Wandering the Lands Between without a trusty piece of steel, sorcery, or just a really big stick is a quick way to become another forgotten soul in the Erdtree's golden glow. As the old wisdom from a forgotten kingdom reminds us, it's perilous to go alone. You'd better grab a weapon, Tarnished! The sheer variety of armaments in Elden Ring, further expanded by the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, can be more overwhelming than a surprise Malenia waterfowl dance. From humble daggers to colossal hammers that double as architectural statements, each weapon type sings a different song of destruction, and finding the one that matches your personal rhythm of combat is half the journey. While raw statistics like Attack and Guard values are crucial, the true soul of a weapon often lies in its unique Weapon Skill—the special move that can turn the tide of battle from a desperate struggle into a glorious triumph. Let's dive into this armory and see what treasures await the modern adventurer in 2026.

The Humble Yet Mighty: Axes & Backhand Blades 🪓

Don't let their straightforward appearance fool you. Axes are the reliable workhorses of the battlefield, offering a brutal blend of speed and power. They are perfect for warriors who like to get up close and personal without the commitment of a gigantic weapon.

• The Classics: The Battle Axe and Highland Axe are fantastic starting points, boasting solid physical attack power (123) and the ferocious Wild Strikes or empowering War Cry skills, respectively.

• The Elemental Specialists: Fancy some frostbite with your chop? The Icerind Hatchet with its iconic Hoarfrost Stomp (remember when this thing was meta?) remains a chillingly good option. For those with an arcane bent, the Ripple Blade is a curious tool that scales purely with Arcane.

• The New Blood (Post-Erdtree): The expansion brought fresh timber to chop! The Messmer Soldier's Axe now claims the top spot for raw physical damage among standard axes at 133, while the Smithscript Axe offers a sturdy and reliable alternative. For dual-wield enthusiasts, the Death Knight's Twin Axes introduce the lightning-fast Blinkbolt: Twinaxe skill, allowing for electrifying hit-and-run tactics.

And then there's the sleek newcomer: the Backhand Blade category. These aren't your typical swords; they're designed for deceptive, rapid strikes. The standard Backhand Blade and the Smithscript Cirque both utilize the Blind Spot skill, perfect for stylishly outmaneuvering opponents. Think of them as the fancy daggers that decided to grow up a bit.

The Heavy Hitters: Colossal Swords & Colossal Weapons 💥

For the Tarnished who believe that subtlety is for mages and that every problem can be solved with an earth-shattering slam. Wielding these behemoths is a statement of intent and a hefty endurance requirement.

Weapon Name	Type	Key Trait	Weapon Skill
Greatsword	Colossal Sword	The quintessential big sword.	Stamp (Upward Cut)
Starscourge Greatsword	Colossal Sword	Paired power, great for crowds.	Starcaller Cry (Pulls enemies in!)
Giant-Crusher	Colossal Weapon	Pure, unadulterated strength.	Endure
Ghiza's Wheel	Colossal Weapon	A spinning pizza cutter of doom.	Spinning Wheel
Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword	Colossal Sword	New DLC. Extreme physical block.	White Light Charge

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced some truly bizarre and powerful additions to this category. The Anvil Hammer looks like you stole a blacksmith's workstation, while the Gazing Finger is... well, it's a giant, creepy finger. Who needs a sword when you can poke your enemies with a colossal digit imbued with magic (86 Magic Attack)?

The Art of the Swipe: Curved Swords & Greatswords ⚔️

These weapons favor agility and sweeping attacks. Curved Swords are fast and excel at building status effects like bleed, while Curved Greatswords offer more reach and poise damage without sacrificing all your mobility.

• Curved Sword Stars: The Bandit's Curved Sword is a favorite for dual-wielding bleed builds. The Scimitar (a classic) and Grossmesser offer great early-game options. The Eclipse Shotel is a niche pick, its Death Flare skill inflicting a unique death blight effect.

• Curved Greatsword Champions: The Bloodhound's Fang is arguably one of the best weapons in the entire game, accessible early and packing the incredibly versatile Bloodhound's Finesse skill. The Dismounter and Omen Cleaver are powerful heavy-hitters in this class. From the DLC, Freyja's Greatsword stands out with impressive guard stats.

The Pointy End: Spears, Halberds & More 🎯

While our reference list primarily starts with axes, no armory is complete without acknowledging the king of range in melee combat. Spears and Halberds allow you to keep enemies at bay, poking them to death from a safe distance. They are excellent for mounted combat and for cautious players who like to control the engagement range.

The Tools of Distance: Bows, Crossbows & Ballistas 🏹

Sometimes, the best way to deal with a giant bear or a pesky dragon is to shoot it from the next continent over.

• Bows like the Longbow (reliable), Black Bow (rapid fire), and Horn Bow (magic arrows) are for the stealthy archer.

• Crossbows like the Pulley Crossbow (quick volleys) and Arbalest (high damage) can be used without dedicating stats to Dexterity, making them great sidearms for strength builds. The DLC's Repeating Crossbow lives up to its name with a barrage of bolts.

• Ballistas are the heavy artillery. The Jar Cannon is literally a cannon that fires greatbolts for massive damage (192!), while Rabbath's Cannon from the DLC uniquely deals equal physical and magic damage.

The Unconventional Brawlers: Claws, Fists & Beast Claws 🐾

For when you want to feel the thrill of the hunt firsthand. These weapons are all about relentless aggression and rapid strikes.

• Claws like the Hookclaws or Raptor Talons shred enemies with quick combos and innate bleed. The Bloodhound Claws come with the supremely evasive Bloodhound's Step.

• Beast Claws are a wilder category. The base Beast Claw weapon has a wildly high listed attack power (240) for its speed, using the Savage Claws skill. The DLC's Red Bear's Claw continues the theme of bestial fury.

Final Thoughts for the Modern Tarnished

Choosing your weapon in Elden Ring is a deeply personal journey. It's not just about the biggest number; it's about how the weapon feels. Does its rhythm match yours? Does its skill bring a grin to your face when you execute it perfectly? In 2026, with the full arsenal of the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion at your disposal, the possibilities for crafting your unique legend are more vast than ever. So experiment, upgrade, and find that one weapon that feels like an extension of your will. Now go forth, and don't you dare go hollow! Or, you know, just die a lot in spectacularly funny ways. That's also valid.