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FromSoftware has always had a penchant for variety, with each of their games (except Sekiro) offering players a plethora of viable and completely unique playstyles to choose from. In Elden Ring, no Intelligence/Dexterity hybrid is complete without the Moonveil Katana, arguably the best Int-based weapon in Elden Ring.

The Moonveil Katana scales primarily with Dexterity and Intelligence and rewards a playstyle that mixes close-quarters swordplay with midrange spellcasting. The Ash of War that comes with Mooveil is Transient Moonlight, which lets players launch a powerful (and cheap) magic arc that scales with the weapon’s upgrade level. Equipping Moonveil requires at least 18 Dexterity, 12 Strength, and 23 Intelligence, which isn’t a lot considering the high-tier scaling and skill that comes with it.

Having high Vigor is essential to surviving in Elden Ring, so be sure to regularly put a point or two into this stat as you level up. Having a high Mind stat lets you use Moonveil’s Ash of War more before running out of FP, and a 30 in Dex and 40 in Int takes advantage of the weapon’s scaling effectively. Investing in Arcane is essential for this build as it increases your ability to deal Bleed buildup. Moonveil has a relatively low 50 Bleed damage with each hit, but this can be improved greatly with just a sprinkle of Arcane.

How To Get The Moonveil Katana

The Moonveil Katana can be found very early on in Elden Ring if you know where to go. From the Third Church of Marika, head north towards the western entrance to Caelid. Follow the road until you reach the telescope marked on the world map - from here, head directly west to reach the Gael Tunnel. Alternatively, you can look on the world map for an orange-tinted cave icon on the border of Limgrave and Caelid. Most caves in Elden Ring are highlighted with this symbol on the map.

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Once inside, get to the end of the tunnel to speak with Alexander and progress his quest. Then, light the Lost Grace, and head inside the boss room to fight the Magma Wyrm. Upon defeat this boss drops Moonveil.

Sorceries and Side Weapons for the Moonveil Katana Build

The best Sorceries to pair with the Moonveil katana are those that fill in the gaps for things the katana can’t do or complement the moveset in some way. For example, Magic Glintblade can be useful to a Moonveil user as they can time their entrance into melee combat with the spell activating. Spells that deal AoE damage, like the Rotten Breath Incantation or Meteorite Sorcery, are useful to Moonveil users too, though they do require more careful stat planning.

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The best side weapon to use with Moonveil is another katana to unlock the Powerstancing moveset unique to the weapon class. Powerstancing in Elden Ring lets players trade off defense for raw damage output, practically dealing twice the amount of damage as normal. Pair Moonveil with another Int-based katana like the Meteorite Blade to take advantage of shared scaling, or use classics like Rivers of Blood or the Hand of Malenia to complement Moonveil’s buildup of Bleed. Just be sure to equip it in the right hand to be able to use the Transient Moonlight Ash of War.

Moonveil Katana Talismans and Armor

The Moonveil build is one based primarily on speed and rapid attacks and regular use of its Ash of War, so Talismans that can take advantage of this playstyle shine. The Winged Sword Insignia and Warrior Shard are essential for increasing regular and special damage output, while the Carian Filigree Crest and the Lord of Blood’s Exultation reduce FP consumption and increase attack power when opponents bleed.

Ultimately the armor and appearance of your character when using Moonveil is up to you, but it’s a weapon that just looks better when wielded by someone with light, flowing armor. The Preceptor’s Gown (Altered) resembles a black Gi, though there is something to be said for the classic Land of Reeds armor. You just can’t go wrong with traditional-Japanese-inspired aesthetics, and with some careful character facial customization, even roleplaying as the One-Armed Wolf of Sekiro isn’t out of the question.

Elden Ring is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.

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