U4GM - Best Weapons for Dex Builds in Elden Ring – Top 7 Ranked
Dexterity builds in Elden Ring are fast, stylish, and deadly. As someone who has poured hundreds of hours into the game—experimenting with countless weapons and farming thousands of Elden Ring runes—I’ve come to appreciate the finesse and precision that dex builds offer. Whether you’re looking to bleed enemies dry or dance around your foes with lightning-fast attacks, having the right weapon can make all the difference.
Here are my top 7 dexterity weapons in Elden Ring, ranked based on personal experience, community feedback, and overall performance in both PvE and PvP.
7. Wakizashi
The Wakizashi is an often-overlooked dagger that shines when dual-wielded with a katana. This setup unleashes a flurry of attacks, especially potent when paired with bleed builds. Its quick strikes and low stamina consumption make it a sleeper hit for dex users who want to punish slower enemies.
Why I like it: I paired it with the Uchi in a bleed-focused build, and the results were devastating. Fast bosses like Malenia were far easier when I could interrupt with repeated staggers.
6. Hand of Malenia
A weapon that lives up to its name. It scales excellently with dexterity and delivers graceful yet powerful slashes. Its unique weapon art, Waterfowl Dance, is both a blessing and a curse—high-risk, high-reward.
Personal tip: It's best used after mastering boss timing. Once you learn to combo it well, especially with talismans that boost dex and weapon skill damage, it becomes a PvP nightmare.
5. Reduvia
The Reduvia is not just a beginner’s tool—it’s a mid-game staple in the right hands. With innate bleed and a ranged weapon art that costs minimal FP, it becomes lethal in tight corridors and duels alike.
Why it stands out: I used this dagger extensively while rune farming in Caelid. It’s quick and deadly—ideal for burst damage and mobility.
4. Scavenger’s Curved Sword
This curved sword is often overlooked but offers one of the highest bleed buildups when upgraded and infused. Its attacks are rapid, and it pairs beautifully with another Scavenger’s for a dual-wield build.
Experience highlight: During my rune farming runs, this weapon helped me melt through mobs quickly, especially in the Mohgwyn Palace area, which is a hotspot if you're wondering can you buy runes for Elden Ring—yes, but farming with this sword made that question irrelevant for me.
3. Uchigatana
A classic choice and a fan favorite. It scales smoothly with dex and is available early, giving players an excellent weapon right out of the gate. It can be infused with Ashes of War, allowing for great customization.
My go-to loadout: I kept the Uchigatana well into late-game, infusing it with Bloody Slash and upgrading it consistently. It carried me through several main bosses.
2. Nagakiba
Think Uchigatana, but longer and meaner. The Nagakiba boasts exceptional reach, making it one of the most reliable weapons for spacing in PvP. In PvE, its range lets you stay out of danger while dealing continuous damage.
Why I rank it so highly: The extra reach has saved me more times than I can count, especially in close fights where boss AoEs were nearly unavoidable.
1. Bloodhound’s Fang
If we’re talking about raw power and dex synergy, Bloodhound’s Fang is king. With high base damage, innate bleed, and a phenomenal weapon art (Bloodhound’s Finesse), it dominates both early and late game.
From personal experience: This was my first love in Elden Ring. It carried me through most of Limgrave and beyond. Even when I tried other weapons, I kept coming back to it for its raw power and satisfying moveset.
Conclusion
Dex builds in Elden Ring offer speed, precision, and deadly efficiency. The right weapon can make or break your experience, especially when optimizing your Elden Ring runes farming or testing your skills in PvP. While many players wonder can you buy runes for Elden Ring, mastering the right weapons will often eliminate the need altogether. These top 7 weapons represent the best of what dex builds have to offer—from versatility to power, each one brings a unique flair to your Tarnished journey.
If you're looking to dominate your next playthrough or simply optimize your loadout, try out these weapons and see what fits your style best. Trust me, they’ve earned their place on this list through hours of testing, boss battles, and PvP showdowns. New Strategy:The Use of Symbolic Imagery in Elden Ring: Reinforcing Narrative Themes