Elden Ring: 21 Weapons That Deal Status Over Time
When it comes to dominating enemies in Elden Ring, understanding the power of status effects is key. While raw damage and flashy weapon arts are satisfying, weapons that apply status effects over time can be absolutely devastating—especially when you’re facing tough enemies or PvP opponents who rely on heavy armor or regeneration. These weapons chip away at your foes, often without them realizing how quickly their health is draining.
Here’s a curated list of 21 weapons in Elden Ring that specialize in dealing damage through status buildup over time, ranging from bleed to poison to scarlet rot. Whether you’re looking to overhaul your build or just try something new, these picks offer tactical advantages and some unique playstyles.
1. Rivers of Blood
A katana that needs no introduction. Rivers of Blood causes blood loss buildup at an insane rate, especially with its Corpse Piler weapon skill. Even after some nerfs, it remains one of the most reliable bleed weapons in the game.
2. Venomous Fang
These claw weapons cause poison buildup and are excellent for quick, successive strikes. Dual-wielding them makes the poison apply even faster—perfect for hit-and-run tactics.
3. Antspur Rapier
A deceptively elegant weapon that inflicts scarlet rot. It’s one of the few weapons in the game that can apply rot with every strike, making it brutal in longer fights.
4. Hoslow’s Petal Whip
Whips may be niche, but Hoslow’s Petal Whip is not to be underestimated. It causes blood loss buildup and is especially effective in crowd control situations or PvP zones.
5. Serpentbone Blade
A poison katana that scales excellently with Dex builds. Its quick slashes make it one of the most efficient weapons for stacking poison over time.
6. Scavenger’s Curved Sword
If you’re trying to buy Elden Ring runes to boost a bleed build, this weapon is worth your attention. Fast, aggressive, and potent with status buildup, especially when paired.
7. Morgott’s Cursed Sword
This curved greatsword causes blood loss and features a weapon skill that adds even more bleed potential with a wide sweeping flame attack.
8. Eleanora’s Poleblade
Dual blades that build bleed fast and look great while doing it. Their weapon skill includes a flurry of slashes and mobility—ideal for Dex/Arcane hybrid builds.
9. Hookclaws
Cheap, fast, and efficient. These are perfect early-game bleed weapons, and they scale well with Arcane, which boosts blood loss buildup.
10. Rotten Crystal Sword
A weapon that inflicts scarlet rot and features an elegant moveset. It’s a great option if you’re pursuing a status-heavy Int/Faith build.
11. Nagakiba
Essentially a longer Uchigatana, this katana offers bleed on a longer reach. Pair it with a bleed Ash of War and it becomes an incredible tool for poking from a safe distance.
12. Cross-Naginata
A spear with innate blood loss buildup and great reach. Its move set is versatile, especially for players who like to fight defensively while stacking status effects.
13. Rotten Greataxe
This massive weapon causes scarlet rot and is surprisingly efficient at applying the status with just a few hits. Best used by Strength/Arcane builds.
14. Misericorde (with bleed affinity)
Not naturally a bleed weapon, but when given a bleed affinity, it becomes one of the deadliest critical strike tools in the game due to its massive crit modifier.
15. Rotten Battle Hammer
Like the Rotten Greataxe, this hammer inflicts scarlet rot. Excellent for stagger-heavy builds that want a bit of rot on the side.
16. Uchigatana
The classic bleed weapon. Whether you’re just starting out or fine-tuning an endgame build, the Uchigatana remains viable with the right Ash of War and infusion.
17. Great Épée (with poison or bleed infusion)
A heavy thrusting sword that works well with poison or bleed infusions. It’s ideal for players who want to pressure opponents from mid-range.
18. Bloodhound’s Fang
A curved greatsword with strong bleed potential and a powerful weapon skill. Though not the fastest weapon, its power and movement options make it a solid pick.
19. Rotten Staff (Rotten Crystal Staff)
Not a melee weapon per se, but this staff complements a status build with sorceries that inflict rot and other debuffs.
20. Celebrant’s Sickle
Inflicts blood loss and restores runes on each successful hit. While not top-tier in raw damage, it’s useful for farming and consistent bleed stacking.
21. Reduvia
This dagger causes rapid blood loss buildup and can be used early in the game. Its weapon skill shoots arcs of blood from a distance—great for pressuring enemies.
Status weapons in Elden Ring are more than just gimmicks—they’re legitimate tools for turning the tide of battle, especially in difficult fights where raw damage alone isn’t enough. If you’re optimizing a build, don’t forget to experiment with infusions and Ashes of War to tailor status effects to your playstyle.
While farming gear or switching builds, some players choose to buy Elden Ring runes or stock up on Elden Ring Items to speed up the process. Whether you go that route or take the long road through exploration and farming, status-inflicting weapons offer endless variety and strategic depth for your journey across the Lands Between.
