In a title like Elden Ring, where bosses are enormous and their attacks tend to have absurd range, it takes a special kind of player to willingly choose a dagger. In truth, based solely on their short reach alone, daggers are probably one of the most difficult weapons to use in all of Elden Ring. However, when paired with a lighter equipment load, the right Ash of War choice, and a bit of cunning, daggers can actually be one of the most rewarding weapons to use.
While the basic Dagger can be used as an excellent weapon for a challenge run through Elden Ring, the unique daggers found throughout the game can be exceptionally powerful. In general, like swords, katanas, and other blades, daggers often apply a Bleed status to enemies—an extremely strong status effect in Elden Ring. This means that despite their limitations, daggers tend to be a high-damage, high-mobility choice that rewards players' skills even more than other options.
S-Tier
Reduvia: Perhaps the best part about Reduvia is that it's available in the early game. It drops after players defeat the invader Bloody Finger Nerijus, and its value is immediately apparent. It has everything: excellent stat scaling, Bleed, and a handy unique weapon skill that allows players to fight at range. 
Bloodstained Dagger: A great no-nonsense choice. Since it's a basic weapon, it can be upgraded to +25 with regular Smithing Stones, but unlike the basic Dagger, it passively applies Bleed. Not only that, but when combined with another Ash of War, the Bloodstained Dagger can apply multiple status effects. 
Black Knife: The Black Knife hits S-tier primarily for its ability, Blade of Death. Despite a cumbersome animation, the Blade of Death ability does a hefty amount of damage and applies a damage-over-time effect. - Parry Dagger/Wakizashi: It's difficult to rank the Parry Dagger and the Wakizashi, since, in the right hands, they can be absolutely amazing, but in the wrong hands, they're among the worst weapons in the game. If a player knows how to parry in Elden Ring, though, these can both be paired with other weapons to create unique and devastating builds.
A-Tier
Blade of Calling: Its special ability shares an animation with the Black Knife's Blade of Death, but deals slightly less damage in most cases. Still, the Blade of Calling can be an excellent choice for a Faith build in Elden Ring. 
Miséricorde: The Misericorde has the highest crit stat of any dagger, meaning that it has the potential for serious damage output. Plus, it has a surprising amount of range for a dagger. 
Great Knife: Arguably one of the best starting weapons in Elden Ring, the Great Knife has decent reach, Bleed, and the ability to be upgraded significantly with Smithing Stones. 
Scorpion's Stinger: The Scorpion's Stinger is unique in its ability to apply Scarlet Rot to an enemy. When combined with a talisman such as the Kindred of Rot's Exultation, the Scorpion's Stinger can dish out serious damage.
B-Tier
Crystal Knife: While it can boast impressive base stats, the Crystal Knife has relatively poor scaling that sets it back. However, it is one of the few options for a dagger player looking to explore an Intelligence-based build. 
Glintstone Kris: The Glintstone Kris grants players an interesting ability called "Glintstone Dart," but as far as a Sorcery spell in Elden Ring, it's fairly underwhelming. It may be useful in the early game, but any player building Intelligence will quickly find a better alternative. 
Celebrant's Sickle: A decent option for farming runes since the Celebrant's Sickle grants an additional 10 runes on hit, but with the widespread availability of better rune farms in Elden Ring, there is very little reason to use the Celebrant's Sickle. 
Dagger: The only redeeming quality of the Dagger is that it can be upgraded to +25 with Smithing Stones, but even then, it is outshone by alternatives like the Bloodstained Dagger. Still, a decent option for those willing to invest in it. 
Ivory Sickle: A basic weapon that can be fully upgraded. The Ivory Sickle is similar to the Dagger, but perhaps a better choice for magic-based, Intelligence builds in Elden Ring. 
Erdsteel Dagger: A bit of extra reach and the ability to compliment a Faith-based build is nice, but the Erdsteel Dagger takes too much effort to get when players can easily go find better alternatives.
C-Tier
Cinquedea: The only useful thing that the Cinquedea does is boost Bestial Incantations—which are relatively lackluster—but as it stands that passive ability cannot outweigh the relatively poor base stats and inability to upgrade it without using Somber Smithing Stones. It's also in a difficult hidden location in Elden Ring that, as of Patch 1.03, is currently near impossible to obtain.
Elden Ring is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
