When it comes to Elden Ring, mastering weapons and their unique abilities is crucial to surviving in the Lands Between. One of the most exciting mechanics in the game involves critical hits—those satisfying, high-damage strikes that can turn the tide of battle in your favor. Some weapons in Elden Ring offer special effects on critical hits that can dramatically alter your playstyle. In this article, we’ll explore 24 weapons with unique critical hit effects and how you can use them to your advantage.

1. Rivers of Blood

The Rivers of Blood katana is notorious for its blood loss buildup, and its critical hit effect is just as deadly. A successful critical hit with this weapon not only deals immense damage but also adds a significant blood loss effect to the target. This makes it perfect for rapidly depleting enemy health, especially when facing tough bosses or enemies with large health pools.

2. Uchigatana

This classic katana is beloved by many for its ability to deal swift and efficient damage. Its critical hit effect causes additional bleed buildup, which can stack rapidly in combat. Whether you're focusing on fast strikes or precision hits, this weapon is an excellent choice for players who want to exploit the power of bleeding effects.

3. Moonveil

The Moonveil katana has a unique effect tied to its special ability, Transient Moonlight. On critical hits, this weapon can release a burst of magic damage, allowing you to deal both physical and magical damage simultaneously. This makes it an excellent choice for hybrid builds that combine intelligence and dexterity.

4. Greatsword

The Greatsword is a heavy weapon that delivers crushing blows with a wide arc. When you land a critical hit, it can stagger enemies, making them more vulnerable to follow-up attacks. This weapon excels in breaking through enemy defenses and creating openings for devastating combos.

5. Godslayer Greatsword

As the name suggests, the Godslayer Greatsword has a unique effect that activates on critical hits: it unleashes a burst of fire damage. This can be devastating against enemies weak to fire, especially when combined with the weapon’s already impressive damage output.

6. Bloodhound’s Fang

With its ability to perform quick slashes and devastating critical hits, Bloodhound's Fang is a favorite among players who rely on speed and agility. When you land a critical hit with this weapon, it causes a bleed effect, rapidly draining the enemy’s health and ensuring that you deal maximum damage with every strike.

7. Dragon Slayer

The Dragon Slayer is one of the few weapons in Elden Ring with a unique critical hit effect against large enemies, especially dragons. When you score a critical hit, the weapon deals extra damage, making it a perfect choice for players who find themselves up against large, powerful foes.

8. Blasphemous Blade

The Blasphemous Blade offers a unique synergy between damage and healing. Upon landing a critical hit, this weapon restores a portion of your health. This makes it an excellent option for tanky builds that rely on survivability and damage output.

9. Exiled Greatsword

The Exiled Greatsword has a special critical hit effect that causes a massive stagger, leaving enemies open to follow-up attacks. Its slow but powerful strikes make it a formidable weapon in the hands of those who can land precision critical hits.

10. Giant-Crusher

This massive weapon is perfect for players who want to focus on raw power. On critical hits, the Giant-Crusher causes a shockwave that can stagger and damage nearby enemies. This makes it an excellent weapon for crowd control and dealing with groups of enemies.

11. Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword

The Magma Wyrm’s Scalesword offers a fiery critical hit effect that deals additional fire damage to your target. When combined with the weapon’s inherent strength, this makes it an ideal choice for aggressive players looking to deal sustained damage over time.

12. Troll Knight’s Sword

When used for critical hits, the Troll Knight’s Sword releases a shockwave of earth damage, making it a powerful weapon against multiple enemies. The weapon’s unique ability to stagger opponents makes it an effective tool for taking down hordes of weaker foes.

13. Giant’s Red Braid

The Giant’s Red Braid is a weapon that excels at delivering quick and impactful strikes. When you land a critical hit, it releases an area-of-effect (AoE) explosion of fire, perfect for clearing out groups of enemies or delivering high damage in confined spaces.

14. Darkmoon Greatsword

The Darkmoon Greatsword is tied to the Darkmoon incantation, offering a unique critical hit effect that increases the weapon's magical power. This makes it especially potent for those who focus on intelligence-based builds and want to deal devastating critical damage with both magic and melee.

15. Sword of Night and Flame

A true powerhouse, the Sword of Night and Flame unleashes a wave of fire or magic on a critical hit, depending on the stance you’re using. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for hybrid spellcasting and melee builds.

16. Malenia’s Sword

Malenia’s signature weapon offers one of the most powerful critical hit effects in the game. It restores health on every successful critical hit, allowing you to keep your HP up while dealing devastating damage. This weapon shines when facing high-stakes encounters where survival is as important as offense.

17. Frostbite Sword

This weapon inflicts the frostbite status effect on critical hits, slowing down enemies and making them more susceptible to damage. It's particularly useful against bosses that require precise timing and strategic attacks to exploit weaknesses.

18. Spinning Scythe

The Spinning Scythe offers a unique critical hit effect that launches a whirlwind of damage, hitting multiple enemies around you. This weapon is perfect for dealing with groups of enemies, and its critical hit effect can ensure you maintain control over the battlefield.

19. Golden Order Greatsword

With a critical hit effect tied to radiant damage, the Golden Order Greatsword deals bonus damage to enemies who are weak to holy magic. It's a great weapon for those who focus on faith-based builds and want to take down the forces of darkness with divine power.

20. Manticore’s Claw

The Manticore’s Claw offers a critical hit effect that causes a poisonous explosion, dealing lasting damage over time to your target. It's an excellent choice for players who prefer a poison-based strategy and want to ensure enemies slowly deteriorate from the inside out.

21. Curved Greatsword

Curved greatswords offer a balance between speed and power. Their critical hit effects often involve fast, sweeping motions that leave enemies vulnerable to follow-up attacks. The Curved Greatsword excels in these quick, punishing strikes.

22. Scythe of the Undead

With its ability to siphon life force from enemies on critical hits, the Scythe of the Undead is an excellent weapon for players who need sustainability in long battles. Every successful critical hit replenishes a small portion of your health, making it a solid choice for extended fights.

23. Reduvia

The Reduvia dagger offers a rapid attack speed with a critical hit effect that triggers bleed buildup. It's perfect for aggressive players who prefer quick, high-impact strikes and can take advantage of the bleed effect for added damage.

24. Halberd of the Storm

A unique halberd that offers a lightning-based critical hit effect. The Halberd of the Storm creates an electrical burst upon landing a critical hit, perfect for taking down enemies weak to lightning damage. The weapon’s reach also makes it a reliable choice for mid-range combat.

In Elden Ring, critical hits are a game-changer, and choosing the right weapon for the job can make all the difference. Whether you’re looking to buy Elden Ring runes on PC or need to buy Elden Ring items on PS4, these 24 weapons with special critical hit effects can help you gain an edge in your adventures. Experiment with different weapons and find the one that fits your playstyle—each offers something unique to enhance your journey through the Lands Between.