Summary
“A knight exiled from their homeland to wander. A solid, armor-clad origin.”Elden Ring’s Vagabond description says it all. For players looking for a balanced and high-vigorstarting classto stomp around the Lands Between with, Vagabond is their best bet.
Besides being able to take a beating, the Vagabond class is also high in Strength and Dexterity. It’s essentially the game’s equivalent of the traditional Knight class from past FromSoftware titles. With the highest equip load of all classes, it offers unmatched tankiness. Just beware—its heavy armor and bulky build aren’t ideal if players are relying on dodging. The class starts with three armaments: the Longsword, the Halberd, and the Heater Shield. While these are good for getting to grips with the game, they’re not the most optimal weapons for this type of build.
10Claymore
What’s More To Love?
Name a more iconic duo than a Vagabond and theGreatsword. For players looking to start strong, the Claymore is the go-to choice. Found early in Castle Morne (guarded by the pesky Misbegotten), this versatile weapon delivers a powerful balance of reach, damage, and flexibility.
Many players end up keeping it throughout the entire game, and it’s easy to see why. Its Ash of War, Lion’s Claw, is one of the most satisfying attacks inElden Ring, delivering comical levels of pain to anyone who gets in its way.
9Great Turtle Shell
Vagabonds In A Half-Shell
Shields are a Vagabond’s best friend, and with a starting Strength of 14, theGreat Turtle Shellis a top-tier early-game pick. Found in the Weeping Peninsula near the game’s beginning (with some light platforming), thismedium shieldoffers a crucial advantage: stamina regeneration, even when slung on the back nina turtle style.
For heavy builds like the Vagabond, maintaining stamina is essential since attacks can quickly drain the bar. With the Great Turtle Shell equipped, players gain a much-needed edge in managing their endurance during prolonged battles.
8Great Épée
Épée An Arm And A Leg
TheGreat Épée(pronounced eh-pay) is a must for Tarnished who enjoy a classic sword-and-board combo. Its impressive range and swift recovery make it the ideal poke-and-hide weapon, perfect for dealing with groups of enemies. Even better, it’s anearly-game findthat can serve players well throughout their entire playthrough.
When sufficiently upgraded, its powerful thrust attacks can stagger even formidable foes. With a refined moveset and modest stamina usage, it’s a practical and stylish choice—though players will either feel fancy or just a bit ridiculous when pronouncing its name aloud.
7Bloodhound’s Fang
Join The Bloodhound Gang
Bloodhound’s Fangis a Curved Greatsword tailor-made for Vagabonds aiming to scale their Strength and Dexterity stats. It’sblazingly fast, boasts impressive range, and—let’s be honest—just looks cool. Players can also stack buffs to make it even more deadly.
Its standout feature is the exclusive Bloodhound’s Finesse skill, which sends the Tarnished lunging forward for a devastating slash before gracefully retreating to create much-needed distance. Pair that with the powerful follow-up in Bloodhound’s Step, and players have a weapon that is as relentless as it is elegant.
6Backhand Blade
OP Or Not OP, That Is The Question
TheBackhand Bladeis a standout addition from theShadow of the ErdtreeDLC, introducing a new family of swords that many players consider OP—for good reason. When paired with Millicent’s Prosthesis, the Winged Insignia, and the Thorny Cracked Tear, it scales multi-hit damage to such absurd levels it almost feels like cheating.
But the real showstopper? The Blind Spot Ash of War. This flashy move is the closest players will get to the iconic Teleports Behind You “Nothing Personal, Kid” moment—it’s ridiculously satisfying.
5Great Stars
By Grabthar’s Hammer… What A Savings
TheGreat Starsis one of the most versatile Great Hammers to grace the Lands Between, making it a top pick for unga-bunga Vagabonds who enjoy turning enemies into a fine bloody mist. For those who want to go all out, dual-wielding Great Stars offers incredible bleed build-up and devastating poise damage.
While its default skill, Endure, is serviceable for boosting poise and reducing damage, the real magic happens when fans pair it with the Prelate’s Charge Ash of War—one of the game’s best-hidden delights.
4Golden Halberd
HAL(berd) 9000!
A fan favorite and one of the game’s best-looking to boot, theGolden Halberdcan be pried from the cold, dead hands of thedreaded Limgrave Tree Sentinel. For players with incredible skill and patience, they can nab this item fairly early on. For others, it’s wiser to come back later.
This halberd dishes out high levels of Holy and Physical Damage. Its default skill, Golden Vow, boosts both attack and defense for the player and their allies for a solid 45 seconds. It’s fantastic early on, though less optimal for late-game and DLC.
3Golden Greatshield
Good As Gold
If shields are a Vagabond’s best friend, thenGreatshields are their one true love. The biggest of all shield types, they weigh a ton and provide the best protection against attacks. Perfect for players who want to avoid the messy business of parrying.
TheGolden Greatshieldis the gold standard. Found by farming Leyndell Knights in the Royal Capital or Liurnia of the Lakes (although the latter is only recommended for very patient players). Relatively light for a Greatshield of its caliber, it proves invaluable against both brutal bosses and dastardly common enemies.
2Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword
The Screen’s Flashing Red
Another Curved Greatsword, theMagma Wyrm’s Scaleswordis a terrific option for players investing in Faith or focusing on fire damage. Wielded two-handed during jump attacks, it becomes a devastating force of nature.
Its default skill, Magma Guillotine, is also one of the game’s most impressive — leaving a fiery pool of magma in its wake. And if that’s not enough to tempt players, just read the description: “Curved greatsword wielded by Magma Wyrms. The shape resembles a dragon’s jaw and is covered in hard scales.”
1Dark Moon Greatsword
It’s Such A Fine And Natural Sight
For players looking to find the ultimate Strength andIntelligencecocktail, theDark Moon Greatswordis the perfect mixer. A staple in FromSoftware’s games, this iconic sword makes its appearance deep into Ranni’s quest.
While it takes its time to land hits, the payoff is well worth the wait. The sword’s frost buildup can inflict Frostbite, making enemies more vulnerable to subsequent hits. Plus, its weapon skill, Moonlight Greatsword, turns this already threatening beast into a moonlight-firing wrecking machine.
