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Elden Ring offers players plenty of avenues for building characters. There is no shortage of massive hammers, devastating axes, or flashy spells to choose from in the game. For players looking for a faster-paced, high-damage, or critical-focused build, however, dexterity weapons are definitely the way to go in FromSoftware's latest title.

There are countless dexterity-based weapons to choose from in Elden Ring. Katanas, daggers, claws, and curved greatswords are just a few of the options open to players. Dex builds are great with shields, without shields, dual wielding, or even with magic. They're flexible, fast, and deal tons of damage. While every weapon can be great in its own right, there are a few dex weapons that stand above the rest as some of the very best in the game.

Updated January 24, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: With Shadow of the Erdtree on the way, and rumored to release sooner than later, it's not a bad idea to get back into Elden Ring to refamiliarize yourself with the game – or try out a new build. Elden Ring Dexterity weapons don't work for everyone – even the best Dex weapons might not feel fun for someone who doesn't like a fast-paced approach to combat. But whether you're trying a new Dex build, or going back to an old one to get back into things in the Lands Between, having a good weapon can make the difference between dealing real damage to enemies or wildly flailing your Rapier to try to whittle them down. This guide has been updated to inlude some extra details on what makes each of these options the best Dex weapons Elden Ring offers, as well as tips on how to get each of these best Dexterity weapons in the first place.

14 Black Knife

Elden Ring Best Dexterity Weapons Black Knife

Stat Requirements

12 Dex, 8 Strength, 18 Faith

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (D), Faith (D)

Base Scaling (+10)

Strength (E), Dex (B), Faith (C)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Blade Of Death

It may not have the best Dexterity scaling to it, but the Black Knife does hold its own in Elden Ring as a net positive Dex-adjacent weapon. Blade of Death is its imbued weapon skill, and when landed results in the target having their max health reduced for a moment and also inflicting damage.

This makes it a bit easier for players to defeat tougher enemies without having to be involved in constant engagement. On top of that, it also has a double slash move that's unique to both it and the Blade of Calling.

How To Get The Black Knife

Head to the Sainted Hero's Grave in the center of the Altus Plateau, west from the Rampart Side Path Site of Lost Grace near the walls of the capital. Outside, there is a Black Knife Assasin, which will start to attack the player if they get within sight. Defeat this Black Knife Assassin to get the Black Knife before even setting foot in the Hero's Grave.

13 Rivers Of Blood

Elden Ring Best Dexterity Weapons Rivers of Blood

Stat Requirements

18 Dex, 12 Strength, 20 Arcane

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (D), Arc (D)

Base Scaling (+10)

Strength (E), Dex (B), Arc (D)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Corpse Piler

Anyone who has played a FromSoftware Soulslike title likely knows that katanas tend to be great for Dexterity-focused builds, and Elden Ring continues in that very tradition. Rivers Of Blood, outside of an incredibly brutal name, is a blade that scales with Dex, Strength, and Arcane.

RELATED: Elden Ring: Best Crystal Tears To Mix In The Flask Of Wondrous Physick

Players who prefer a mid-ranged approach to combat with strong piercing and slashing attack animations will likely find Rivers Of Blood quite useful. Its attached skill is called Corpse Piler and is a slashing attack that deals normal damage in addition to both fire damage and blood buildup each time it lands.

How To Get Rivers of Blood

Rivers of Blood is dropped by Bloody Finger Okina, an invader who appears right outside of the Church of Repose. The Church of Repose is found near the end of the Mountaintops of Giants, just a stone's throw away from the Fire Giant's boss area, which means it's hard to get this early in the game without trading. The church looks over the rest of the Mountaintops and should be pretty obvious once you are close.

12 Wing Of Astel

Elden Ring Best Dexterity Weapons Wing of Astel

Stat Requirements

17 Dex, 7 Strength, 20 Intelligence

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (D), Int (D)

Base Scaling (+10)

Strength (E), Dex (C), Int (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Nebula

Dexterity is a trait that's most often associated with rogues, assassins, or other professions where stealth and/or precision striking is of the utmost importance. Being able to move and react without feeling stuck in one spot is ideal for players who prefer a Dexterity-focused build. Wings of Astel manages to deliver on that front while also providing a source of magical damage for players who love the mix of ranged and melee combat.

The positive spin is by that time their build will have tons of Dex, Strength, and Intelligence which means they can use their bounty of Somber Smithing Stones to upgrade it a ton and get the most of out the magically special weapon.

How To Get The Wing of Astel

For all its upsides, there is one downside: players can't get their hands on it until they get to Nokstella, Eternal City. Though the chest containing this weapon can be seen early in the game behind a Malformed Star in the Ainsel River, it can't be accessed until the upper portion of Nokstella is available. Follow a secret path reaching east from the Nokstella Eternal City Site of Lost Grace behind a waterfall to find your way to the chest.

11 Eleonora's Poleblade

Elden Ring Best Dexterity Weapons Eleonora Poleblade

Stat Requirements

21 Dex, 12 Strength, 19 Arcane

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (D), Arc (D)

Base Scaling (+10)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Bloodblade Dance

Here's the thing, even if Eleonora's Poleblade was ineffective and bottom of the barrel it'd still be worth acquiring. Very rarely do games have a weapon that's strikingly similar in appearance to Darth Maul's dual-sided lightsaber from the Star Wars series, but Elden Ring manages to be one of the few.

Thankfully it happens to also be super powerful in the hands of Dexterity/Arcane builds because of its fast attack speed and blood loss buildup. With two of these, it's almost possible to proc Blood Loss with a single jumping dual-wield attack.

How To Get Eleonora's Poleblade

At the Second Church of Marika players will be invaded by Bloody Finger Eleonora. The Second Church of Marika is in the Altus Plateau, a short ride north on the forked road leading from Liurnia of the Lakes.

10 The Hookclaws

Elden Ring Hookclaw Jump Attack Cropped

Stat Requirements

14 Dex, 8 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (C)

Base Scaling (+25)

Strength (D), Dex (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Quickstep (can be changed)

This versatility and accessibility make them one of the best early-game dex weapons for players looking to dual-wield and rely on dodging. The Hookclaws also build blood loss on enemies with consecutive blows. While they don't bleed as fast as the Uchigatana, the blood loss can still come in clutch when combined with the claws' fast attack rate and high DPS.

Though it come swith the relatively decent Quickstep Ash of War, and bad scaling, the Hookclaws can be upgraded with regular smithing stones and imbued with different damage types later on.

How To Get The Hookclaws

For dex players mainlining the story, the Hookclaws can be found pretty early on in Stormveil Castle. Players should take the secret side entrance by Gostoc to reach a Wine Cellar, which contains the Hookclaws on the floor in a corner near a patroling Exile Soldier.

9 Bloodhound's Fang

Elden Ring Bloodhound Greatsword Cropped

Stat Requirements

17 Dex, 18 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (D), Dex (C)

Base Scaling (+10)

Strength (C), Dex (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Bloodhound's Finesse

As it is a greatsword, Bloodhound's Fang will reach its true potential via two-handing. This means that players looking for the most out of the strength and dexterity scaling weapon will have to forgo a shield for maximum damage. Luckily, Bloodhound's Fang offers a move set that allows players to get close and deal damage before retreating quickly, making it one of the most versatile melee weapons in the game.

Bloodhound's Fang isn't an easy greatsword to obtain, but it is certainly worth it for players looking for a great high-damage weapon early on.

How To Get The Bloodhound's Fang

This curved greatsword is dropped by Bloodhound Knight Darriwil after being defeated in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol. This Evergaol overlooks the Bridge of Sacrifices that leads to Castle Morne and the Weeping Peninsula in Limgrave - it's conveniently right next to a Spiritspring, too.

8 The Parrying Dagger

Elden Ring Patches Cropped

Stat Requirements

14 Dex, 5 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (C)

Base Scaling (+25)

Strength (E), Dex (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Parry (can be changed)

The Parrying Dagger isn't the best dagger in the game when it comes to DPS, and it certainly isn't the flashiest with its design. Yet, this dagger can heighten a dex player's dual-wielding kit with its simple special move: the parry. It's easy to make mistakes when parrying, but this dagger makes it just a little easier. Normally, shields are the primary source of parries in Souls games, but the Parrying Dagger offers an extra bit of DPS with a faster parry animation.

RELATED: Similarities Between Dark Souls & Elden Ring

It can be upgraded with regular smithing stones and imbued with alternate damage types. This dagger might not offer the best DPS, but it is a huge plus for players that love to parry and don't mind having to rely solely on dodging to avoid damage.

How To Get The Parrying Dagger

The Parrying Dagger can be purchased from Patches for 1600 Runes early in the game after his encounter inside the Murkwater Cave, north up the chasm a short ways from Lake Agheel in Limgrave - just be sure not to kill Patches when he surrenders.

7 The Godskin Peeler

Elden Ring Godskin Apostle Boss Fight Cropped

Stat Requirements

22 Dex, 17 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (C)

Base Scaling (+25)

Strength (D), Dex (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Black Flame Tornado

Twinblades in Elden Ring aren't as busted on release as they were in Dark Souls 3, but they still offer fantastic DPS to players willing to learn their unique move sets - and the Godskin Peeler is definitely unique. Unlike other boss drops, the Godskin Peeler doesn't require somber smithing stones to upgrade. It has a great Ash of War move called Black Flame Tornado that can deal with groups of enemies with ease.

While their dex requirement of 22 is higher than some other weapons, their huge damage and fast movement make them a great choice for players that like to be fast on their feet. Though it is found later on in the game, the Godskin Peeler can carry a dex player right through to the end if needed.

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How To Get The Godskin Peeler

The Godskin Peeler can be acquired by defeating a Godskin Apostle in the Windmill Village of the cliffs of north eastern Altus Plateau (but not as far northeast as to get inside the outer wall of Leyndell). The easiest way to get there is to hug the rim of the chasm in the middle of the zone on either side, though it's faster to go right than left if approaching from the south.

6 The Wakizashi

Elden Ring Wakizashi Showcase Cropped

Stat Requirements

13 Dex, 9 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (D), Dex (D)

Base Scaling (+25)

Strength (D), Dex (C)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Quickstep (can be changed)

At first glance, it can seem like an ordinary dagger with few standout features. If players read the description though, they'll find that it was designed to be paired with a katana. Should the player follow the flavor text and equip a katana, they will find a unique move set not found with any other daggers in the game. The Wakizashi causes blood loss buildup and can throw faster precise strikes into the move set of a typical dual-wield Katana moveset.

It might not be the best dex weapon, but its unique playstyle and pairing with Katanas, arguably the best dex weapons in the game, make it a standout choice for players looking to really spice up their play style.

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How To Get The Wakizashi

Players can find the Wakizashi in one of the locked cells inside Gaol Cave when entering from the Caelid side. Gaol Cave can be entered from Limgrave, but the majority of the dungeon can't be explored from that direction. The entrance to Gaol Cave in Caelid is around the mid-point of the western cliffs of Caelid – you'll have to go up a short hill and dispatch some soldiers to get in.

5 The Scythe

Elden Ring Scythe & Windmill Cropped

Stat Requirements

14 Dex, 14 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (C)

Base Scaling (+25)

Strength (D), Dex (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Spinning Slash (can be changed)

The Scythe has been a recurring weapon in Souls games for a while. In the original Dark Souls, the Scythe was one of the best dex weapons available. In Elden Ring, the Scythe offers great physical damage and scales very well with the player's dex. The weapon builds up blood loss quickly and can be imbued with other damage types, too. It hits like a boss weapon but only requires normal smithing stones to upgrade.

RELATED: Lessons Learned From Dark Souls That Will Get You Killed In Elden Ring

The Scythe might have a plain name and unremarkable appearance, but it proves that sometimes the simplest weapons are still the best. Plus, it can be obtained very early by players willing to brave the skeleton-filled catacombs. ​​​​​​​

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How To Get The Scythe

Elden Ring's Scythe can be found on the north side of Stormveil Castle in Liurnia of the Lakes inside the Cliffbottom Catacombs dungeon. Head to Liurnia, then go to the eastern side of the Lake and head south. The Cave should be below the main road leading to Stormveil – on the map, it's about parallel with the Moonlight Altar.

4 The Hand of Malenia

Elden Ring Promo Art Melenia Cropped

Stat Requirements

48 Dex, 16 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (C)

Base Scaling (+10)

Strength (E), Dex (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Waterfowl Dance

Katanas are not only some of the best dex weapons in Elden Ring​​​​​​but also some of the best weapons in the entire game. The Hand of Malenia is a late-game boss drop that is the perfect katana for players looking to make a bleed build. This katana is reserved only for the most dedicated dex builds. It requires a staggering 48 dexterity to wield, but its high cost is more than worth it.

The Hand of Malenia deals incredible damage and gets blood loss procs enough to fell even the most mighty enemies in just a few quick slices. ​​​​​​​

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How To Get The Hand of Malenia

The Hand of Malenia is dropped by Malenia, a technically optional boss who has become legendary as one of the game's toughest bosses. To fight her, players must make the arduous journey to the base of the Haligtree, which itself can only be accessed by unlocking a secret entrance in the Consecrated Snowfield, which is itself a relatively hidden area.

3 Morgott's Cursed Sword

Elden Ring Margott Boss Intro Cropped

Stat Requirements

35 Dex, 14 Strength, 17 Arc

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (C), Arc (D)

Base Scaling (+10)

Strength (D), Dex (B), Arc (D)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Cursed-Blood Slice

Morgott's Cursed Sword is one of the more advanced weapons in Elden Ring. It requires decent strength and high dexterity to wield, but also demands a hefty arcane score. Players will need 14 strength, 35 dexterity, and 17 arcane to even wield the blade. This would be a problem if the sword was subpar, but its damage and unique weapon skill make it more than worth the cost.

Consecutive attacks with this blade cause hemorrhage buildup in enemies and the unique weapon skill, Cursed Blood Slice, makes this process even quicker. Though slower than some other dex weapons, Morgott's Cursed Sword is a titan when it comes to dealing huge burst damage and can make a dex player feel like a real strength build with its punishing blows.​​​​​​​

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How To Get Morgott's Cursed Sword

​​​​​​As the name suggests, players will need to defeat Morgott to obtain his Remembrance, which can be traded for his Sword from Enia. Morgott can be found at the end of the Leyndell, Royal Capital legacy dungeon, ready to stop the Tarnished from going into the Erdtree.

2 The Uchigatana

Elden Ring Uchigatana Weapon Art Cropped

Stat Requirements

15 Dex, 11 Strength

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (D), Dex (D)

Base Scaling (+25)

Strength (D), Dex (C)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Unsheathe (can be changed)

Among all the extraordinary boss weapons and secret blades in Elden Ring, it's somewhat surprising that the simple Uchigatana remains so incredibly viable. The Uchigatana can be upgraded with regular smithing stones and causes rapid blood loss buildup in enemies. It has a great ranged poke with a charged heavy attack and its rather underwhelming weapon art can be replaced with a better Ash of War that makes better use of the weapon's capabilities - like the Occult scaling option.

The Uchigatana is the definition of old reliable and can carry a player all the way through The Lands Between should the player desire. Players familiar with the katana from previous Souls games will pick Elden Ring's Uchigatana up with ease.

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How To Get The Uchigatana

A starting weapon for one of the game's new starting classes, the Samurai, the Uchigatana can also be found in the Deathtouched Catacombs a few minutes east of Stormveil Castle's entrance (close to the Liurnia shortcut).

1 Moonveil

Elden Ring Moonveil Weapon Art Cropped

Stat Requirements

18 Dex, 12 Strength, 23 Int

Base Scaling (+0)

Strength (E), Dex (D), Int (C)

Base Scaling (+10)

Strength (E), Dex (B), Int (B)

Weapons Skill/Ash of War

Transient Moonlight

​​​​​​​Moonveil isn't just the best katana in the game, it's also one of the best weapons of any type. It scales off of dexterity and intelligence but doesn't require insanely high scores in either. It deals both physical and magic damage making it a versatile weapon for any enemy. Moonveil is also incredibly powerful in PVP thanks to its fast and powerful weapon art.

Moonveil might not get the massive single hits of strength weapons, but its constant barrage of physical damage, blood loss, and magical damage make it one of the best weapons in the game, not just the best dex weapon.

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How To Get Moonveil

To acquire Moonveil, players will need to beat the optional Magma Wyrm boss in Gael Tunnel, which can be entered from the base of the northwest cliffs of Caelid.

elden ring cover
Elden Ring

Platform(s)
PS5 , Xbox One , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC
Released
February 25, 2022
Developer(s)
From Software
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence