FromSoftware Inc. surely knows how to keep you busy as soon as you press the new game button in Elden Ring. It is not a new thing for developers to throw you in front of a massive boss right in the tutorial section. However, even if you somehow get past the Tree Sentinel boss, know that it is only the beginning.
So, it would be best to start collecting the most powerful gear that you can find and upgrade your character as soon as you start at the First Step Site of Grace. But with so many options at hand and no knowledge whatsoever about the world, players are often confused about which weapons to acquire for the first boss.
Usually, there are two ways to learn about the best early-game weapons in Elden Ring. Firstly, you can try exploring the area, gathering the weapons, and trying out the build against the boss. However, it can take several attempts to figure out the perfect weapons for your build.
On the contrary, you can narrow your options by trying out the weapons from this list. If you wish to save time and effort, here are the best early game weapons in Elden Ring and where to find them without getting into trouble.
Best Early Game Weapons in Elden Ring:
The early game phase lasts till you reach Caelid; that’s where you enter the mid-game sequence. So, you have almost half of the world map to explore, and that means at least 20 hours of exploration. The fact that Elden Ring has a great reward system for explorers makes it worth a shot. Fortunately, you can trim down the exploration time by half by knowing where to go and who to fight in the early game area.
That’s where this list will come in handy. All you need to do is choose a weapon from the list, read its where-to-find guide, and go directly to that area to get your reward. This way, you can save some good 10 hours of wandering that you can invest in developing your character. So, without further delay, here are the top 10 best early-game weapons in Elden Ring and where to find them:
Bloodhound’s Fang
Requirements:
- Strength: 18
- Dexterity: 17
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: C
Skill:
Bloodhound’s Finesse
Bloodhound’s Fang is one of the few well-received weapons by the Elden Ring community. The main reason is that no one expected FromSoftware.inc to put such a mighty weapon right in the game’s first area. However, there’s a catch, you must defeat a deadly Knight to acquire the sword.
Based on the sword’s requirements and scaling, it is a must-have weapon for all bleed character builds. It is a relatively large Greatsword that covers more ground and offers greater physical damage. Moreover, it isn’t slow like the other Greatswords in the game.
Secondly, the Bloodhound’s Finesse Weapon Art makes it even more deadly for all enemies. When you activate the skill, the Tarnished launches a series of lightning-fast attacks followed by a quick backstep to avoid any counterattacks. Moreover, the normal physical damage combined with the bleeding build up makes it one of the deadliest early-game weapons in Elden Ring.
How to get it?
Bloodhound’s Fang is the signature weapon of the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil. He is an optional boss that you can encounter at the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave. You can either get to fight him directly, or you can follow Blaidd’s quest line. The main benefit of the second option is that you can summon Blaidd as a spirit to aid you in the battle.
Beware that a lesser version of the Bloodhound Knight also appears in the fight, so don’t start celebrating if you kill him. Furthermore, it is worth noting that the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil is weak against lightning attacks. So, be sure to use a few of those spells and incantations to down him quickly. Once you defeat the Knight, he will drop the Bloodhound’s Fang Greatsword and 1,900 Runes.
Flail
Requirements:
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 18
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
Skill:
Spinning Chain
Flail is yet another special weapon you can acquire quite early in the game’s story. It belongs to the family of longswords, has a medium reach, and can cause serious physical damage to your enemies. It is often prescribed as a useful secondary or backup weapon for most Strength and Dexterity builds.
The main benefit of Flail is that any enemy can’t parry its attacks. In other words, once you launch an attack, it will surely hit the opponent unless he rolls or steps backward.
Furthermore, the critical strikes with Flail can cause +50 bleeding to build up on your enemies. So, they will be losing a good amount of HP even while you are moving around or dodging their attacks. Moreover, the Spinning Chain isn’t probably the strongest Weapon Arts in Elden Ring, but it can be used for some extra damage.
When you activate the skill, the character spins the sword using the chain at the back of the handle before launching a devastating attack on the enemy. Apart from the physical damage, the Weapon Art also inflicts hemorrhage on your foes.
How to get it?
There are multiple ways to get the basic Flail in the game. Firstly, you can easily get it from the large black caravan at the Gate front Ruins, an early game area. However, you must sneak past the guards on the eastern carriage to acquire the sword without fighting.
Still, you can kill the guard by sneaking behind him in case he hears your footsteps. Once inside the enemy camp, you can find Flail inside the chest in the eastern carriage. Alternatively, you can get it from Brother Corhyn, but he isn’t available until the near end portion of the storyline.
Golden Halberd
Requirements:
- Strength: 30
- Dexterity: 14
- Faith: 12
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: E
- Faith: D
Skill:
Golden Vow
The Golden Halberd is undoubtedly the only weapon in the entire game that has killed every tarnished who ever stepped in the Lands Between. It is the dreadful weapon wielded by the Tree Sentinel boss that you encounter during the tutorial phase. For those who don’t know why this weapon’s kill count is so high, the only way to pass the training sequence is death.
However, you can always pay your old foe a visit after starting at the First Step Site of Grace. Defeating the boss rewards you with his sword. The general rule of the game is that the one with the bigger weapon wins in the end. So, the Golden Halberd makes great use of the mechanics with its huge range.
Moreover, the weapon scales primarily with Strength and Faith, making it a must-have early-game weapon for those builds. Attacking with the axe causes physical and Holy damage to your enemies. So, almost all enemies you encounter in the early areas will be weak against the Golden Halberd.
Lastly, when you activate the Golden Vow Weapon Art, it increases your overall attacking power and defending capabilities. In short, the Golden Halberd is a complete package for those looking for the perfect early-game weapon for a Strength build.
How to get it?
By now, you might have guessed that the Tree Sentinel drops the Golden Halberd in Elden Ring. However, he is nowhere to be found after the training sequence. So, how can you find and kill him to get his weapons? The answer is simple, after starting the game, continue with the main story till you are powerful enough to face the Tree Sentinel.
Next, go to Kale’s location before the Church of Elleh to face the boss. Alternatively, you can head northeast from the First Step Site of Grace to find the boss patrolling the road to the church. Defeating the boss will give you the Golden Halberd and 3,200 Runes.
Great Axe
Requirements:
- Strength: 30
- Dexterity: 8
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
Skill:
Barbaric Roar
The Great Axe is one of the most powerful early game weapons in Elden Ring. It offers the highest per-swing damage in its family. Moreover, the name is self-explanatory; it is a huge axe that can reach the farthest enemies. However, this weapon is designed for the Strength class characters as they have the most points in Strength and Dexterity. So, if you are looking for an early game weapon for your Strength character, I suggest that you give it a try.
The only problem with using the Great Axe as your main weapon is that it is slightly slower than the others. However, the base damage output makes up for this flaw, as only two or three blows are enough to kill any non-boss opponent. Moreover, you can bring down the minimum Strength requirement to only 20 points by equipping the Great Axe with two hands.
Lastly, the Barbaric Roar Weapon Art makes this weapon even more deadly. When you activate the skill, all AR damage outputs increase by 10% and a heavy attack is added to every 3-attack combo.
How to get it?
The Great Axe doesn’t require you to kill a boss to acquire it. However, getting it does require some fighting, so make sure you are well-prepared for that part. The weapon is located inside a chest in a carriage dragged by two trolls in Limgrave.
To find this caravan, head west from the Waypoint Ruins till you encounter a caravan of Wandering Nobles. Cross the caravan till you spot a carriage dragged by two trolls. You only need to kill one troll to stop the carriage. Search the chest inside the carriage to find the Great axe.
Great Epee
Requirements:
- Strength: 15
- Dexterity: 16
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
Skill:
Impaling Thrust
The Great Epee is the best thrusting sword in the first sequence of Elden Ring. It is a minimalistic sword with low minimum requirements but great potential. Firstly, it is one of the few early game thrusting swords that you can use with a shield. Moreover, the damage output is enough to compete against any sword in Limgrave.
The basic attacking move set makes it easy to maneuver around the arena with this sword in hand. So, if you are looking for a general Strength and Dexterity sword for your first few encounters, I suggest that you try the Great Epee.
Similarly, the Impaling Thrust Weapon Art is a masterpiece as well. When you activate the skill, the Tarnished charges an attack to overcome your opponent’s guard, followed by a charged thrust attack that pierces the enemy’s armor and causes physical damage. Moreover, the FP cost of the Weapon Art is very low, making it perfect for non-Faith, Dexterity and Strength builds.
How to get it?
Getting the Great Epee can be very challenging, especially for players who have just started playing Elden Ring. The sword is found inside a chest in an enemy camp. To find the camp, start at the Agheel Lake South Site of Grace and head east till you reach the bottom of the hill.
Next, you must climb up the hill to find the camp near the gravestones. Beware, the camp is heavily guarded by many enemies, a horseback rider, and two sorcerers. Once you deal with all the enemies, search the chest in front of the right most yellow canopy tent to find the Great Epee.
Meteorite Staff
Requirements:
- Strength: 6
- Intelligence: 18
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Intelligence: S
Skill:
No Weapon Art
Whenever someone talks about weapons in Elden Ring, they all mention the weapons for Strength and Dexterity classes. However, they often overlook the magical classes that can easily turn the tide of any battle. In this regard, the Meteorite Staff is one of the most powerful magical weapons in the game. It is a Glintstone Staff that scales primarily with Intelligence.
So, all you mages, sorcerers, and magic players, this one’s for you. It is a powerful weapon that can cause up to 262 sorcery damage to all enemies unless they wear protection. Moreover, you can further boost the output by upgrading the Intelligence attribute.
How to get it?
The Meteorite Staff is located in the Caelid region and doesn’t unlock unless you defeat the first few bosses of Elden Ring. However, some players have found a workaround that makes this staff available even before you face Margott, the Fell Omen. The key is to get the Torrent and start riding east till you reach Caelid.
Beware that you will encounter numerous deadly enemies, but you can avoid them if you keep riding without stopping. Once you reach Caelid (after a long journey east), head to the Aeonian Lake Swamp. Here you will find the Street of Sage Ruins and a secret room full of poisonous flowers. Inside the room is a corpse; search it to get your Meteorite Staff.
Reduvia
Requirements:
- Strength: 6
- Dexterity: 13
- Arcane: 13
Scaling:
- Strength: E
- Dexterity: D
- Arcane: D
Skill:
Reduvia Blood Blade
Reduvia is a jagged dagger often prescribed for all Arcane character builds. It is a small weapon that is incredibly fast and deadly if you hit it in the right places. The base damage of this dagger makes it suitable for a secondary weapon, but the real magic lies in its special attacks.
Every time you attack a player with this weapon, it inflicts bleeding build up regardless of the nature of the attack. Moreover, it is the first Arcane weapon with the bleeding effect that you can get right after the First Step Site of Grace.
The Reduvia Blood Blade is a special Weapon Art that can cause bleeding build up on several enemies simultaneously. Moreover, the small wave of blood travels far enough to affect all enemies well beyond your reach.
The dagger became even more powerful after the 1.07 patch of Elden Ring. So, if you are looking for the perfect supporting weapon for your Arcane build, you are really missing Reduvia from your weapon arsenal.
How to get it?
Getting the Reduvia dagger requires you to kill a challenging enemy. So, I suggest that you don’t go that way unless you are confident enough with your build. Once you reach level 10 or 15, head to Agheel Lake. Travel upstream on the right ravine until you are eventually invaded by Bloody Finger Nerijuss. You will need Yura’s help to kill the invader. Once you are done with Bloody Finger Nerijuss, search his body to receive the Reduvia dagger.
Axe of Godrick
Requirements:
- Strength: 34
- Dexterity: 22
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
Skill:
I Command Thee, Kneel!
The Axe of Godrick is one of the most powerful Legendary Great axes in Elden Ring. It is wielded by Godrick, the Grafted, the lord of the Stormveil Castle. You will experience the might of this weapon during your fight with the boss, as it will kill you a couple of times. It is a weapon with a huge reach that can inflict damage on the farthest enemy in the field.
Moreover, the base damage alone is enough to finish off any opponent with a few blows. However, you must carefully time your attacks as it is relatively slow compared to other options. Still, if you are looking for the finest early game weapon for your Strength and Dexterity build, I suggest that you must try your luck with Godrick.
The I Command Thee, Kneel! Weapon Art is the real star of the show. When you activate the skill, the Tarnished places his weapon on the ground, sending waves of destruction. The waves have a large radius, and all enemies that get inside the radius will experience devastating damage regardless of their distance from you. In short, it is the perfect Strength weapon for dealing with groups of enemies on the battlefield.
How to get it?
Getting the Axe of Godrick is no short of a challenge. Godrick is one of the hardest bosses in Elden Ring. So, even if you came prepared with the largest weapons, the best armor, and the highest stats, you will still die a couple of times. However, the reward that you get for defeating this boss is worth your time and effort. To face Godrick, head to the Stormveil Castle in Limgrave and enter its dungeons.
After traveling straight past the guards, you will eventually enter the boss fight arena. After defeating Godrick, the Grafted, you will receive his remembrance. You can then trade his remembrance for the Axe of Godrick with Enia at the Roundtable Hold.
Twinblade
Requirements:
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 18
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
Skill:
Spinning Slash
The Twinblade is the real deal when it comes to early game weapons for Strength and Dexterity characters. It is a huge longsword with a reach that goes far beyond your expectations. You can easily wield the sword in one hand to combine it with a shield.
However, the only way to experience its true effect is by holding it in two hands. Moreover, the sword has two ends that you can use to launch an attack on your enemies without giving them a chance to counter or even recover.
The sword scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity, making it a must-have weapon for your Strength arsenal. Some players even claim that you won’t need another weapon in Limgrave if you wield the Twinblade.
The Spinning Slash Weapon Art is what really makes this weapon a weapon of the Gods. When you activate the skill, the Tarnished launches a series of slashes at your opponents without stopping to take a breath. In short, you can use this sword to kill groups of enemies without worrying about counterattacks. However, I suggest that you practice your movement skills before taking this sword to a boss fight.
How to get it?
Getting the Twinblade is a rather simple task if you consider the power it brings to your weapon arsenal. All you need to do is travel to the location where the dragon lands in the lake near the First Step Site of Grace. Enter the dungeon without the rats in it. If you spot any rats on your way, you are in the wrong dungeon. Simply enter the dungeon and make your way to the underground area till you find a room with a chest. Search the chest to find the Twinblade and some more loot.
Uchigatana
Requirements:
- Strength: 11
- Dexterity: 15
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
Skill:
Unsheathe
Uchigatana belongs to the family of Legendary Katanas in Elden Ring. Being a Katana alone makes it a must-have early game weapon for your Strength and Dexterity build. Some even claim to have killed the almighty Malenia with this sword. So, imagine the devastation it can cause to common enemies in your way.
The sword has a long reach that can inflict bleeding build-up on the farthest enemy in the field. Moreover, it is far more powerful than any of the Greatswords that you can get in Limgrave. So, if you are a fan of fast-slashing weapons, I suggest you try this weapon; you won’t regret your decision.
The Unsheathe Weapon Art seems like Leonardo Da Vinci painted it himself. It is a powerful skill that launches a series of deadly attacks in a fraction of a second. However, the skill is only suitable for fighting one enemy at a time. Still, if you use it wisely, your enemies will never know what hit them. Furthermore, the blood loss build-up lasts for a couple of seconds, enough to kill any enemy standing in your way.
How to get it?
The Uchigatana is the starting weapon for the Samurai character class. However, even if you start with a different Strength class, you can still get it very easily. All you need is to visit the Stormhill Castle in Limgrave and head inside the Deathtouched Catacombs.
Find and activate the lever that opens the hidden door to the preceding hall. Enter the room, and you will get the Uchigatana from a corpse hanging from the platform. Furthermore, you can also dual-wield the weapon if you start with the Samurai class.
FAQs
What is the best Strength weapon for the early game?
The colossal greatsword (also called the “guts sword”) is considered the best strength weapon for the early game in Elden Ring and one of the best weapons in the entire game! To find it you must go to Caelid and clear a caravan. Here is the map link.
Alternatively, you can grab the knight’s greatsword from the camp right before you meet Melina.
Which Katana should I get for Limgrave?
When it comes to Katanas in Elden Ring, you don’t really have many options unless you play NG+1. In this regard, the Uchigatana is your only option in Limgrave. However, it is a powerful sword that can kill all enemies, including the bosses, in the first few encounters. So, if you are really into a Katana build, I suggest you start with the Uchigatana and replace it with the Rivers of Blood when you find it.
Should I get the Axe of Godrick?
Godrick, the Grafted, is undoubtedly one of the toughest bosses in Limgrave. His remembrance can be traded for his axe at the Roundtable Hold. The weapon is powerful enough to kill groups of enemies simultaneously. However, the attack speed is slightly low compared to other options. So, it is the best early game weapon if you are confident with your feet’ movement.
How to get the Reduvia in Elden Ring?
The Reduvia is an excellent early game weapon, especially for the Strength and Dexterity players. However, you must defeat the Bloody Finger Nerijuss at the Agheel Lake to get it. He can be a challenging opponent, so make sure you are well-prepared for the battle, as there is no Site of Grace near you.
So, if you die, you will need to start your journey all over again. When traveling upstream from the lake, Bloody Finger Nerijuss will invade you automatically. Once you defeat him with the help of Yura, you will get the Reduvia dagger.
What is the best early-game weapon for mages in Elden Ring?
The Meteorite Staff is undoubtedly the best early game weapon for mages, and Intelligence character builds in Elden Ring. However, you must travel to Caelid to get the staff. Fortunately, you can access the area before fighting any enemies after you get the Torrent.
Ride east on the Torren to reach Caelid, avoiding all enemies in your way. Once you enter Caelid, head to the Aeonian Lake Swamp. Here you will find the Street of Sage Ruins and a secret room full of poisonous flowers. Inside the room is a corpse; search it to get your Meteorite Staff.
How to get the Twinblade in Elden Ring?
Getting the Twinblade is a rather simple task if you consider the power it brings to your weapon arsenal. All you need to do is travel to the location where the dragon lands in the lake near the First Step Site of Grace. Enter the dungeon without the rats in it.
If you spot any rats on your way, then you are in the wrong dungeon. Simply enter the dungeon and make your way to the underground area till you find a room with a chest. Search the chest to find the Twinblade and some more loot.
Conclusion
Elden Ring is a challenging game, especially for newcomers. The general rule for any battle in the game is that the player with the longest sword wins in the end. Moreover, Limgrave, the very first section of the game, is home to some of the most powerful weapons. So, it would be best to prepare yourself with the best gear before fighting any bosses.
However, the game doesn’t hold guide you to all these weapons. Instead, you must explore Limgrave on your own, figure out the important locations, defeat the optional bosses, and search the random chests to find them. So, what are the best early game weapons in Elden Ring? This article explains the top 10 best weapons in Limgrave and how to get them so that you can get the upper hand in your first few battles.
