The Best Weapons For An Arcane Build

Highlights

• Elden Ring sets the bar for future FromSoftware games, providing a punishing Souls-like experience while still appealing to a wider audience.
• Arcane-powered weapons in Elden Ring received a notable buff in the 1.03 update, making them a viable choice for players.
• Some of the best Arcane weapons in Elden Ring include Regalia of Eochaid, Clinging Bone, Albinauric Staff, Ripple Blade, and Ripple Crescent Halberd.

It’s no surprise that Hidetaka Miyazaki’s latest game, Elden Ring, will set the bar for future FromSoftware entries. And that’s because Elden Ring has shown the gaming community that it’s possible to create a punishing Souls-like game while still leaving room for the newer audience to enjoy the game. Moreover, Elden Ring gives players near-limitless choices on how they want to approach Lands Between.

And one playing style players enjoy using to beat the ill-omened creatures of Lands Between is with Arcane-powered weapons. And with the 1.03 update for Elden Ring, Arcane-type weapons received a notable buff. But, with so many to choose from, players would do well in learning which ones stand above the rest.

Updated January 11, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: In Elden Ring Arcane-scaling weapons are relatively rare, and players only have a few options to choose from – especially compared to the wide array of weapons available to Intelligence and Faith users. But despite having fewer options, some of the best weapons in Elden Ring are Arcane-scaling ones, or those that benefit from the typical Arcane playstyle. This guide has been updated to provide some more details about each of these best Arcane weapons Elden Ring players can get, specifically the Ash of War that each weapon comes with. Additionally, look for some more precise tips on how to get each of these Elden Ring Arcane weapons in the first place.

15 Regalia Of Eochaid

Relatively Early Arcane Weapon With A Great Ash of War

Regalia of Eochaid is perfect for players that haven’t been able to obtain Marais Executioner’s Sword since it shares similar attributes and has the same unique skill. But, the real reason why it fits perfectly with an arcane build in Elden Ring is that it primarily scales with Arcane despite having a D grade scaling when not upgraded.

For the best effect, players should only invest enough Dexterity and Strength points to be able to use it effectively and dump the rest into Arcane, as this means other Arcane weapons will be easier to use upon acquisition.

Its weapon skill is Eochaid’s Dancing Blade, which lets players perform the same long-ranged, ethereal weapon attacks that the Bell Bearing Hunters, and Elemer of the Briar, use in battle. It’s not particularly powerful, but can take a PvP opponent off-guard as they try to make some distance to heal.

Regalia Of Eochaid Location

Players can obtain this straight sword after going through the Gaol Cave in Caelid, though it can technically be reached from the Third Church of Marika with some precision. For the rest of us, it’s on top of the cliff just outside the exit to the Gaol Cave in Limgrave.

14 Clinging Bone

The Return Of Lifesteal Fist

Undoubtedly, Fist weapons are among the least used weapons in Elden Ring because most of them are lackluster and perform poorly in PVE and PVP. Fortunately, there’s an exception with the Clinging Bone since it deals a decent amount of damage once a player has 30+ Arcane.

But, of course, nearly every other Arcane weapon has better damage output than this Fist-type weapon, but it is the best Fist weapon for any Arcane builds in Elden Ring.

The Ash of War that comes with Clinging Bone is Lifesteal Fist. A FromSoftware classic, Lifesteal Fist sees the wielder thrust their fist into an enemy and, if they connect with its very small hitbox, steal the life from them. It’s very niche, and hardly ever lands, but it’s hard to deny how cool it looks.

Clinging Bone Location

Players can obtain this weapon by defeating Ensha of the Royal Remains at the Roundtable Hold, who is only able to be harmed when he invades after a Great Rune has been found.

13 Albinauric Staff

A Rare Arcane-Scaling Staff

The Albinauric Staff is the only choice players have if they want to go for an Arcane build in Elden Ring as a magic wielder. And that’s because the Albinauric Staff has an Arcane scaling of C, making it the ideal choice to use with some PvP-oriented spells.

One beneficial part of using this Glintstone Staff is that it comes with no unique skill, which means that players have the freedom to choose among one of the few powerful staff-related Ashes of War in Elden Ring. There aren’t many Ashes of War that can be applied to Staffs, but the ones that can – like the Spinning Weapon – are very useful when backed into a corner.

Albinauric Staff Location

Players can find this staff within the walls of Volcano Manor, but guarding it is the dreaded Omenkiller. Head upstairs from the Guest Hall grace and take a ladder up to the roof. Then, drop onto the ledge below and come prepared for a fight.

12 Ripple Blade

Great Arcane Scaling, But Not Great Reach

Even though the Ripple Blade is technically a common Axe it still deserves a spot among Elden Ring’s best Arcane weapons because of its scaling. Any weapon grease (Poison, Bleed, Rot, or Sleep) will be significantly more powerful when applied to the Ripple Blade because it has an A scaling for Arcane.

Players can easily mow down most enemies with the Ripple Blade coated with grease, making it the perfect alternative to Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear (which involves fighting one of the most challenging bosses in Elden Ring).

The Weapon Skill for the Ripple Blade is Wild Strikes, though it can be replaced with a huge variety of Ashes of War. Wild Strikes is great in the early game, but later on, consider changing this to Lion’s Claw, Storm Stomp, or Sacred Blade.

Ripple Blade Location

The Ripple Blade can be bought from Pidia, Carian Servant, for 3,500 Runes. Pidia can only be found after completing the Carian Manor legacy dungeon, after which players should scan the cliffside by the Manor’s exit for a rooftop they can fall onto.

11 Ripple Crescent Halberd

Low Damage, But Fast Strikes, Mean Fast Buildups

Despite the Ripple Crescent Halberd being the weakest of the bunch (compared to other Halberds), it’s well worth being used by players going for a complete Arcane build. The main reason is that the Ripple Crescent Halberd has an Arcane scaling of B, which means any Status Effects or grease will hit like a truck.

But, of course, that means players will need to keep a steady flow of greases since the Ripple Crescent Halberd without it does pitiful damage. It’s useful for Arcane players, but not very good for others, so make sure to have a backup weapon if Weapon Greases run thin.

The Ripple Crescent Halberd comes with the Spinning Slash Ash of War, a relatively cheap and effective Weapon Skill. It can be replaced, but for the early and mid game, it’s not bad. Consider replacing it with Giant Hunt later on in Elden Ring.

Ripple Crescent Halberd Location

The Ripple Crescent Halberd can be framed from just about any Albinauric that wields one, most prominently around Liurnia. Head to the Academy Gate Town Site of Grace to find a convenient patrol of Albinaurics that spawns nearby. Later in the game, the Palace Approach Ledge-Road can be farmed instead.

10 Reduvia

Early-Game Bleed Dagger

Players who enjoy backstabbing their opponents in Elden Ring, whether in PVP or PVE, will enjoy using the Reduvia as it’s a powerful Arcane-scaling weapon that causes massive Blood Loss Build Up. Moreover, upgraded to +10, the Reduvia will cause a +87 Blood Loss Build Up per hit, which can melt most bosses in seconds.

Despite having limited range (since it’s a dagger), its unique skill Reduvia Blood Blade sends projectiles, causing Hemorrhage.

Reduvia Blood Blade is a unique spell that can’t be replaced, and is a great way to shore up a Arcane user’s weaknesses against ranged players. Just pop one of these off to keep enemies on their toes and maintain Bleed.

Reduvia Location

Obtaining the Reduvia bleed dagger takes some skill as players will need to vanquish the NPC Invader Bloody Finger Nerijus, found in the canyon north of Lake Agheel. If the Tarnished waits a little bit after Nerijus invades, Bloody Finger Hunter Yura will be summoned for assistance.

9 Marais Executioner’s Sword

Essentially, A Better Regalia of Eochaid

Undoubtedly, strength-heavy weapons can deal an insane amount of damage to enemies and bosses, especially if it’s greatswords. So, players who favor strength weapons but want to try an Arcane build will love using Marais Executioner’s Sword.

This Greatsword starts with a 94 Physical Damage and can go as high as 230, which is decent when talking about Greatswords. It lets players cosplay as Elemer of the Briar by mimicking his attack set with its Ash of War, too.

Eochaid’s Dancing Blade is the perfect Weapon Skill to barrage an enemy at close or long distance with ethereal strikes, in a similar way to Eochaid’s Regalia, though it has a much larger hitbox and max damage. The only downside of that Weapon Skill is that it has limited maneuverability, which means players should be careful using it in large groups.

Marais Executioner’s Blade Location

The Marais Executioner’s Blade is acquired after defeating the current occupant of Castle Marais, Elemer of the Briar. Castle Marais, otherwise called The Shaded Castle, is found next to the entrance to Mt Gelmir in the Altus Plateau, where it looks like a verdant green pasture on the map – in typical FromSoftware fashion, it’s poison.

8 Varre’s Bouquet

Not Practical, But Bleeding Beautiful

Even though Varre’s Bouquet has a low base AR (attack rating), its Blood Loss build up scaling makes up for it – plus it’s basically a bouquet of flowers, the perfect accouterment to a romantic cosplay.

Its Ash of War called Blood Tax not only deals a decent amount of damage but also steals HP from the target, which is quite useful during PVP. It works in a Bleed Build, but let’s be honest, players aren’t looking for this weapon for its combat buffs, they just want to own a piece of certified Elden Bling.

Varre’s Bouquet Location

Coming across this Hammer-type weapon is no walk in the park since players will need to complete White-Faced Varré’s questline. This means players will need to use Bloody Fingers to invade other players – or NPCs – and dab a piece of cloth in the blood of a Maiden. Then, in Mohgwyn Palace, his quest can be completed with a duel.

7 Eleonora’s Poleblade

Darth Maul, Eat Your Heart Out

One of the few Twinblade weapons worth investing in any FromSoftware game is Eleonora’s Poleblade, which not only scales with Arcane but also Dexterity. Eleonora’s Poleblade deals a massive amount of Blood Loss build up and deals Fire Damage that can be buffed with other skills.

Poleblades in Elden Ring tend to be extremely powerful if they can cause some kind of status effect buildup. The weapon attacks significantly faster than most other weapon types, which makes this buildup reach its maximum much, much faster too.

Its weapon skill, Bloodblade Dance, performs a flurry of tornado-like attacks that can stagger most enemies and bosses. Its triple-pronged damage types and Status Effects make it a force to be reckoned with, and a great base for a Darth Maul build.

Eleonora’s Poleblade Location

Obtaining Eleonora’s Poleblade isn’t so complicated since players will only need to start (but not finish) Bloody Finger Hunter Yura’s questline. Talk to Yura in Limgrave, then head to the Altus Plateau’s Second Church of Marika to be invaded by Eleonora. She drops her weapon upon defeat.

6 Bloody Helice

Comes With An Improved Dodge & Counter Skill

The Bloody Helice is the ideal poking weapon since it offers quick thrust attacks with a decent attack range. On top of that, as with other Arcane-type weapons, this Heavy Thrusting Sword deals a significant amount of Blood Loss build up at higher levels.

The Bloody Helice comes with the Dynast’s Finesse Ash of War, which functions as something between a dodge and a counter-attack. When activated, Dynast’s Finesse lets players quickly shift away from an attack, then follow it up for one of two unique attacks. A light attack will make the player Lunge towards their target, while a strong attack will Sweep the area immediately around the player. This is super useful in PvP, though can be difficult to master the timings.

Bloody Helice Location

Finding this impressive Arcane weapon won’t be easy as some weapons as players will need to fight a Sanguine Noble plus a whole pack of annoying stray dogs with a high amount of Blood Loss build up. Head to the south of the Writheblood Ruins to find this boss, after which the Bloody Helice can be found in a chest.

5 Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear

Bloodboon Ritual, On Its Own, Is Worth It

Before Elden Ring’s 1.03 patch, players could easily cheese the boss battle of Mohg, Lord of Blood in Mohgwyn Palace, but after, players quickly realized that they’d need to fight him straight on, which isn’t easy.

This Great Spear uses Fire Damage primarily but also deals an insane amount of Blood Loss Build Up (+73) even without using Somber Smithing Stones. Then you add the benefits of its Weapon Skill, and it quickly becomes one of the best Arcane weapons in Elden Ring.

The Bloodboon Ritual Ash of War coats Mohgwyn’s Great Spear with Bloodflame, which makes it deal extra Fire and Blood Loss damage. During the Ritual, the player will emit three waves of immense Blood Loss, just like Mohg does in his fight, though the area of this attack isn’t quite as wide as the boss’.

Moghwyn’s Sacred Spear Location

Players who want to wield the powerful Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear will have to overcome their fear and face the Lord of Blood himself. It will only drop after trading in his Remembrance with Enia at Roundtable Hold. The other option is a cursed blood incantation which, while good, isn’t as cool as a Trident that pierces the Formless Mother’s belly to inflict bleed.

4 Morgott’s Cursed Sword

Pre-Best-In-Slot Bleed Katana

One of the lightest Curved Greatswords in Elden Ring, Morgott’s Cursed Sword is a worthy weapon to use in PvP and PvE alike. Morgott’s Cursed Sword deals Bleed build up innately, which is amplified by its Cursed-Blood Slice. It’s useful, though much better when fully upgraded or part of a dual-wielding build with another Bleed weapon.

Its Ash of War, Cursed-Blood Slice, is one of the most impactful in the game, though it has been nerfed a little bit since the game launched. Like Morgott does in his boss fight, Cursed-Blood Slice sees you leap forward, slash in a wide area for Fire damage (and Bleed buildup), and potentially follow up for a second attack in the perpendicular direction. Both slices are slightly diagonal, increasing the chance for enemies to be hit.

Morgott’s Cursed Sword Location

Players can acquire this Arcane-type weapon after receiving Remembrance of the Omen King after defeating Morgott, the Omen King. But, they’ll need to choose between Morgott’s Cursed Sword or Regal Omen Bairn, or they can duplicate the remembrance and get both.

3 Serpent Bow

Extra Poison Damage, And Arcane Scaling, Is A Deadly Combo

Sadly, there are a very limited number of Arcane bows in Elden Ring, but the Serpent Bow makes up for that since it has a unique ability that causes arrows to deal Poison build up. Moreover, using Bloodbone Arrows with the Serpent Bow will make the weapon cause Blood Loss and Poison build up.

It’s worth noting that the Arcane scaling doesn’t influence the amount of Status Effect build up is not affected by Arcane scaling, just its damage. Of all the bows to add to an Arcane build Elden Ring offers its players, the Serpent Bow is the only one that relies on the stat at all, though.

In addition to its unique ability to inflict extra Poison damage, the Serpent Bow comes with the Mighty Shot Ash of War. This Weapon Skill lets its wielder spend a few more seconds to set up an incredibly powerful single shot – change this to Barrage to increase the Poison buildup of the bow, as Mighty Shot will inflict Poison once, while Barrage does it several times.

Serpent Bow Location

Obtaining the bow requires players to venture into Dragonbarrow, where they’ll find an Abandoned Cave (one of many hidden locations in Elden Ring). To make matters worse, within the cave are pools of Scarlet Rot, so players should only enter when they have the consumables or incantations to dispel it, like Flame, Cleanse Me.

2 Dragon Communion Seal

The Only Arcane-Scaling Seal

The must-have Seal for a Faith and Arcane build, the Dragon Communion Seal, will make any Dragon Communion Incantations deal even more damage to enemies and players. For example, Incantations like Rotten Breath (causes Scarlet Rot) or Borealis’s Mist (causes Ice damage) do a lot more damage while using the Dragon Communion Seal.

It’s the only Seal that scales with Arcane, and it just so happens to work well with some of the best Arcane-oriented incantations and spells. Just don’t expect it to be an easy thing to find.

Dragon Communion Seal Location

To get the Dragon Communion Seal, players must use two Stonesword Keys at the Fringefolk Hero’s Grave at the beginning of the game. This area is quite challenging, so players should learn some useful tricks before being crushed by the annoying Chariots. This Seal is being guarded by a Banished Knight at the end of a tunnel.

1 Rivers Of Blood

“You Are Already Dead”

Undoubtedly, the best Arcane weapon for PvE and PvP is the Rivers of Blood Katana. It’s fast, it deals a lot of damage, it pairs extremely well with other Bleed katanas (when in the main hand), and its Ash of War is one of the most overpowered in the game – even after several nerfs.

Since it’s a Katana, every attack can be performed in quick succession, leaving very little time for enemies or players to react. It’s been nerfed a little bit, but it still reigns supreme amongst the other best Arcane Elden Ring weapons.

One of the reasons why most players favor this weapon is because of its powerful Weapon Skill: Corpse Piler. This skill creates large streaks of blood that cause significant damage to enemies and players from far away while dealing huge Blood Loss build up. It takes up a lot of space but can be avoided, especially if the player decides to perform the follow-up attack on a target that’s already dodged out of the way. Be sure to corner targets to virtually guarantee their death.

Rivers of Blood Location

Rivers of Blood drops from Bloody Finger Okina, who helped the Tarnished beat Radahn earlier in the game. Players that want to use this weapon will need to get it before reaching the Forge of the Giants and defeating the Fire Giant, at the Church of Repose on the way to the boss area.