TheShadow of the ErdreeDLC has introduced a vast array of weapons to the world ofElden Ring. With so many new armaments to be discoveredacross the Shadow Realm, it can be difficult for players to know where to spend their hard-earned runes and smithing stones.
There are 103 new weapons, many with unique qualities, stylish animations, and impressive damage output when fully upgraded. Some are better geared towards PvE, proving useful against the DLC’s tough new bosses. Others provide unique advantages in PvP encounters, catching rival players off-guard with fast animations and unpredictable move-sets. Among the new options, these are the best ones to upgrade as soon as the Tarnished gets the chance.
12Red Bear’s Claw
The Claws Of A Powerful Rune Bear
TheRed Bear’s Clawallows players to embody the quick and deadly spirit of theRune Bear. It is a Beast Claw weapon, an offshoot of the Fist weapon class. Unlike most Fist weapons, it scales primarily with strength, allowing Strength builds to get up close and personal with their foes.
The move set is full of rapid slashes and quick pounces. This erratic movement is particularly effective when dueling other players, who are likely to panic when caught in a flurry of attacks. When fully upgraded, the Red Bear’s Claw deals254 points of base damageand maintains its45 points of Bleed build-up.
11Backhand Blade
The Standard Backhand Blade
The standardBackhand Bladeis found near the first site of grace in the Shadow Realm. Upgrading this weapon is a great way to enter the DLC with one of the new weapon types. It features two blades, so two-handing the weapon doubles the damage output.
The running light attack is fast and covers a lot of ground, catching enemies rolling away and starting fights from a safe distance. The unique Blind Spot Ash of War is quick and deadly, dashing behind an opponent and delivering a deadly slashing attack. It’sbest suited to Dex builds, achieving S scalingwhen Keen. The fully upgraded base damage is257 points.
10Death Knight’s Longhaft Axe
Strike Like Lightning From A Distance
TheDeath Knight’s Longhaft Axeis a powerful Greataxe with a deadly Blinkbolt Ash of War that rapidly closes the distance between the user and their opponent. It has innate lightning damage, which is great for Strength/Faith players who use lightning sorceries.
The axe is a unique weapon, so it requires Somber smithing stones to upgrade. Itscales with Strength, Dexterity, and Faith, and when fully upgraded, it deals276 points of physical damage,and178 points of lightning damage.The long reach of the attacks can deliver devastating strikes while maintaining a safe distance.
9Greatsword of Solitude
Mighty Blade With A Solid Guard
TheGreatsword of Solitudeis a powerful Strength weapon, notable for its heavy attack power and defensive capabilities. As a unique weapon, it requires Somber Smithing Stones to upgrade, and the Ash of War cannot be changed. However, this isn’t a problem. The Solitary Moon Slash deals heavy ranged damage, with a secondary strike that staggers enemies and catches them off guard.
When fully upgraded, it hasA-scaling with Strength,and deals294 points of base damage.It also has89% physical damage negation,which can be enhanced further with the Deflecting Hardtear Crystal Tear and Greatshield Talisman. This makes the Guard-Counter an effective move in combat.
8Flowerstone Gavel
Powerful Lightning Debuff
TheFlowerstone Gavelis a powerful and unique hammer weapon that is reinforced with Somber Smithing Stones. Its move-set is similar to most hammers inElden Ring, but it has a deadly Ash of War that delivers lightning from above. This attack also delivers a debuff, making the target weaker to lightning damage.
The fully upgraded weapon does294 points of physical damage.It scales best withStrength, but also scales well withDexterityandArcane. It is found relatively late in the DLC’s story, so it’s often overshadowed by main boss weapons and earlier unlocks, but this hammer can be deadly in the right hands.
7Bonny Butchering Knife
An Upgrade On The Standard Butchering Knife
Visually, theBonny Butchering Knifeis the same as the base game’s counterpart, but this Greataxe has a unique Ash of War. The Hone Blade ability allows successful attacks to recover the user’s HP. Pairing this skill withMalenia’s Great Runewill make damage trades far less taxing on health.
It is a unique weapon, so Somber Smithing Stones will enhance the damage. The fully upgraded output is328 points, withB scaling in Strength and D scaling in Dexterity. The move-set and damage are identical to the standard Butchering Knife. It’s a traditional Soulsborne weapon with a distinctive healing ability that sets it apart.
6Repeating Crossbow
Deliver Massive Damage Quickly
TheRepeating Crossbowis a ranged weapon that can fire multiple bolts in quick succession thanks to its unique Ash of War. Even with standard bolts, this crossbow can be fatal, but using infused ammunition is where this Repeating Fire skill shines. As a unique weapon, the Ash of War is unchangeable.
Whether it’s explosive, fire, or lightning bolts for impressive attack power, or perhaps status-effect bolts infused with sleep, frost, or poison, delivering many successive hits is always beneficial. When fully upgraded, attacks deal181 points of physical base damage.
5Black Steel Greathammer
The Only Unique Guard Counter
This powerful weapon is found pretty early in the DLC, making it a great choice forStrength/Faithcharacters to use throughout their journey in the Realm of Shadow. The move-set is similar to most Great Hammers, but it has a unique guard counter that strikes the ground, dealing heavy Holy damage in a wide area in front of the player.
TheBlack Steel Greathammerhas some impressive numbers when fully upgraded. At standard infusion, it deals343 points of physical damage.However, it shines best when infused with Flame Art, dealing heavy physical and fire damage, while maintaining the counterattack’s strong Holy damage.
4Dragon Hunter’s Great Katana
The Bane Of Dragons
TheDragon-Hunter’s Great Katanais part of a new weapon class, theGreat Katana. It’s a unique weapon that requires Somber stones to upgrade, and the Dragonwound Slash Ash of War can’t change. The blade has55 points of bleed build-up and, since it’s made of Gravel Stone, is especially effective against dragons.
The fully upgraded weapon does a massive372 points of physical damage, making it one of the more sought-after weapons in PvP. The jumping Ash of War is good for evading low attacks and countering with heavy damage. The vertical attack range makes it perfect for larger PvE enemies and dragons who are above the ground and hard to hit.
3Milady
Powerful With The Right Ash Of War
As a member of the newLight Greatswordclass, theMiladyis a rapid blade with an impressive range. It is best paired with the Wing Stance Ash of War, where the player assumes a stance, before lunging forward and delivering a blinding combo of slashes. This skill, alongside a quick move-set, makes the Milady a ruthless contender among the new armaments.
The quick attacks make it useful for inflicting status effects such asbleeding, poison, or frostbite. It scales best withDexterityand pairs well with items that reward quick successive attacks, such as the Rotted Wing Insignia, or Thorny Cracked Tear.
