In Elden Ring, early-game decisions can shape your entire journey across the Lands Between. Whether you’re a new Tarnished or starting a fresh build, upgrading the right weapon early can give you a strong advantage. With so many options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This guide breaks down 15 weapons that are absolutely worth upgrading early — either for their raw damage potential, status effects, or how well they scale with low stat investments.

These weapons also pair well with commonly used Elden Ring Items, and investing your Elden Ring Runes wisely can help you dominate your early encounters.

1. Uchigatana

Found in the Deathtouched Catacombs or by starting as a Samurai, the Uchigatana is fast, bleed-inducing, and scales well with Dexterity. It’s a great pick for aggressive players who like to keep pressure on enemies.

2. Lordsworn’s Greatsword

Dropped by soldiers in West Limgrave, this greatsword hits hard and benefits from early Smithing Stone upgrades. It’s an ideal early Strength weapon and has excellent poise damage.

3. Morning Star

Available in a chest in the Weeping Peninsula, this hammer delivers devastating bleed buildup. Despite its slow swing speed, it can chunk enemies and bosses with ease when upgraded.

4. Reduvia

This deadly dagger drops from Bloody Finger Nerijus near Murkwater Cave. Its unique skill and fast bleed buildup make it lethal when dual-wielded or paired with another status weapon.

5. Twinblade

Found in a ruined tower in the Dragon-Burnt Ruins, the Twinblade is a fast-striking double-ended sword that becomes a beast when infused and upgraded early.

6. Great Épée

A heavy thrusting sword found near the lake in South Limgrave. Its long reach and solid damage make it viable for players who want a mix of speed and power.

7. Flail

Located in a chest on a carriage in Gatefront Ruins, this weapon builds bleed while being effective against enemies with shields, thanks to its flail mechanics.

8. Claymore

Hidden in Castle Morne, this classic greatsword has balanced strength scaling and solid moveset versatility. It’s a longtime Souls favorite for a reason.

9. Meteorite Staff

While technically not a melee weapon, the Meteorite Staff is critical for magic builds. Found in Caelid early in the game, its S-scaling in Intelligence makes it worth holding until mid-game.

10. Greataxe

Dropped by enemies pulling carriages, the Greataxe is a massive Strength weapon that hits like a truck. Not the fastest, but early upgrades turn it into a boss shredder.

11. Scimitar

This curved sword is available from the Warrior class or certain enemies. Its light weight and bleed buildup make it ideal for Dexterity builds.

12. Nightrider Flail

Dropped by the Night’s Cavalry boss in Limgrave, this flail scales well with Strength and Dexterity. Its potential shines with status-infused upgrades.

13. Sword of St. Trina

This weapon induces sleep, which can be a surprisingly strong crowd control effect in both PvE and PvP. It’s found in a chest in the Forsaken Ruins.

14. Broadsword

A basic but reliable straight sword that’s available early. Great scaling and smooth moveset make it beginner-friendly and efficient when upgraded.

15. Serpent-God’s Curved Sword

Located in the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, this sword restores HP on kills, giving it excellent sustain potential in early- and mid-game content.

Choosing the right weapon to upgrade early can streamline your experience and help you conserve Elden Ring Runes by avoiding wasted investments. While your endgame arsenal might look very different, these fifteen weapons will carry you through the toughest parts of your journey — especially when enhanced with the right Elden Ring Items.

Every weapon has its niche, but these stand out for their early availability, upgrade efficiency, and strong synergy with a variety of builds. Try a few, upgrade what clicks, and keep exploring — the Lands Between reward bold experimentation.