Best Weapons in Every Category: Elden Ring PVE Guide
1. Thrusting Shields: Carian Thrusting Shield
There are only two thrusting shields in the game, and I consider the Carian Thrusting Shield the superior option. Though both shields share the same moveset and stance damage, the Carian Thrusting Shield stands out for its higher guard boost and physical damage negation. While it requires 15 Intelligence, this isn’t a significant drawback, as you’ll want to invest a bit into Intelligence for buffs like Scholar's Shield. Stick to standard infusions such as strength or dexterity for this shield to avoid sacrificing its guard boost and damage negation.
Key Advantages:
· Guard Counters: Speccing into guard counters with a thrusting shield build is very effective. The Carian Thrusting Shield's higher guard boost makes it optimal for this.
· Blocking Frames: Light attacks and guard counters with this shield have high stance damage and quick animations, allowing you to attack safely while blocking.
Tip: Avoid using damaging Ashes of War with thrusting shields, as their utility lies in their blocking frames and stance damage rather than raw attack power.
2. Hand-to-Hand Weapons: Dan’s Footwork
The two hand-to-hand weapons are quite similar, but Dan’s Footwork edges out as the better choice. Its lunging light attack offers superior range and stance damage, and its guard counter performs exceptionally well, often hitting multiple times and achieving 53 stance damage—more than any other weapon in the game.
Key Differences:
· Light Attacks: Dan’s Footwork has a better initial light attack compared to its counterpart, making it more reliable in early combos.
· Guard Counter: A potential bug allows Dan’s Footwork's guard counter to hit multiple times, giving it unmatched stance damage.
3. Throwing Blades: Smithed Script Dagger
By default, the Smithed Script Dagger wins this category as the only throwing blade weapon. Unfortunately, it’s far from a stellar option in terms of damage, stance breaking, or infusion flexibility. Even with all the buffs in the game, this weapon fails to perform. Consider other ranged options like bows or crossbows instead.
Build Tip: If you insist on using it, combine the Scattershot Throw Ash of War with a bleed infusion to maximize its meager potential. However, claws will outperform it in every way.
4. Backhand Blades: Regular Backhand Blade
Among the three backhand blades, the Regular Backhand Blade reigns supreme. It has the longest reach, the most damage, and great scaling with every infusion. Swift Slash is an ideal Ash of War for this weapon, offering incredible range and damage potential.
5. Perfume Bottles: Lightning Perfume Bottle
While the Lightning Perfume Bottle is arguably the best option in the perfume category, the entire class struggles in terms of damage output and stance-breaking capability. Still, lightning damage synergizes well with Faith-based builds and buffs, giving this bottle a slight edge over its counterparts.
6. Beast Claws: Red Bear Claws
Beast claws generally underperform compared to regular claws, but the Red Bear Claws stand out due to their unique skill, Red Bear Hunt. This three-hit combo is fast, deals solid damage, and triggers bleed quickly. It may not have the range of other weapons, but it’s a potent option when you find an opening in combat.
7. Light Greatsword: Mady
The Mady is an outstanding light greatsword due to its excellent infusion scaling, making it versatile for various builds. Its move set is quick, has high combo potential, and performs well with multi-hit talismans. It also has access to Wing Stance, an incredible skill for stunlocking enemies with light attacks and dealing substantial stance damage with heavy attacks.
8. Great Katana: Regular Great Katana
The Regular Great Katana is the best in this category because it can be infused and buffed with Bloodflame Blade or paired with an occult infusion. This combination allows for massive bleed buildup while stunning enemies and hitting from a distance. Infusing this weapon with Blood Tax or Repeating Thrust makes it even more devastating.
9. Daggers: Not Recommended
Daggers, while fast, suffer from poor range, low stance damage, and low DPS compared to other weapons like claws or curved swords. They may have niche uses, but overall, they are not recommended as a primary weapon choice in PVE.
Closing Thoughts
While each weapon class has its standout choices, the overall viability of these weapons may change depending on future balance patches. For now, these weapons are the best in their class in terms of PVE performance, considering their utility, damage output, stance damage, and synergy with specific builds and amulets. Finally, when you're ready to take your Elden Ring journey to the next level, look no further than MMOexp—the best place to buy elden ring items. With a wide selection of rare weapons, powerful armor, and invaluable resources, MMOexp ensures you have everything you need to conquer even the toughest foes. Their secure transactions and excellent customer support make it easy to enhance your gameplay without any worries. Don’t just play the game; dominate it with the perfect gear from MMOexp and watch your Elden Ring experience transform! As new updates are released, I’ll begin a full ranked series for each weapon class where we can do detailed comparisons and adjust based on the latest changes. In the meantime, feel free to try these weapons out. Happy hunting, Tarnished!