With the upcoming release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, players are returning in droves to optimize their builds for both PvE and PvP. The Elden Ring Runes weapon meta has shifted significantly in 2025, favoring weapons that offer versatility, status effects, scaling flexibility, and satisfying gameplay loops.

Below is a detailed look at the top 10 weapons dominating the landscape in Elden Ring as of 2025, especially with DLC content and NG+7 challenges in mind. From legendary greatswords to experimental twinblades, these weapons are chosen not just for raw stats, but for how fun, effective, and adaptable they are across different modes and builds.

Top 1 - Blasphemous Blade (S-Tier)
Still reigning supreme in 2025, the Blasphemous Blade is the king of all-around performance. Its Taker’s Flames Ash of War scales with Faith and delivers high fire damage while healing you for every successful hit. This creates an excellent feedback loop: deal damage, recover health, and keep pressing forward.

Its triple scaling with Strength, Dexterity, and Faith allows players to customize their stat distribution, making it a flexible pick in both PvE and PvP. Add to that its low FP consumption, and you’ve got a weapon that handles bosses, mobs, and invasions with ease.

Why it’s top-tier:

Sustained healing on hit

Massive AoE and stagger potential

Highly effective in solo and co-op scenarios

Scales well into NG+7 and beyond

Top 2 - Euporia (Twinblade, S-Tier)
Euporia is the crown jewel of twinblades, thanks to its unique Luster mechanic. After landing 15 consecutive hits, it fires a radiant beam capable of one-shotting most non-boss enemies. In boss fights, the beam adds a powerful burst to your rotation, especially when combined with Bleed or Faith-based buffs.

Its tri-scaling (Strength, Dexterity, and Faith) makes it perfect for hybrid builds, while its twinblade moveset guarantees rapid hit accumulation to trigger the Luster Beam frequently. This weapon is built for players who love combo-based aggression and flashy, high-reward mechanics.

Why it dominates:

One of the highest DPS weapons in the game

Excellent synergy with bleed builds and buffs

Luster mechanic provides unique burst potential

Top 3 - Bloodfiend's Arm (Strength/Bleed Hybrid)
Despite multiple nerfs over past patches, Bloodfiend’s Arm continues to be a top-tier powerhouse, especially in strength/Arcane builds. Its natural 208 blood loss buildup means it procs Bleed within a couple of hits—especially when heavy attacking.

The multi-hit animation on its charged R2 almost guarantees instant Bleed, while also staggering even the largest foes. While it’s on the heavier side, it’s ideal for tanky Bleed builds that want to overwhelm enemies through raw aggression and status overload.

Standout features:

Extreme Bleed buildup

High stagger potential for boss fights

Great synergy with Seppuku or Bloodflame Blade

Top 4 - Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear (Arcane, Bleed AOE)
One of the most iconic blood weapons in Elden Ring, Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear retains its place among the elite. Its Bloodboon Ritual weapon art can apply Bleed even through terrain, giving it unmatched utility in confined or multiplayer settings.

Arcane and Strength scaling ensures high damage and status output, while the extended range of the spear gives it an edge in crowd control. After activating the weapon art, the spear gains Bloodflame enhancement, further intensifying its Bleed procs.

Key advantages:

Bleed through walls or corners

Longest reach of all spears

Deadly in both PvE and invasions

Top 5 - Backhand Blade (Dexterity, Bleed)
The Backhand Blade is a standout Dexterity weapon with S-scaling and incredible bleed synergy. Its unique Ash of War, Blind Spot, offers not only offensive output but also evasive movement—perfect for PvP duels or boss fights requiring mobility.

Its short wind-up and fast strike speed make it a favorite among aggressive Dex players, particularly those who mix Bleed and Poison status effects. While it's not the easiest weapon to master, its high skill ceiling makes it lethal in the right hands.

Why it’s elite:

Fast, evasive moveset

Exceptional combo chaining

Bleed-focused damage with style

Top 6 - Rivers of Blood (Dex/Arcane, Bleed Meta)
Though slightly dethroned since its launch-day dominance, Rivers of Blood is still a staple in bleed builds. Its Corpse Piler weapon art remains highly effective, dealing rapid, sweeping slashes that build bleed and stagger alike.

This katana benefits from fast animations, low stamina cost, and solid reach. In PvP, it forces opponents into a defensive stance. In PvE, it can decimate mobs or bosses weak to Hemorrhage. It's a classic that still packs a punch.

Why it still works:

Reliable bleed output

Great for Dex/Arcane hybrids

Low investment, high reward

Top 7 - Bloodhound’s Fang (Balanced, Quality Scaling)
One of the earliest high-impact weapons you can acquire, Bloodhound’s Fang has aged like fine wine. With its Bloodhound’s Finesse Ash of War, players can dodge backward and immediately follow up with a lunge—perfect for hit-and-run tactics.

Its great damage scaling with Strength and Dexterity, combined with natural Bleed, makes it a go-to for balanced builds. It’s also very FP-efficient, ideal for NG+ runs where every flask counts.

Top highlights:

Good for early-to-endgame

Flexible scaling

Excellent evasive utility

Top 8 - Bolt of Gransax (Dexterity, Lightning Range)
The Bolt of Gransax stands apart by offering ranged lightning attacks without requiring Faith. It scales primarily with Dexterity and features a unique Ash of War that fires a powerful bolt across long distances.

This makes it highly effective against armored enemies, flying bosses, and dragons. It's especially useful in co-op, where ranged pressure can be a game-changer.

Why it's popular:

Strong ranged option

Great boss-killer

Doesn't require incantation stats

Top 9 - Spear of the Impaler (Faith/Dex Hybrid)
One of the standout weapons from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, the Spear of the Impaler comes from Messmer’s Dark Chamber and features the devastating Messmer’s Assault Ash of War.

This weapon art has three escalating stages, dealing heavy fire and physical damage while locking enemies into long-hit animations. It requires a significant Dexterity and Faith investment, but rewards players with flashy, high-impact attacks—great for New Game Plus and boss rushes.

Why it’s elite:

High burst damage from weapon art

Excellent reach and range

Ideal for late-game builds

Top 10 - Star Fist (Fist Weapon, Bleed/Stagger)
While not the flashiest or longest-reaching weapon, Star Fist is incredibly potent in tight spaces or aggressive melee builds. Its strike damage, Bleed, and high stagger potential make it very effective against humanoid enemies and even bosses in close quarters.

The biggest drawback is range—but if you’re confident in your movement and spacing, Star Fist becomes a devastating tool, especially with powerstancing or dual-wield setups.

Strengths:

Stagger monsters with ease

Fast, combo-heavy

Great for brawlers or PvP duels

Final Thoughts
The 2025 weapon meta in Elden Ring is more diverse than ever, especially with Shadow of the Erdtree introducing new enemies, bosses, and mechanical layers. Whether you're diving into NG+7 or exploring the new DLC zones, the top-tier weapons listed above offer a blend of power, style, and flexibility.

Each weapon here isn’t just popular because of raw numbers—they’re beloved for how they make you feel while using them. From healing flames to blood-soaked twinblades, these choices elevate the Elden Ring experience and continue to cheap Elden Ring Items define what it means to dominate the Lands Between.