Alright, fellow Tarnished, let’s cut to the chase: The best mid-game weapon in Elden Ring is highly subjective and depends on your build, playstyle, and preference. However, if I were to pick one that provides excellent versatility and power across various builds and scenarios, it would be the Bloodhound’s Fang. This curved greatsword is accessible relatively early, boasts impressive damage output (especially with its bleed effect), and has a unique weapon skill that makes it incredibly effective against a wide range of enemies and bosses. It’s a fantastic choice that will carry you far into the late game. Let’s delve deeper into why this choice reigns supreme and explore other contenders worthy of consideration.
Why Bloodhound’s Fang Excels in the Mid-Game
The Bloodhound’s Fang stands out for several reasons, making it a top-tier choice for the mid-game:
Early Accessibility: You can acquire the Bloodhound’s Fang relatively early by defeating Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol, located in Limgrave. This means you don’t have to grind through difficult areas or beat challenging bosses to get your hands on a powerful weapon.
Excellent Damage: Its physical damage is already impressive, but the added bleed buildup on each hit significantly increases its damage potential. Many bosses and tough enemies in the mid-game are susceptible to bleed, allowing you to quickly melt their health bars. Remember the articles mentions the Bloodhound’s Fang can cause bleeding.
Unique Weapon Skill (Bloodhound’s Finesse): This skill allows you to perform a quick evasive maneuver followed by a powerful follow-up attack. It’s fantastic for creating distance, dodging incoming attacks, and punishing openings.
Scales Well: The Bloodhound’s Fang scales with both Strength and Dexterity, making it suitable for various builds.
Reliability: Worth noting that while this weapon can be upgraded with smithing stones, it can’t use any Ashes of War.
Other Strong Mid-Game Weapon Contenders
While the Bloodhound’s Fang is a strong all-around choice, other weapons can shine depending on your specific build and playstyle:
Rivers of Blood: This katana is a popular choice for a reason. Its weapon skill, Corpse Piler, unleashes a flurry of attacks that deal massive bleed damage. However, it’s acquired later in the mid-game and requires investment in Arcane, limiting its accessibility for some builds. Rivers Of Blood, another strong contender. This is also a good weapon to fight dragons.
Moonveil Katana: Another excellent katana option, the Moonveil scales with Intelligence and Faith and deals magic damage in addition to physical. Its weapon skill, Transient Moonlight, fires powerful magic projectiles. You will have to defeat Glintstone Dragon Adula to get this weapon.
Magma Blade: If you are focused on Incantations, the Magma Blade is one of Elden Ring’s best swords period, curved or not. It deals heavy damage to begin with, and its unique skill slashes while spewing magma, which is enough to even make short work of bosses.
Grafted Dragon: If you like the Dragon style, the Grafted Dragon is a Melee Armament in Elden Ring. It is the dragon head that Godrick the Grafted uses in the Stormveil Castle boss fight. The Melee Armament itself is a scaled-down version to fit the player’s hand.
Troll Knight’s Sword: This colossal sword provides incredible stagger potential and raw physical damage.
Twinblade: If you like something faster, this weapon scales with Dexterity.
Fine-Tuning Your Weapon Choice
Ultimately, the best mid-game weapon for you depends on how you enjoy playing Elden Ring. Experiment with different options, upgrade them, and see what feels most comfortable and effective against the challenges you face.
Elden Ring Weapon FAQs: Level Up Your Knowledge
1. What makes a weapon “good” in Elden Ring?
A “good” weapon depends on several factors: damage output, scaling with your stats, weapon skill utility, moveset, and your personal preference. A weapon that excels in all these areas will be considered top-tier.
2. How important are weapon upgrades in Elden Ring?
Weapon upgrades are crucial. Upgrading your weapon with smithing stones significantly increases its damage output and scaling, making you much more effective in combat. Don’t neglect your upgrades!
3. What are Ashes of War, and how do they affect weapon choice?
Ashes of War are special items that can be applied to weapons to change their weapon skill and/or modify their scaling. They allow you to customize your weapon to better suit your build and playstyle. They add another layer of customization to your character.
4. Are there any early-game weapons that remain viable in the mid-game?
Yes! Weapons like the Uchigatana (a good weapon to defeat dragons), Bloodhound’s Fang, and Lordsworn’s Straight Sword can remain viable with proper upgrades and build optimization.
5. What is the best damage type in Elden Ring?
Magic damage is widely considered to be the best overall damage type due to its effectiveness against a wide range of enemies. However, understanding enemy weaknesses is key. Remember to have a secondary weapon handy if your main attack is not effective against your opponent.
6. What weapon does the least damage in Elden Ring?
According to the information provided Bare Fists deals the least damage in Elden Ring.
7. What is the easiest boss in Elden Ring?
The easiest boss in Elden Ring is The Soldier of Godrick.
8. Where can I find more information about Elden Ring’s lore?
Websites like the GB Times or gbtimes.com offer in-depth articles and analyses of Elden Ring’s lore. Additionally, the Elden Ring wikis and fan forums are great sources of information.
9. How do I know if a weapon scales well with my stats?
Look at the weapon’s scaling grades, which are represented by letters (S, A, B, C, D, E). S is the best scaling, while E is the worst. The higher the grade, the more damage the weapon will gain from that stat.
10. Is dual-wielding weapons a viable strategy in Elden Ring?
Yes, dual-wielding can be very powerful, especially with weapons that have good status effect buildup (like bleed or frostbite). Powerstancing two of the same weapon type grants a unique moveset with increased damage output.
11. Which stats are most important for increasing weapon damage?
The most important stats depend on the weapon’s scaling. Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane can all increase weapon damage, depending on the weapon’s scaling grades.
12. How do I respec my character in Elden Ring?
You can respec your character by using a Larval Tear at Raya Lucarian Academy after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon.
Conclusion
Choosing the best mid-game weapon in Elden Ring is a journey of discovery and experimentation. While the Bloodhound’s Fang provides a solid foundation for many builds, explore other options and find what works best for you. Remember to upgrade your weapons, experiment with Ashes of War, and fine-tune your build to maximize your effectiveness. Good luck, Tarnished, and may your journey to become Elden Lord be filled with epic battles and glorious victories!
