The Top 10 Intelligence Weapons in Elden Ring
In this guide, we'll go over each weapon, discussing its strengths, weaknesses, and why it deserves to be on this list. For ease of understanding, all gameplay footage in this list was recorded in New Game Plus 7, so if you're still early in your journey, you may see lower damage numbers.
10: Starline Sword
Best for: Fun, versatile katana playstyle with Intelligence scaling and bleed buildup.
Starting off our list, we have the Starline Sword, a unique Katana introduced in the DLC. The weapon shines due to its Intelligence scaling and the powerful Ash of War known as Omen’s Line of Stars. This ability unleashes a flurry of quick slashes while propelling you forward, making it both fun and visually stunning.
However, while the sword boasts fantastic bleed buildup and fast attacks, it struggles against tankier enemies due to a lack of stance damage and Poise. You’re vulnerable during the Ash of War animation, and getting hit will break your stance, leaving you open for a counter. Still, the combination of magic and bleeding effects gives it a lot of potential for agile combat.
9: Royal Greatsword
Best for: Colossal damage and AOE Frost buildup.
The Royal Greatsword stands out in the Elden Ring roster as one of the best colossal weapons for Intelligence users. With its Wol Assault Ash of War, this weapon launches a powerful forward charge, followed by an explosion of frost damage in a large area. This makes it effective for clearing groups of enemies while also building frostbite and dealing hefty damage.
While its stance-breaking capabilities are immense, the lack of speed makes it less effective against nimble enemies. But if you love big hits and frost damage, this weapon packs a punch.
8: Death Ritual Spear
Best for: Ranged, AoE damage with great pierce scaling.
The Death Ritual Spear is an incredibly underrated weapon. Its Ash of War, Spear Ritual, rains down multiple spears on your enemies, similar to the Ancient Dragon Lightning Strike. The randomness of the spear placement makes it a bit tricky, but if it hits, the damage can be significant. Not to mention, you get a higher critical multiplier, making it great for both PvP and PvE.
When up close, you can still rely on the spear’s piercing damage and use it effectively for quick attacks. It won’t deal as much raw damage as the Royal Greatsword, but the ability to hit multiple targets and inflict frostbite on your enemies gives it solid versatility.
7: Carrion Knight's Sword
Best for: High-damage chargeable Ash of War and great pierce scaling.
The Carrion Knight’s Sword has an iconic Ash of War: the Carrion Grand Slam, which delivers massive damage with a chargeable move. This ability, when fully charged, can do 4,000-5,000 damage in New Game Plus 7, and also applies some stance damage to break enemies' defenses.
The downside is the vulnerability when charging up the move, as there’s no hyper armor to protect you. Still, this sword is highly effective for Intelligence builds, especially with its piercing damage and ability to break enemy stances.
6: Glenstone Kris
Best for: Quick, low-cost magic attacks with high surprise potential.
At #6, we have the Glenstone Kris. While this is technically a dagger, it’s an excellent choice for an Intelligence-based build, especially for PvP players. The weapon’s Ash of War, Glenstone Dart, launches a quick, high-damage magic projectile that can catch opponents off-guard.
In addition to the fast, low-cost attacks, it also has an effective thrusting follow-up, making it a great option for closing gaps. The low FP cost and the ability to chain attacks quickly make this a very potent weapon in both PvE and PvP, even in later New Game Plus cycles.
5: Clayman’s Harpoon
Best for: Frostbite buildup at range with piercing damage.
The Clayman’s Harpoon is another great weapon in our list, primarily due to its Ice Spear Ash of War. When you use the Ice Spear, it hits twice—once with the wind-up and once with the projectile. This allows you to freeze enemies from a distance and follow up with heavy damage, especially when combining it with frostbite buildup.
The range of the attack makes this an excellent choice for hit-and-run tactics, and the pierce damage is always a reliable option when up close. While there are other weapons that do more damage in terms of raw output, the frostbite buildup and its range make it a top-tier choice.
4: Moonveil
Best for: Bleed and magic damage with insane versatility.
The Moonveil is the weapon that needs no introduction. Its Ash of War, Transient Moonlight, fires a projectile of magic energy, dealing immense damage. Additionally, like the Starline Sword, the Moonveil has bleed buildup, meaning it can also deal significant bleed damage on top of its magical output.
The speed and reach of this Katana make it incredibly effective for both PvE and PvP, and when combined with buffs, the damage output is absurd. It’s one of the most consistent Intelligence weapons in the game, but as you progress into New Game Plus cycles, the lack of stance-breaking power starts to show.
3: Death’s Poker
Best for: Ghost Flame damage and frostbite effect.
Death’s Poker is a great sword that offers much more than just a traditional swing. Its Ghost Flame Ignition Ash of War creates a projectile that can deal massive frost damage and damage over time. The light attack version of the move leaves a trail of ghost flame, which can cause tremendous damage, especially when multiple trails hit the same enemy.
The weapon’s frostbite buildup is excellent, but its main selling point is the insane damage that the Ghost Flame move deals. Unfortunately, it’s not always reliable against agile enemies, but in terms of raw damage potential, it’s hard to beat.
2: Dark Moon Greatsword
Best for: Magic and frost synergy with stance-breaking power.
The Dark Moon Greatsword is the perfect example of a weapon that mixes raw damage with magic effects. Its Moonlight Greatsword Ash of War coats the blade with frost and magic, transforming its charged heavy attacks into projectiles. This weapon still deals an absurd amount of damage, even after its nerf, and provides frostbite buildup on top of that.
This weapon’s stance-breaking power and frost proc make it one of the best Intelligence weapons in the game, and it can be buffed further for even more damage. While Death’s Poker might deal more total damage, the Dark Moon Greatsword is more consistent, which is why it’s ranked #2.
1: Wing of Astell
Best for: Fast, flexible damage and stance-breaking with nebula magic.
Taking the top spot is the Wing of Astell. This weapon excels due to its Nebula Ash of War, which creates a massive, damaging cloud of magic that can break enemy stances and deal substantial damage. Additionally, the weapon has a quick move set thanks to its curved sword design, making it perfect for DPS builds and rapid attacks.
What sets this weapon apart is its versatility: it combines the best aspects of other Intelligence weapons—such as charged magic projectiles, stance-breaking power, and frostbite effects—into one incredibly nimble package. The low weight and efficient FP cost make it perfect for sustained combat, and it’s very easy to buff for crazy damage.
Conclusion
These are my top 10 intelligence weapons in Elden Ring, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Depending on your play style and the type of build you prefer, any of these weapons can be the cornerstone of your intelligence-based arsenal. Whether you prefer ranged frost spells, a bleed-heavy katana build, or a powerful greatsword, there's a weapon for everyone on this list. Finally, if you're looking to enhance your experience even further, consider checking out MMOexp for Elden Ring Items for sale. Whether you're after rare crafting materials, upgraded armor sets, or specific weapons to complement your Intelligence build, MMOexp offers a wide range of Elden Ring items to suit every need. If you haven't tried these weapons yet, I highly recommend you give them a try.