Highlights

  • Challenge tough optional bosses like Malenia to wield the deadly Hand of Malenia katana with Waterfowl Dance.

Elden Ring continues to surprise and mesmerize with the sheer amount of builds and weapons you can play with throughout the game. You can even double as an arcane warrior, blending magic with melee weapons. The option to play as the samurai character and other Dexterity builds naturally leaned into making a respectable amount of katanas available in the game.

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In the sprawling realm of The Lands Between, embody the samurai code as you learn the moves of your enemies, strengthen your focus, and slay your enemies with nimble, lethal strikes when they make a mistake with these satisfying katanas.

Updated March 17, 2024, by Andrew Scariati: If you're preparing a Katana build for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, then these Elden Ring katanas will be everything you need, save for a high Dexterity build. Wielding Katanas in Elden Ring is no easy feat if you haven't trained in the art of the blade.

8 Uchigatana

A plain looking, steel katana overlayed over a blurred background in Elden Ring.

Obtained

In Deathtouched Catacombs - Limgrave

Stat Requirements

11 Strength | 15 Dexterity

Upgraded With

Smithing Stones

This Elden Ring katana can be one of the most useable options for a single-weapon playthrough. The Uchigatana is one of the strongest early-game weapons you can get, so you don't want to miss out on it.

If you choose to play as a samurai, then you already have the Uchigatana as your main weapon.

To find this weapon, go to the Deathtouched Catacombs in Limgrave. From the Site of Grace, go down one flight of stairs, where you'll notice a small corridor located on the underside. Go down this corridor and turn left down another corridor, and you'll find the Uchigatana on a corpse.

7 Nagakiba

An exceptionally long, steel katana overlayed over a blurred background in in Elden Ring.

Obtained

From Bloody Finger Hunter Yura

Stat Requirements

18 Strength | 22 Dexterity

Upgraded With

Smithing Stones

This inordinately long katana is used by the NPC, Bloody Finger Hunter Yura, who you'll meet very early on in the game. The Nagakiba is lethal, with the ability to cause blood loss buildup, and its range is very wide as you can tell.

As the Nagakiba is Yura's, attacking and killing him will get you this weapon, but that would mean losing out on his quest line. So you have to be patient on this one. Just follow along with his quest until you find him at the Second Church of Marika, where he's just been defeated by Eleonora. Yura will die, and you'll get Nagakiba as a result.

6 Moonveil Katana

A mostly silver katana overlayed over a blurred background in Elden Ring.

Obtained

Defeat Magma Wyrm in Gael Tunnel - Caelid

Stat Requirements

12 Strength | 18 Dexterity | 23 Intelligence

Upgraded With

Somber Smithing Stones

An absolutely magical katana, the Moonveil Katana is one you certainly don't want to miss out on. With the skill "Transient Moonlight" which releases a wave of beautiful exploding blue stars, the Moonveil Katana is a powerful melee and ranged weapon.

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To get your hands on this stunning weapon, you'll need to go to the Caelid region to access the alternate entrance into Gael Tunnel and claim it from the boss.

The boss you've got to defeat is the Magma Wyrm, a wingless dragon that drags its body around and drools magma. Once it's dead, it'll drop the Moonveil Katana.

5 Serpentbone Blade

A serrated katana with an ornate handguard overlayed over a blurred background in Elden Ring.

Obtained

Through Volcano Manor Questline

Stat Requirements

11 Strength | 22 Dexterity

Upgraded With

Smithing Stones

Serpentbone Blade is a unique, curved katana that causes poison buildup. It has some pretty good range and damage, and only requires 11 Strength and 22 Dexterity to wield.

You must first gain access to Volcano Manor and perform some quests for Tanith, the lady who has the Crucible Knight by her side. You'll have to defeat invaders Old Knight Istvan and Rileigh the Idle. Once that's done, return to Tanith, who will reward you with the Serpentbone Blade.

4 Meteoric Ore Blade Katana

A katana with a gold handle and mostly black blade with red spots overlayed over a blurred background in Elden Ring.

Obtained

In a Chest Southwest of Caelid Waypoint Ruins

Stat Requirements

15 Strength | 14 Dexterity | 18 Intelligence

Upgraded With

Somber Smithing Stones

This Elden Ring Katana brings a special Ash of War to the fore: Gravitas. A built-in Ash of War, activating this ability will allow you to pull all your enemies closer before a surge of energy that deals damage.

You'll need to traverse the treacherous Scarlet Rot-infested lands of the Caelid Wilds to obtain this katana. Head to the Caelid Waypoint Ruins, to the southwest of the region, where you can find it lying in a chest.

Beware of those pesky Servants of Rot, since they're guarding every inch of the place.

3 Dragonscale Blade

A metal katana with a simple handguard and a curved handle overlayed over a blurred background in Elden Ring.

Obtained

Defeat Dragonkin Soldier in Lake of Rot

Stat Requirements

12 Strength | 20 Dexterity

Upgraded With

Somber Smithing Stones

The Dragonscale Blade is yet another of Elden Ring's best katanas found in the Lands Between. With the special perk of Ice Lightning Sword, you can wreathe your blade with lightning, before summoning a bolt and slamming it to the ground, which sends another lightning bolt to your enemy.

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To attain this blade, you must go to the Lake of Rot area in Nokstella, Eternal City. There, you have to fight the Dragonkin Soldier boss who will drop the Dragonscale Blade upon being defeated.

2 Rivers Of Blood Katana

A katana with a crimson-red blade overlayed over a blurred background in Elden Ring.

Obtained

Defeat Bloody Finger Okina near the Church of Repose

Stat Requirements

12 Strength | 18 Dexterity | 20 Arcane

Upgraded With

Somber Smithing Stones

One of the best dex weapons in the game, the Rivers of Blood Katana is a special sword. Its swift attacks cause blood loss and it also has a unique, built-in skill called "Corpse Piler" that allows you to form a blade of blood with every swing. If you want to feel like Bloodborne's Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower, this katana is the one for you.

Travel to the Mountaintops of the Giants and make your way to the Church of Repose. As you near it, you'll be invaded by Bloody Finger Okina. Defeat Okina, and claim Rivers of Blood.

1 Hand Of Malenia

A long katana blade with engraved wording overlayed over a blurred background in Elden Ring.

Obtained

Defeat Malenia and Exchange her Remembrance Rune

Stat Requirements

16 Strength | 48 Dexterity

Upgraded With

Smithing Stones

The weapon of one of the hardest optional bosses in Elden Ring, the Hand of Malenia is one wicked weapon. It's no surprise that after Malenia's battle with Radahn, her skills are almost impossible to best. With the skill Waterfowl Dance, you'll transform into a ballerina of death and blades.

Of course, to get the best Katana Elsen Ring has to offer, you'd have to defeat Malenia first. Once you obtain her Remembrance Rune, exchange it for her weapon in Roundtable Hold. Maybe you want to go dual-blade, so visiting a Walking Mausoleum is best in order to duplicate your Remembrance Rune.

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