the best secondary/left-hand weapon** in the entire game, adding massive reach and damage to any Dexterity build. It's also customizable with Ashes of War and can be obtained early by defeating Bloody Finger Hunter Yura. In 2026, for pure consistency, adaptability, and power, the Nagakiba remains a top-tier choice for any Tarnished seeking victory.
📊 Quick Summary Table
| Rank | Katana Name | Key Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Serpentbone Blade | Poison Buildup | Niche Poison Builds |
| 12 | Dragonscale Blade | Anti-Dragon Damage | Dragon Hunting |
| 11 | Meteoric Ore Blade | Crowd Control (Gravitas) | Early Game / Farming |
| 10 | Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana | Dragon Slaying Skill | DLC Ghostflame Dragons |
| 9 | The Great Katana | Customizability & Bleed | STR/DEX Hybrid Builds |
| 8 | Hand of Malenia | Waterfowl Dance Skill | Style & Boss Flex |
| 7 | Sword of Night | Ignores Shields | Aggressive DLC Play |
| 6 | Star-Lined Sword | Magic Damage & Skill | Intelligence (INT) Builds |
| 5 | Uchigatana | All-Rounder, Customizable | Every Build, Start to Finish |
| 4 | Nagakiba | Extreme Range, Versatility | Top-Tier DEX & Dual-Wield Setups |
So, there you have it! Whether you're a new Samurai or a veteran heading into the Shadow of the Erdtree, your perfect katana is out there. For raw power and versatility in 2026, you can't go wrong with the classic Uchigatana or the majestic Nagakiba. Now go forth, Tarnished, and claim your blade! 🔥