With the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, FromSoftware has once again redefined the limits of combat depth and weapon diversity in its brutal yet mesmerizing universe. Set in the Land of Shadow, the expansion doesn’t just add new areas Elden Ring Runes and bosses—it brings a treasure trove of powerful new weapons that fundamentally expand player options in PvE and PvP. Whether you’re a battle-hardened Tarnished returning for NG+7 or a fresh explorer of the DLC, understanding these new weapons can define your entire journey through Miquella’s twisted realm.

Overview: A Fresh Arsenal for New Challenges
Shadow of the Erdtree introduces over 100 new weapons, including entirely new weapon types, Ashes of War, and spell/weapon hybrid tools. From flame-wreathed katanas to colossal bone scythes, each weapon feels hand-crafted for the new challenges found in the DLC—particularly the aggressive and magical new boss designs that punish slow reactions and reward clever build experimentation.

Among the most popular additions are:

Light Greatswords

Beast Claws

Reverse-Hand Swords

Perfume Bottles

Great Katanas

Thrusting Greatswords

Smithscript Weapons

Flame Art and Holy-based armaments

Torches as viable main-hand weapons

Let’s take a deeper look at some standout categories.

1. Light Greatswords – Speed Meets Weight
New to Shadow of the Erdtree, Light Greatswords fill a gap between the classic Straight Swords and Greatswords. They deliver fast-paced, sweeping combos while maintaining enough poise damage and range to stagger humanoid enemies consistently. Perfect for aggressive mid-range dueling and crowd control.

Notable Weapon: Milady
This regal blade scales well with Dexterity and Faith, making it perfect for hybrid builds. Its unique weapon art, Wing Stance, unleashes elegant airborne slashes that can be chained into a flurry or heavy finisher.

2. Beast Claws – Ferocious and Fast
Beast Claws capitalize on relentless aggression, with combos that resemble a wild animal’s fury. These weapons emphasize Dexterity and Strength and often include innate bleed buildup. Their move set rewards flanking and high-mobility playstyles.

Notable Weapon: Beast Claw Gauntlets
This set comes with the Claw Barrage Ash of War, allowing the user to leap into foes with a multi-hit flurry, excellent for breaking poise and pressuring bosses.

3. Reverse-Hand Swords – Mastery Required
These unique blades are wielded backward, leading to extremely unorthodox attack patterns. With sweeping arcs and deceptive timings, they are difficult to master but devastating in PvP. They're designed for players who want to challenge themselves with non-linear combos and precise spacing.

Notable Weapon: Rakshasa’s Greatblade
With a menacing red glow and spinning slashes, this blade rewards quick roll-catches and close-quarters aggression.

4. Perfume Bottles – Stylish Explosives
Returning from Elden Ring’s base game as consumables, perfumes now take center stage as full-fledged weapons. Wielded similarly to catalysts, these bombs unleash powerful AoEs, buffs, or debuffs, depending on the mixture used. They scale with Intelligence or Arcane and can be rapidly thrown or infused with Ashes of War.

Notable Weapon: Sparkling Crystal Perfume Bottle
This weapon emits a damaging mist that lingers for several seconds, ideal for area denial in both PvE and PvP.

5. Great Katanas – Bleed Goes Bigger
Fans of bleed builds will rejoice at the introduction of Great Katanas, which bring the elegance of classic katanas with the bulk and impact of colossal weapons. Their wide slashes and delayed thrusts can devastate enemies while keeping that signature blood loss buildup.

Notable Weapon: Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana
This beast-slaying blade comes with Serpent Fang Slash, a powerful lunging cut that can combo into a heavy follow-up. Ideal for Faith/Dex builds with status procs.

6. Smithscript Weapons – Arcane Tech
Among the most mysterious weapons in the DLC are the Smithscript series—ancient weapons tied to the lost blacksmiths of the Shadow Realm. These tools are infused with magical glyphs and often carry unique scaling with Intelligence or Arcane. They also tend to have passive effects, like mana regeneration or elemental pulses.

Notable Weapon: Smithscript Cirque
A throwable chakram-like ring that returns like a boomerang. Can be dual-wielded for insane DPS. Functions almost like a magical twinblade at range.

7. Torches as Viable Main Weapons
No longer limited to lighting the way, some torches in Shadow of the Erdtree are legitimate weapons with viable damage and utility. These include torches that deal holy or fire damage and apply status effects like Madness or Scarlet Rot.

Notable Weapon: Writhing Torch
A torch wreathed in cursed flame. Its Ash of War spreads fire while draining nearby enemies’ FP—a deadly counter to mages in PvP and spirit-summoning bosses in PvE.

Weapon Ashes and Customization
FromSoftware has also significantly expanded the Ashes of War system. Many of the new weapons come with exclusive Ashes that define their identity. Moreover, the developers have allowed new scaling options, enabling more build creativity. Many weapons in the DLC synergize with Scadutree Fragments, the new upgrade system that boosts survivability and enhances scaling effects in the Land of Shadow.

Final Thoughts: Build Diversity and Player Expression
Shadow of the Erdtree excels at not only expanding the weapon catalog but also redefining what viable builds can look like. Whether you’re a bleed enjoyer, holy magic wielder, claw-and-flame berserker, or someone who simply loves stylish movesets, this DLC gives you the tools to thrive. From PvP arenas to epic boss duels, every weapon tells a story—and with over 100 new toys to master, this may be the deepest combat sandbox FromSoftware has ever created.

Pro Tips for Players Entering the DLC
Experiment Early: Grab new weapons from minibosses and hidden chests—some appear just minutes after entering the Land of Shadow.

Respect Your Build: Use the respec option at Rennala to try out the new weapon types without committing to a full NG cycle.

Mix Old and New: Many new weapons pair surprisingly well with legacy talismans and gear.

Test in PvP: Some weapons feel balanced in PvE but dominate duels. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Whether you're a longtime Tarnished or someone revisiting the Elden Ring Items buy game for the DLC, the Shadow of the Erdtree weapons add meaningful variety and personality to the experience. These blades, bombs, claws, and cursed torches don’t just offer more—they challenge you to reimagine your entire build philosophy. And in the Lands of Shadow, that might just be the edge you need to survive.