What is the Weakest Melee Weapon in Elden Ring?

The title of the “weakest melee weapon” in Elden Ring is a hotly debated topic, largely because “weak” can be interpreted in several ways: lowest base damage, worst scaling, least versatile moveset, or most impractical to use. However, if we’re strictly looking at weapons that struggle to deal meaningful damage and offer little to no utility, the Bare Fists are the undisputed champion of underwhelming. While technically not a weapon in the traditional sense, and they aren’t even listed as a weapon, going bare-handed offers minimal damage and a severely restricted moveset, making nearly every encounter a significant uphill battle. Players will find it hard to do damage and will need more strikes to take down an enemy.

Dissecting the Concept of Weakness

It’s essential to understand that “weakness” in Elden Ring is relative. A weapon considered weak in the early game might become viable with specific builds, talismans, or Ashes of War later on. Even the Bare Fists can become a challenge run staple for dedicated players, showcasing the inherent flexibility of the game’s systems. However, for the average player seeking effective combat options, some weapons consistently underperform compared to others.

Considering the Contenders

While Bare Fists represent the absolute bottom of the barrel, other contenders for the weakest melee weapon often appear in discussions:

• Torch: Primarily designed for illuminating dark areas, the Torch deals negligible damage and lacks any real offensive capabilities. Its main purpose is to ward off certain enemies, making it more of a tool than a weapon.
• Dagger: While some Daggers like the Reduvia can be incredibly powerful due to bleed buildup, many early-game Daggers possess low damage and limited range, making them difficult to use effectively in most combat situations.
• Clinging Bone: This weapon deals very little damage and doesn’t have any special features to make it stand out.
• Hand Axe: Generally, axes are decent weapons, but the Hand Axe does very little damage.
• Weathered Straight Sword: Straight swords are normally a good weapon type, but the Weathered Straight Sword is very underpowered and does little damage.

Why Bare Fists Reign Supreme (in Weakness)

Several factors contribute to the Bare Fists’ ignominious position:

• Lowest Base Damage: Unsurprisingly, unarmed attacks deal the lowest physical damage in the game. Even with substantial Strength scaling, the damage output remains significantly lower than any dedicated weapon.
• Limited Moveset: The unarmed moveset is extremely basic, lacking the range, speed, and variety of even the simplest weapons. This makes it difficult to effectively space attacks or react to enemy movements.
• No Special Abilities: Bare fists can’t be infused with Ashes of War, denying players access to powerful weapon skills and status effects that can significantly enhance other weapons.
• Vulnerability: The short range and low damage output of bare fists leave the player extremely vulnerable to enemy attacks. Successfully landing blows requires precise timing and positioning, demanding a high level of skill.

Making the “Weakest” Weapon Work

Despite their inherent limitations, some players have found creative ways to make Bare Fists viable. These strategies typically involve:

• Optimizing Build: Investing heavily in Strength and Dexterity to maximize damage output and attack speed.
• Utilizing Talismans: Equipping talismans that boost attack power, such as the Ritual Sword Talisman or the Godfrey Icon.
• Exploiting Enemy Weaknesses: Targeting enemies with low armor or specific elemental vulnerabilities.
• Mastering Dodging and Parrying: Relying on precise timing and defensive maneuvers to avoid damage and create openings for attacks.
• Consumables: Employing consumables such as Exalted Flesh to temporarily boost attack power.

Ultimately, playing with Bare Fists is a self-imposed challenge that tests a player’s knowledge of the game’s mechanics and their ability to overcome adversity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are there any situations where Bare Fists are actually good?

While not “good” in a conventional sense, Bare Fists can be effective in very niche situations. For example, they can be used to quickly break pots or boxes without wasting weapon durability. They also offer a unique challenge for experienced players seeking to push their skills to the limit. Some players use them to show off their skills against bosses.

2. Does armor affect the damage dealt by Bare Fists?

Yes, armor reduces the damage dealt by all physical attacks, including those made with Bare Fists. This further exacerbates the challenges of unarmed combat.

3. Can you parry with Bare Fists?

Yes, you can parry with Bare Fists. However, the timing is precise, and the payoff is often not worth the risk due to the low damage output of subsequent attacks.

4. What’s the difference between Bare Fists and the Caestus?

The Caestus is a dedicated weapon that belongs to the fist weapon category. It deals significantly more damage than Bare Fists and has a more versatile moveset.

5. Are there any Ashes of War that work with Bare Fists?

No, Bare Fists cannot be infused with Ashes of War. This is one of their major limitations.

6. Is the Torch completely useless?

No, the Torch has some utility. It provides light in dark areas and can repel certain enemies that are vulnerable to fire. However, it’s not a viable offensive weapon.

7. Why are some Daggers considered weak?

Early-game Daggers often have low base damage and short range. This makes them difficult to use effectively against heavily armored enemies or in large-scale encounters.

8. Does scaling affect the damage dealt by Bare Fists?

Yes, Bare Fists scale with Strength and Dexterity, but the scaling is relatively poor compared to dedicated weapons.

9. What’s the best way to upgrade a weapon?

Weapons can be upgraded at a blacksmith using Smithing Stones or Somber Smithing Stones. Upgrading increases the weapon’s base damage and scaling.

10. Can talismans make a weak weapon viable?

Talismans can significantly enhance a weapon’s performance. However, even with optimal talismans, Bare Fists will still struggle to compete with dedicated weapons.

11. Are there any armor sets that specifically benefit unarmed combat?

Not directly. However, armor sets that increase Strength or Dexterity can indirectly improve the damage output of Bare Fists.

12. How does weapon scaling work in Elden Ring?

Weapon scaling refers to how a weapon’s damage increases based on your character’s attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, Arcane). Weapons have scaling grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) for each attribute, indicating how much damage they gain from that attribute.

13. What is the importance of weapon skills?

Weapon skills are special attacks or abilities that can be used with certain weapons. They can provide additional damage, utility, or status effects.

14. Is it possible to beat Elden Ring using only Bare Fists?

Yes, it is possible, but it requires an immense amount of skill, patience, and knowledge of the game’s mechanics. It’s considered one of the most challenging ways to play the game.

15. Where can I learn more about Elden Ring strategies and mechanics?

There are numerous online resources available, including wikis, forums, and YouTube channels dedicated to Elden Ring. The Games Learning Society also explores the educational aspects of games like Elden Ring. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about games and learning.

Conclusion

While individual skill and strategic choices can mitigate the weaknesses of many weapons in Elden Ring, the Bare Fists consistently struggle to deliver meaningful damage and offer limited utility. This makes them the undisputed contender for the weakest melee “weapon” in the game. However, as many skilled players have demonstrated, even the most underwhelming tools can be used to achieve impressive feats with sufficient determination and mastery of Elden Ring’s intricate combat mechanics.