Katanas are among the most beloved weapon types in Elden Ring, combining rapid attack speed, excellent reach for their class, and the powerful Bleed buildup mechanic that makes them dangerous in both PvE and PvP. The Elden Ring Katanas roster includes eight distinct weapons, each suited to different stat builds and playstyles.
Katanas in Elden Ring all share a few defining characteristics: they are fast, they can apply Hemorrhage (Bleed) status, they have a forward-thrusting strong attack that excels at hit-and-run playstyles, and they are compatible with Ashes of War that define entire build archetypes. Understanding which katana fits your build determines how effective your character becomes from the mid-game onward.
The Best Katana Elden Ring depends on your primary stat investment. Dexterity builds favor Nagakiba and Uchigatana. Intelligence hybrid builds favor Moonveil. Arcane or Dexterity bleed builds favor Rivers of Blood. Faith or cold builds have their own dedicated options. This guide covers all eight and ranks them for the builds they serve best.
All Elden Ring Katanas: Complete List
There are eight katanas in the base Elden Ring game, with one additional option added through the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Here is the complete Elden Ring Katana List:
- Uchigatana — The starter katana and a strong choice throughout the entire game
- Nagakiba — Longest katana reach, excellent Dexterity scaling
- Moonveil — Best magic hybrid katana, has a unique ranged projectile Ash of War
- Rivers of Blood — Best bleed katana, one of the most powerful bleed weapons in the game
- Hand of Malenia — Faith/Dexterity katana with a unique boss-style Ash of War
- Meteoric Ore Blade — Strength/Intelligence katana with a gravity Ash of War
- Serpentbone Blade — Poison-focused katana with a split Ash of War
- Dragonscale Blade — Dexterity katana with a lightning/cold Ash of War
Best Elden Ring Katanas Ranked
1. Moonveil (Best for Intelligence/Dexterity Hybrid Builds)
Moonveil is the top all-around Elden Ring Katana for hybrid builds that combine Intelligence and Dexterity. Its Ash of War, Transient Moonlight, fires a horizontal magic wave on light attack or a vertical wave on heavy attack. Both deal significant magic damage independent of the katana swing itself.
Moonveil is found in Gael Tunnel in Caelid, dropped by the Magma Wyrm boss at the end of the dungeon.
Why Moonveil is so strong:
– Scales with both Intelligence and Dexterity at high efficiency
– Transient Moonlight applies Bleed while dealing magic projectile damage simultaneously
– Naturally slotted with Magic Damage, giving it coverage against enemies weak to magic
– Ash of War is fast, has excellent range, and costs modest FP to use repeatedly
Optimal stats: 60 Intelligence / 40-50 Dexterity
2. Rivers of Blood (Best for Arcane/Dexterity Bleed Builds)
Rivers of Blood is the definitive bleed katana in Elden Ring. Its Ash of War, Corpse Piler, is a sequence of five rapid slashes that each apply Bleed buildup, instantly triggering Hemorrhage on most enemies in a single use.
Rivers of Blood is found on the corpse of Bloody Finger Okina near the Church of Repose in the Mountaintops of the Giants. You must defeat this NPC invader to obtain it.
Why Rivers of Blood is so strong:
– Highest inherent Bleed buildup of any katana
– Corpse Piler applies Bleed 5 times in rapid succession, reliably triggering Hemorrhage on every use
– Scales with Arcane, which simultaneously boosts the status buildup and physical damage
– Two Rivers of Blood dual-wielded creates one of the most powerful DPS builds in the entire game
Optimal stats: 40-60 Arcane / 20-30 Dexterity / 12 Strength
3. Nagakiba (Best for Pure Dexterity Builds)
Nagakiba is the longest katana in Elden Ring, with a blade significantly longer than any other katana in the class. This reach advantage makes it more forgiving to use than shorter katanas because you can land hits from distances where enemies cannot safely respond.
Nagakiba is obtained from Yura, Hunter of Bloody Fingers. You can receive it by completing his questline or by invading and defeating him after he appears at various points along the Limgrave coast.
Why Nagakiba excels for Dexterity builds:
– Scales well with Dexterity and supports virtually any Ash of War through infusion
– Longest reach of any katana makes it effective against large enemies and in PvP
– Accepts any standard Ash of War, allowing you to customize it for bleed (Seppuku), cold (Chilling Mist), or standard damage builds
– High damage ceiling when infused and upgraded to maximum
Optimal stats: 60-80 Dexterity / 16 Strength (minimum)
4. Uchigatana (Best Starter Katana, Strongest Early-Game Option)
The Uchigatana is available from the very start of the game (for Samurai class players) and remains competitive through the entire playthrough with the right upgrades and Ash of War choices.
Samurai class players start with Uchigatana. All other classes can find it in the Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave.
Why Uchigatana deserves a top ranking:
– Available immediately with no boss fights required
– Accepts any Ash of War for full customization
– Competitive damage when upgraded to +25 (Somber) or maximum standard level
– The dual Uchigatana setup (two Rivers of Blood is better for bleed, but dual Uchigatana is a strong early bleed option)
Optimal stats: 60 Dexterity for standard builds, or 40-60 Arcane with Seppuku Ash of War for bleed
5. Hand of Malenia (Best for Faith/Dexterity Builds)
Hand of Malenia is the legendary katana dropped by Malenia, Blade of Miquella, one of the most challenging optional bosses in Elden Ring. Its Ash of War, Waterfowl Dance, replicates Malenia’s signature attack sequence.
Why Hand of Malenia stands out:
– Unique Ash of War that deals massive damage when mastered
– Excellent natural bleed buildup
– High Dexterity scaling with additional Faith scaling
– The most visually distinctive katana in the game for fashion builds
Optimal stats: 60 Dexterity / 30 Faith / 12 Strength
6. Meteoric Ore Blade (Best for Strength/Intelligence Builds)
Meteoric Ore Blade is the katana option for builds that do not naturally invest in Dexterity. Its Ash of War, Gravitas, pulls nearby enemies toward you, creating an opening for follow-up attacks.
Found in the Caelid Waypoint Ruins in a chest underground.
Optimal stats: 34 Strength / 34 Intelligence / 15 Dexterity minimum
7. Dragonscale Blade (Best for Lightning or Cold Builds)
Dragonscale Blade deals split Lightning and Physical damage and has a unique Ash of War that alternates between Lightning and Cold buff modes depending on which input you use. Found by defeating the Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella in the Lake of Rot.
Optimal stats: 40-60 Dexterity with Lightning or Cold damage emphasis
8. Serpentbone Blade (Niche Poison Specialist)
Serpentbone Blade is the weakest overall katana in terms of general utility but has a unique Ash of War that fires poison projectiles. Found in a Teardrop Scarab in the Volcano Manor area.
Best for Arcane poison builds, but most players find other options more efficient for the same poison application purpose.
Elden Ring Katana Location Summary
| Katana | Location | How to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Uchigatana | Deathtouched Catacombs / Samurai start | Loot from corpse or start as Samurai |
| Nagakiba | North Limgrave coast | Yura questline or defeat Yura |
| Moonveil | Gael Tunnel, Caelid | Defeat Magma Wyrm boss |
| Rivers of Blood | Mountaintops of the Giants, Church of Repose | Defeat Bloody Finger Okina invader |
| Hand of Malenia | Haligtree, Elphael | Defeat Malenia, Blade of Miquella |
| Meteoric Ore Blade | Caelid Waypoint Ruins | Loot from underground chest |
| Dragonscale Blade | Lake of Rot | Defeat Dragonkin Soldier of Nokstella |
| Serpentbone Blade | Volcano Manor area | Loot from Teardrop Scarab |
Pro Tips for Elden Ring Katanas
Pro Tips: Elden Ring Katana Builds
- Use Seppuku Ash of War on Nagakiba for pure Dex bleed builds: If you do not have the Arcane scaling to run Rivers of Blood effectively, Nagakiba with Seppuku Ash of War is the next best bleed option. Seppuku costs only 10 FP, applies instant massive Bleed buildup to yourself, and dramatically increases bleed accumulation per hit.
- Dual-wield two katanas for maximum attack speed: Dual katana setups in Elden Ring allow you to press L1 to perform rapid dual-wield attacks that hit twice per swing animation. Two Uchigatana with Seppuku, or a Nagakiba main with a second katana offhand, both create exceptionally fast bleed application.
- Apply Bloodgrease or Drawstring Bloodgrease for early Bleed before you find Rivers of Blood: Before reaching the Mountaintops, you can apply consumable grease to any katana for temporary Bleed buildup. This keeps bleed builds competitive before their dedicated weapons become available.
- Always carry a second elemental weapon alongside your katana: Some bosses and enemy types have high physical resistance or high poise that counters katana hit frequency. Having a secondary weapon with different damage properties prevents you from being completely countered by a single enemy resistance profile.
- Upgrade your katana to maximum before committing to an Ash of War: Different Ashes of War apply different damage scaling types (Standard, Quality, Heavy, Keen, etc.). Deciding on your Ash of War after reaching high Dexterity or Arcane investment lets you match the scaling type to your actual stat distribution rather than guessing before your build is developed.
Common Mistakes Elden Ring Katana Players Make
- Infusing katanas with Heavy scaling for Strength builds: Katanas have naturally low Strength requirements and do not scale well with Heavy infusion compared to greatswords or colossal weapons. Fix: If you want a Strength-adjacent katana build, use Meteoric Ore Blade, which is designed for Strength/Intelligence, rather than infusing standard katanas with Heavy.
- Using Rivers of Blood without Arcane investment: Rivers of Blood requires 18 Arcane to wield and its Bleed buildup and damage both scale with Arcane. Players who pick it up without any Arcane investment significantly underperform. Fix: Respec using a Larval Tear to invest at least 40-60 Arcane if you want to run Rivers of Blood correctly.
- Not staggering bosses with Ash of War spam: Katana Ashes of War like Corpse Piler and Transient Moonlight both deal poise damage as well as HP damage. Many players use them primarily for HP damage without realizing they also contribute to stagger. Fix: Chain Ash of War uses during a boss’s opening windows to accumulate both poise break and status buildup simultaneously.
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Elden Ring Katanas: Final Rankings
Elden Ring Katanas cover every build archetype from pure Dexterity to Intelligence hybrids to Arcane bleed specialists. The best katana is always the one that matches your current stat investment:
- Intelligence/Dex hybrid: Moonveil
- Arcane bleed: Rivers of Blood
- Pure Dexterity: Nagakiba
- Early game or budget setup: Uchigatana
- Strength/Intelligence: Meteoric Ore Blade
- Faith/Dexterity: Hand of Malenia
The Best Katana in Elden Ring for most players is either Moonveil or Rivers of Blood because both represent the ceiling of their respective archetypes. But every katana on this list rewards the right stat investment and playstyle with exceptional performance.
All game images used in this blog post belong to FromSoftware and Bandai Namco. They are used for informational and educational purposes only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation with the rights holders.
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