Among the weapons a player can use in Elden Ring, spears are an excellent choice for players who prefer a mix of offense and defense. In the Lands Between, Spears' most notable advantages are their reach and ability to be used with shields.

Thumbnail for The Best Elden Ring Dexterity Weapons, three of the Elden Ring Player Character with three different dexterity weapons
Elden Ring: The 16 Best Dexterity Weapons, Ranked

While every weapon has its uses, some of the dexterity weapons in Elden Ring are a cut above the rest. These are the best ones and where to find them.

These qualities make them ideal for defensive and offensive play styles. Shields are already great in-game, and combining them with the spears' ability to let players strike from a safe distance without lowering their guard makes them perfect for PVE and PVP. So if players want to poke away at their enemies and be as tough as a wall, then a spear is what they want.

Updated January 23, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: There are more than a dozen regular Spear-type weapons in Elden Ring, not including Great Spears or other Poleblade-like weapon types. Because Spears let you attack without lowering a Shield, and because attacks come out fast with a Spear, the best Elden Ring Spears tend to be those with the longest reach. However, there's a lot more to consider than just the size when it comes to determining the best Spear in Elden Ring. This guide has been updated to include the Spear, Short Spear, and Iron Spear ranked low for their short reach, and the Partisan, which has middle-range reach, but comes with a unique horizontal swing that can take out groups of enemies easier than just about any other Spear in Elden Ring.

17 Spear, Short Spear, & Iron Spear

Easy To Get, But Very Low Range

patches-elden-ring-boss-fight

The regular Spear, the Short Spear, and the Iron Spear are perfectly good spears for the early game, but they all share a fatal flaw. Compared to every Elden Ring spear, these three spears have the worst range – the Iron Spear and Short Spear have the same range, while the regular Spear only gives a small increase, and is still far behind the next shortest spear.

You can find all three of these Elden Ring spears early, but just about every other option is an upgrade, so there's no reason to keep these if you find an alternative.

The regular spear can be rewarded by Patches in his first location or drop from Exile Soldiers throughout the world, the Iron Spear drops from the Fallen Hawk Soldiers in the Eternal Cities and Siofra Aqueduct (the enemies wielding the ghost torches), and the Short Spear is starting Prophet equipment and can be purchased from the Twin Maiden Husks.

16 Celebrant's Rib-Rake

Gain Runes On Hit – But You Won't Hit HardElden Ring Celebrant's Rib-Rake

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 8

Dex: 14

Str: D

Dex: C

Physical: 267

Dropped by Celebrants in the Windmill Village

Smithing Stones

Barbaric Roar Skill

While the Celebrant's Rib-Rake isn't the best spear in terms of damage, the fact that Tarnished only requires 8 Strength to wield it is a huge boon. Players will need to remember to use the Barbaric Roar skill before combat starts or any enemy gets close, as it is a melee buff with a channel time that can be interrupted.

Players will have to wait a fair while to find this weapon. The Windmill Village is located in the Altus Plateau, which can only be reached later on in the game. But once players reach this location, they will find that it is dropped randomly by Celebrants. There are plenty of them dancing around the area, so players should manage to find one Rib-Rake without too much trouble.

15 Pike

The Longest Spear In Elden RingElden Ring Tarnished using the Pike spear

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 20

Dex: 14

Str: C

Dex: D

Physical: 281

Stormveil Castle, near the Liftside Chamber site of grace

Smithing Stones

Charge Forth Skill

The Pike is a standard weapon with decent damage and average scaling. Additionally, the Pike is the longest spear, making it the longest weapon in the game. This means players will have a range advantage against every melee weapon players can find in the game.

Finally, its reach and ability to be infused with Ashes of War make this spear a formidable weapon in both PVP and PVE. This spear can be found in Stormveil Castle. It can be looted from a corpse in the strongly guarded courtyard directly next to the "Liftside Chamber" Site of Grace.

14 Swift Spear

A Decent (But Not Exceptional) SpearElden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Swift Spear

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 10

Dex: 26

Str: N/A

Dex: B

Physical: 242

North of the Pillar Path Waypoint

Smithing Stones

Impaling Thrust Skill

  • Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

While the Swift Spear doesn't have the best damage, it does have pretty good scaling for Dexterity. If players decide to upgrade it with the Keen Affinity, then an S scaling is even possible once maxed out. The Impaling Thrust skill can also be swapped out for something more fun.

The Swift Spear is very easy to find as it is on the road just north of the Pillar Path Waypoint, and the Messmer guards surrounding it aren't too hard to slay. This area is just beyond the Ellac Greatbridge, making it accessible from the beginning of the DLC.

13 Smithscript Spear

A DLC-Exclusive Throwing Spear

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Smithscript Spear

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 9

Dex: 12

Int: 11

Fai: 11

Str: D

Dex: C

Int: E

Fai: E

Physical: 262

Ruined Forge of Starfall Past

Smithing Stones

Impaling Thrust Skill

  • Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

The Smithscript Spear, like the rest of the new Smithscript weapons, can be thrown at enemies, and incredibly, it will return to the Tarnished's hand after landing. While it doesn't have the best damage or scaling and has awkward stat requirements for Intelligence and Faith, the ability to hit enemies from afar while still having a melee weapon is a great option to have.

To find this new DLC spear in Elden Ring, players will want to locate the Ruined Forge of Starfall Past, which is southwest of the Moorth Ruins. The spear is taken from a corpse on the main floor of the Forge.

12 Spiked Spear

The Highest Flat Damage Of Any Elden Ring SpearElden Ring Tarnished using the Spiked Spear

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 14

Dex: 16

Str: D

Dex: D

Physical: 294

Marionette Soldiers near Wichbane Ruins or Converted Tower

Smithing Stones

Impaling Thrust Skill

The Spiked Spear has decent reach, good scaling, and a good moveset. It has a special heavy attack that sweeps in a horizontal slashing motion, hitting multiple enemies instead of the regular heavy thrust. It can also be infused with Ashes of War and has built-in bleed build-up. However, what makes this spear good is its high flat damage.

Elden Ring Best Quality Weapons
Elden Ring: The Best Quality Weapons, Ranked

When looking to wield the best Quality weapons in Elden Ring, players can't go wrong with these choices.

The Spiked spear has the third-highest flat damage among all the spears in Elden Ring. Its high damage, build-in bleed build-up, and ability to be infused and buffed make this an excellent weapon for bleed builds. The spear-wielding Marionette Soldier drops this weapon. A notable farming spot is around the Converted Tower Site of Grace, west of Liurnia Lake.

11 Cross Naginata

Slash And Thrust With A Unique MovesetElden Ring Tarnished wielding the Cross Naginata spear

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 16

Dex: 20

Str: D

Dex: B

Physical: 298

Cavern inside Gael Tunnel

Smithing Stones

Impaling Thrust Skill

The Cross-Naginata is a unique spear because it combines slashes and thrusts in its basic combo. It is also the fourth-longest spear in the game, slightly shorter than the Torchpole. The Cross Naginata can also be infused with Ashes of War and has built-in bleed build-up.

This spear's incredible reach, ability to be infused, and awesome move-set make this weapon one of the best in The Lands Between. This spear can be found in a cavern with a Giant Land Octopus in the Gael Tunnel.

10 Bloodfiend's Fork

A Spear That Builds BleedElden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Bloodfiend's Fork

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 14

Dex: 8

Arc: 13

Str: C

Dex: E

Arc: D

Physical Scaling: 252

Hemorrhage: 50

Dropped by Bloodfiends, Ruined Forge Lava Intake

Smithing Stones

Barbaric Roar Skill

  • Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

The Bloodfiend's Fork is a new spear and a solid option for the early stages of the DLC, although only for those with high enough Arcane. In addition to physical damage, players can also make their foes bleed with this deadly fork, and they can always apply a different Ashes of War to replace the fairly mundane Barbaric Roar.

To get their hands on this new spear from Shadow of the Erdtree, players will need to slay Bloodfiends who wield one, and with some luck, a spear will drop. Bloodfiends can be found near the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, which is to the east after crossing the Ellac Greatbridge. The Silver Scarab Talisman can help to increase the chances of items dropping and can be used alongside other Talismans perfect for exploration and farming.

9 Torchpole

Easily Set Enemies Aflame From A DistanceElden Ring Tarnished wielding Torchpole spear

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 14

Dex: 15

Str: C

Dex: C

Physical: 254

Fire: 75

Stormveil Castle courtyard guards

Smithing Stones

Charge Forth Skill

The Torchpole deals Fire damage. It's not the prettiest weapon, but it is the third-longest spear in the game, making it suitable for keeping enemies at a distance. This spear is especially useful against enemies that get stunned with the special set-on-fire animation, like dogs and finger creepers.

Though it cannot be infused with Ashes of War, and the damage is not that high, it fits a special niche with its ability to trigger the set-on-fire stun animation on certain enemies. Players can farm this weapon quite easily. The torch-wielding courtyard guards who drop this weapon may be found in the Legacy Dungeon Stormveil Castle.

8 Partisan

Heavy Attacks Sweep Horizontally

Elden Ring Partisan Spear

Stat Requirements

Max Scaling (+25)

Max Damage (+25)

Location

Upgrade Material

Unique Effect or Weapon Skill

Str: 15

Dex: 12

Str: C

Dex: D

Physical: 300

Godrick, Redmane, Cuckoo, Leyndell, Mausoleum Knights

Smithing Stones

Impaling Thrust Skill

The Partisan is one of the best spears Elden Ring players can get relatively early in the game, depending on their Item Discovery stat, that comes with a unique spear moveset. In addition to thrusting attacks, it can be swung horizontally with a Heavy attack to take out groups of enemies rather than just one.

There are only two other spears Elden Ring players can get that share this unique moveset, but the Partisan can theoretically be found the earliest. It drops from almost most Knight-type enemies, but particularly Leyndell and Cuckoo Knights in Leyndell and Raya Lucaria respectively.