Elden Ring: Best Weapons For Critical Damage

Elden Ring offers one of the most flexible action RPG experiences, allowing players to experiment with various combat builds and strategies. With an extensive selection of weapons, armor, spells, and consumables that provide different effects and bonuses, fans can spend countless hours finding the perfect build that suits their playstyle. One exciting direction to explore is a critical damage build, enabling players to deliver fatal blows and eliminate even the toughest foes with just one or two powerful strikes.

Unlike many other action RPGs, critical damage in Elden Ring functions differently. Instead of relying on a critical hit chance, critical attack is an action players can perform under specific conditions. The critical damage stat on weapons (usually 100) determines how much damage these hits inflict, alongside the critical damage multipliers tied to different weapon categories. Daggers are the most potent weapons for critical hits, boasting a 4.0x damage multiplier. Other promising weapon categories for these builds include Thrusting Swords, Claws, and Fists, though there are some exceptions. Note that Whips, ranged weapons, and spells cannot be used for critical strikes.

1 Miséricorde

The Deadliest Weapon For Critical Hits

The Miséricorde is hands down the best weapon in Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree for critical damage builds. It boasts the highest critical damage stat of any weapon (and any dagger) in the game, paired with the traditional 4.0x multiplier for maximum damage. When combined with the Dagger Talisman, which increases critical hit damage by 17%, and the Blade of Mercy, which boosts attack power by 20% for 20 seconds after a critical hit, this humble blade becomes truly lethal. Even without any Smithing Stones investments or talismans equipped, the Miséricorde can deliver devastating critical hits of 650-750 damage, with the potential for much greater damage when optimized for a critical build.

Moreover, the Miséricorde is available almost from the start of the game. Players can find it at Stormveil Castle, where a single Stonesword Key is required to dispel the white fog blocking access to a large armory room. The dagger can be looted from a corpse inside.

2 Dagger

Easy To Obtain, Simple, And Effective

The Dagger is one of the easiest weapons to obtain in Elden Ring, and surprisingly strong for critical damage builds. Though its simplistic appearance may not appeal to every Tarnished who walks the path of the assassin, its high damage output when delivering critical hits (around 600 with a non-upgraded Dagger) makes it a formidable choice. Additionally, it has the lowest Dexterity requirement of any dagger in the game, with S scaling, and is one of the lightest weapons available, making it an excellent secondary tool for critical strikes in almost any build.

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Acquiring the Dagger is straightforward: players can purchase it from the Twin Maiden Husks at Roundtable Hold for 400 Runes. Alternatively, it can be farmed from the Highwaymen enemies in Murkwater Cave or Foot Soldiers at the camp east of Warmaster’s Shack.

3 Rapier

When The Dagger Isn’t Elegant Enough

The Rapier stands out as the only Thrusting Sword mentioned here and is an extremely potent weapon for critical strikes. This weapon category has the second-highest critical damage multiplier of 3.3x in Elden Ring. Coupled with the Rapier’s critical damage stat, this can result in critical hits of over 550 damage, even with the default weapon. The Rapier’s excellent scaling, light weight, and superior reach compared to the Dagger make it a formidable choice for Tarnished players seeking good mobility and reliable critical damage. Despite its simplicity, the Rapier should not be underestimated.

The Rapier is also easily obtainable early in the game. Players can purchase it from the Twin Maiden Husks for 1,000 Runes as soon as they reach the Roundtable Hold.

4 Black Knife

A Scenic And Terrifying Ritual Dagger With Rich Lore

Though the Black Knife has a lower critical damage stat than the Dagger and Miséricorde, it is a true assassin’s tool, capable of inflicting grievous wounds. What sets the Black Knife apart is its split damage between Physical and Holy, its striking design, and its deep lore. This dagger was used to murder Godwyn the Golden on the Night of the Black Knives, and it is connected to the power of the stolen Rune of Death. Its deadly skill, Blade of Death, reduces the target’s maximum health, making it a fearsome weapon.

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However, the Black Knife is obtained relatively late in the game. Players must reach the Altus Plateau and defeat the Black Knife Assassin boss at the entrance of Sainted Hero’s Grave.

5 Executioner’s Greataxe

The Most Potent For Critical Hits Among Heavy Weapons

While daggers and thrusting swords are generally the best for critical hits in Elden Ring, the Executioner’s Greataxe earns a spot due to its higher critical damage stat compared to most other weapons, excluding the Dagger, Rapier, and Miséricorde. Although it has much higher base damage, the Executioner’s Greataxe is still outperformed in direct comparisons due to its relatively low critical damage multiplier of 2.5x. Without any Smithing Stones investments or build tuning, it deals critical hits averaging 450 damage. Despite this, players looking for a full-sized weapon with strong critical potential, or those focusing on Strength builds, may find the Executioner’s Greataxe appealing.

The challenge with the Executioner’s Greataxe lies in acquiring it. This rusty cleaver is dropped by the Skeletons that wield it, who are relatively rare in Elden Ring. Players will need to farm these enemies in various graveyards throughout the game.