As a fanatical Elden Ring player with over 2000 hours across 5 complete playthroughs, I‘ve tested every Intelligence-scaling weapon to destruction. And finding great options to empower mage builds has been an arduous journey.
Unlike previous Souls games, Elden Ring scatters viable Int weapons across its vast open world or deeply hidden within late-game areas. This leaves many magic and spellsword characters struggling with subpar staffs and blades for hours on end.
But fear not, fellow Tarnished! In this guide I will highlight the top 15 Intelligence weapons in Elden Ring and explain how to obtain them through concise, newbie-friendly steps.
You‘ll know exactly where to look from early Limgrave explorations to thesnowy peaks of the Mountaintops of Giants. Best of all, every weapon listed here can supercharge an Int build within the first 1-3 hours of play.
So ready your flasks and let‘s begin the magical journey across the Lands Between!
Early Game Intelligence Weapons
Glintstone Kris (Dagger)
Right from the get go, Astrologer class characters can grab the Glintstone Kris dagger near the Waypoint Ruins in Limgrave. It scales decently with Int and lets mages poke safely from behind a staff early on.
- Obtain: Finish Sorceress Sellen‘s Questline and side with her when prompted
- Stats (Max): 16 Int / 57 Phy / 68 Mag DMG / E/D/D Scaling
- Location: Reward from Sorceress Sellen after completing her quest
Carian Knight Sword (Straight Sword)
A reliable mage‘s sidearm, this sword is handy for melee buffers between spellcasts. It can be grabbed very early by venturing to the small island east of Agheel Lake that holds the Cave of Knowledge.
- Obtain: Defeat Carian Knight inside Cave of Knowledge
- Stats: 10 Int / 106 Phy / 86 Mag / D/D/D Scaling
- Location: Island east of Agheel Lake South
Academy Glintstone Staff (Staff)
Every sorcerer‘s basic starter staff can be nabbed after beating the Arrogant Sorcerer boss down some cliffs below the Academy Gate Town site of grace. It‘s enough to start slinging basic Glintstone sorceries found nearby.
- Obtain: Defeat Arrogant Sorcerer boss
- Stats: Skill: Glintstone Pebble / C Int scaling / 146 Spellbuff at +6 upgrade
- Location: Cliff bottom south of Academy Gate Town SoG
Mid Game Intelligence Weapons
Carian Regal Scepter (Staff)
A sizable jump over starting sorcery staves, this weapon empowers mage builds exploring Liurnia of the Lakes and beyond. It is hidden behind some ball bearings turned into the Twin Maiden Husks merchant.
- Obtain: Gather 2x Smithing-Stone Miner‘s Bell Bearing (1) items and give to Twin Maiden Husks vendor
- Stats: Skill: Carian Grandeur / A-Rank Intelligence scaling / 212 Spellbuff at +8
- Location: Reward from Twin Maiden Husks vendor at Roundtable Hold
Lazuli Glintstone Sword (Straight Sword)
Found much later but well worth grabbing as soon as you reach the Mt. Gelmir region. This handsome blue sword scales nicely with Intelligence when up close and personal.
- Obtain: Rare drop from Lazuli Sorcerer enemies
- Stats: 13 Int / 79 Phy / 94 Mag / D/C/C Scaling
- Location: Chance drop from Lazuli Sorcerers in Mt. Gelmir area
Wing of Astel (Curved Greatsword)
A cinematic intelligence weapon that blends ranged magic with sweeping curved greatsword strikes. Unlocked mid to late game after extensive questlines but offers great power earlier on.
- Obtain: Finish Ranni the Witch‘s Questline, explore east of Nokstella Eternal City Site of Grace
- Stats: 10 Int / 46 Phy / 78 Mag / E/D/E Scaling
- Location: Hidden treasure in Nokstella region
Late Game Intelligence Weapons
Dark Moon Greatsword (Greatsword)
Arguably the most iconic and desired Int weapon, the Dark Moon Greatsword finally gives mages a reliably strong melee option just before endgame.
- Obtain: Reward for defeating Bloodhound Knight boss in Frozen Lake northeast of Ranni‘s Rise
- Stats: 16 Int / 122 Phy / 142 Mag / D/D/C Scaling
- Location: Northeast region of Ranni‘s Rise tower
Prince of Death‘s Staff (Staff)
The ultimate late game staff for raining powerful death sorceries upon enemies. Requires high Intelligence/Faith but once found can destroy all in your path.
- Obtain: Hidden chest inside cliffs east of Across the Roots Site of Grace in Deeproot Depths
- Stats: 18 Int / 18 Faith / 144 Mag / S/S Scaling / 307 Spellbuff at +10
- Location: Inside towering cliffs at Deeproot Depths
Royal Greatsword (Colossal Sword)
Every master sorcerer‘s perfect sidearm, the Royal Greatsword hits like a falling star thanks to S-Rank Strength and Intelligence scaling.
- Obtain: Defeat hidden boss at Ranni‘s Rise tower after completing her questline
- Stats: 22 Int / 112 Phy / 134 Mag / A/S Scaling
- Location: Reward for beating hidden boss at Ranni the Witch‘s Rise
So there you have it, Tarnished. The top Intelligence weapons scattered throughout the Lands Between that can massively empower any magic-focused build. With this guide you‘ll have a strong staff and sword early on, dominating options for mid game, and game-changing power just in time for endgame enemies and bosses.
Now get out there, Ashen One, and rain powerful sorceries down on anyone foolish enough to stand in your way! The path of wizardry and moonlit blades awaits.
