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The samurai fever is upon us once more (sort of) with Shogun getting a Season 2, Ghost of Tsushima getting a PC release, and Assassin’s Creed finally setting its sights on Japan. It just so happens that Elden Ring is one of the best games that lets you play as the most stylish fantasy samurai ever. As with all samurai, you need a katana. So make sure to complete the look by picking the best Elden Ring katana for your next playthrough, just in time for Elden Ring: Shadows of the Erdtree.
[Update on June 5, 2024 – Revised the guide to focus on katana as Dexterity weapons in Elden Ring]
8. Meteoric Ore Blade
Location: Caelid Waypoint Ruins, Caelid.
The Meteoric Ore Blade is a unique katana in Elden Ring, but that doesn’t mean it’s generally useful. It’s stuck with a rather questionable Weapon Skill where you merely pull in small enemies around you.
That’s either a minor convenience at best or a death sentence at its worst. Moreover, the blade’s short length makes it one of the worst katana in Elden Ring.
7. Dragonscale Blade
Location: Drops from Dragonkin Soldier boss, Lake of Rot.
It looks cool and has a decent Weapon Skill, but again, you’re stuck with that. Moreover, the Dragonscale Blade has no Bleed buildup or any inherent status effect, surprisingly.
However, it is useful for dragon slaying or against dragon bosses since the Dragonscale Blade grants a damage bonus against those enemy types. Even then, the slash damage is not effective against dragons.
6. Serpentbone Blade
Location: Volcano Manor after you complete the second letter quest.
Yet another unique katana in Elden Ring, the Serpentbone Blade also has the same fault as the Meteoric Ore Blade. You can’t change the Weapon Skill, but at least this one is more functional.
Too bad the Serpentbone Blade’s thematic design forbids it from employing Bleed and it’s stuck with Poison. If you’re a Poison build, there are simply better options out there.
5. Hand of Malenia
Location: Enia in Roundtable Hold after defeating Malenia, Blade of Miquella in the Haligtree.
One would think that the Hand of Malenia would be the best katana in Elden Ring since it’s a reward from the hardest boss not just in the game but also in the history of FromSoftware bosses. Sadly, it’s a relatively disappointing reward for how much trouble it takes to obtain it.
The Hand of Malenia’s permanent Weapon Skill is practically useless against the toughest bosses in Elden Ring. You might get some mileage out of it in PvP, but beyond that, this weapon is essentially just an ornamental trophy.
3. Uchigatana
Location: Deathtouched Catacombs in Stormhill, Limgrave.
The Uchigatana is a default weapon for the Samurai and you can even get another for a dual wielding if you pick that class. This katana, despite being simple and accessible, is one of the best in Elden Ring.
Think of it as a blank slate and you can customize it depending on your build. There are also plenty of good Ashes of War that help transform this katana into something more useful than a weapon.
4. Nagakiba
Location: Bloody Finger Hunter Yura either north of Murkwater Cave, Limgrave, or by completing his questline.
Once you get the Nagakiba (which you can obtain early by murdering Yura right away), you can say goodbye to the Uchigatana. This is a longer version of the Uchigatana, offering more range and safety.
It’s also as customizable as the Uchigatana. The weapon also has a stab or poke attack if you want to be even safer. If anything, it’s perfect for your Sephiroth cosplay.
2. Rivers of Blood
Location: Drops from Bloody Finger Okina near the Church of Repose, Mountaintops of the Giants.
Between this and the best katana in Elden Ring, it’s a bit of a toss-up for the top spot. But Rivers of Blood has been nerfed greatly and it’s no longer a godly weapon in PvP. It’s still awesome in PvE. This is a certified staple of Bleed builds.
Still, the rather late-game acquisition and limited versatility make Rivers of Blood less stellar compared to the best katana in Elden Ring…
1. Moonveil
Location: Drops from Magma Wyrm in Gael Tunnel, Caelid/Limgrave border.
Speaking of range and reach or staying safe in melee range, Moonveil offers an even better deal than Nagakiba. Its Weapon Skill is a range Iaido or sheathed slash which sends out a vertical magic projectile.
This Weapon Skill was nerfed but even then, it still deals considerable poise damage. Once you get it, the Moonveil will easily sway you into a Dex/Int build and playstyle.
Elden Ring is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
