Elden Ring: Best Axes

Players have a lot of options when it comes to dealing out death in Elden Ring. For example, the axe weapon class comes with a surprising number of move sets and passives. Known for their serious damage, the axe weapon class trades off attack speed for raw damage output.

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These weapons have slower attacks than other weapons, but when wielded in one hand, they are still more versatile than greataxes and can be used alongside the best shields in Elden Ring. Players interested in wielding an axe should keep an eye out for these excellent options.

Updated January 22, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: There are over a dozen Elden Ring Axe weapons that players can find throughout the game and its DLC, but many aren't exactly easy to get. Some of the best Elden Ring Axes are in out-of-the-way locations or are only available as rewards for defeating certain bosses, and can be frustrating or outright impossible to acquire without help. This Elden Ring Axe tier list has been updated to include some new DLC options, as well as to include more details on how to acquire every Elden Ring Axe in the first place.

17 Hand Axe

A Good Starting Weapon, But Far From The Best Elden Ring Axe

Scaling from both Str and Dex, the Hand Axe is a great starting weapon for those who want to hit a little harder. Its attack speed is fast, allowing players to get more hits in before they run out of stamina, making it a more forgiving weapon than most axes. Additionally, it can be buffed with spells and consumables, increasing its damage output.

However, what makes it suitable is its ability to be infused with Ashes of War, making it a great starting weapon for those who want to go for a quality build.

How To Get The Hand Axe In Elden Ring

This axe can be bought from the merchant in East Limgrave.

16 Warped Axe

Scales Particularly Well With Strength With The Heavy Infusion

The strongest in terms of Str scaling, the Warped Axe can dish out serious damage. This weapon has high B strength scaling at +25, making it perfect for strength builds. Additionally, it has a special move set that gives it a slightly faster attack speed than most axes.

However, the true strength of this weapon is its incredible scaling when infused with heavy infusion. This gives it an S scaling in Str, allowing it to deal monstrous damage.

How To Get The Warped Axe In Elden Ring

The Warped Axe is dropped by the Omen enemies that wield it, which can be found in the Cliffbottom Catacombs, Abandoned Coffin Site of Grace, and the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.

15 Messmer Soldier's Axe

A DLC Exclusive All-Rounder Axe

• Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

One of the new axes from the DLC is the Messmer Soldier's Axe, a strong and simple weapon that players can customize with other Ashes of War.

It has decent scaling and low stat requirements, making it an easy pickup for most Tarnished just setting foot in the DLC. It won't blow you away, but it's far from the worst Axe in Elden Ring.

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How To Get The Messmer Soldier's Axe In Elden Ring

As its name suggests, this axe - along with parts of the Messmer Soldier set - belong to Messmer soldiers, and if players slay them enough, the weapon should eventually drop. There are some of these soldiers to the east of the Gravesite Plain. Equipping Talismans that are great for farming and exploration can help with this process.

14 Celebrant's Cleaver

Grants Runes On Hit, But You Don't Hit Very Hard

Celebrant's Cleaver is one of the weaker axes in the game, which is a little disappointing, considering players must reach Altus Plateau to acquire it. Thankfully, any player who does pick up a Celebrant's Cleaver should have a good chance of wielding it, as it has low stat requirements.

While it doesn't have the most base damage in the game by a long stretch, it is also not the worst, with many weaker weapons to be found. The Wild Strikes skill is fairly standard and causes the wielder to advance slowly while swinging their axe wildly.

How To Get The Celebrant's Cleaver In Elden Ring

To get the Celebrant's Cleaver, Elden Ring players must go to Dominula, Windmill Village, where it is dropped at random by certain Celebrants.

13 Iron Cleaver

A Fast, Short-Range Axe That Synergizes With Combo Talismans

The Iron Cleaver is extremely dangerous, especially with the Axe Talisman. It has a surprisingly fast attack speed for an axe, allowing players to get a few hits when they get close enough quickly. Additionally, the axe can be buffed and infused, allowing players to use the Heavy infusion, giving it an S scaling for Str.

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However, what sets this axe apart is its move set, particularly the charged heavy attack, which is a fantastic running swing for roll-catching in PvP.

How To Get The Iron Cleaver In Elden Ring

This cleaver is dropped by the misbegotten enemies wielding the weapon, which can be found in Castle Morne.

12 Forked Hatchet

Use The Imps' Weapon Against Them

The shortest of all the axes, the Forked Hatchet makes up for it with its excellent Dex scaling and fast attack speed, allowing players to apply its innate bleed build-up fast. The axe can be buffed and infused, making it a versatile weapon that can change Ashes of War.

Additionally, infusing it with a Blood infusion increases its damage output significantly due to its attack speed, making it deadly up close. The Forked Hatchet is also relatively easy to get early in the game.

How To Get The Forked Hatchet In Elden Ring

Players can obtain this axe from Imps wielding it.

11 Battle Axe

A Basic, But Strong, Starting Elden Ring Axe

As the starting weapon for the Hero Class, the Battle Axe isn't anything to get too excited about, but as long as it is upgraded a little, it can remain a decent option for much of the early game. It has low Strength and Dexterity stat requirements, making it accessible for most Tarnished.

Outside of its solid base damage and average Strength scaling, there isn't much more to the axe. The Wild Strikes skill allows players to swing wildly in front of them for as long as they hold down, but they will be slowed and locked out of other options, such as dodging.

How To Get The Battle Axe In Elden Ring

Players who don't start off as members of the Hero Class can purchase the Battle Axe from the Twin Maid Husks at the Roundtable Hold.

10 Highland Axe

Long Reach And Great Scaling Makes For One Of The Best Axes

The second longest axe, the Highland Axe, is a formidable weapon that scales equally from both Str and Dex, making it an excellent choice for quality builds. However, its true value lies in boosting roar skills, allowing players to buff hit with devastating attacks. Combined with the roar medallion, the Highland Axe becomes a force to be reckoned with, capable of inflicting significant damage.

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Additionally, merely having the axe in their possession grants them the benefits of the passive skill, enabling players to use stronger weapons later on and still benefit from it.

How To Get The Highland Axe In Elden Ring

Players can venture into Stormveil Castle to obtain the weapon and find it in the room with Grafted Scion. Look for the body beneath the giant painting of Godfrey.

9 Smithscript Axe

An Axe You Can Throw As A Ranged Weapon

• Only available with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

The Smithscript Axe is an oddity as it has four stat requirements, which makes it inaccessible to many builds. However, it also scales with all of these stats, so almost anytime players are leveling up, there's a good chance they are improving the damage of their axe, which is already solid.

How To Get The Smithscript Axe In Elden Ring

To find the Smithscript Axe, players will first need to head to the site of grace known as Taylew's Ruined Forge. From here, they should follow the path until they come to a ladder, at the bottom of which they can jump to platforms and take a left. The axe is at the back of the room.

8 Jawbone Axe

An Axe That Deals Strike Damage Is More Useful Than You Think

One of the harder weapons to get, the Jawbone Axe scales mainly with Str and Dex. It deals decent damage and is one of the strongest axes for base damage. It can also be infused with Ashes of War, allowing players to use it with a Quality, Cold, or Heavy infusion, further boosting its damage.

However, the Jawbone Axe is unique because it's the only axe that deals strike damage, making it perfect for killing Crystalians, Claymen, and Deathbirds.

How To Get The Jawbone Axe In Elden Ring

This axe is dropped by ancestral followers, usually found in the Siofra River.