How Elden Ring Weapon Scaling and Attack Rating Work
Understand Elden Ring weapon scaling — how S/A/B/C/D/E grade letters translate to damage, how attribute investments affect AR, and how to maximize damage for your build.
Related Calculators
What Is Weapon Scaling in Elden Ring?
Every weapon in Elden Ring has a base attack rating (AR) and scaling coefficients that multiply additional damage based on your character attributes. Weapons scale with combinations of Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, and Arcane.
Total AR = Base AR + (Strength Scaling) + (Dexterity Scaling) + (Intelligence/Faith/Arcane Scaling)
Scaling Grade Letters
Example: A weapon with base AR 100 and Strength scaling B (coefficient ~0.80): - At 40 Strength: Added AR = 100 × 0.80 × (some multiplier based on 40 Str) ≈ 80+ additional AR
The exact added AR uses a lookup table for each stat value — it's not linear; scaling gains diminish at higher attribute levels.
Soft Caps: Where Scaling Slows
Every attribute has soft caps — breakpoints where additional investment yields diminishing returns:
Practical rule: Invest in the primary stat your weapon scales best with, stopping at 50–60 depending on the weapon. Past 60, AR gains per level drop significantly.
Two-Handing Strength
Two-handing a weapon multiplies your Strength by 1.5 for scaling purposes only: - 50 Strength two-handed = 75 Strength effective for scaling
This allows you to reach 66 effective Strength with only 44 points invested — significant for heavy two-handed builds.
Choosing the Right Weapon for Your Build
Attack Power vs. Damage Output
Attack Rating (AR) is your weapon's theoretical maximum damage. Actual damage also depends on: - Enemy defense: Subtracted from AR based on weapon type - Damage type: Physical, magic, fire, lightning, holy - Enemy resistances: Some enemies are highly resistant to specific damage types - Weapon art (Ash of War): Can dramatically increase burst damage
For boss fights, the meta often prioritizes elemental damage types that specific bosses are weak to — even at slightly lower AR than a maxed physical weapon.
Related Guides
- MapleStory Genesis Weapon Liberation Guide: Requirements and StepsComplete guide to MapleStory Genesis Weapon Liberation — the full requirements, Arcane Symbol investment, story quest progression, and how to unlock your weapon's final passive.
- How ROTMG DPS Is CalculatedLearn how weapon damage, ATK, defense, shots, attack rate, accuracy and buffs combine in ROTMG DPS.
- How OSRS DPS Is Calculated: Attack Bonus, Strength, and PrayerUnderstand how OSRS damage per second is calculated from attack speed, accuracy, max hit, and prayer bonuses. Covers the effective level, roll, and hit damage formulas.
- How to Use the MapleStory Damage CalculatorLearn how MapleStory calculates damage — the damage formula, damage range, final damage multipliers, and how to use the Damage Calculator to estimate your DPS and plan gear upgrades.
- OSRS Attack Speed and Game Ticks: How Tick-Based Combat WorksUnderstand OSRS game ticks and attack speed. Every action in OSRS happens in 0.6-second tick intervals, and weapon speed determines how many ticks between attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does weapon scaling grade mean in Elden Ring?
- Scaling grades (S, A, B, C, D, E) indicate how strongly your weapon's damage scales with a specific attribute. S is the strongest multiplier; E is negligible. A weapon with Strength S scaling gains significantly more AR from each point of Strength than a weapon with Strength D scaling.
- What is the soft cap for Strength in Elden Ring?
- Strength has soft caps at 20 and 50. The biggest gains per level occur from 1 to 20, then moderate gains from 20 to 50. After 50, each additional Strength point provides very small AR increases. Most pure Strength builds stop at 50 (or 66 for two-handed builds via the 1.5× multiplier).
- How does two-handing affect weapon damage in Elden Ring?
- Two-handing multiplies your Strength by 1.5 for scaling calculations. With 44 Strength, two-handing gives you 66 effective Strength — the equivalent of investing 22 additional stat points. This is especially valuable for heavy weapons that have high Strength scaling (A or S grade).
- How do I maximize my weapon's attack rating?
- 1. Upgrade to +25 (standard) or +10 (somber). 2. Invest in the primary scaling attribute to its soft cap (typically 50). 3. Apply the correct Ash of War that buffs the scaling attribute your build uses. 4. Use Physick flask or buffs that increase damage type (sacred tears, greases). 5. Match damage type to enemy weakness.
Last updated 7/28/2026