Elden Ring Guide | Best Backhand Blades Build

Here's a guide on how to make the best Backhand Blades build in Elden Ring.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Aug 24, 2025

The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduces the Backhand Blade weapon class, offering three distinct variants for your combat arsenal in Elden Ring.

Each weapon brings unique strengths and playstyles to master, from versatile Ash of War compatibility to specialised throwing mechanics.

You can choose the best tool for your fighting style by understanding what sets them apart in Elden Ring.

Backhand Blade

The regular Backhand Blade is very versatile because it works with so many different Ash of War.

You can use self-buff Ash of War, like Flaming Strike, to boost your damage output, which is different from the Smithscript version.

Elden Ring Guide, Best Backhand Blades Build

This flexibility makes it particularly effective if you enjoy experimenting with different combat styles in Elden Ring.

The moveset provides excellent chase-down potential through its running heavy attack, which delivers substantial burst damage.

You can maximise this damage by using the Lacerating Crossed Tree and Rotten Winged Sword Insignia for additional damage bonuses.

The weapon performs exceptionally well as a primary fighting tool due to these synergistic effects in Elden Ring.

For Ash of War selection, Sword Dance proves most effective on this weapon. The Ash of War provides a roll catch opportunity through its heavy attack follow-up after the initial stun.

When your enemies panic roll to get away from the Sword Dance, you can strike them with the heavy attack to deal a lot of burst damage in Elden Ring.

Smithscript Cirque

The Smithscript Cirque is one of the best Smithscript weapons because it does a lot of damage when thrown and can follow targets.

However, its effective range is still limited; therefore, it works best as a mid-range weapon instead of a long-range weapon in Elden Ring.

You cannot simply throw these projectiles from maximum range to chip away at opponents.

This weapon excels at rolling up opponents who position themselves just outside your melee range.

Elden Ring Guide, Best Backhand Blades Build

It proves exceptionally effective against light roll users who attempt to maintain distance while staying mobile in Elden Ring.

The tracking on the throwing attack helps ensure your projectiles connect with evasive targets.

Blind Spot serves as the optimal Ash of War choice for this weapon. While this ash possesses considerable power, it synergises well with the weapon's throwing mechanics in Elden Ring.

When you engage opponents with long-range projectiles, they will typically attempt to close the distance. You can react to their approach and attack their advance using Blind Spot.

Curseblade's Cirque

The Curseblade's Cirque delivers the highest damage output among the three options. It features a unique Ash of War called Deadly Dance in Elden Ring.

This Ash of War excels in multi-hit situations and includes a finishing attack component in its second activation.

Because it hits multiple times, Deadly Dance can manage crowds and deal harm to a single target.

The final attack in the second part of the Ash of War lets you end combos with a lot of damage, which makes it useful against both groups of adversaries and single targets in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring Guide, Best Backhand Blades Build

Build Recommendations

A pure Dexterity build makes all three weapons work better in Elden Ring.

While you can achieve strong performance with blood infusion, poison, or other status effects on the standard Backhand Blade and Smithscript Cirque, the Curseblade's Cirque exclusively scales with dexterity.

If you plan to utilise all three weapons, committing to a Dexterity-focused build ensures consistent performance across your entire arsenal in Elden Ring.

Also, check our Elden Ring Review, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Review, and other guides below: