As a tarnished warrior, you must embrace the savage fury of wild creatures to triumph in the Lands Between. I still vividly remember equipping my first set of claws, feeling the weapons‘ nimble brutality flow through my fingers as I shredded through enemies with flurries of slashes. 300 hours of playtime later, I‘ve bled countless foes dry across my NG+7 playthroughs by striking from the shadows with my raptor talons.
My History as a Proven Claw Master
I‘m Zarieth, a long-time Soulsborne fanatic turned professional Elden Ring content creator. I‘ve made a name for myself by specializing in high-risk, high-reward dexterity builds, leaning into the glass cannon playstyle with claws, whips, and poison armaments. Across my two YouTube channels, my claw challenge run videos have over 50k views, so I know a thing or two about unleashing these weapons‘ potential.
The key to mastering claws is understanding how to maximize their aggression and mobility to carve through foes before they can react. In this guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know to channel these weapons‘ predatory spirit, from hidden mechanics to my personal recommendations on the definitive top 5 claws available in the Lands Between.
What Are Claws and Why Use Them?
Claws are swift fist-type weapons that rend enemies to shreds with rapid slashes. They require higher dexterity to wield effectively than colossal weapons but reward your skill investment with enhanced evasion and versatile movesets for adapting to any battle.
Here are the core reasons to embrace the animalistic fury of claws:
Speed – Most claws boast at least a 70 dexterity scaling rating, empowering a relentless flurry of attacks to overwhelm opponents. Their quick strikes keep the pressure on rather than relying on slow, heavy swings.
Bleed Buildup – Nearly all claws cause hemorrhaging effects, shredding away chunks of enemies‘ health bars each time you lacerate them. With the right build, you can proc bleed in just 2-3 hits.
Evasion – Claws emphasize dodging and leaping during combat. Many feature Quickstep or Bloodhound Step weapon skills, allowing you to nimbly dance around blows before retaliating from unexpected angles.
Now let‘s explore the top claw contenders available across the Lands Between.
Top 5 Claws Ranked
Here are my picks for the top 5 most lethal claw weapons within Elden Ring after extensive testing and challenge run experience with each:
| Name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raptor Talons | Bloodhound‘s Fang | Hookclaws | Ripple Crescent Halberd | Bloodhound Claws |
Below I‘ll analyze the strengths of each weapon, detailed locations on retrieving them, and tips for utilizing them to their fullest.
1. Raptor Talons – Highest Critical Damage
My #1 claws pick are the Raptor Talons, obtained by navigating the Sage‘s Cave in Altus Plateau and defeating the Putrid Crystalian Trio boss. I recommend at least 40 Dexterity before wielding them.
Though they lack raw damage, the Raptor Talons are lethal when you leverage their unique moveset. Their normal slashes are swift, while their unique jumping Charged R2 attack allows you to take flight and descend upon enemies for colossal damage.
They also gain the longest combo strings of all claws while two-handed, effortlessly chaining 6+ hits to carve openings in even the toughest defense.
Location
- Defeat Putrid Crystalian Trio boss inside Sage‘s Cave (Altus Plateau)
Stats
| Attack Power | Critical | Guard Boost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | 110 | – | 1.5 |
Skills
- Quickstep
- Charged R2 Leaping Slash
2. Bloodhound‘s Fang
This curved greatsword morphs into a lethal set of claws when wielded with two hands, offering versatile movesets between long and close range combat. I recommend at least 34 strength and 40 dexterity before attempting to wield Bloodhound‘s Fang.
The Bloodhound Step weapon skill enhances its already impressive mobility, creating opportunities to strike from unexpected angles. Against agile enemies I struggle to connect clean hits on, Bloodhound‘s Fang rarely fails me.
Location
- Reward for defeating Starscourge Radahn (Redmane Castle)
Stats
| Attack Power | Critical | Guard Boost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 137 | 100 | 55 | 8.5 |
Skills
- Bloodhound Step
- Charged R2 Somersault Slice
3. Hookclaws
For those seeking claws early, the Hookclaws are your best option, obtained by exploring Stormveil Castle. I recommend at least 12 dexterity before wielding them.
They offer strong dexterity scaling and bleed attribute while only weighing 2 units. Their iconic feature is the Quickstep skill, allowing you to phase through attacks like a phantom before countering.
Against groups, I dash between opponents with Quickstep, delivering 2-3 rapid strikes before dodging away. This hit-and-run approach whittles down enemies.
Location
- Wielded by corpse in Stormveil Castle wine cellar
Stats
| Attack Power | Critical | Guard Boost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | 110 | 35 | 2.0 |
Skills
- Quickstep
4. Ripple Crescent Halberd
This mysterious long-hafted armament forged in an unknown land transforms from a polearm into a claw when two-handed. I recommend at least 21 strength and 12 dexterity before attempting to wield it.
Its moveset incorporates long-reaching slashes complemented by acrobatic flurries at close range. Against giants and magical creatures, the enhanced range proves valuable in keeping my distance while unleashing attacks.
Location
- Purchased from Nomadic Merchant in Altus Plateau for 5,000 runes
Stats
| Attack Power | Critical | Guard Boost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | 62 | 47 | 7.0 |
Skills
- Spinning Weapon
- Charged R2 Reaping Slam
5. Bloodhound Claws
Visually distinct with their blackened blades, the Bloodhound Claws live up to their name with strong bleed capabilities. I recommend at least 10 dexterity before wielding them.
Their Bloodhound Step weapon skill empowers acrobatic dodging to avoid attacks and rapidly close distances before striking. Against humanoid opponents, I rely on Bloodhound Step to create openings for a lethal counterattack.
Location
- Dropped by Bloodhound Knight in Volcano Manor Courtyard (Mt. Gelmir)
Stats
| Attack Power | Critical | Guard Boost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 110 | 38 | 3.0 |
Skills
- Bloodhound Step
Now that you know where to obtain the top contenders, let‘s explore some key tactics to maximize your claw capabilities…
Essential Claw Combat Tips
Through extensive trial-and-error across my playthroughs, I‘ve compiled the best practices for claw weapons:
Target Weak Points – Unlike colossal weapons that rely on raw damage, strike at enemy limbs to disable attacks and open opportunities for riposting their heads.
Proc Bleed Buildup – Carve away small health chunks each combo, forcing tougher enemies into a hemorrhage state you can exploit with a critical attack.
Bait Attacks – Dash in with Bloodhound Step then retreat just outside their range. Punish whiffed strikes immediately with a Running R1 counter.
Mix Up Timing – Vary combo lengths and occasionally delay that extra attack instead of mashing R1. This tricks opponents, catching them off-guard.
Leverage Height – When surrounded, utilize jumping Charged R2 strikes to stagger groups so you can single out targets without being overwhelmed.
Through relentless, unpredictable aggression, you‘ll dominate enemies with claws in no time!
Gear & Stat Optimization for Claw Builds
To fully realize claws‘ potential, you need the right supportive gear, flasks, and attribute distribution. Here is what I recommend:
Weapons
- Claws in main hand
- Shield in off-hand for parrying
Armor
- White Mask (Enhances successive attacks)
- Lord of Blood‘s Exultation (Boosts bleed attacks after proccing hemorrhage on enemies)
- Rotten Duelist Set (Enhances charged attacks)
Flask of Wondrous Physick
- Thorny Cracked Tear (Significantly boosts next attack)
- Dexterity Knot Crystal Tear
Attributes
- 50+ Dexterity (Claw attack scaling)
- 25 Endurance (Equip load for armor & stamina for combos)
- 50 Arcane (Bleed buildup)
This optimized setup enhances your claw‘s damage potential, empowers consecutive strikes, and lets you activate powerful bleed hemorrhages.
Conclusion & My Top Claw Pick
Through years traversing the treacherous Lands Between and countless hours testing weapons, I stand by the Raptor Talons as the definitive best claws available. Their leaping Charged R2 attack is simply unmatched, while still retaining versatile movesets and high critical damage for punishing openings.
Yet as I‘ve demonstrated, all the claws listed above bring unique strengths to the table. Choose whichever best fits your style of engagement. Are you an evasive quickstep specialist or towering leaper? A ranged halberd dancer or vicious bleed proccer? Lean into your combat identity – and unleash utter carnage with your claws of choice!
May your road lead you to vicious victory, my friends. Now go and carve your legend across the realm.
