Thrusting Weapons Elden Ring: A Piercing Guide

In the sprawling world of Elden Ring, thrusting weapons reign supreme as the epitome of precision and piercing power. These swift and versatile blades allow wielders to dispatch foes with calculated strikes, exploiting gaps in their defenses and inflicting devastating damage.

Types of Thrusting Weapons

1. Spears
- Long-range weapons with high reach and piercing damage
- Excellent for crowd control, thrusting from a safe distance

2. Thrusting Swords
- Short, nimble swords with rapid attack speed
- Ideal for close-quarters combat, delivering quick and deadly thrusts

3. Rapiers
- The most lightweight thrusting weapons, sacrificing reach for speed
- Capable of swift and precise strikes, perfect for exploiting openings

4. Halberds
- Versatile weapons combining the reach of spears with the slashing power of axes
- Provide a balanced approach, effective in both close and medium range

Abilities and Strategies

1. Piercing Strike
- Thrusting weapons inflict 30% bonus damage to enemies with low poise

2. Critical Strike
- Backstabs and ripostes with thrusting weapons deal 150% bonus damage

3. Close-Range Combat
- Thrusting swords and rapiers excel in close-quarters combat, taking advantage of their speed and maneuverability

4. Mid-Range Engagement
- Spears and halberds provide excellent reach, allowing players to engage enemies at mid-range while maintaining safety

5. Exploiting Enemy Weaknesses
- Thrusting weapons are highly effective against enemies with low poise or exposed vital areas

Effective Thrusting Weapons

Spears

• Banished Knight's Halberd: A balanced spear with reach and strength scaling
• Cleanrot Knight's Spear: A dextrous spear with bleed buildup capability
• Cross-Naginata: A unique spear with both piercing and slashing damage types

Thrusting Swords

• Estoc: A classic thrusting sword with high critical damage
• Ricard's Rapier: A dextrous rapier with increased critical strike rate
• Wing of Astel: A magical thrusting sword that deals holy damage

Rapiers

• Royal Greatsword: A colossal rapier with impressive strength scaling and reach
• Sword of Night and Flame: A unique rapier that combines physical and fire damage
• Vyke's War Spear: A dextrous rapier with madness buildup capability

Halberds

• Black Knife: A shadowy halberd with high damage and stealth capabilities
• Godskin Peeler: A unique halberd that inflicts status effects and self-peels
• Nightrider's Glaive: A strength-based halberd with high reach and sweeping attacks

Tips and Tricks

• Use the R1 (light attack) and R2 (heavy attack) buttons for standard thrusts and lunging attacks, respectively.
• Hold the L2 (block) button to guard against enemy attacks and create openings for counterattacks.
• Equip the Ash of War: Quickstep to evade enemy attacks and swiftly reposition yourself.
• Utilize the Ash of War: Bloodhound's Step for an even faster and more evasive dodge.
• Take advantage of backstabs and ripostes to maximize damage output.
• Infuse your thrusting weapon with elements such as Fire or Lightning to enhance its damage against specific enemy types.

Pros and Cons of Thrusting Weapons

Pros:

• High piercing damage
• Fast attack speed
• Excellent reach and crowd control
• Effective against enemies with low poise
• High critical strike damage

Cons:

• Limited sweeping attacks
• Require precise aim to land hits
• Vulnerable to enemies with high poise or long-range attacks
• Can be challenging to use in close quarters against multiple opponents

Creative Applications

The versatility of thrusting weapons extends beyond combat. Their piercing capabilities can also be utilized for creative applications, such as:

• Door unlocking: Thrusting a rapier into the keyhole of a locked door can break the lock and open the door.
• Traps: Placing a spear in a doorway or hallway can create a deadly trap for unsuspecting enemies.
• Target practice: Throwing a spear at a distant target can help improve your aim and precision.

Conclusion

Thrusting weapons are a potent and versatile class of weapons in Elden Ring. Their ability to pierce through enemy defenses and inflict high critical damage makes them a formidable choice for both close and mid-range combat. By mastering their unique abilities and strategies, players can unleash the full potential of these piercing blades and become formidable warriors in the realm of the Lands Between.

Tables

Table 1: Thrusting Weapon Types

Table 2: Effective Thrusting Weapons

Table 3: Thrusting Weapon Abilities

Table 4: Thrusting Weapon Strategies