What is the Best Sword to Level Up in Elden Ring? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of the “best” weapon in Elden Ring is a complex one, as the answer often depends on a player’s individual playstyle, preferred stats, and progression stage. However, when it comes to swords specifically, and focusing on a weapon that is exceptionally effective for leveling up and traversing the vast lands of the Lands Between, the answer becomes clearer: the Bloodhound’s Fang stands out as a top contender.

Why the Bloodhound’s Fang Excels for Leveling

While there are numerous powerful weapons in Elden Ring, the Bloodhound’s Fang offers a remarkable blend of attributes that make it ideal for both early and mid-game progression, and it remains viable even into the late game. Here’s why:

• Strong Scaling: This Curved Greatsword features a potent combination of C scaling in Strength and B scaling in Dexterity when fully upgraded. This means that it benefits significantly from a well-rounded character build, allowing you to deal substantial damage without heavily investing in just one attribute. This flexibility is particularly useful during the early-to-mid game, while you are still shaping your build.

• High Base Damage: The Bloodhound’s Fang boasts high base damage, allowing you to effectively eliminate enemies even before substantial stat investment. This means you can rely on it early on and still reap the rewards of its scaling as your character develops.

• Blood Loss Buildup: Every hit from the Bloodhound’s Fang inflicts bleed buildup. Bleed damage is one of the most potent damage types in the game and can take down large enemies quickly, making your battles smoother and more efficient. This makes tackling groups and tough mini-bosses significantly easier.

• Unique Weapon Skill: Bloodhound’s Finesse: This weapon skill is arguably what elevates the Bloodhound’s Fang above its peers. Bloodhound’s Finesse allows you to perform a quick, evasive maneuver followed by a powerful slash, making it highly mobile and effective in combat. The ability to quickly reposition and follow up with a high-damage attack is crucial for both PvE and PvP engagements. The iframes (invincibility frames) provided by the backstep portion of the skill make it useful even against bosses that would otherwise be difficult to melee.

• Accessible Early: You can obtain the Bloodhound’s Fang relatively early in the game by defeating the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlorn Hound Evergaol. While the knight can be challenging, he is not an impossible fight and this makes the weapon easily accessible early in your playthrough.

• Versatile Moveset: The moveset of the Bloodhound’s Fang is both powerful and versatile, able to handle a variety of enemies and combat situations.

Other Notable Swords

While the Bloodhound’s Fang is exceptionally good, other swords also deserve recognition, especially for different playstyles or specific build goals:

• Greatsword: Often cited as the best strength weapon, the Greatsword has very high base damage, great range, and is easy to acquire, found on a caravan in Dragonbarrow. It is a straightforward choice for those looking to focus on strength.

• Sword of Night and Flame: Previously considered overpowered, it remains a strong choice with diverse attack options, though its scaling has been adjusted. It scales with multiple stats, making it a great choice for hybrid builds.

• Moonveil: This Katana is exceptional for Dexterity and Intelligence builds, due to its powerful skill and magic damage output. While very potent, it might not suit pure melee focused players as well as the Bloodhound’s Fang does.

• Broadsword: If you are looking for a good non-unique straight sword, the Broadsword is a solid contender. While it has a shorter range than other straight swords, it boasts high damage, making it useful in early-to-mid game progression.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Swords and Leveling in Elden Ring

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Elden Ring swords, builds, and leveling:

What is the best straight sword in Elden Ring?

The Sword of Night and Flame is widely considered one of the best straight swords, though its effectiveness has been altered in updates. The Broadsword is also recognized for its high damage for a standard straight sword, making it a good choice if you prefer not to use unique weapons.

What is the best strength weapon in Elden Ring?

Many consider the Greatsword to be the best strength weapon due to its high damage, range, and accessibility. However, weapons such as the Heavy Giant-Crusher and the Prelate’s Inferno Crozier also offer high attack ratings.

What is the fastest weapon in Elden Ring?

Daggers, such as Reduvia, are the fastest weapon type in Elden Ring. While they might lack the range and raw power of other melee options, they deal quick damage and are great for backstabs.

What is the best non-special sword in Elden Ring?

The Broadsword is often cited as the best non-unique straight sword, thanks to its respectable damage output. It does, however, have a slightly shorter range compared to others.

What weapon has the highest potential damage in Elden Ring?

Many of the highest damage weapons are heavy strength options. The Heavy Giant-Crusher is often the top choice in that regard, but other weapons like the Prelate’s Inferno Crozier and the Heavy Greatsword follow closely.

What is the max level in Elden Ring?

The maximum level in Elden Ring is 713, requiring an enormous amount of runes to achieve. Reaching this level means maximizing all attributes to 99.

What level should I be to explore Caelid?

It’s recommended to be around level 60-70 when venturing into Caelid. This ensures a challenging experience without being overly frustrating. You should also have well-upgraded weapons and armor.

Can you level up too much in Elden Ring?

While you can become over-leveled through grinding, Elden Ring’s open design often means you can stumble into areas that still prove challenging, even at high levels. Leveling too much can make the early game trivial, though, especially if you want to enjoy the challenge.

What is the meta level in Elden Ring?

The commonly agreed “meta” level for PvP duels is 125 or 150, allowing a good level of variety while still keeping matchmaking within reasonable timeframes.

Should I stop leveling at 150 in Elden Ring?

If you intend to engage in PvP or co-op, staying around level 150 is recommended. For a purely PvE character, you can level as high as you want.

What is the best dual wield weapon for strength builds?

Popular choices for dual wielding with a strength build include Spiked Caestus, Prelate’s Inferno Cozier And Giant Crusher, and Starscourge Greatswords. Combining the power of two heavy weapons can be extremely effective.

How many smithing stones are needed per upgrade?

You need 12 smithing stones of each type to reach the next upgrade tier (excluding the final tier for a +25 weapon). This means many stones of each tier are required to reach max weapon upgrade.

Where is the Greatsword located in Elden Ring?

The Greatsword can be found on a caravan located in northwestern Caelid, along the road leading south to the Cathedral of Dragon Communion.

What is the recommended level for fighting Malenia?

It’s best to approach the Malenia fight at least at level 120, but ideally, level 125+, with a weapon upgraded to +23 or more. She’s one of the most challenging bosses and can be very difficult even with a high-level character.

Has anyone reached level 713 in Elden Ring?

Yes, some players have reached level 713, the maximum level in Elden Ring. It requires hundreds of hours of playtime and extensive rune farming.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best sword in Elden Ring depends on your preferences, but the Bloodhound’s Fang is a remarkably effective option for leveling, exploration, and general combat. Its potent mix of scaling, damage, bleed buildup, and the utility of the Bloodhound’s Finesse skill make it a top contender. Experiment with other weapons too, as you might find that another sword or weapon type perfectly suits your individual playstyle. And don’t hesitate to use the best information available to make the best choices for your build, because at the end of the day, it is your adventure.