Elden Ring Guide | Best Smithscript Dagger Build

Here's a guide on creating the best Smithscript Dagger build in Elden Ring.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Sep 03, 2025

This build focuses on leveraging the Smithscript Dagger, a throwing blade from the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, to create a versatile dual-wielding setup that combines ranged pressure with powerful melee trades.

The plan is to maintain a continual offense at various distances while utilizing status effects to regulate the pace of the fight in Elden Ring.

Weapon Setup

Put the Smithscript Dagger in your left hand to make a constant ranged threat that doesn't cost any FP. This position lets you keep pressure on your enemies from a distance while having your primary weapon available for close combat.

Elden Ring, Guide, Best Smithscript Dagger Build

The Throwing Blade serves as your primary tool for initiating encounters and punishing enemy movement. Pair this with the Rakshasa's Great Katana in your main hand, as this weapon gains Hyper Armor when wielded one-handed.

This combination gives you access to both ranged attack and the ability to trade favorably in melee exchanges through the Katana's enhanced poise properties in Elden Ring.

Infusion Strategy

Apply a blood infusion to your Smithscript Dagger to maximize its utility in building bleed status on targets. You can adapt this approach by selecting different infusions based on your build requirements - frostbite, poison, or other status effects work depending on your overall strategy.

The key advantage lies in consistently applying status buildup from range without resource expenditure.

Consider keeping a keen-infused Smithscript Dagger as an alternative option when raw damage output takes priority over status application. The keen infusion provides an S-tier dexterity scaling and approximately 136 additional attack rating compared to the blood variant in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring, Guide, Best Smithscript Dagger Build, Stats

Combat Approach

Begin fights by using the Smithscript Dagger to apply consistent bleed pressure from range. This forces opponents to either endure the status buildup or close the distance to engage you directly.

When enemies become aggressive and attempt to rush your position, transition to the Rakshasa's Great Katana and utilize the Weed Cutter Ash of War in Elden Ring.

Using a one-handed katana gives you Hyper Armor, which lets you trade blows with enemies while the Weed Cutter does a lot of damage. If you can get a bleed proc during these exchanges, the damage potential increases significantly.

Stat Distribution

Put most of your stat points into dexterity, since both weapons work well with this stat. When blood-infused, the Smithscript Dagger gets B-tier scaling, and when keen-infused, it gets S-tier scaling. This means that dexterity is the best way to increase damage in Elden Ring.

The Rakshasa's Great Katana similarly benefits from dexterity investment while providing the blood loss buildup that synergizes with your throwing blade strategy in Elden Ring.

Elden Ring, Guide, Best Smithscript Dagger Build, Combat

Talisman Configuration

Equip the Shard of Alexander to enhance the damage output of your Weed Cutter Ash of War, as this will serve as your primary trading tool during aggressive exchanges.

Include consecutive attack Talismans to amplify your damage potential further when landing multiple hits in sequence, which complements both your ranged attack and melee pressure tactics in Elden Ring.

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