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Upgrading weapons in Elden Ring can drastically impact your combat efficiency, especially in the game’s early and mid stages. While there are countless weapons to experiment with, some clearly stand out due to their scaling, accessibility, and effectiveness across various builds. If you’re unsure where to invest your upgrade materials, this guide will walk you through 11 weapons worth enhancing first—whether you're playing as a new Tarnished or aiming to optimize your arsenal before NG+.

1. Uchigatana

Starting off with a classic, the Uchigatana is a favorite among dexterity builds. Its fast swing speed and bleed buildup make it a top-tier early-game weapon. Found in the Deathtouched Catacombs or as a starting weapon for the Samurai class, upgrading this blade can carry you through a good chunk of the game.

2. Bloodhound’s Fang

This curved greatsword scales well with strength and dexterity, and its built-in Bloodhound’s Finesse skill makes it a strong stagger tool against both mobs and bosses. It’s one of the best early boss weapon rewards, and with a few upgrades, it becomes devastatingly powerful. Perfect for players who are planning to buy Elden Ring runes and quickly level their gear.

3. Claymore

The Claymore’s versatility is its biggest strength. It can be infused and works with a wide variety of builds. Its sweeping attacks and respectable stagger potential make it a staple for many players. Upgrading it early lets you comfortably deal with mobs and tankier foes alike.

4. Moonveil

For those leaning into Intelligence builds, Moonveil is a must-upgrade. Its Transient Moonlight weapon skill offers incredible range and burst damage. Found in the Gael Tunnel, it quickly becomes a boss-melting machine with a few upgrades under your belt.

5. Sword of Night and Flame

Though it was nerfed, this weapon still offers one of the most unique hybrid playstyles in Elden Ring. Its scaling with both Intelligence and Faith opens up flexible casting and melee options. If you’ve already got a supply of cheap Elden Ring Items, it’s worth enhancing this blade for specific scenarios or PvE bursts.

6. Reduvia

This dagger is more than just a backup weapon. With its strong Arcane scaling and powerful bleed-focused skill, it's deadly in both PvE and PvP. Upgrade it early and combine it with Arcane stat investments to rip through enemies with speed.

7. Ruins Greatsword

One of the best colossal weapons in the game, the Ruins Greatsword hits like a truck. Its scaling with Strength is exceptional, and it rewards a high-strength build with unmatched poise damage. If you’ve managed to farm or buy Elden Ring runes for fast upgrades, this weapon will feel like a tank cannon.

8. Nagakiba

A longer cousin to the Uchigatana, Nagakiba offers great range without sacrificing speed. It’s excellent for bleed builds and benefits immensely from upgrade investment. When enhanced, it becomes a duelist’s dream weapon—especially in multiplayer.

9. Godrick’s Greatsword (Giant-Crusher)

If you’re aiming to go full strength, the Giant-Crusher is your answer. Though it requires some grinding and a very specific build, the results are staggering. It's best used two-handed, and once upgraded, it can stagger bosses with just a few heavy hits.

10. Twinblade

For agility-focused players, the Twinblade offers fluid combos and versatility. It shines when infused with bleed or frost, and upgrading it early on ensures your light attacks chip away at health bars rapidly.

11. Serpent-Hunter

This situational weapon is practically essential when facing off against the God-Devouring Serpent. While it doesn’t require stats to wield, upgrading it significantly boosts its damage during that fight. If you're prepping for that encounter, enhancing this weapon is a must.

Whether you're diving into PvE or preparing for competitive multiplayer, choosing the right weapons to upgrade can save you time, effort, and frustration. If you're short on smithing materials or just want to fast-track your power progression, looking into cheap Elden Ring Items can be a time-saver. And for those who’d rather skip the grind, many players turn to services where they can buy Elden Ring runes from trusted sources like U4GM to get a head start.

In the Lands Between, being prepared makes all the difference—and these 11 weapons are a strong foundation to build your legend.