MMOexp – Best Beginner Loadouts in Elden Ring: Gear Guide by Build
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02 Aug 2025 06:53:42 am.
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This article breaks down some of the best early-game weapons and talismans in Elden Ring—items that are powerful, relatively easy to acquire, and offer strong benefits regardless of your build.
Top Early Talismans in Elden Ring
10. Claw Talisman – Boost Your Jump Attacks
Jump attacks are extremely effective in Elden Ring, and the Claw Talisman increases their damage by 15%. This is especially helpful when fighting staggerable enemies like Godrick the Grafted.
Location: Found in Stormveil Castle after unlocking the Rampart Tower Site of Grace. Head outside, turn right, jump down onto the roof, climb the broken pillar, and ascend a ladder to find it in a chest.
9. Green Turtle Talisman – Regain Your Stamina Faster
Early game combat often drains stamina quickly. The Green Turtle Talisman significantly boosts stamina regeneration, helping you stay aggressive.
Location: Found in Summonwater Village, behind an Imp Seal. Use a Stonesword Key to unlock the room.
Top Early Weapons for Every Build
8. Zweihander – Accessible Colossal Sword
The Zweihander is one of the best early Colossal Swords. It only needs 19 Strength (or 10 if two-handed), making it viable early on for Strength builds.
Location: Purchase from the Wandering Merchant in the Weeping Peninsula, west of the Wandering Mausoleum.
Bonus: Works well with various Ashes of War like Waves of Darkness, especially for hybrid builds.
7. Bloodhound’s Fang – Dodge & Strike
This Curved Greatsword scales with Strength and Dexterity and features the unique Bloodhound’s Finesse skill, allowing players to dash through attacks and counter with devastating force.
Location: Dropped by Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlorn Hound’s Evergaol in Limgrave. You can summon Blaidd if you’ve met him at the Mistwood Ruins.
6. Uchigatana – Starter Katana
The Uchigatana is great for Dexterity builds and comes with the powerful Unsheathe skill, which deals solid poise damage.
Location: Found in Deathtouched Catacombs, one of the earliest Limgrave dungeons. After pulling the lever, take a hidden side path to find the weapon.
5. Meteorite Staff – Early Sorcerer’s Dream
This staff has the highest base magic damage of any staff in the game and grants a 30% buff to Gravity Sorceries, like Rock Sling.
Downside: It cannot be upgraded, so it’ll eventually be outclassed.
Location: Found in Caelid's Street of Sages Ruins, a risky place to visit early, but well worth the reward for magic users.
4. Golden Halberd – Faith & Strength Hybrid
This weapon features Golden Vow, a buffing skill usually unavailable until much later in the game. It has excellent Strength scaling and solid physical damage.
Location: Dropped by the Tree Sentinel near the First Step Site of Grace. Tough for new players, but manageable for veterans starting over.
3. Claymore – Balanced & Customizable
The Claymore is a reliable weapon with low stat requirements, making it usable almost immediately. It supports many Ashes of War, allowing full customization.
Location: Found in Castle Morne on the Weeping Peninsula. Take the elevator and explore right to find the chest containing it.
Default Skill: Comes with Lion’s Claw, a high-damage leaping attack.
2. Moonveil – Intelligence Powerhouse
The Moonveil Katana is a top-tier weapon for Intelligence builds, with the Transient Moonlight skill that unleashes fast magical slashes.
Location: Dropped by the Magma Wyrm boss in Gael Tunnel in Caelid. It’s accessible early but challenging due to the area’s increased difficulty.
1. Greatsword – King of Strength Weapons
Inspired by Guts’ Dragon Slayer from Berserk, the Greatsword is a fan-favorite Colossal Sword with top-tier Strength scaling.
Requirement: 31 Strength (or 16 if two-handed).
Location: Found in Caelid, in a chest on a wagon surrounded by enemies. It’s risky to cheap Elden Ring Runes grab early but worth it for Strength builds.
Other Noteworthy Mentions
Some powerful early-game items didn’t make the top list due to higher stat requirements or limited scalability early on:
Godslayer’s Seal
Dragon Communion Seal
Sword of Night and Flame
Lusat’s Glintstone Staff
While strong, they often require more investment to shine, making them less accessible to new characters.
Conclusion: Set Yourself Up for Success
Elden Ring is brutal, but planning your early game loadout makes a huge difference. Whether you're slashing through foes with the Bloodhound’s Fang or launching meteorites with the Meteorite Staff, choosing the right equipment early can define your playthrough.
These weapons and talismans are easy to find, cost little in terms of stat investment, and offer incredible performance that will carry you well into mid-game—and in some cases, all the way to the Elden Throne.
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