Elden Ring: The Best Early Game Weapons
This guide highlights the best early game weapons you can find, how to get them, and how they can help you build momentum in your journey through the Lands Between.
Why Early Game Weapons Matter
In the opening hours of Elden Ring, you're often under-leveled and poorly equipped to deal with the threats that lie ahead. A good early game weapon offers a combination of decent damage, scaling, and utility, allowing you to handle tough enemies and bosses while farming Elden Ring Runes more efficiently. Additionally, these weapons often serve as stepping stones until you can upgrade to more powerful mid-to-late game gear.
Top Early Game Weapons in Elden Ring
1. Uchigatana
Type: Katana
Location: Starting weapon for the Samurai class or found in Deathtouched Catacombs (Stormhill).
Why It's Great:
The Uchigatana is a versatile weapon with excellent bleed buildup, making it one of the best choices for early-game PvE. Its fast attack speed and decent range allow you to deal consistent damage while applying bleed status to tougher enemies.
Pair With: Early infusion Ashes of War like Blood Slash to increase bleed damage.
2. Twinblade
Type: Twinblade
Location: Dragon-Burnt Ruins (near the starting area in Limgrave).
Why It's Great:
The Twinblade's quick combo attacks are perfect for clearing groups of enemies and racking up damage on single targets. Its scalability with strength and dexterity makes it a good choice for hybrid builds.
Tips for Use: Pair with early enhancements like Smithing Stones to boost damage output.
3. Morning Star
Type: Hammer
Location: Found in a chest at the Weeping Peninsula, near the Bridge of Sacrifice.
Why It's Great:
The Morning Star is ideal for dealing with early-game enemies vulnerable to strike damage, and its innate bleed effect makes it deadly against larger foes and bosses. It's a solid choice for strength-based builds.
4. Claymore
Type: Greatsword
Location: Castle Morne (Weeping Peninsula).
Why It's Great:
The Claymore's wide swings and high base damage make it a fantastic choice for crowd control and burst damage. It scales well with strength and dexterity, offering versatility in build paths.
Pair With: Heavy Ashes of War for strength scaling or Keen infusions for dexterity builds.
5. Flail
Type: Flail
Location: Found in a chest on the cart in the Gatefront Ruins.
Why It's Great:
This weapon deals strike damage and has bleed buildup, making it a good counter against shielded foes and early-game bosses. It's also easy to find right after starting the game.
How Early Weapons Help You Farm Elden Ring Runes
A strong weapon in the early game doesn't just help you survive—it also boosts your efficiency in farming Elden Ring Runes, the game's primary currency for leveling up and upgrading equipment. Here's how:
Increased DPS: With higher damage output, you can defeat enemies faster, maximizing rune farming efficiency.
Status Effects: Bleed-inducing weapons like the Uchigatana or Morning Star cause percentage-based damage, allowing you to tackle high-health enemies earlier than usual.
Mob Clearing: Weapons like the Twinblade and Claymore excel at clearing groups of enemies, speeding up rune accumulation in enemy-dense areas.
Essential Elden Ring Items to Pair with Early Game Weapons
Equipping a great weapon is only half the battle—utilizing Elden Ring Items can significantly enhance your performance. Here are key items to look for:
1. Smithing Stones
Purpose: Used to upgrade your weapons and increase their base damage.
Where to Find:
Limgrave Tunnels is one of the best early-game spots for farming Smithing Stones.
Purchase from Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold after acquiring the Smithing-Stone Miner's Bell.
2. Golden Runes
Purpose: Provide a quick boost of Elden Ring Runes when consumed.
Where to Find: Scattered throughout the open world, particularly around ruins and graveyards.
3. Whetstones
Purpose: Allow you to apply infusions to your weapons.
Where to Find: A Whetstone Knife can be found at Gatefront Ruins, enabling you to customize weapons with Ashes of War.
4. Flask Upgrades (Golden Seeds and Sacred Tears)
Purpose: Increase your healing efficiency during tough encounters.
Where to Find:
Golden Seeds are often found at glowing tree saplings.
Sacred Tears are located in churches scattered across Limgrave and the Weeping Peninsula.
Tips for Mastering Early Game Combat
Focus on Upgrades: A fully upgraded early-game weapon can outperform mid-game weapons that haven't been enhanced. Prioritize collecting Smithing Stones to keep your weapon damage competitive.
Farm in Efficient Areas: Limgrave has plenty of rune farming spots. For example, the Troll near the Gatefront Ruins drops a good amount of runes and can be taken down quickly with bleed weapons.
Experiment with Ashes of War: The Ashes of War system allows you to customize weapon skills. For example, try equipping Quickstep on the Uchigatana for added mobility or Flame of the Redmanes for crowd control.
Balance Your Stats: Allocate your early runes wisely to ensure your strength, dexterity, and endurance align with your weapon's requirements.
Final Thoughts
The early game in Elden Ring can be challenging, but with the right weapons and Elden Ring Items, you'll find yourself equipped to handle anything the Lands Between throws your way. Prioritize versatile weapons like the Uchigatana, Twinblade, or Claymore, and don't forget to farm Elden Ring Runes to upgrade your gear and stats.
As you progress, remember that even the most humble early-game weapon can remain viable if properly upgraded and paired with the right items. So choose your weapon wisely, explore every corner of the map, and dominate the early stages of your journey in Elden Ring!