There are quite a few methods of asserting dominance when it comes to absolutely devastating your enemy’s day, and nothing quite fits the bill as fist weapons. Fist weapons have long been considered an inferior weapon type due to their short range, and damage output. Yet a good player can utilize them to their maximum potential, turning Fist weapons into a really great choice, especially for PvP.
If you’re someone who’s interested in trying out Fist weapons, don’t be disheartened by them at first. They need more specific builds to get into, but once they’ve realized their potential, they become one of the strongest arsenals on your side. This guide serves to help familiarize you with the 9 different Fist weapons found in Elden Ring. Thankfully, Elden Ring expands upon the Fist Weapons more than the previous games, resulting in numerous fun additions.
9. Grafted Dragon
Forefathers, one and all! Bear Witness!
If this was a list of coolest-looking weapons, then no doubt Grafted Dragon would be among the higher ones. When I first beat Godrick the Grafted and saw that I could craft this weapon from his Remembrance, I was filled to the brim with glee over the potential. I crafted it, upgraded it, and then found a bunch of random mobs to test it on…and it was pathetic. And that’s my issue with this weapon.
The Grafted Dragon definitely looks striking and cool but all of its appeal is visual only. It’s a very underwhelming weapon when applied to actual combat, which is a shame because it comes from a boss. Not to mention that this weapon’s main appeal is Fire which is one of the most resisted elements. A lot of people might try shilling this weapon to you, but trust me there are far better Fist weapon options.
Grafted Dragon Stats:
- STR - 20 (D)
- DEX - 14 (D)
- FAI - 16 (D)
What Grafted Dragon excels in:
- Visually one of the coolest designs
- Additional damage to dragons
- Unique weapon art
How to get Grafted Dragon:
8. Cipher Pata
Lightsabers
What makes Cipher Pata so good is the fact that it’s a completely early game. You can get Cipher Pata almost immediately and then realize you can’t use it because it’s a hefty 30 Faith requirement. I do find it amusing that that’s the only stat requirement, but there’s one thing even better: it has no weight.
This is absolutely huge. Anyone running an STR/FAI build, can keep this on the off-hand, and switch to it when they want to hit faster. Fist weapons generally have a great running attack, and Cipher Pata overcomes the Fist weapon’s lack of range. But that is its issue, it’s a fine option to have in your backlog but definitely not something you want to main.
Cipher Pata Stats:
- FAI - 30 (C)
What Cipher Pata excels in:
- No weight
- Only Faith requirement
- Faster and longer than most Fist Weapons
How to get Cipher Pata:
7. Caestus
Beauty in simplicity
Caestus is an iconic Soulsborne weapon at this point. I don’t believe there’s any Dark Souls game without this weapon. Caestus originally existed as a parry machine having the best parry window in early Souls games, however, since then, it has begun to show its own identity and become a staple for boxers.
Caestus’s unique potential arises from infusions. You don’t want to keep the weapon as is, you want to infuse it with some element, and then let em rip. Being a Fist Weapon, you’ll generally be hitting a lot, meaning you can proc various status effects off of it. Besides, what’s not to love about this iconic fist weapon? Anyone who sees an Invader wearing a Caestus would know their time has arrived.
Caestus Stats:
- STR - 8 (D)
- DEX - 8 (D)
What Caestus excels in:
- Faster attacks
- Great infusion options
- Parry king
How to get Caestus:
6. Iron Ball
You have to commit a major crime to get it
To obtain this very funny-looking weapon, you’ll have to kill Blackguard Big Boggart. It comes with its unique weapon art which is the only way to obtain it. Shame because I really liked that NPC too. Regardless, this weapon is very nice for anyone trying to run a good Fist Weapon. Due to its shape, it’s easy to tell that it prioritizes Strength over Dexterity which makes it excellent for anyone focusing on Strength more.
The Iron Balls are menacing and glorious and deal a surprisingly good amount of damage. If you ever wanted to be Mike Tyson in these types of games, then this is your weapon of choice.
Iron Ball Stats:
- STR - 11 (D)
- DEX - 8 (E)
What Iron Ball excels in:
- Become Mike Tyson
- Fast, strong attacks
- Good Weapon Art options
How to get Iron Ball:
5. Spiked Caestus
Upgrades, son!
So what makes Spiked Caestus better than normal Caestus? Simple: Bleed. As is the case with any overpowered build in this game, bleed is almost always the answer. Bleed is simply too good to forego, it’s meant to shred a boss’s health bar down into a tiny bar within a fraction of a second. Run two of these bad boys and start going crazy on the enemy.
Spiked Caestus is excellent for how quickly you can proc Bleed with it, making it a terrifying weapon to behold - both in PvP and PvE. In PvP, I recommend the dashing attack, it has good tracking and range, and can easily screw over a frustrated enemy. For PvE, well anything really goes with the Caestus.
Spiked Caestus Stats:
- STR - 8(D)
- DEX - 10 (D)
What Spiked Caestus excels in:
- Bleed, bleed, bleed.
- Higher chance of proc-ing Bleed
- Excellent speed
How to get Spiked Caestus:
4. Katar
Soul Calibur weapons be like
Katar is perhaps one of my favorite weapons in the game visually. It reminds me of the unique characters from Soul Calibur - a fighting game I enjoyed, and their various weapons. Katar is unique in the sense that it deals more Piercing damage than Bludgeoning as most Fist Weapons do. It starts with the Impaling Thrust Weapon Art, but you should immediately switch to a better one.
Unlike other Fist weapons, I don’t recommend Infusing this weapon. Instead, capitalize on its Piercing damage, and give it Keen scaling. This way you’ll be dishing out a good amount of damage, without sacrificing anything.
Katar Stats:
- STR - 8 (D)
- DEX - 10 (D)
What Katar excels in:
- Piercing damage
- Faster attacks
- Run and hit tactics
How to get Katar:
3. Clinging Bone
One of the most unique and coolest Fist Weapons
What makes Clinging Bone an absolute menace on the field is its Weapon Art. This Weapon Art is the reason most people fear the average Fist Player. Clinging Bone is one of those unique weapons that have a visually striking appearance, while at the same time being absolutely great in gameplay. Lifesteal Fist essentially works similarly to the Dark Hand attack from the Dark Souls series. You can use it to steal HP from enemies.
The running attack on this thing is absolutely wild, and the best way to catch unsuspecting enemies off guard. It also has the highest range of any other Fist Weapon, making it quite viable. It’s also excellent for when you need to give your friends a hand.
Clinging Bone Stats:
- STR - 8 (E)
- DEX - 22 (C)
- ARC - 16 (D)
What Clinging Bone excels in:
- Amazing Weapon Art
- Arcane scaling
- Great running attack and a great range
How to get Clinging Bone:
2. Star Fist
Death comes in all shapes and forms
Another weapon that’s completely dominated by the most broken Status Effect - Bleed, the Star Fist is a cool-looking weapon that’s basically the complete and utter upgrade of the Caestus. I’ve seen a lot of videos of people running this weapon and absolutely shredding the boss’s HP bar, and that’s true! Especially as of Patch 1.08 which increased the speed of all Fist Weapons in the game.
Go for Royal Knight’s Resolve as the Weapon Art or something like Seppuko and start hitting the enemies with it. The bleed build-up is crazy and you can destroy enemies in mere seconds.
Star Fist Stats:
- STR - 12 (D)
- DEX - 8 (E)
What Star Fist excels in:
- Bleed buildup is really good
- Really cool design
- Fast attack animations
How to get Star Fist:
1. Veteran’s Prosthesis
A leg prosthetic on your arm
Veteran’s Prosthesis is the hardest Fist Weapon to obtain and for good reason. The boss you have to fight for it is absolutely insane and could absolutely wreck your entire day with just a few moves. Beating Commander Niall nets you his Prosthetic leg which you then proceed to use as a Fist Weapon. Weird, I know, but that’s FromSoftware for you.
Veteran’s Prosthesis remains my favorite Fist Weapon. It has a really cool Weapon Art that can destroy anyone in seconds, and its attacks are at a really enjoyable pace too. All in all, it’s a proper weapon that you get from a boss (Hear that, Grafted Dragon?). Fully utilizing this weapon’s potential can allow for a really fun battle with any boss.
Veteran’s Prosthesis Stats:
- STR - 15 (D)
- DEX - 12 (D)
What Veteran’s Prosthesis excels in:
- Amazing Weapon Art
- Great damage
- Superb speed
How to get Veteran’s Prosthesis:
And these are the 9 Fist weapons in Elden Ring ranked worst to best. Hopefully, this guide helps you figure out which one you want to go for. Ultimately, Elden Ring has an immense amount of weapons. Find one that works best for you and lets you have fun!
