Elden Ring offers one of the most diverse and flexible weapon systems in any FromSoftware title to date. Whether you're slaying world bosses or challenging real players in PvP duels, your weapon choice can make or break your build. From colossal greatswords to nimble katanas, the Lands Between caters to nearly every playstyle. Below is a curated list of 13 top-tier weapons that excel in both PvE and PvP environments.

1. Rivers of Blood

Infamous for its bleed build-up and flashy weapon art, Rivers of Blood remains a top-tier katana, especially in PvP. Its Corpse Piler skill shreds through enemies and invaders alike, making it a meta choice for Dexterity-Arcane builds.

2. Blasphemous Blade

A powerful greatsword for Faith builds, the Blasphemous Blade offers lifesteal on hit, which is invaluable for PvE endurance. Its skill, Taker’s Flames, deals massive fire damage and has excellent reach.

3. Moonveil

A staple for Intelligence builds, Moonveil’s Transient Moonlight weapon art delivers swift ranged attacks that can stagger both PvE enemies and PvP opponents. It’s one of the best weapons for early-to-mid game dominance.

4. Bloodhound’s Fang

This curved greatsword balances damage, speed, and mobility. Its Bloodhound’s Finesse weapon art gives it evasiveness that’s crucial in both PvE boss fights and PvP duels.

5. Sword of Night and Flame

Ideal for hybrid builds, this sword allows players to switch between flame and magic attacks. It's fallen slightly out of favor after patches but remains potent when used correctly.

6. Nagakiba

Think of the Nagakiba as an elongated Uchigatana—it offers superior range and scales excellently with Dexterity. Combine it with a bleed infusion for devastating results in both gameplay modes.

7. Greatsword

The iconic weapon modeled after Guts’ Dragonslayer, the Greatsword is a Strength monster. Though slow, it delivers unmatched raw damage and stagger potential, ideal for tanky PvE builds and PvP punish setups.

8. Dark Moon Greatsword

An Intelligence-based weapon with beautiful design and utility, its charged heavy attacks fire magic projectiles. While slow, its AoE potential and magic scaling are effective against bosses and players.

9. Hand of Malenia

This katana scales heavily with Dexterity and boasts the Waterfowl Dance weapon art—a nightmare to dodge in PvP. Although it requires practice, mastering it pays off in any setting.

10. Eleonora’s Poleblade

Dual-bladed and highly agile, this weapon deals bleed and fire damage. It’s a favorite among Arcane players and can melt enemies when paired with status-boosting talismans.

11. Bolt of Gransax

Unique for being one of the few weapons that scale well with Dexterity and Faith, this spear fires powerful lightning bolts and is extremely effective against large PvE enemies.

12. Claymore

A reliable and versatile greatsword, the Claymore has been a classic since the early Souls games. Its balanced moveset makes it perfect for both PvE exploration and PvP consistency.

13. Serpent-Hunter

While seemingly situational, this weapon shines against large targets—even beyond its intended boss fight. It has unique range and utility, and can surprise PvP opponents unfamiliar with its reach.

Finding the right weapon in Elden Ring can be a journey in itself, especially when balancing your build for both PvE and PvP. Some of the above weapons may require significant investment in stats, while others are more flexible and accessible. For players who want to experiment with multiple builds, it might be helpful to stock up on cheap Elden Ring Items or respec materials to optimize your loadout.

Additionally, since upgrading these weapons can be resource-intensive, some players opt to buy Elden Ring runes to streamline their progress. Whether you're chasing meta dominance in PvP or carving through dungeons in PvE, the right weapon is often the difference between victory and a visit to the nearest Site of Grace.