Elden Ring is full of creative freedom when it comes to combat, and few things are more satisfying than finding a weapon-based build that absolutely shreds bosses. Whether you're into colossal blades, bleeding katanas, or devastating faith-scaling weapons, this list covers 13 of the most powerful weapon-based builds to consider for your next run. These setups are crafted with both fun and performance in mind — especially if you're looking to efficiently farm Elden Ring Runes or tackle New Game+ content.
1. Rivers of Blood Bleed Build
An iconic choice since launch, the Rivers of Blood katana excels in bleeding enemies rapidly. When paired with Arcane scaling and the right talismans, this build can melt through even late-game bosses. The skill Corpse Piler is devastating, and it works wonders against high HP enemies.
2. Blasphemous Blade Strength/Faith Build
The Blasphemous Blade offers a great balance between raw power and self-sustain. Its weapon skill, Taker’s Flames, hits hard and heals you, making it ideal for long boss fights. Investing in Strength and Faith lets you use incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength to further boost damage.
3. Bloodhound’s Fang Dexterity Build
For those who prefer speed and dodge-heavy playstyles, the Bloodhound’s Fang is a great early-to-mid game weapon. With excellent scaling and a powerful weapon art, this curved greatsword remains viable even into late game.
4. Nagakiba Bleed Katana Build
Like the Uchigatana but with better reach, the Nagakiba can be infused with bleed to create a deadly Dex/Arcane hybrid. When dual-wielded with another katana, you can apply the bleed status absurdly fast — perfect for boss melting.
5. Greatsword Colossal Build
If you’re aiming for raw power, a pure Strength build with the Greatsword (Guts’ sword) delivers. This setup shines with charged attacks and crowd control. Stack strength bonuses and equip the Lion’s Claw Ash of War for explosive boss damage.
6. Godrick’s Greatsword Quality Build
This weapon scales well with both Strength and Dexterity, making it an excellent choice for a Quality build. Its weapon art unleashes a brutal combo that can break posture and melt boss HP bars.
7. Moonveil Intelligence Build
One of the most famous magic hybrids, the Moonveil katana scales with Intelligence and excels in PvE. Its weapon skill, Transient Moonlight, fires off ranged magic slashes that stagger enemies and bosses alike. A great choice if you're farming Elden Ring Runes efficiently.
8. Ruins Greatsword Strength Build
This colossal weapon offers excellent Strength scaling and a gravity-based weapon art that smashes through enemy defenses. Use it with buffs like Flame, Grant Me Strength to reach crazy numbers.
9. Dark Moon Greatsword Intelligence Build
This is a classic Souls weapon with a frost-infused twist. The weapon art buffs your weapon with magic and adds frost buildup to each hit. It's perfect for Intelligence builds who want a melee focus but still benefit from spell scaling.
10. Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword Strength/Faith Build
For those who like a hybrid melee and fire incantation style, this curved greatsword blends Strength and Faith scaling. The lava-based weapon skill offers excellent AoE damage, and pairs well with fire-boosting talismans.
11. Sacred Relic Sword Arcane/Faith Build
This weapon is only available after beating the final boss, but it's worth it. Its Wave of Gold skill obliterates groups of enemies and makes rune farming a breeze. If you're looking to quickly gather Elden Ring Runes or want to buy Elden Ring Items to support a new build, this weapon is perfect for the job.
12. Scavenger’s Curved Sword Bleed Build
Dual-wielding two Scavenger’s Swords with bleed infusions can turn you into a DPS machine. With Seppuku as your Ash of War and high Arcane scaling, this build makes bosses melt in seconds.
13. Vyke’s War Spear Madness Build
This spear causes Madness buildup, which is deadly in both PvE and PvP. Pair it with Madness-based incantations and high Faith for a niche, but effective, boss-killer build. It’s especially fun against humanoid enemies.
Finding the right weapon-based build in Elden Ring is all about matching your playstyle with smart stat investments and weapon choices. Whether you're experimenting in PvP, diving into NG+, or simply want to farm more Elden Ring Runes for that next gear upgrade, any of these builds will help you get the most out of your playthrough.
For players looking to jump straight into powerful builds, some choose to buy Elden Ring Items from trusted communities like U4GM — especially when trying out unconventional or high-stat weapons early. Just make sure to use those resources responsibly to maintain the challenge and joy of discovery that Elden Ring is known for.