In this Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree guide, I’ll walk you through 19 weapons you can acquire without defeating a single boss. These weapons are available very early in the game, making them perfect for anyone looking for new gear to use in the DLC. Whether you’ve just created a low-level character and are sneaking into the DLC to snag some weapons for the base game, or simply want to try out new equipment, this guide will show you how to get these weapons, along with their movesets, weapon skills, and scaling.

19 New Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Weapons You Can Easily Get

The order of these weapons follows how they appear in my inventory, rather than any specific sequence. Remember, all these weapons are obtainable without defeating a single boss. While there are some bosses you can reach quickly in the game, you don’t need to defeat any of them to acquire these weapons.

Smithscript Dagger

• Weapon Type: Throwing Blade
• Location: Ruined Forge Lava Intake
• Weapon Skill: Piercing Throw
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 5, DEX 11, INT 11, FTH 11

The first weapon is the Smithscript Dagger, a new weapon type in Elden Ring. It’s a throwing blade, designed to be hurled at enemies. You can find it at the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, located just southeast of Castle Ensis. Simply ride in that direction for about a minute, and you’ll come across it inside the forge. No boss fight is required to obtain this weapon. Its weapon skill, Piercing Throw, allows you to throw it farther and pierce through enemies. This dagger has unusual requirements, needing Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith to wield.

Milady

• Weapon Type: Light Greatsword
• Location: Castle Ensis
• Weapon Skill: Impaling Thrust
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 12, DEX 17

The next weapon is Milady, a new Greatsword type. This weapon was showcased extensively during preview events, and players love its move set, which allows for quick, fluid swings in rapid succession, resembling a dancer’s movements. You can find Milady just inside Castle Ensis. It takes about 30 seconds to a minute to reach it; climb a tower by ladder, and you’ll find it guarded by a couple of enemies, but no bosses. It’s very quick to acquire, taking only a few minutes. Its weapon skill, Impaling Thrust, should be familiar if you’ve played the base game, but you can infuse it to change this skill if desired. I featured this weapon in my Dark Paladin build, so check out that video to learn how to maximize its potential.

Moonrithyll’s Knight Sword

• Weapon Type: Colossal Sword
• Location: Castle Ensis
• Weapon Skill: Tremendous Phalanx
• Damage Type: Physical & Magic
• Infusable: No
• Requirements: STR 20, DEX 14, INT 18

The next weapon is Moonrithyll’s Knight Sword, a colossal sword. You can find several colossal swords early on, and this one is also located in Castle Ensis. To obtain it, you must defeat Moonrithyll, a hostile NPC in the castle. This weapon deals both physical and magic damage and has the weapon skill Tremendous Phalanx, which resembles Glintblade Phalanx but with larger swords, potentially dealing more damage. I haven’t tested it thoroughly yet, but it requires Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence to wield. If you enjoy the Glintblade Phalanx playstyle and want to use a colossal weapon, this could be an intriguing option for you.

Horned Warrior’s Sword

• Weapon Type: Curved Sword
• Location: Drops from Horned Warriors found in Belurat Tower Settlement
• Weapon Skill: Horn Calling: Storm
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: No
• Requirements: STR 11, DEX 14

The next weapon is the Horned Warrior’s Sword. This is a curved sword that drops from Horned Warriors wielding them. You can find two of these in the Belurat Tower Settlement. What’s really cool about these curved swords is that they’re paired, so you only need to equip one to use both. The moveset is absolutely fantastic. Its weapon skill, Horn Calling, shoots out an AoE at a distant location and hits enemies in that area, which is really nice. This weapon can take a little time to farm, but there is a site of grace right next to one of these enemies, making it relatively easy to obtain.

Backhand Blade

• Weapon Type: Backhand Blade
• Location: Gravesite Plains
• Weapon Skill: Blind Spot
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 10, DEX 13

Next, we have the Backhand Blade. This is actually one of the new weapon types as well, which is Backhand Blade. It’s the namesake of the weapon. You can find this in the Gravesite Plains very early on in the game. You can literally just ride over to this weapon on your horse and pick it up within 30 seconds. So, if you want to do a Backhand Blade build, you could grab this really quickly. Its weapon skill, Blind Spot, dashes forward and hits behind you with the sword, which makes me think that it might do backstab damage or extra damage. The Backhand Blade is a weapon that, instead of being two-handed, allows you to use two at the same time, giving you a much faster moveset akin to Curved Swords but with different attack animations. It attacks very rapidly, and I imagine these would be a good weapon type for status effects.

Curseblade’s Cirque

• Weapon Type: Backhand Blade
• Location: Drops From Curseblades in Belurat, Tower Settlement
• Weapon Skill: Deadly Dance
• Damage Type: Physical
• Auxiliary: 45 Blood Loss Build Up
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 9, DEX 22

The Curseblade’s Cirque is obtainable right from the start. You’ll find a Curseblade enemy atop pillars just 10 seconds away as you enter the DLC. Defeating this enemy gives a chance to drop this weapon, though it’s rare—I spent about 40 minutes farming it with high arcane. Despite potentially taking longer to acquire than other weapons, it doesn’t require defeating a boss. What sets it apart is its native blood loss buildup, making it a solid choice for bleed builds. Its weapon skill, Deadly Dance, strikes rapidly and finishes with a downward kick, mirroring the enemy’s moves.

Great Katana

• Weapon Type: Great Katana
• Location: Gravesite Plains
• Weapon Skill: Overhead Stance
• Damage Type: Physical
• Auxiliary: 55 Blood Loss Build Up
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 14, DEX 18

Next, we have the Great Katana. This is a new weapon type introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree. It’s located just a minute’s ride away, next to a Sleeping Dragon. Simply pick it up without needing to defeat any enemies. I’ve developed the Savage Slasher build around it, showcased in my video. What stands out about this weapon is its enhanced stance damage compared to regular Katanas, along with its impressive range. The Overhead Slash move is reminiscent of Ichimonji from Sekiro—it delivers a chop with a light attack and three chops with a heavy attack while in the overhead stance. Additionally, like other Katana-type weapons, it features native bloodlust buildup.

Messmer Soldier’s Axe

• Weapon Type: Axe
• Location: Drops from Messmer Soldiers that wield it
• Weapon Skill: War Cry
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 14, DEX 10

Next, let’s talk about the Messmer Soldier’s Axe. This axe is dropped by Messmer Soldiers who wield it, known for their devastating attacks that can easily catch players off guard early in the game. One of its notable features is a unique Charged R2 follow-up. Executing Charged R2 twice performs a sweeping motion upwards and then downwards, mimicking the enemies’ own formidable strikes. Interestingly, this axe also comes equipped with Warcry, which can potentially override its distinctive R2 move. Consider infusing it with a different Ash of War to avoid this problem.

Bloodfiend’s Arm

• Weapon Type: Colossal Weapon
• Location: Drops from Bloodfiend’s who wield it
• Weapon Skill: Endure
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 28, DEX 11, ARC 16

Next up is the Bloodfiend’s Arm, a colossal weapon obtained from Bloodfiends who surprisingly wield it. Interestingly, I’ve found this weapon frequently in Prospect Town, suggesting a specific Bloodfiend there may drop it frequently. Alternatively, you can farm Bloodfiends known to wield it elsewhere. Its weapon skill is Endure, but what makes this weapon truly intriguing is its heavy attack. This attack slams the weapon into the ground, creating a splatter of blood. Additionally, the weapon boasts native arcane scaling, enhancing the effects of arcane-enhancing items like blood grease, poison grease, or soporific grease. This unique property makes it a versatile choice for strategic builds in Elden Ring.

Anvil Hammer

• Weapon Type: Colossal Weapon
• Location: Ruined Forge Lava Intake
• Weapon Skill: Smithing Art Spears
• Damage Type: Physical & Fire
• Infusable: No
• Requirements: STR 39, DEX 10, INT 11, FTH 20

Next up is the Anvil Hammer, another colossal weapon you can find in the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, just like the Smithscript Dagger. This weapon has many requirements: 39 strength, 10 DEX, 11 INT, and 20 Faith, making it quite the investment. It deals both physical and fire damage. Its unique weapon skill, Smithing Art Spears, unleashes spikes around you upon activation. You can obtain this powerful hammer in the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, not far southeast from Castle Ensis.

Swift Spear

• Weapon Type: Spear
• Location: On the road southeast of Castle Ensis
• Weapon Skill: Impaling Thrust
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: 10 STR, 26 DEX

Next up is the Swift Spear, a spear-type weapon found just southeast of Castle Ensis, guarded by a few enemies along the road. You can grab it from an enemy corpse, and its special move is the impaling thrust. What’s really cool about this weapon is how fast its R1 combo is—it’s seriously quick. If you’re into rapid-fire attacks, this could be a top pick for you.

Bloodfiend’s Fork

• Weapon Type: Spear
• Location: Drops from Bloodfiends who wield it
• Weapon Skill: Barbaric Roar
• Damage Type: Physical
• Auxiliary: 51 Blood Loss Build Up
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 14, DEX 8, ARC 13

The Bloodfiend’s Fork is another spear-type weapon that drops from Bloodfiends wielding it. Keep an eye out for these specific Bloodfiends carrying a spear instead of the Bloodfiend’s Arm. Its weapon skill is Barbaric Roar, which is decent—inflicts physical damage. What sets this spear apart is its inherent blood loss buildup, a trait shared by only a few spears. If you’re into bleeding effects with your spear, this could be your go-to choice. Moreover, it boasts native arcane scaling, enhancing its blood loss capabilities—a rarity among weapons.

Messmer Soldier’s Spear

• Weapon Type: Great Spear
• Location: Drops from Messmer Soldiers wielding it
• Weapon Skill: Impaling Thrust
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 19, DEX 16

Next up is the Messmer Soldier’s Spear. It’s not your average spear; it’s a formidable one that drops from Messmer Soldiers who wield it. Known for its exceptionally long reach, this spear surprises with its heavy attack, which extends further than expected—something you’ve likely noticed if you’ve battled these enemies. It features Impaling Thrust as its skill, making it a solid choice if you appreciate its powerful heavy attack and extensive reach.

Pata

• Weapon Type: Fist
• Location: Church of Benediction
• Weapon Skill: Impaling Thrust
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 11, DEX 15

Next up is the Pata. It’s a sleek fist weapon with integrated blades that just looks awesome. You’ll find it at the Church of Benediction, southwest of your starting point. Head north, pass through the giant doorway, hug the cliff, and you’ll arrive at the church where you can grab both this weapon and an armor set. Its weapon skill is Impaling Thrust, which adds versatility to your combat style. You can tweak its Ash of War to tailor it to your preferences. Overall, the Pata stands out not only for its impressive appearance but also for its smooth and effective combat mechanics.

Poisoned Hand

• Weapon Type: Fist
• Location: Belurat, Tower Settlement
• Weapon Skill: Poison Spear-Hand Strike
• Damage Type: Physical
• Auxiliary: 105 Poison Build Up
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 8, DEX 8, ARC 28

The Poisoned Hand is another fist weapon you can discover in the Belurat, Tower Settlement, amidst the area where those fly creatures swarm. Despite its rather repulsive surroundings, this weapon boasts an impressive fist moveset akin to other fist weapons. It inflicts deadly poison, enhancing its effectiveness against enemies. Its weapon skill, Poison Spear-Hand Strike, reaches out to strike enemies, significantly increasing their deadly poison buildup. Moreover, the Poisoned Hand benefits from native arcane scaling, which further boosts its poison capabilities. For those looking to combine the power of fists with poison tactics, this weapon proves to be a formidable choice.

Firespark Perfume Bottle

• Weapon Type: Perfume Bottle
• Location: In front of Castle Ensis
• Weapon Skill: Kick
• Damage Type: Fire
• Infusable: Yes
• Requirements: STR 3, DEX 14

Next up is the Firespark Perfume Bottle, a newly introduced weapon type called Perfume Bottles, included in the latest DLC. You can locate this weapon just in front of Castle Ensis near the castle’s Site of Grace, slightly southeast of that location. This unique weapon deals exclusively fire damage, offering intriguing possibilities when paired with items that enhance fire damage, such as the Fire Scorpion Charm or Fire-Shrouding Cracked Tear. Notably, it primarily scales with dexterity, adding an interesting twist to its usage. The Firespark Perfume Bottle is also infusible, allowing for further customization. Its current weapon skill, kick, is a bit lackluster, so replacing it with a more effective skill is advisable. I’m particularly interested in seeing the results of infusing this weapon with other fire-enhancing elements, like fire and holy or fire and magic, which could lead to some unconventional but potentially powerful combinations.

Deadly Poison Perfume Bottle

• Weapon Type: Perfume Bottle
• Location: Purchased from Thiollier for 9000 Runes
• Weapon Skill: Deadly Poison Spray
• Damage Type:
• Auxiliary: 68 Poison Build Up
• Infusable: No
• Requirements: STR 3, DEX 13. 18 ARC

Next up is the Deadly Poison Perfume Bottle, another addition to the new weapon category, Perfume Bottles. This particular bottle can be purchased from Theolier for 9000 runes, conveniently located just east of Castle Ensis. Head towards the direction of the lava intake, and you’ll find him nearby. Acquiring this weapon is straightforward as you can simply buy it from him. Surprisingly, it deals physical damage and features poison buildup as part of its effects. It also benefits from arcane scaling. The weapon’s skill, Deadly Poison Spray, releases a cloud of poison in the surrounding area, quickly inflicting poison on enemies and potentially triggering beneficial effects like those from the Mushroom Crown or Kindred of Rot’s Exultation. This combination could prove highly effective for those keen on leveraging poison tactics.

Bone Bow

• Weapon Type: Light Bow
• Location: Belurat, Tower Settlement
• Weapon Skill: Rancor Shot
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: No
• Requirements: STR 8, DEX 11

Next up, we have a couple of ranged weapons to discuss. First off is the Bone bow, a lightbow obtainable in the Belurat, Tower Settlement. What stands out about this bow is its Rancor Shot feature. Similar to Barrage, but with homing arrows, it significantly reduces the chances of missing targets, which proves advantageous against swift, agile enemies prevalent throughout the DLC. If you enjoy using Barrage but find it frustrating to miss shots, this bow could be a worthwhile addition to your arsenal.

Spread Crossbow

• Weapon Type: Crossbow
• Location: Southeast of Castle Ensis
• Weapon Skill: Kick
• Damage Type: Physical
• Infusable: No
• Requirements: STR 11, DEX 17

Lastly, let’s talk about the Spread Crossbow. Located southeast of Castle Ensis, you’ll find it on a corpse. Its weapon skill is Kick, but what makes this crossbow special is its ability to shoot 10 bolts simultaneously in a shotgun-like spread. This feature allows for potentially massive damage, particularly effective when fired at close range against larger boss targets. If you’re looking to deal significant burst damage and aren’t concerned about consuming ammo quickly, this weapon might be right up your alley.

So that wraps up our guide on some early game weapons. While there are other weapons available early on in the game, acquiring them often requires more time and effort. The ones we’ve covered here can all be obtained within the first 10 minutes of gameplay without defeating any bosses. There are additional early weapons accessible by defeating early bosses, but these don’t necessitate facing significant challenges to acquire.

I put this guide together to offer you quick weapon options, their locations, and potential for building strategies in the DLC or even for a speedy New Game Plus run in the base game. It eliminates the need to search extensively for weapons.

If there are any weapons I missed or didn’t include that you can obtain before defeating the main bosses of Castle Ensis or Belurat, Tower Settlement, feel free to let me know in the comments below. How are you finding the DLC so far? What aspects do you enjoy the most? Have you taken time off work to dive into it? Share your thoughts below. Bye for now!