There's no shortage of tools and items in Elden Ring that give the players an advantage or make their lives easier. There are even instances when certain weapons are game-changing that players tend to treat them like the holy grail, dedicating all upgrade resources to them because they're the most effective tactic available.
However, for some powerful or useful weapons, this kind of worship is unnecessary. Certain weapons in Elden Ring can do well without upgrades given how readily effective or viable they are against the game's many challenges. Players might want to conserve their Smithing Stones by letting these weapons stay as they are because they're useful regardless.
8 Serpent-Hunter
- Location: Rykard Boss Arena in Volcano Manor
- Main Purpose: For killing the Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy & other Volcano Manor serpent enemies
The Serpent-Hunter might initially look like a weapon that spits in the face of build diversity but it doesn't. While it's the primary preferred tool for killing Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy in both phases, the Serpent-Hunter doesn't require any stat investment at all.
It has no stat requirement, meaning just about anyone can use it. Granted, it only scales with Strength, but that doesn't matter since the weapon skill does significant damage to Rykard regardless of the weapon's upgrade state. Rykard will get staggered by its attacks even if the weapon isn't upgraded.
7 Commander's Standard
- Location: Commander O'Neil in the Swamp of Aeonia in Caelid
- Main Purpose: A stronger but shorter version of Golden Vow
Commander's Standard is Commander O'Neil's weapon and players can immediately obtain it upon killing him. That's good because this weapon is similar to the Golden Halberd dropped by the Tree Sentinel. It's mostly useful for its weapon skill called Rallying Standard. This gives a 20 percent damage and defense buff for 30 seconds.
It's thus a stronger version of the Golden Vow skill. The two skills do not stack, however, so it's better to pick one over the other. In any case, the buff's strength remains the same even if the weapon is at +0 or un-upgraded. The only investment needed here is 24 Strength and 14 Dexterity required by the weapon.
6 Morning Star
- Location: Broken caravan on the main road of Weeping Peninsula
- Main Purpose: Early source of Bleed for farming Greyoll
One of the earliest boosts that players can give themselves is by killing a stationary dragon named Greyoll Northeast of Caelid just outside Fort Faroth. Players can do this as soon as they're chucked out of the cave into Limgrave. However, Greyoll has too much HP for low-level characters.
This is where a Bleed weapon shines because the Hemmorhage procs deal percentage-based HP damage. Those who don't have the Uchigatana (or didn't start as a Samurai) can obtain the Morning Star instead. It's more accessible, has lower requirements, and has higher Bleed build-up.
5 Parrying Dagger
- Location: Patches in Murkwater Cave after sparing him
- Main Purpose: Early source of Parrying
Parrying is one of the most convenient ways to kill an enemy, but it does require practice. Players can thankfully practice early on by acquiring the Parrying Dagger. The Bandit class does get the Buckler but for those that start out as another class, then the Parrying Dagger is nearby.
Players also won't need to upgrade it since the upgrades won't change the efficiency of parries. Those that might want to perform critical hits with it might be tempted, but its Crit stat is only 110 which isn't much higher compared to most weapons at 100.
4 Spiked Palisade
- Location: Under a Golem west of Deep Siofra Well site in Caelid
- Main Purpose: Blocking physical damage and dealing Bleed
The Spiked Palisade is a special one. While it's mostly a defensive tool, it can be weaponized thanks to its frontal spikes. The shield has an innate bleed buildup which is also quite high when compared to weapons like the Uchigatana.
Players can use it to perform a Shield Bash and after enough hits, it will cause massive Bleed damage regardless of the weapon's upgrade state. Enemies can even be staggered using the Shield Bash and the weapon skill can also be changed. The shield can also change its prefix to have more Bleed or deal Frostbite or even Poison.
3 Beast-Repellent Torch
- Location: Isolated Merchant in Dragonbarrow, Caelid
- Main Purpose: Scaring away animal enemies
The Beast-Repellent Torch does what it says with no nonsense or additional hoops. It's an affordable torch sold by one of the misplaced merchants in Caelid and players can wield it either in the main hand or off-hand to scare away animal enemies.
These animals are:
- Dogs
- Wolves
- Rats
- Basilisks
- Snails
- Small bears
Seeing as how most of those enemies are annoying and can stunlock players if there are too many of them, then this torch is a literal life-saver. Of course, there's also no need to upgrade it as it only sees good use outside of combat.
2 Sentry's Torch
- Location: Hermit Merchant in Hermit Merchant's Shack, Altus Plateau
- Main Purpose: Revealing invisible enemies
The Sentry's Torch appears limited in its use as the item description merely states that it lets players see assassins who have cloaked themselves. Those would be the Black Knife Assassins who can turn invisible. There are only a few of them and the only dangerous ones are in the Consecrated Snowfields.
Still, the torch's "true sight" ability extends to multiplayer. Players can wield it in their off-hand to reveal enemies who have used concealment spells or items. This is incredibly useful for cracking down on mischievous invaders. The best part is that it still works even when holstered and still works if players don't meet the stat requirements.
1 St. Trina's Torch
- Location: Southeast of Consecrated Snowfield in a caravan
- Main Purpose: Inflicting Sleep
Sleep is one of the most underrated tactics in Elden Ring. It opens up enemies and bosses to critical attacks, and they take increased damage while asleep. Only a few weapons or spells can inflict Sleep. The first one is St. Trina's sword which is worth upgrading, the other one is the auxiliary St. Trina's Torch.
It has a higher Sleep buildup than St. Trina's sword and has a weapon skill that spreads a Sleep mist. It works well with the sword for faster Sleep procs. Again, the Sleep buildup remains the same regardless of the weapon's upgrade state so that's a lot of saved Somber Smithing Stones.
Elden Ring is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Microsoft Windows.