Elden Ring: All Fist Weapons, Ranked

Elden Ring has a deep arsenal of weapons for players to seize their destiny with. With a variety of weapon classes and damage types, Elden Ring allows players to fine-tune their build to their specific play style. For those who enjoy putting on a thick set of armor and punching their way through enemies and boss encounters, look no further than the Fist weapon class.



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Fist weapons may lack the range of other weapons, but they can pack a massive punch with the right stats. These weapons provide speedy combos as well, letting the Tarnished get a few shots off before most enemies are finished swinging. A proper setup can allow the player to bulldoze their way across The Lands Between, with enemies falling left and right at their fingertips.

Updated October 28, 2024 by Erik Petrovich: With the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC Elden Ring fist weapons expanded with a few new options. Two of these new options are not exactly the best Fist Weapons Elden Ring players can get, but their ability to proc special effects makes them incredibly useful for specific builds. The Madding Hand and the Poisoned Hand have been added to this list of the best Fist Weapons in Elden Ring, with the caveat that they should be used primarily as a backup for a more powerful status effect weapon if you do not focus entirely around building around them being your primary weapons.



13 Poisoned Hand & Madding Hand

The Madding Hand and the Poisoned Hand are two new Fist weapons in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Though both are far from the best Fist Weapon Elden Ring players can get, they do help enable their respective status effect builds. As their names suggest, the Madding Hand builds Madness, while the Poisoned Hand builds Poison.

The Madding Hand also builds Fire damage, and deals some of the highest base damage of any Fist weapon against enemies that are not resistant to Fire. Both of these new Fist weapons Elden Ring players can get in the DLC have a special damage-boosting passive, too. When you proc either Poison/Scarlet Rot or Madness in nearby enemies, your damage will increase slightly for 20 seconds. Use this to your advantage by equipping it to proc an effect, then swap to a more powerful weapon to take advantage of the damage boost.


Though both of these weapons are useful in their associated builds, especially thanks to their powerful Status Effect-proccing Ashes of War, they do not scale well into the endgame and are best used as a backup for other weapons that deal more damage.

Elden Ring Poisoned Hand Stats & Location

Poisoned Hand Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • 76 base Strike
  • Builds 36 Poison on hit
  • STR: lvl 8
  • DEX: lvl 8
  • ARC: lvl 28
  • Poison Spear-Hand Strike (13 FP)

To get the Poisoned Hand, Elden Ring players must enter the lower flooded area of the Belurat Tower Settlement legacy dungeon, in the Gravesite Plain of the DLC map. It should be located next to a wall in the east of this area – watch out for the Ulcerated Tree Spirit.

Elden Ring Madding Hand Stats & Location

Madding Hand Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • 53 Physical/63 Fire (Strike)
  • Builds 55 Madness on hit
  • STR: D
  • DEX: E
  • INT: E
  • FAITH: E
  • STR: lvl 8
  • DEX: lvl 8
  • INT: lvl 13
  • FAITH: lvl 20
  • Madding Spear-Hand Strike (13 FP)


To get the Madding Hand, Elden Ring players must get to The Abyssal Woods and defeat Madding Hand, an enemy NPC who appears just south of the first sign warning you to remain silent in this zone. Defeating this enemy automatically rewards the Madding Hand.

12 Caestus

For Professional Pugilists and Fans of Fair Fisticuffs Fights

Elden Ring Fist weapons Caestus

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

This weapon scales with strength and dexterity. The Endure ash of war comes attached to the Caestus, and is great for tanking extra hits while dishing out punches.

The Caestus is a fine intro to fist weapons, but is largely outclassed by weapons found later in the game. This weapon can be infused with other ashes of war for creative builds, but the Tarnished will still likely want to replace the Caestus down the road.


Elden Ring Caestus Location

To get Caestus Elden Ring players must purchase it from Gatekeeper Gostoc, but only after reaching a specific point in Stormveil Castle. Either after collecting the Rusted Key in the room that gets locked behind you, or after defeating Godrick, Gostoc will add Caestus to his inventory for a total of 800 Runes.

11 Katar

The Assassin’s Creed Fan’s Choice Elden Ring Weapon

10 Elden Ring Fist weapons Katar

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

The Katar comes with the Impaling Thrust Ash of War. The weapon features a small handle with a short, wide blade at the end, and deals both slashing and piercing damage. The Katar scales with both strength and dexterity, and can be infused with other Ashes of War.

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This weapon is a decent upgrade from the Caestus, though it lacks in scaling when compared to other weapons found later in the journey. Though, the Katar gets points on looks alone, and is a great addition to any outfit in Elden Ring.


Elden Ring Katar Location

To get the Katar Elden Ring players must go to Fort Gael, above the western coast of Caelid. It’s northwest from the Caelid Waypoint Ruins, and directly west of the Gaol Cave, though the Fort Gaol entrance can only be accessed by heading up the slope south of the Cave’s entrance. Once inside, look for a Chest on a platform above one of the Lion Guardian minibosses.

9 Iron Ball

Big Damage At The Cost Of Fashion

Elden Ring Fist weapons Iron Ball

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

Scaling with strength and dexterity, this weapon is about as simple as it gets in the fist weapon category. Just a solid ball of iron attached to the Tarnished’s fist, primed for punching holes through the undead.


This Iron Ball is great with the Endure weapon skill, so the player can stay in range for more blunt force pummeling. The Iron Ball spawns with the Braggart’s Roar ash of war, which modifies the weapon’s strong attacks as well as buffing damage, defense, and stamina recovery.

Elden Ring Iron Ball Location

To get the Iron Ball Elden Ring players must simply defeat Blackguard Big Boggart, or follow his quest line through to the end. This item doesn’t drop from any other NPC, nor can it be found out in the world or purchased from a vendor. Blackguard Big Boggart can be found in central-west Liurnia cooking prawns, and serves as part of Rya’s questline.

8 Pata

Elden Ring Pata in the foreground with the Scadutree in the background


Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

One of the new Shadow of the Erdtree Fist weapons is the Pata. Not to be confused with the Cipher Pata from the base game (another Elden Ring fist weapon that guarantees hits, but only deals Holy damage), the Pata is one of the best new Fist weapons because of its reach. It’s also the weapon that Needle Knight Leda uses, though hers is a unique NPC version.

It deals basic Standard and Pierce damage, and scales decently with Dexterity, but its real strength is its attack range. It looks almost like a shortsword, but strikes with the Fist Weapon attack moveset, making for a very fast, and very effective, short-range blade build.

Elden Ring Pata Location

To get the Pata fist weapon, Shadow of the Erdtree players should head to the Cliffroad Terminus Site of Grace, near Prospect Town. Go to the very south of the area until you reach a church – you should find the Oathkeeper Knight set on a body here, as well as the Pata weapon.


7 Golem Fist

Elden Ring Golem Fist in the foreground with the Scadutree in the background

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • STR: C
  • DEX: E
  • INT: E
  • FAITH: E
  • STR: lvl 24
  • DEX: lvl 8
  • INT: lvl 11
  • FAITH: lvl 11

The Golem Fist is an exceptional Fist WeaponShadow of the Erdtree introduces because, when fully upgraded, its Strength scaling reaches A. Though Fist weapon builds are more typically Dex based than Strength based, the SOTE Golem Fist stands out because it’s one of the few great options for Strength players.

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Aside from its Strength scaling, the Golem Fist seems to break Poise faster than other Fist weapons in Elden Ring. This is perhaps due to its weight – at a hefty 6.0 weight, it’s one of the heaviest “light” weapons in Elden Ring.


Elden Ring Golem Fist Location

To get the Golem Fist, Shadow of the Erdtree players must head to Taylew’s Ruined Forge, in Rauh Base to the north of Scadu Altus (and below it, vertically). Progress through the Forge until you reach a pipe. Run to the top of this pipe to see two platforms. On the southern platform you will see two Forge Golems. Defeat the Golem that fires ranged Fire attacks at you to get the Golem Fist weapon.

6 Spiked Caestus

The Caestus – Now With Bleed Damage

Elden Ring Fist weapons Spiked Caestus

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • 91 base Strike
  • 45 Bleed buildup


This weapon is essentially the Caestus, but with spikes that cause bleed build-up in enemies unlucky enough to cross the player’s path. Bleed makes a decent weapon good, and a good weapon great, and being built into the Spiked Caestus makes it all the better.

The Spiked Caestus also comes with Endure, like the Caestus, and has an initial blood loss build of 45. While not the best bleed option in the fist weapon class, this weapon can still punish foes who get too close in a violent fashion.

Elden Ring Spiked Caestus Location

To get Spiked Caestus Elden Ring players must purchase it from the Isolated Merchant in the far west Dragonbarrow. From Fort Farroth, head west and slightly northward while following the road. Eventually, you will come to a shack, which houses this Merchant. Spiked Caestus cost 4000 Runes from the Isolated Merchant here.

5 Veteran’s Prosthesis

A Lightning-Damage Blade, With A Powerful Ash of WarElden Ring Fist weapons Veterans Prosthesis

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • 85 base Slash/Pierce
  • 53 base Lightning


Veteran’s Prosthesis is equipped with the awesome Storm Kick ash of war, allowing for fantastic synergy with lightning builds. The weapon is fun to use, though it is locked to the Storm Kick ash of war, so players may want something in the back pocket to deal with lightning-resistant enemies.

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This weapon isn’t available until late in the game at Mountaintops of the Giants, so fist weapon purists will have to rely on something else until they can grab this beauty.

Elden Ring Veteran’s Prosthesis Location

To get the Veteran’s Prosthesis Elden Ring players must defeat Commander Niall, a mandatory boss at the end of Castle Sol. Castle Sol is in the far northeast of the Mountaintops of Giants, which itself cannot be accessed until you have defeated Morgott the Omen King in Leyndell.

4 Cipher Pata

An Unblockable, Holy Damage-Dealing Line of Code

Elden Ring Fist weapons Cipher Pata


Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • Slash/Pierce
  • 85 base Holy

Cipher Pata is a very interesting fist weapon, as it scales with only Faith, and requires 30 Faith to wield effectively. For pure faith builds, this weapon is top-notch.

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Cipher Pata is imbued with the Unblockable Blade ash of war, which charges the blade with light before sending out a piercing thrust that can’t be blocked. Unblockable Blade only costs 17 FP, so users can dish it out on repeat with enough points in the mind stat.

Elden Ring Cipher Pata Location

To get the Cipher Pata Elden Ring players must head to Roundtable Hold and jump off the railing opposite Sorcerer Rogier’s spot on the balcony (between the two off-shoot hallways). Defeat Mad Tongue Alberich, then look in the side room beneath the balcony. The Cipher Pata should be on a corpse lying on a bed in this room.


3 Clinging Bone

It’s Someone’s Arm, And It Deals Magic Damage

Elden Ring Fist weapons Clinging Bone

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • 80 base Standard/Pierce
  • 24 base Magic
  • STR: lvl 8
  • DEX: lvl 22
  • ARC: lvl 16

Scaling primarily with dexterity and a little arcane, the Clinging Boneis full-fledged fleshless fun. Clinging Bone is locked into the Lifesteal Fist ash of war, which knocks enemies unconscious before stealing their HP.

Lifesteal Fist is only effective against foes of human build, so it’s not likely to assist against the giant behemoths Elden Ring likes to throw at the player. Still, Clinging Bone is a lifesaver in tight spots, especially in deep caves and catacombs.


Elden Ring Clinging Bone Location

To get the Clinging Bone Elden Ring players must defeat Enia of the Royal Remains. Enia automatically invades players upon their first time returning to Roundtable Hold after they collect either half of the Secret Haligtree Medallion. Kill him to get his armor and the Clinging Bone.

2 Grafted Dragon

A Bit Less Impressive In-Person, But Powerful Nonetheless

Elden Ring Fist weapons Grafted Dragon

Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • 89 base Strike
  • 57 base Fire
  • STR: lvl 20
  • DEX: lvl 14
  • FAITH: lvl 16

There’s nothing quite like shooting fireballs out of a dragon head, especially when said dragon head is attached to the end of the arm like Mega Man’s Mega Buster. This weapon scales with strength, dexterity, and faith.


Traversing The Lands Between equipped with the Grafted Dragon is one of the most fun ways to experience Elden Ring. The weapon is fantastic for clearing enemy hoards and devastating to anything weak to fire damage. Players who want to go full dragon mode should equip a Dragon Communion Seal to really crank the heat.

Elden Ring Grafted Dragon Location

To get the Grafted Dragon Elden Ring players must defeat Godrick the Grafted, and use his Remembrance to trade for it with Enia at Roundtable Hold. All Shardbearers drop a Remembrance, which grants weapons and spells associated with them. Offer the Remembrance of the Grafted to purchase the Grafted Dragon fist weapon for “free”.

1 Star Fist

The Iron Ball – Now With Bleed Damage

Elden Ring Fist weapons Star Fist


Damage Types

Scaling

Level Requirements

Ash of War

Weight

  • 105 base Strike
  • 45 Bleed buildup

The Star Fist is guaranteed to send shivers down the spine of any enemy. The Star Fist has a solid physical damage stat, and comes with blood loss build up just like the Spiked Caestus. It’s a little heavier, but there’s 14 more damage in that extra pound.

The Tarnished can pair this weapon with Hoarah Loux’s Earthquake Ash of War for a strong combination. Equipping two Star Fists can deal slightly more damage than two-handing the single weapon, but doesn’t grant the unique 2h moveset for fist weapons.

Elden Ring Star Fist Location

To get the Star Fist Elden Ring players must first head to the West capital Rampart Site of Lost Grace in Leyndell, then head towards the Colosseum. Once you get to its entrance, walk around its left side, and look for an opening containing a body. Loot the body to get the Star Fist.


elden ring cover

Released
February 25, 2022

ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

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