Elden Ringhas a large variety of weapons and playstyles to choose from, straight swords continue to be a solid option, though not quite as overpowered as they were back inDark Souls. Still,the variety inElden Ringis excellent and there are many options for varied builds. Some weapons will be increasingly more difficult to obtain than others, while some can be found quite easily.
These weapons will work for a variety of builds, and none of them will work as an overall choice for all builds, as each has utility in its own way and there area ton of different weapon options to find. Players will be able to easily see, however, the value that each of these one-handed swords gives.
Updated June 22, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: Because you can just about any weapon in one hand, the best one-handed Elden Ring weapons are quite varied. In fact, one of the best one-handed swords Elden Ring players can now collect in the DLC is the Carian Sorcery Sword, which isn’t great as a melee weapon, but doubles as a Sorcery Catalyst. This guide to the best one-handed swords in Elden Ring has been updated to include this powerful hybrid weapon that can be found about a third of the way through Shadow of the Erdtree – one that just about every Sorcery caster build will want to go out of the way to get.
Damage and Types
PHYSICAL: 69
MAGIC: 69
STR: 10
DEX: 19
INT: 16
Impaling Thrust
2.5
As a melee weapon, theCarian Sorcery Swordis far from the bestElden Ringone-handed sword. Its damage is split between Physical and Magical damage evenly, but it does not have a heavy attack. Because it scales between three stats and doesn’t offer much total damage (even when fully upgraded), there are a lot of better Intelligence weapons to use as one-handed weapons.
However, the Carian Sorcery Sword has a secret: instead of a Heavy Attack players can press the Heavy Attack input to cast whichever Sorcery they currently have equipped in the top slot of the quick menu. That’s right – the Carian Sorcery Sword is a combination ofElden RingCatalyst and one-handed sword, and is able to cast Sorceries just like a Glintstone staff just as well as it can be swung at melee enemies.
This weapon saves a good amount of Weight on your character, but it’s also one of the best-scaling Intelligence Catalysts inElden Ring. The Carian Sorcery Sword outclasses several other Glintstone Staffs when upgraded and with a high enough Intelligence stat when it comes to Sorcery Scaling.
How To Get The Carian Sorcery Sword
You must have theElden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeDLC toget the Carian Sorcery Sword. The sword can be found in Castle Ensis, but you can’t get to its location from inside the castle. Instead, head to the Scadu Altus Site of Grace and head north. Look for what looks like an island just north of the western side of Castle Ensis on the world map.
Get to this island and jump southeast down to the top of a tower in Castle Ensis. Jump down onto the upper rampart, where you will dismount Torrent. Continue around the ramparts and open a chest to find the Carian Sorcery Sword.
PHYS: 82
MAGIC: 82
DEX: 23
INT: 21
Onze’s Line of Stars (10 FP)
5.0
TheStar-Lined Swordis anew one-handed Sword inElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreethat essentially performs the same role that Moonveil did in the base game. It’s a Katana that deals passive Bleed buildup, and splits its damage evenly between both Physical and Magical damage. It doesn’t scale evenly between its three required stats, but like Moonveil, its real draw is its Ash of War.
The Onze’s Line of Stars weapon skill sees players rapidly extend the reach of their sword and slash several times in quick succession, followed up with a jumping overhead slam. Though Moonveil has the potential for ranged play, Onze’s Line of Stars is great for closing the distance without sacrificing damage.
How To Get The Star-Lined Sword
The Star-Lined Sword is dropped by the world boss Demi-Human Queen Marigga in the Cerulean Coast. From the Cerulean Coast Site of Grace, head north east and look for the Demi-Human Queen from afar. She should be surrounded by an army of Demi-Humans.
Standard and Pierce
STR: 8
DEX: 11
Square Off (6 FP)
3.5
TheNoble’s Slender Swordis one of the rarest weapons inElden Ring, as it can only be found on the loot table of one enemy type and has an extremely low drop rate. Once acquired, though, it’s one of the bestElden Ringone-handed weapons throughout the whole game because of its reach.
Straight Swords are best when wielded in tandem with one another to access a Power Stance dual-wielding moveset. The Noble’s Slender Sword is notably longer than any other Straight Sword in the game, though, and starts with a base C scaling in Dexterity. If you have the patience, and play a DEX or dual-wield build, you’re able to acquire thisElden Ringstraight sword very early in the game.
How To Get Noble’s Slender Sword
The Noble’s Slender Sword only drops from Noble enemies throughout the Lands Between. Though Nobles can be found wandering in almost every area of the game, the best farming location for the Noble’s Slender Sword is right at the start. Head across the bridge heading east from the Lake Agheel North Site of Grace, and look for the Caravan being pulled by two Trolls. Kill wandering Nobles in the group that follows the Carriage itself, then reset at the Lake Agheel North Site of Grace. It has a less than 1% chance to drop, so be prepared to farm for a few hours.
PHYS: 141
STR: 19
Stamp (5 FP, 8 to follow up)
15.5
TheZweihanderis a weapon that appearsseveral times throughout From Software’s catalogue, and it returns once again inElden Ring. Typically thought of as a two-handed weapon, the Zweihander is perfectly usable as a one-handed weapon if you can meet its stat requirements.
Once you get a handle on its slow animations, the main benefit of the Zweihander over other one-handed weaponsElden Ringplayers can get becomes clear: its reach is unparalleled. If you Block and initiate a Guard Counter with the Zweihander, too, it deals an immense amount of Poise damage, and will have a better chance to reach opponents who move out of your melee range.
How To Get The Zweihander
The Zweihander can be acquired very early inElden Ringfrom the Isolated Merchant in the western Weeping Peninsula. Head to the beach in the Weeping Peninsula and look for his shack, then talk to the Merchant to purchase the Zweihander for 3,500 Runes.
DEX: 8
4.0
TheBroadswordmight seem like a run-of-the-mill weapon, but it’s secretly one of the most efficient Swords inElden Ring. Ithas excellent Strength scalingwhen made Heavy via the Ash of War menu, and the default Weapon Skill Square Off is one of the best for the early game.
It swings horizontally for many of its attack animations, which makes it just as efficient at taking out groups of enemies as a single opponent. It’s a weapon that doesn’t require much of its wielder, but the damage output, relatively low weight, animation hitboxes, and ability to be infused and buffed makes it a standout “vanilla” weapon.
How To Get A Broadsword
The Confessor starting class begins the game with a Broadsword, but one can also be bought from a Nomadic Merchant in Limgrave. He sits under a piece of ruin next to the Coastal Cave, which is just below the First Steps Site of Grace. It costs 1800 Runes, a not-small amount early in the game, but it’s well worth the investment.
DEX: 10
INT: 18
Carian Grandeur (26 FP)
TheCarian Knight’s Swordis a very good weapon choice for players dedicated to Intelligence and Sorceries. It splits its damage type between regular and Magic Damage, which makes enemies take more damage than weapons with only one damage type most of the time (though resistances can make overall damage output lower, a more common factor for Holy weapons).
The Ash of War allows players to summon and charge a gigantic Glintstone sword above their head to smash down on their target. It can be charged a few times, and when the player lets go it slams into the ground dealing damage appropriate to how long the Skill was charged for.
How To Get The Carian Knight’s Sword in Elden Ring
The Carian Knight’s Sword, appropriately, is found a short way south of the Carian Manor in western Liurnia of the Lakes. Starting from the Lunar Estate Ruins, head south until you see a Carriage being pulled by two Trolls in the distance.Either attack the Trolls to get them to stop or carefully jump onto the back of the Carriage to find one of the best one handed weapons inElden Ringin a chest.
STR: 14
DEX: 17
Impaling Thrust (9 FP)
7.0
TheGodskin Stitcheris a mighty thrusting sword that shows its value in the hands of an elite PvP enthusiast. Thrusting swords are typically notgreatin FromSoftware games, as they struggle in PvE when groups of enemies are common, and fencing one at a time isn’t always an option. But, when facing down an opponent one-on-one, it’s hard to go wrong with a weapon that can strike quickly from afar like the Godskin Stitcher.
It’sa weapon with great damage scalingat its higher improvement levels, and the Ash of War Impaling Thrust can take out – or at least stagger – all but the highest-HP foes in one go. It can also be infused with new effects for massive damage gain, like the Flame modifier that adds 242 Fire damage at +25, and can be imbued with new Ashes of War to fit one’s build.
How To Get The Godskin Stitcher in Elden Ring
The Godskin Stitcher is wielded by a number of Godskin enemies throughout the Lands Between, but the only one that players can actually acquire is in the Volcano Manor. About halfway through the Volcano Manor players can lower a bridge shortcut and progress into the Church of Eiglay. Defeat the Godskin Noble found within to get its Godskin Stitcher – and don’t forget to get the quest item on the altar, too.
STR: 13
INT: 15
4.5
Scarlet Rot buildup on hit
A great choice for those favoring straight swords over curved, theRotten Crystal Swordedges out its very similar Crystal Sword variant due to the scarlet rot passive buildup with each hit, as well as the Spinning Slash weapon skill. Straight swords have always had useful and efficient swing patterns and can deal a hefty amount of physical damage.
On top of this, the Rotten Crystal Sword gets additional magic damage making it a solid choice for a variety of builds. Its one downside is how difficult it is to acquire, and how late in the game it can be found – it isn’t until players get to the Haligtree that the Rotten Crystal Sword can be found.
How To Get The Rotten Crystal Sword in Elden Ring
This sword can be found in Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree in a chest guarded by three Crystalians. The Crystalians are found just after the Erdtree Avatar that stands next to a group of ballistae, guarding the entrance to the inner wall. Head through this entrance, light the Elphael Inner Wall Site of Grace, and turn left to climb over a large root.
he three Crystalians are sitting on the other side of this root, and can be lured one-by-one.
DEX: 12
INT: 14
3.0
Sleep buildup on hit
TheSword of St. Trinais a fantastic choice for PVE though not quite as useful against other players. What makes this sword unique is that it is one of two melee weapons that make use ofElden Ring’s sleep mechanic. The Ashe of War called Mists of Slumber causes a wave of sleep powder to wash over an area in front of the player.
This can be especially useful for those duo boss fights such as theGodskin Duo, allowing players to knock out one of the bosses and focus on the other without interruption or having to split aggro. Though its uses are relatively limited, when it puts an enemy to sleep in a boss fight, it makes things much, much more manageable.
How To Get The Sword of St. Trina in Elden Ring
The sword can be found in the Forsaken Ruins, a location in northwest Caelid. Here, at the eastern base of Caelid’s western cliffs, there are a few ruins that dot the surroundings. The Forsaken Ruins are the northernmost, and the Sword of St Trina can be accessed by opening a sealed door with a Stonesword key.
