Elden Ringpresents many classes and weapon builds for gamers to choose from. Players can truly customize their fighters to be using whatever they want in combat situations. Those who like using melee-based combat predominately will want to maximize their weapons' damage potential, for an easier time in the Lands Between.
Elden Ringpresents skill trees from which the player can purchase skills using runes, the primary currency of the game. Not all the Weapon Skills are as good as the others, though. Any self-respecting Tarnished will want to make sure they are using only the best skills in the game for their character. Keep in mind that some weapons have default skills that can’t be overwritten (similar toDark Souls).
Updated August 05, 2025, by Hamza Haq:A key difference between the Dark Souls series and Elden Ring is the incorporation of Ashes of War and weapon skills inherent to every single weapon in the game, which makes choosing a new primary tool of death not just a question of damage but of its special ability as well. Weapon skills give each weapon character, especially those that are unique to certain weapons and cannot be found anywhere else. It’s a much-needed addition to make melee combat as interesting as its spellcasting counterparts, Sorcery and Incantations.
14Hoarfrost Stomp
TheHoarfrost Stomp SkillisAsh of Warthat can be attached toall melee weaponsinElden Ring.It uses 10 FPto attack groups of enemies with a frost attack that rises from the ground. When cast in quick succession against enemies it can cause Frostbite.
It’s anexcellent crowd control skilland the perfect way to stop a group of enemies in their tracks. Even without inflicting Frostbite, it leaves opponents vulnerable to attack and allows the player to create some space to heal or attack.
13Sword Dance
TheSword Dance Skillis a powerful melee attack that can beattached to all melee weapons and shields. It grants theKeen affinitybut can and should be upgraded to a Quality Great Sword, Halberd, Spear, or Greatax. It has a lowFP cost of 6+6thanks to its additional follow-up attack.
It’s a good way to fend off surrounding enemies, but it’s even better when used against bosses like Radahn. It’s fast and devastating, so it won’t leave the player’s character vulnerable for too long. It is particularly good when attached to long weapons like the Halberd or a Great Sword like the Claymore.
12Onze’s Line of Stars
The Star-Lined Sword is a new weapon in theShadow of the Erdtree DLCthat comes equipped with the Onze’s Line of Star weapon skill. Upon use, the skillimbues the weapon with magic, splits the damage between magical and physical, and extends the range of the sword. This can then bechained into multiple follow-up attacksuntil players complete a 5-hit combo. TheFP cost is 10for the base attack, andfollow-ups cost 8per hit.
Other than looking incredibly cool, the skill does very decent damage with the right Talismans and armor. It’s also very flexible, allowing players to cancel the animation at any time and dodge out of the way. And the 5th attack in the combo does extra damage. The downside to this skill is the fact that itdoesn’t get any hyper armorand does very little poise damage in relation to the time it takes to perform the skill. Using this skill without the proper timing can leave players open to being punished.
11Bloodhound’s Step
TheBloodhound’s Step Skillis one of the most powerfulregular skillsinElden Ring. It can be attached to any armament and if used correctly it can make the player’s character almost unhittable in combat. This also includes fights in PVP and PVE, and it is amazing against big and powerful bosses.
With the right timing,it can teleport the player’s character out of dangerand position them behind an enemy for a quick backstab. It has a lowFP cost of 5but can be used after FP is drained by utilizing stamina instead. It’s useful for crossing lakes of lava. The player will still take damage but won’t be slowed down by the environment.
10Charge Forth
This is aRegular skillthat can be used withWinged Spears,Lances,and theGolem’s Halberd. It costs13 FP,and when used, theplayer will charge forward with their weapon at the hipbefore thrusting the weapon at the end of the charge. It allows players to inflict melee damage at a level that rivals even thebest bows in the game.
TheCharge Forth Skillskill is great at closing the distance when a player is trying to isolate and deal with a particular enemy in a group. If using a Heavy Weapon, a greater distance will be coveredwith the Charge Forth skill, making it useful to players regardless of whether they use Light or Heavy Weapons. This skill is the default on the Lance and the Golem’s Halberd.
9Prelate’s Charge
Prelate’s Charge Skillis aRegularskill that can be used withColossal Weapons. When using this skill, the playerwill slam their armament onto the ground, which creates a surge of flames, and then charge in.As anElden Ringbeginner tip, players can hold down the charge for as long as they need.
This skill works as a great distance closer and even has an AoE aspect since the flames can affect trash mobs from a decent radius. It has anFP cost of 20and is chargeable. Prelate’s Charge is the default skill for thePrelate’s Inferno Crozier,but can also be found by a dung beetle near the Fire Monk campsite at the Forbidden Lands.
8Carian Greatsword
This is aRegularskill that can be used withSwordsandColossal Weapons. With anFP cost of 16with the option to charge the skill, players will notice on activation their sword becomes a magical greatsword. It can beswung downwards on enemiesto inflict damage better thanElden Ring’s most powerful incantations.
TheCarian Greatsword Skillis great for players who want to enjoy the benefits of STR when in close-quarters combat with trash mobs. The skill can be obtained by buying it from Sorcerer Rogier at the Stormveil Castle Roundtable Hold.
7Spinning Weapon
TheSpinning Weapon Skillis a great defensive melee attack that will have the playerlift their armament into the air and spin it.Enemies that are hit by the armament while it is spinning will receive much greater damage, making it a useful skill to employ when fighting a group of mobs.
The skill costs20 FPand can be used with small and mediumSwords,Axes,Hammers,Polearms, andStaves,making it highly accessible to most players. Spinning Weapon can be obtained by purchasing from Sorcerer Rogier at the Stormveil Castle Roundtable Hold, a very difficult but important area in thisopen-world RPG.
6Storm Blade
ARegularskill,Storm Blade Skillcosts just10 FP.When used, the armament will besurrounded by winds that the player can then fire forward at enemies.It can be fired in rapid succession and can do some pretty nifty damage, and is just one of the reasonsplayers loveElden Ring.
Storm Blade is used withSwords. Players who used Excalibur onWarframewill find thisElden Ringskill similar and will enjoy using it when trying to chip away at the health of enemies without getting close enough to risk sustaining damage. Players should note that this isn’t a chargeable skill.
5Smithing Art Spears
Few weapons introduced in theShadow of the Erdtreecome close to the Anvil Hammer in terms of sheer effectiveness. From pure damage topoise breakto the moveset itself, Anvil Hammer is the complete package, and that includes the weapon skill, Smithing Art Spears. Although it looks like a copy of the Eruption Ash of War at first glance, the Smithing Art Spears is different in a few key ways.
When cast, the character uses18 FPand swings the hammer in an overhead arc, bringing it down with aslam that does AoE damage. After a short pause, spears emerge from the ground, dealing additional damage in a slightly larger AoE. The best thing about this weapon skill is that it deals a lot of poise damage, almost as much as the charged heavy attack, but with a fraction of the windup. In addition, the spears persist in the area for a short while, and anything that comes in contact with them takes full damage. This is especiallyuseful for tricky, fast-moving enemiesthat like to weave in and out of range.
