In Elden Ring, weapon choice is just the beginning. The real power often comes from how you enhance those weapons—particularly through the use of rune buffs and enchantments. Whether you’re facing off against tough bosses or trying to get the edge in PvP, buffing your weapon with consumables or spells can drastically boost your damage output and effectiveness.

Below are 14 weapons that truly shine when combined with rune buffs, especially those that benefit from Elden Ring items for sale or cheap Elden Ring runes used to fuel upgrades and enhancement tools.

1. Uchigatana

The Uchigatana is a fast, bleed-inducing weapon that becomes devastating when paired with buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength or Blood Grease. Its quick strikes mean more chances to apply status and stack rune enhancements effectively.

2. Greatsword (Colossal Sword)

While already a powerhouse, the Greatsword benefits greatly from buffs like Magic Grease or Electrify Armament. If you invest in Strength, this weapon with the right rune buff becomes a boss-slaying beast.

3. Nagakiba

Similar to the Uchigatana but with more range, the Nagakiba makes the most of fire or lightning buffs. It’s especially useful for dex builds looking to add elemental punch to their speed-focused playstyle.

4. Claymore

This classic greatsword is one of the most versatile weapons in Elden Ring. Apply a rune-based buff like Flame Art or Cold to drastically alter its utility in battle.

5. Twinblade

With its rapid multi-hit moveset, the Twinblade excels when buffed. Pair it with Poison Grease or Golden Vow for sustained pressure. Its synergy with cheap Elden Ring runes makes it accessible and powerful early on.

6. Reduvia

Already deadly with bleed buildup, Reduvia becomes even more lethal when you pair it with buffs like Rot Grease or Bloodboil Aromatic. It’s a solid pick for aggressive invaders.

7. Moonveil

Though it’s a magic-based weapon, buffing Moonveil with intelligence-scaling sorceries like Terra Magica significantly amplifies its already potent damage.

8. Cleanrot Spear

The Cleanrot Spear has solid reach and innate Holy damage, but adding rune-based buffs like Golden Vow or Sacred Order enhances its role in Faith builds even further.

9. Serpent-Hunter

This niche weapon is amazing in specific encounters (like Rykard), but also sees solid general use when paired with rune buffs that add magic or fire damage.

10. Godrick’s Greatsword

This colossal weapon scales well with buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength. If you’re running a high-strength build and want to capitalize on burst damage, rune-enhancing consumables make all the difference.

11. Bloodhound’s Fang

A curved greatsword with bleed and great scaling. It benefits immensely from buffs like Blood Grease, making it one of the best melee options when optimized with runes.

12. Coded Sword

With innate Holy damage and no physical scaling, buffs that enhance Faith or Holy damage, like Order’s Blade, take this unique weapon to the next level—especially in PvP scenarios.

13. Magma Blade

Already delivering fire damage, the Magma Blade shines even more when paired with Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear or Fire Grease. A perfect option for Pyromancer-style builds.

14. Knight’s Greatsword

Often overlooked, this weapon scales wonderfully with buffs and upgrades. It's a solid foundation for players looking to make the most of cheap Elden Ring runes and physical/magic split builds.

Rune buffs in Elden Ring aren’t just icing on the cake—they’re often the deciding factor between a tough fight and a clean victory. Pairing the right weapons with appropriate buffs can give you a huge advantage, particularly when enhanced with upgrade materials and consumables that you might find among Elden Ring items for sale.

No matter your build, take the time to experiment with rune-based enhancements and see how your weapon of choice transforms in combat. Sometimes, the smallest buff can yield the biggest impact.