Elden Ring Patch 1.17 Best Weapons & Builds Tier List

Elden Ring Patch 1.17 has given the Lands Between a major shake-up. Released on August 27, 2026, the update adds support for the Tarnished Pack and introduces a broad set of balance changes across weapons, skills, sorceries, incantations, and shields. The Tarnished Pack itself launched on August 28, while its new content is included with Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2.

The new content includes the Idus Knight and Heavy Knight starting classes, new weapons and armor, three Spectral Steed appearances for Torrent, and new NPC invasion events in Caelid and Leyndell.

At the same time, Patch 1.17 gives several previously overlooked weapons a substantial boost. Smithscript throwing weapons now have better damage and lower stamina costs, perfume bottles received attack-power increases, Carian Sorcery Sword now gains Intelligence scaling across all damage types, and parry tools and greatshields were improved.

That makes this a particularly interesting time to revisit PvE builds. Below is a practical ranking of the strongest weapons and setups for the current 1.17 environment, combining the newly added equipment with long-established weapons that remain highly effective.

Version note: Some names and descriptions circulating in early community lists do not match the official 1.17 documentation. For example, the official new starting classes are Idus Knight and Heavy Knight, not “Itinerant Knight,” and the newly added sword is officially listed as Idus Sword. The Tarnished Pack also adds several pieces of gear beyond the commonly cited six-weapon list, including the Ritual Thrusting Shield.

Elden Ring 1.17 Meta at a Glance

Patch 1.17 does not completely invalidate the established PvE meta. Instead, it expands the number of genuinely competitive choices.

The biggest winners are weapons with strong skill damage, bleed pressure, multi-hit scaling, throwing attacks, or improved critical performance. Meanwhile, several veteran choices such as Blasphemous Blade, Greatsword, Nagakiba, and Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear continue to provide reliable endgame performance.

Best Weapons Tier List

The exact ranking will always depend on boss matchup, player skill, affinity, upgrade level, and whether a build is optimized around weapon skills or basic attacks. However, these are strong starting points for PvE character planning.

1. Leontiel’s Greatsword — S Tier

Leontiel’s Greatsword is one of the most interesting additions from the Tarnished Pack. It is obtained by defeating the Leontiel invasion encounter in Caelid after defeating Starscourge Radahn. The invasion rewards both the weapon and Leontiel’s armor set.

The weapon is particularly attractive for Dexterity-focused characters because of its strong thrusting attacks and an aggressive weapon skill that combines evasive movement with a powerful follow-up strike.

Recommended Build

Recommended Talismans

Rellana’s Cameo, Shard of Alexander, Spear Talisman, and Godfrey Icon make a strong combination for a skill-focused setup.

Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength provide a straightforward offensive buff routine, while a damage-oriented Physick can further increase burst potential.

For players looking for a stylish new main weapon rather than another established meta pick, Leontiel’s Greatsword is one of the best places to start.

2. Reed Great Katana — S Tier

The Reed Great Katana is one of the most important additions for bleed and Dexterity players. It can be found in Dragonbarrow near Greyoll and does not require a boss kill just to obtain the weapon. Its weapon type gives it useful reach and strong attack patterns, while its innate bleed makes it immediately useful for aggressive PvE builds.

Recommended Build

A Keen setup works well for a pure Dexterity approach, while Blood or another bleed-oriented configuration can be considered when optimizing status buildup.

Rotten Winged Sword Insignia, Millicent’s Prosthesis, Lord of Blood’s Exultation, and Shard of Alexander are natural choices for an aggressive multi-hit setup.

The Reed Great Katana is particularly appealing because it gives players strong performance without requiring an elaborate late-game acquisition route.

3. Blasphemous Blade — S Tier

Patch 1.17 does not directly nerf Blasphemous Blade, so its established PvE strengths remain intact.

Taker’s Flames provides long-range fire damage, excellent burst potential, and healing when enemies are defeated. That combination makes the weapon unusually forgiving for difficult PvE encounters.

Recommended Build

Recommended talismans include Fire Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, Flock’s Canvas Talisman, and Godfrey Icon.

Use Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength before major encounters, then focus on Taker’s Flames whenever the boss gives you sufficient space.

For players who want a weapon that combines damage, range, and sustain, Blasphemous Blade remains one of the safest all-purpose choices.

4. Greatsword — S Tier

The classic colossal Greatsword remains one of the strongest pure Strength options.

A Heavy-infused Greatsword paired with a high-Strength build delivers massive physical damage, strong stagger pressure, and excellent performance with skills such as Lion’s Claw.

Recommended Build

Two-handing the weapon makes the Strength investment even more efficient.

For talismans, consider Great-Jar’s Arsenal, Claw Talisman, and Erdtree’s Favor +2. Lion’s Claw is the easiest recommendation for players who want a reliable stance-breaking skill.

It may not be the newest weapon in the game, but few weapons demonstrate how effective a simple Strength build can still be.

5. Nagakiba — S Tier

Nagakiba remains one of the best choices for players who prioritize range and Dexterity.

Its unusually long reach allows safer pokes against bosses, while Blood, Cold, or Occult-oriented configurations can turn it into a highly effective status weapon.

Recommended Build

A bleed-oriented configuration works especially well alongside Lord of Blood’s Exultation, Millicent’s Prosthesis, and Rotten Winged Sword Insignia.

Nagakiba’s biggest advantage is flexibility: it can shift between straightforward Dexterity damage and status-heavy setups without requiring you to completely rethink your character.

6. Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear — S Tier

Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear remains a devastating Arcane weapon thanks to Bloodboon Ritual.

The skill creates large-area bleed and fire damage, making it especially useful when bosses or groups stay within its effective range.

Recommended Build

Lord of Blood’s Exultation, White Mask, Shard of Alexander, and Godfrey Icon fit naturally into this setup.

The weapon is less about neutral melee exchanges and more about creating windows in which Bloodboon Ritual can dominate the encounter.

7. Reverse-Bladed Sword — A Tier

One of the most valuable Tarnished Pack additions is the Reverse-Bladed Sword, commonly associated with the Backhand Blade weapon type.

Unlike players who previously needed access to Shadow of the Erdtree for this style of weapon, Tarnished Pack owners can purchase the weapon from the Twin Maiden Husks in Roundtable Hold.

Patch 1.17 does not specifically increase its base damage, but the weapon benefits from the broader 1.17 environment and is particularly attractive for multi-hit Dexterity builds.

Recommended Build

A Lightning configuration can be paired with Ritual Sword Talisman, Winged Sword Insignia, Lightning Scorpion Charm, and Shard of Alexander.

Its strength comes from keeping attacks flowing rather than relying on one enormous individual hit.

8. Idus Sword — A Tier

The official new starting class is the Idus Knight, and its equipment includes the Idus Sword. The weapon can also be obtained without starting as the new class. PC Gamer reports that the sword can be found in southern Liurnia, while the associated armor is available through the appropriate merchant route.

The weapon suits players who prefer fast attacks and piercing pressure instead of the slower animations of heavier weapons.

Recommended Build

Keen affinity and a thrust-oriented Ash of War make an effective starting point.

This is one of the better new choices for a fresh playthrough because it does not require you to wait until the endgame before the weapon begins to shine.

9. Carian Sorcery Sword — A Tier

Patch 1.17 directly improves the Carian Sorcery Sword by changing its Intelligence scaling so that Intelligence now increases the attack power of all damage types, rather than being limited in the previous way.

This is one of the clearest examples of a previously niche weapon receiving a meaningful build-defining change.

Recommended Build

A high-Intelligence setup can use Magic Scorpion Charm, Graven-Mass Talisman, Shard of Alexander, and Radagon Icon.

This weapon becomes particularly attractive for players who want melee and spellcasting to coexist without committing to a conventional staff-and-sword setup.

10. Spear of the Impaler — A Tier

Spear of the Impaler is one of the clearest winners from Patch 1.17.

FromSoftware specifically increased the power of its throwing attack while reducing its stamina consumption. The same general improvement also applies to Smithscript Axe and Smithscript Spear.

That makes the spear much more practical as a hybrid melee/ranged weapon.

Recommended Build

A Faith-oriented setup can use Fire Scorpion Charm, Spear Talisman, Shard of Alexander, and other fire-focused bonuses.

For bosses that punish prolonged melee exchanges, being able to throw the weapon repeatedly with lower stamina costs is a major advantage.

Patch 1.17 Weapons That Deserve More Attention

The update was not limited to headline weapons. Several categories received direct buffs that could change how players approach previously underused builds.

All of these adjustments are documented in the official 1.17 patch notes.

This matters because the 1.17 meta is not simply “find the new weapon and ignore everything else.” Several older weapons now have better supporting systems around them.

Firespark and Lightning Perfume Bottles — A Tier

Perfume bottles received a direct attack-power increase in Patch 1.17, including Firespark and Lightning Perfume Bottle.

Firespark Setup

For a fire-focused character:

Consider Perfumer’s Talisman, Fire Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, and Flock’s Canvas Talisman.

Lightning Setup

A Lightning-oriented version can shift toward Dexterity and Faith:

Use Lightning Scorpion Charm, Perfumer’s Talisman, and Flock’s Canvas Talisman alongside offensive Lightning buffs.

These weapons are still more specialized than the best conventional swords, but Patch 1.17 makes them much easier to justify in a dedicated build.

Rellana’s Twin Blades — A Tier

Rellana’s Twin Blades also received increased critical hit power in Patch 1.17.

The weapon is especially interesting for Intelligence/Faith hybrid characters because it allows multiple damage types to remain relevant.

Suggested Build

A combination of Rellana’s Cameo, Magic Scorpion Charm, Shard of Alexander, and a crit-oriented talisman can work well depending on how aggressively you use stance breaks.

Smithscript Weapons Are Now More Viable

The Smithscript family deserves special attention because Patch 1.17 improves the basic idea behind these weapons: throwing them no longer feels like a novelty attack.

The Smithscript Axe, Smithscript Spear, and Smithscript Greathammer all received improvements to throwing attack power, while the Axe and Spear also received stamina-cost reductions.

A Strength build using the Smithscript Greathammer can therefore play at multiple ranges:

melee pressure → throw → reposition → heavy attack → stance break

This flexibility is valuable against bosses that frequently disengage or punish greedy melee combos.

Golden Order Flail — B Tier

The Golden Order Flail is the most niche of the major new additions.

It can be acquired through the new Broken Gold Mask encounter tied to the Law of Regression portion of the Corhyn questline. The invasion and reward become unavailable once Leyndell becomes Ashen Capital.

Its strongest use case is Holy-focused damage against enemies that are vulnerable to it.

Suggested Build

It is not as universally reliable as Blasphemous Blade or the best physical weapons, but players who enjoy Holy-focused builds now have another unusual option.

Star Fist, Death’s Poker and Other Veteran Picks

Not every strong 1.17 weapon had to receive a direct buff.

Star Fist

Star Fist remains a brutally effective close-range option because of its fast charged heavy attacks, stance pressure, and bleed potential.

A Strength-heavy build can pair it with Claw Talisman, Shard of Alexander, and bleed-related bonuses.

Death’s Poker

Death’s Poker remains a compelling Intelligence-oriented weapon because Ghostflame Ignition gives the build a powerful area-control option.

Its skill can be especially useful against enemies that are vulnerable to magic damage or remain within the Ghostflame effect.

Moonveil

Moonveil is still a dependable Intelligence/Dexterity weapon for players who want quick melee attacks plus a highly recognizable ranged skill.

Bloodhound’s Fang

For a new player or early-game character, Bloodhound’s Fang remains one of the easiest recommendations. Its weapon skill provides both offensive reach and evasive movement, giving it an unusually high amount of utility for an early weapon.

Best 1.17 Builds by Playstyle

Instead of asking which weapon is universally strongest, it is often better to start with the gameplay style you enjoy.

How Patch 1.17 Changes Weapon Selection

The biggest change is not that one weapon suddenly replaces everything else. Instead, Patch 1.17 makes more archetypes worth considering.

First, ranged physical pressure is better. The improvements to Smithscript weapons and Spear of the Impaler give melee characters more options when they cannot safely stay next to a boss.

Second, critical builds received a useful boost. Smithscript Dagger and Rellana’s Twin Blades both received increased critical power, while the general parry system was improved.

Third, defensive builds are more attractive. Numerous greatshields received higher Guard Boost and/or reduced weight, making shield-heavy setups more practical.

Finally, several neglected elemental weapons received direct damage buffs. Perfume bottles now have more attack power, while Rain of Fire also received a power increase.

The result is a broader PvE meta rather than a completely overturned one.

Where to Spend Your Resources for a New Build

Building one of these setups still requires a significant amount of leveling, upgrading, Ash of War experimentation, and equipment collection. Efficient progression therefore matters almost as much as choosing the right weapon.

For players optimizing Elden Ring Items, priorities should generally be focused on obtaining the correct weapon, upgrading it consistently, securing key talismans, and collecting the buffs that actually scale with the chosen damage type.

Likewise, Elden Ring Runes remain central to the process because high-level builds frequently require substantial investment across Vigor, Endurance, offensive attributes, Mind, and secondary scaling stats.

The important thing is to avoid spreading your stats too thin. A build with 40–50 points in several offensive attributes will often perform worse than a focused build with one primary damage stat and a carefully chosen secondary scaling attribute.

Final 1.17 Weapon Recommendations

Elden Ring Patch 1.17 does not erase the old meta, but it gives players considerably more reasons to experiment.

For the strongest new weapons, Leontiel’s Greatsword and Reed Great Katana stand out as premium choices. For established PvE power, Blasphemous Blade, Greatsword, Nagakiba, and Mohgwyn’s Sacred Spear remain extremely dependable.

Meanwhile, weapons and categories such as Carian Sorcery Sword, Spear of the Impaler, perfume bottles, Smithscript weapons, and crit-focused options benefit directly from the patch and deserve far more attention than they received before 1.17.

The Tarnished Pack also makes experimentation easier by putting several formerly expansion-associated weapon options into the base-game experience for owners of the new content, including Backhand Blades, the Ritual Thrusting Shield, and the Reed Great Katana.

For most players, the best approach is therefore not to chase a single “broken” weapon. Pick a damage profile you enjoy, push its primary scaling stat toward a meaningful breakpoint, build your talismans around the weapon skill or status effect, and then use 1.17’s newly improved options to fill the gaps in your playstyle.

The U4GM Team