Base damage is not AR
Physical, magic and fire columns are unupgraded bases. Do not sum every type into a fake total, and do not rank Katanas by those numbers alone.
Weapons / Katanas
Elden Ring Katanas
Explore every Katana, compare stats and blood loss effects, find locations, and track your collection. 10 Katanas total — 8 base-game and 2 from Shadow of the Erdtree.
Katanas Index
10
All Katanas
8
Base Game
2
DLC
Base Game8
Shadow of the Erdtree2
Map links available10
Katana database
All Elden Ring Katanas
Loading Katanas…
Acquisition routes
Elden Ring Katana Locations
Full table for all 10 Katanas. Methods separate starting gear, chest loot, boss drops, NPC drops, quest rewards and Remembrance trades so Roundtable Hold never looks like a corpse pickup. Multi-step weapons with more than one route (such as Nagakiba and Uchigatana) include alternative locations.
10 Katanas have map links: 4 exact weapon pins and 6 curated landmarks (dungeon entrance, quest desk, boss arena, Lake of Rot approach).
Map links point either to the precise pickup or to a clearly labeled nearby landmark.
| Katana | Method | Location / how to get | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonscale Blade Base Game | Boss Drop | Lake of Rot — Dragonkin Soldier (Ainsel River underground) From the Lake of Rot underground layer, fight the Dragonkin Soldier field boss for a guaranteed drop. Map landmarks use the Lake of Rot approach (Grand Cloister) — not the Shadow Realm, and not a lands-between overworld pin. | View Map Landmark Landmark — Grand Cloister / Lake of Rot approach |
| Hand of Malenia Base Game · Popular route | Remembrance Trade | Roundtable Hold — Finger Reader Enia (Remembrance of the Rot Goddess) Defeat Malenia first, then trade Remembrance of the Rot Goddess with Enia. Roundtable Hold is only the exchange desk. The map landmark points at Malenia's boss arena (Remembrance source), not Enia's chair. Other locations (1)
| View Map Landmark Landmark — Malenia boss arena (Remembrance source) |
| Meteoric Ore Blade Base Game · Popular route | Chest / Loot | Caelid Waypoint Ruins cellar chest At Caelid Waypoint Ruins, drop into the cellar, defeat the Mad Pumpkin Head, and open the chest in the chamber beyond for a fixed Meteoric Ore Blade. | View Exact Location Exact weapon pin |
| Moonveil Base Game · Popular route | Boss Drop | Gael Tunnel — Magma Wyrm boss (Caelid border) Enter Gael Tunnel from the Limgrave / Caelid border, clear the mine to the Magma Wyrm chamber, and defeat the boss for a guaranteed Moonveil drop. Available early, but the boss is the real gate. | View Map Landmark Landmark — Gael Tunnel entrance |
| Nagakiba Base Game · Popular route | NPC Drop | Bloody Finger Hunter Yura — Second Church of Marika / Yura corpse states Not a single chest. Follow Yura until the Second Church of Marika state to collect Nagakiba from his quest outcome, or loot later corpse / NPC states. If the line has already advanced past Yura, check the Zamor Ruins fallback after Shabriri. Other locations (4)
| View Map Landmark Landmark — Yura / Eleonora Altus encounter area |
| Rivers of Blood Base Game · Popular route | NPC Drop | Church of Repose — Bloody Finger Okina invasion (Mountaintops of the Giants) Reach the eastern Mountaintops, rest or approach the Church of Repose grounds to trigger Bloody Finger Okina, and defeat the invasion for a guaranteed Rivers of Blood drop. Late-game route — not an early bleed starter. | View Exact Location Exact weapon pin |
| Serpentbone Blade Base Game | Quest Reward | Volcano Manor — Tanith, first assassination letter reward Join Volcano Manor, take Tanith's first red letter (Old Knight Istvan), complete the invasion, and return to Tanith for the Serpentbone Blade. Manor hall corpses are unrelated — this is a quest desk reward. Other locations (1)
| View Map Landmark Landmark — Volcano Manor quest desk |
| Star-Lined Sword Shadow of the Erdtree · Popular route | Boss Drop | Cerulean Coast cave — Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze (Southern Shore, DLC) Shadow of the Erdtree only. In the Cerulean Coast, enter the coastal cave and defeat Demi-Human Swordmaster Onze for a guaranteed Star-Lined Sword. Not available in the base game. | View Exact Location Exact weapon pin |
| Sword of Night Shadow of the Erdtree | Quest Reward | Cathedral of Manus Metyr — Jolán after Count Ymir's quest (Scadu Altus, DLC) Progress Count Ymir at the Cathedral of Manus Metyr through the Finger Ruins. After the related Jolán confrontations, offer an Iris of Occultation to Jolán for the Sword of Night. An Iris of Grace yields a different spirit-ash outcome instead — not a field chest. Other locations (2)
| View Map Landmark Landmark — Cathedral of Manus Metyr |
| Uchigatana Base Game · Popular route | Starting Equipment | Samurai starting gear, or Deathtouched Catacombs body — Limgrave Non-Samurai characters can take the Deathtouched Catacombs body early. Samurai already start with the same Katana — no second copy is required for a first playthrough kit. Other locations (2)
| View Exact Location Exact weapon pin |
Comparison fields
Elden Ring Katana Stats and Scaling
Full class table for all 10 Katanas. Scaling grades describe attribute tendencies only. Actual Attack Rating depends on your stats, upgrade level, affinity and the weapon's underlying scaling values. The class currently splits into 3 Smithing Katanas (affinity freedom to +25) and 7 Somber Katanas (unique kits to +10).
Initial scaling grade and base damage cannot prove one upgraded Katana beats another. Use Calculate AR with the same character attributes and upgrade level when you need a real winner.
INT / MagicMoonveilARC / Fire / BleedRivers of BloodDEX / ReachNagakibaSTR / INT / MagicMeteoric Ore BladeHigh DEXHand of MaleniaDEX / INTStar-Lined Sword
| Katana | Base Damage | Scaling | Requirements | Skill | Weight | Upgrade | Status | AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonscale Blade Base Game | Phys 110 | DEX C · STR D | STR 12 · DEX 20 | Ice Lightning Sword | 5.5 | Somber | No Innate Status | Calculate AR |
| Hand of Malenia Base Game | Phys 117 | DEX C · STR E | STR 16 · DEX 48 | Waterfowl Dance | 7 | Somber | Blood Loss (50) | Calculate AR |
| Meteoric Ore Blade Base Game | Phys 112 · Magic 72 | STR D · INT D · DEX E | STR 15 · DEX 14 · INT 18 | Gravitas | 7.5 | Somber | Blood Loss (50) | Calculate AR |
| Moonveil Base Game | Phys 73 · Magic 87 | INT C · DEX D · STR E | STR 12 · DEX 18 · INT 23 | Transient Moonlight | 6.5 | Somber | Blood Loss (50) | Calculate AR |
| Nagakiba Base Game | Phys 115 | DEX C · STR D | STR 18 · DEX 22 | Unsheathe | 7 | Smithing | Blood Loss (45) | Calculate AR |
| Rivers of Blood Base Game | Phys 76 · Fire 76 | DEX D · ARC D · STR E | STR 12 · DEX 18 · ARC 20 | Corpse Piler | 6.5 | Somber | Blood Loss (50) | Calculate AR |
| Serpentbone Blade Base Game | Phys 120 | DEX C · STR E | STR 11 · DEX 22 | Double Slash | 6 | Smithing | Poison (66) | Calculate AR |
| Star-Lined Sword Shadow of the Erdtree | Phys 82 · Magic 82 | DEX C · INT D · STR E | STR 10 · DEX 23 · INT 21 | Onze's Line of Stars | 5 | Somber | Blood Loss (45) | Calculate AR |
| Sword of Night Shadow of the Erdtree | Phys 110 · Magic 33 | DEX C | STR 11 · DEX 20 | Witching Hour Slash | 6.5 | Somber | Blood Loss (45) | Calculate AR |
| Uchigatana Base Game | Phys 115 | STR D · DEX D | STR 11 · DEX 15 | Unsheathe | 5.5 | Smithing | Blood Loss (45) | Calculate AR |
Smithing vs Somber
Smithing Katanas (3) can take affinities. Somber Katanas (7) keep fixed kits — Moonveil, Rivers of Blood and Hand of Malenia live here.
When to open the calculator
When two Katanas need the same level, attributes and upgrade path, use Calculate AR with the weapon pre-selected.
Innate status only
Katanas with Bleed and Status Effects
Buildup values reflect each weapon's listed innate passive effect — not estimated DPS. Skill-applied effects (for example Ice Lightning Sword frost on Dragonscale Blade) stay out of these counts.
| Katana | Innate status | Buildup | Passive text | Skill note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand of Malenia | Blood Loss | 50 | Causes blood loss buildup (50) | Waterfowl Dance |
| Meteoric Ore Blade | Blood Loss | 50 | Causes blood loss buildup (50) | Gravitas |
| Moonveil | Blood Loss | 50 | Causes blood loss buildup (50) | Transient Moonlight |
| Rivers of Blood | Blood Loss | 50 | Causes blood loss buildup (50) | Corpse Piler |
| Nagakiba | Blood Loss | 45 | Causes blood loss buildup (45) | Unsheathe |
| Star-Lined Sword | Blood Loss | 45 | Inflicts blood loss buildup (45) | Onze's Line of Stars |
| Sword of Night | Blood Loss | 45 | Causes blood loss buildup (45) | Witching Hour Slash |
| Uchigatana | Blood Loss | 45 | Causes blood loss buildup (45) | Unsheathe |
| Serpentbone Blade | Poison | 66 | Inflicts poison buildup (66) | Double Slash |
| Dragonscale Blade | No Innate Status | — | Deals increased damage to Dragons and Ancient Dragons | Ice Lightning Sword can apply frost in combat — not counted as innate status here. |
8 Katanas
Blood Loss
Innate blood loss buildup on the weapon passive.
- Hand of Malenia
- Meteoric Ore Blade
- Moonveil
- Nagakiba
- Rivers of Blood
- Star-Lined Sword
- Sword of Night
- Uchigatana
1 Katana
Poison
Innate poison buildup — currently Serpentbone Blade only.
Jump to full list1 Katana
No Innate Status
No innate bleed or poison. Skill effects may still apply in combat.
Jump to full listRanked by use case
Best Katanas in Elden Ring
Short scene picks — not a tier list and not a raw base-damage ranking. Affinity, upgrade level, attributes and buffs change Attack Rating. Somber uniques lock their kit; Smithing Katanas keep affinity freedom.
Intelligence / Magic
Moonveil
Bleed / Arcane
Rivers of Blood
Reach / Dexterity
Nagakiba
Early Game
Uchigatana
Dexterity / Waterfowl
Hand of Malenia
DLC INT · DEX
Star-Lined Sword
Intelligence / Magic
Moonveil
Somber Intelligence Katana with physical + magic damage, innate blood loss, and Transient Moonlight. INT 23 is the real gate; Magma Wyrm in Gael Tunnel (Caelid) drops it.
Pick for INT spellblade kits that want a Katana moveset. Skip pure Strength or early Limgrave characters that cannot clear Gael Tunnel yet.
Compare with: Meteoric Ore Blade for a heavier STR/INT magic Katana with Gravitas.
- Requirements
- STR 12 · DEX 18 · INT 23
- Scaling
- INT C · DEX D · STR E
- Skill
- Transient Moonlight
- Weight · Upgrade · Status
- 6.5 · Somber · Blood Loss
Bleed / Arcane
Rivers of Blood
Somber Arcane bleed Katana with physical + fire damage and Corpse Piler. ARC 20 / DEX 18 sit behind the skill fantasy more than the unupgraded base numbers.
Pick when your plan is Arcane-supported bleed pressure and the unique skill. Skip if you need free affinity crafting on a Smithing Katana.
Compare with: Uchigatana or Nagakiba for Smithing bleed paths with Unsheathe.
- Requirements
- STR 12 · DEX 18 · ARC 20
- Scaling
- DEX D · ARC D · STR E
- Skill
- Corpse Piler
- Weight · Upgrade · Status
- 6.5 · Somber · Blood Loss
Reach / Dexterity
Nagakiba
Smithing Katana with unusually long reach, innate blood loss (45), and Unsheathe. Tied to Bloody Finger Hunter Yura's path rather than a single early chest.
Pick when spacing and Unsheathe matter more than a locked Somber skill. Skip if you only want the shortest early route (Uchigatana).
Compare with: Uchigatana for earlier access and lower requirements.
- Requirements
- STR 18 · DEX 22
- Scaling
- DEX C · STR D
- Skill
- Unsheathe
- Weight · Upgrade · Status
- 7 · Smithing · Blood Loss
Early Game
Uchigatana
Samurai starting Katana, also on a body in Deathtouched Catacombs (Limgrave). Smithing path, modest STR 11 / DEX 15, Unsheathe, and innate blood loss.
Pick as the first Katana for almost any run. Replace later once Moonveil, Rivers of Blood, Nagakiba or a DLC option matches your build.
Compare with: Nagakiba when you can finish Yura's path and want more reach.
- Requirements
- STR 11 · DEX 15
- Scaling
- STR D · DEX D
- Skill
- Unsheathe
- Weight · Upgrade · Status
- 5.5 · Smithing · Blood Loss
Dexterity / Waterfowl Dance
Hand of Malenia
Late-game Somber Dexterity Katana (DEX 48) with Waterfowl Dance and blood loss. Traded at Finger Reader Enia after Malenia — Roundtable Hold is the desk, not the boss arena.
Pick once you can clear Malenia and want the unique skill fantasy. Skip as an early or mid-game main.
Compare with: Nagakiba for a flexible Smithing Dexterity Katana before end-game.
- Requirements
- STR 16 · DEX 48
- Scaling
- DEX C · STR E
- Skill
- Waterfowl Dance
- Weight · Upgrade · Status
- 7 · Somber · Blood Loss
DLC / INT · DEX
Star-Lined Sword
Shadow of the Erdtree Somber Katana from the Cerulean Coast: physical + magic damage, blood loss, and Onze's Line of Stars. Needs the DLC path, not a Limgrave starter.
Pick in the Realm of Shadow for an INT/DEX magic Katana skill kit. Skip if you are still finishing base-game Moonveil or Smithing lines.
Compare with: Moonveil for the base-game Intelligence Katana analogue.
- Requirements
- STR 10 · DEX 23 · INT 21
- Scaling
- DEX C · INT D · STR E
- Skill
- Onze's Line of Stars
- Weight · Upgrade · Status
- 5 · Somber · Blood Loss
Collection tracker
Elden Ring Katana Checklist
Mark Katanas as collected in the list above. Your progress also appears in the Weapons hub and 100% Checklist.
Katanas vs Great Katanas
Great Katanas are a different weapon class. They are not mixed into the list above. Browse Great Katanas through the Weapons hub.
| Katanas | Great Katanas |
|---|---|
| Standard Katana class on this page | Separate Great Katana class |
| 10 listed here (8 base + 2 DLC) | 3 listed in the Weapons hub (DLC class) |
| Moonveil, Nagakiba, Rivers of Blood, Uchigatana | Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana, Great Katana, Rakshasa's Great Katana |
| Listed here | Browse the Weapons hub |
Related Weapons and Tools
Elden Ring Weapons
Full armory with every weapon type, including Great Katanas.
Greatswords
Sister weapon-type hub for Greatswords locations and stats.
Moonveil
Intelligence Katana guide with Gael Tunnel route detail.
Rivers of Blood
Arcane bleed Katana guide covering Okina and Corpse Piler.
Nagakiba
Reach-focused Katana guide on the Yura acquisition path.
Weapon Calculator
Compare real AR under the same attributes, upgrade and affinity.
Interactive Map
Find weapon locations across the Lands Between.
Equip Load Calculator
Check weight before stacking a Katana with heavy armor.
100% Checklist
Track every weapon and keep your collection progress in one place.
Katana FAQ
How many Katanas are in Elden Ring?+
There are 10 Katanas listed here: 8 base-game weapons and 2 from Shadow of the Erdtree (Star-Lined Sword, Sword of Night). That count covers the Katanas weapon class only — Great Katanas are a separate class and are excluded.
Where can I find all Katanas in Elden Ring?+
Use the Katana Locations table on this page. Early options include Uchigatana (Samurai start or Deathtouched Catacombs) and Meteoric Ore Blade in Caelid Waypoint Ruins. Moonveil drops from the Magma Wyrm in Gael Tunnel. Rivers of Blood comes from Okina at the Church of Repose. Hand of Malenia is a Remembrance trade at Enia after Malenia. DLC adds Star-Lined Sword and Sword of Night.
Which Katanas cause Blood Loss?+
Eight of the ten Katanas have innate blood loss buildup. Serpentbone Blade is the poison Katana instead. Dragonscale Blade has no innate status — its Ice Lightning Sword skill is separate from the weapon passive and is not counted as innate bleed here.
Which Katanas scale with Intelligence?+
Moonveil and Meteoric Ore Blade are the main base-game Intelligence-leaning Katanas (magic damage on both). Star-Lined Sword is the DLC INT/DEX option with Onze's Line of Stars. Scaling grades on this page are tendencies only — compare real AR in the Weapon Calculator under the same attributes and upgrade level.
What is the best early-game Katana?+
Uchigatana is the usual early answer: Samurai starting gear, or a body in Deathtouched Catacombs for other classes, with low requirements and Unsheathe. Nagakiba offers more reach once you can follow Yura's path. Moonveil and Rivers of Blood are stronger build-defining picks later, not Limgrave openers.
Can I get Uchigatana without starting as a Samurai?+
Yes. Uchigatana is also found on a body in Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave, so non-Samurai characters can pick it up early without the starting class.
Are Katanas and Great Katanas the same?+
No. They are separate weapon classes with different movesets and weight profiles. This page lists only the Katanas class (Moonveil, Nagakiba, Rivers of Blood, and so on). Great Katana, Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana and Rakshasa's Great Katana belong to Great Katanas — browse them from the Weapons hub.
Can I track which Katanas I've collected?+
Yes. Use Collect on each row in the list above. Progress is saved in this browser and shared with the Weapons hub and the 100% Checklist.