With Elden Ring‘s wide variety of weapons, it’s only natural that some of them don’t live up to their legendary status in-game. Let down by lackluster damage, an ineffective Ash of War, or simply just being too much trouble to acquire, these weapons are handily outdone by other weapons in their class – many of which can be obtained much earlier and in easier ways.
With the most individual weapon types of any FromSoftware Souls-adjacent game yet, players are spoiled for choice when it comes to both choosing a weapon and tailoring it to their needs, especially with many of Elden Ring‘s underpowered weapons getting buffs in recent patches. Rarer weapons, like those obtained from major bosses or legendary weapons obtained from following questlines, are less customizable, but trade that versatility for more power, passive effects, or unique Ashes of War. However, some weapons inevitably miss the mark, making them hardly worth the trouble they take to get.
Some Of Elden Ring’s Rare Weapons Just Aren’t Worth The Trouble
Although Elden Ring has its share of disappointing weapons, two stand out in particular – the Dragon Greatclaw and the Eclipse Shotel. Both are unique weapons with challenging methods of acquisition, requiring players to beat a challenging mid-game boss and journey through a bonus endgame area, respectively. However, despite being among the rarest weapons in Elden Ring, neither weapon’s unique qualities make them worth using when compared to others in their class. An honorable mention goes to the Dragonscale Blade, which, despite being obtained through a harrowing boss fight in the Lake of Rot, is largely outclassed by the game’s other katanas.
Elden Ring’s Draconic Tree Sentinel Makes The Dragon Greatclaw Look Cooler Than It Is
Seeing the Dragon Greatclaw being used by the Draconic Tree Sentinel that it drops from, a player might get the impression that it’s a powerful weapon with a unique Ash of War, maybe even using the dragons’ flashy red lightning. In reality, however, the weapon boasts the lowest damage values of any colossal weapon, and comes with an unchangeable, generic Ash of War – Endure, which players can get as early as Limgrave. Next to many of Elden Ring‘s weirdest and most unique weapons, the Dragon Greatclaw is almost painfully dull, with its only saving graces being a bit of lightning damage and a hidden damage multiplier against dragons.
The Eclipse Shotel Is Elden Ring’s Worst Legendary Weapon
Despite being one of Elden Ring‘s nine legendary weapons, the Eclipse Shotel is hardly worth the trouble of a detour to Castle Sol. Though at the very least respectable in terms of damage, its Death Flare weapon art leaves much to be desired – particularly in that its deathblight effect is completely ineffective against all but a select few of Elden Ring‘s many enemies. Even in PVP duels, where the effect does apply, the buildup is too minimal to be worthwhile, and doesn’t make up for the weapon’s incredibly low range. Next to the game’s other legendary weapons, one of which is the iconic Moonlight Greatsword, the Eclipse Shotel can’t help but be disappointing.
While there is an argument against weapons being too powerful, like Elden Ring‘s best early-game weapon, it’s even more of a letdown when a unique or rare tool simply isn’t worth using. Despite being unique and challenging to acquire, the Dragon Greatclaw and Eclipse Shotel are let down by lackluster attributes and severe flaws, making them not worth the trouble they take to get. With potentially more in store for Elden Ring‘s future, however, players can only hope that the game’s most underwhelming weapons will get some much-needed changes.
Source: GameSpot/YouTube