Summary
The list ofElden Ring’s Curved Swords contains weapons with some extremely niche effects, several of which are exceptionally powerful, while others are… less so. Looked at as a group, they are extremely strong, dealing good damage andcausing rapid status buildup, especially when dual-wielding.
The weapon type has seen some nerfs, but you’re able to still pick up any pair of Curved Swords and find a certain amount of success. Depending on what you are trying to do, though, some Curved Swords will be better picks than others. This list will help you decide which one fits your build best.
Updated by Lucas Ellinas on Jun 26, 2025:Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC added four Curved Swords, and all of them are Somber weapons, which means they have unique attributes. We’ve updated our list to include them, so you’ll know which are worth hunting down in the Land of Shadow.
9
Dexterity
13
TheFalchionruns into a problem shared by a few other weapons on this list: for a general-use Curved Sword, the Bandit’s Curved Sword is definitively the best. The Falchion consistently loses to it on damage and is significantly shorter, meaning there is little reason to use the Falchion beyond aesthetics.
If you want to make this weapon part of your build, it’s at its best when using the Sacred or Flame Art Affinities, which both scale with Faith. Like many Curved Swords, the Falchion can be acquired at the start of the game if you are willing to farm for it. The weapon drops from the Demi-Humans that wield them in various places around the Lands Between.
14
12
TheGrossmesseris a solid weapon. It is among the longer Curved Swords, and by only a narrow margin. And it has better damage than most other weapons in the class, performing especially well on the Heavy Affinity. Unfortunately, the Grossmesser suffers from the same problem as the Falchion, being outclassed by the Bandit’s Curved Sword in both reach and damage.
That said, the difference in damage on the Heavy Affinity is quite small (although the best Curved Sword for Strength builds isn’t actually either of these weapons), so if you really like how the Grossmesser looks, you won’t lose much by using it. Like the Bandit’s Curved Sword, the Grossmesser can be farmed from Skeletons, which can drop three different types of Curved Swords. The Skeletons you’re looking for have the Grossmesser in one hand, and their other hand is empty.
7
In most ways, theScimitaris far from a powerhouse. Its damage is unimpressive, and its length falls right in the middle of the pack among Curved Swords. However, the weapon has one unique feature: a special one-handed light attack moveset. It’s extremely similar to the one most normal Curved Swords use, but it is faster and moves you further forward. Using Curved Swords one-handed generally isn’t optimal, but the speed of the Scimitar means it works well when paired with either a Shield or a Seal/Staff for casting Spells.
The Scimitar can be acquired in a number of different ways. The Warrior class starts with two of them, but if you want to choose a different class, you still have options. One can be bought from the Twin Maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold. Alternatively, you’re able to farm them from Skeletons that wield one (they’ll have a small Shield in their other hand).
19
If enemy Shields are giving you trouble, and you don’t want to be limited to the relatively niche Weapon Skills of those other two Curved Swords, the Shotel is worth considering. It’s sold by the Abandoned Merchant in Siofra River, who can be accessed by climbing the scaffolding west of the Worshipper’s Woods Site of Grace.
TheShamshiris basically a better Scimitar. It shares the other weapon’s unique, one-handed moveset, but is significantly longer and beats it in damage on most Affinities (although it still can’t compete with some of the weapons higher on this list).
So, if you like the unique moveset of the Scimitar but are unimpressed with its performance, the Shamshir will be an improvement more often than not. To get it, delve down to the bottom of Highroad Cave in Stormhill, where a corpse holding the weapon is being eaten by Giant Bats.
17
TheFlowing Curved Sworddoesn’t have exceptional stats. However, it does have unique, flowing, heavy attacks that strike twice when uncharged and three times when charged. Maybe you won’t do the most damage, but you will do it with style.
Fun as it is, though, the Flowing Curved Sword is, unfortunately, an endgame weapon. You can find it in a Carriage in the Consecrated Snowfield. This area can only be accessed if you’ve gotten both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion duringLatenna’s quest line.
8
16
Intelligence
The DLC introduced a second Curved Sword that deals innate Magic damage, but, unfortunately, it pales in comparison to its base game counterpart, the Wing of Astel. It deals less damage, and doesn’t share the Wing’s fancy moveset. If the Spirit Sword had a strong Weapon Skill associated with it, that might help make up the difference.
Unfortunately, Rancor Slash is just a fancy version of Sword Dance that adds Frostbite buildup and summons some spirits that chase your enemies. But it turns out that giving a stronger Curved Sword Sword Dance and the Cold Affinity is just more effective.
If you want to see how they compare for yourself, the Spirit Sword can be found on the Cerulean Coast, in a ravine northeast of the Cerulean Coast West Site of Grace.
15
On the surface, theNox Flowing Swordis not an especially impressive weapon. However, it has some unique features that make it more useful than it seems, especially in PvP. Like the other two Shotel-style weapons, the Nox Flowing Sword will deal a certain amount of damage through Shields. Additionally, its Weapon Skill, Flowing Form, extends the sword and swings it in a wide area.
Both of these abilities are stronger in PvP, where Shields are more common and unique Weapon Skills force unprepared opponents to make difficult dodges. But it’s not like PvE enemies don’t use Shields, and you often face crowds of enemies or those that attempt to distance themselves from you; in those cases, the Weapon Skill is rather useful.
If you want this interesting weapon, it is dropped by the Nox Swordstress & Nox Monk boss in Sellia, Town of Sorcery.
10
With its normal attacks, theMantis Bladeis the shortest Curved Sword by a wide margin. And its damage isn’t anything spectacular either. However, what makes the Mantis Blade substantially better than it appears is its unique heavy attack, which unfolds the blade, giving the weapon a substantial range boost. In fact, it’s so substantial that the Mantis Blade temporarily becomes the longest Curved Sword.
This allows you to keep your distance from enemies in PvE and catch your opponents off-guard in PvP. The Mantis Blade isn’t too difficult to get, either; it’s a guaranteed drop from the Lesser Cemetery Shade in the Gelmir Hero’s Grave in Mt. Gelmir.
You aren’t going to use theSerpent-God’s Curved Swordfor its damage, which is outclassed by the best Curved Swords. In fact, you might not use it to attack at all. This weapon has a unique ability that heals you whenever you kill an enemy.Crucially, this effect still triggers even if the weapon is in your hand or on your back.
There are other ways to get this effect, but the Serpent-God’s Curved Sword is relatively light and doesn’t take up a Talisman slot or use your Great Rune.
The Serpent-God’s Curved Sword is not going to be of much use during boss fights, since there is usually only one enemy to kill, but it can help keep your health topped up while exploring dungeons without needing to waste charges of your Flask of Crimson Tears. you may find this utility tool in the shortcut to the Altus Plateau, the Ruin-Strewn Precipice, near the Giant Land Octopus.
