Elden Ring Backhand Blade: Location & Skill Guide

The Backhand Blade is a curved sword in Elden Ring that you can get early by defeating the Ghostflame Dragon in the Dragon’s Pit on the southern coast of the Gravesite Plain. This guide covers its exact location, the boss fight, the weapon’s unique Ash of War, and how to build around it effectively.

Where to Find the Backhand Blade

The Backhand Blade is dropped by the Ghostflame Dragon, a field boss in the Dragon’s Pit. To reach it, start from the ‘Dragon’s Pit’ Site of Grace in the southern Gravesite Plain (the region you begin in after the DLC intro). From the grace, head south along the cliff path until you see a large cave entrance. Inside, you’ll find the dragon waiting in a large chamber. Defeating it grants the Backhand Blade and 40,000 Runes. The fight is entirely optional but the weapon is a strong early-game choice for a dexterity or quality build.

Understanding the Backhand Blade’s Moveset

The Backhand Blade is a curved sword with a reversed grip, giving it a unique moveset compared to standard curved swords. Its light attacks are quick slashes, and its charged heavy attack is a two-hit spinning slash that can be chained into a follow-up. The weapon has a ‘Curved Sword’ moveset but with faster recovery on most attacks, making it excellent for aggressive play. Its running attack is a lunging slash that closes distance quickly, and its jumping attack is a downward diagonal slash that is great for poise damage. The weapon scales primarily with Dexterity (D at base) and Strength (E), so it shines on builds that invest in those stats.

The Unique Skill: Blind Spot

The Backhand Blade comes with a unique Ash of War called Blind Spot. When activated, your character performs a quick sidestep in the direction you’re moving (or backward if not moving) and then follows up with a slash. This skill has a short start-up and gives you i-frames during the sidestep, allowing you to dodge an incoming attack and counter in one motion. It costs 6 FP and is excellent for aggressive players who want to stay in the enemy’s face. The skill is not a true dodge (it does not have as many i-frames as a roll), but it is faster and lets you reposition while attacking. You can also chain a follow-up heavy attack after the skill for extra damage.

Best Affinities and Infusions

Because the Backhand Blade has low base damage but good scaling, it benefits greatly from infusions. The best options are:

• Keen – For pure Dexterity builds, this gives the highest physical damage and keeps the D scaling in Dex.
• Quality – For a Strength/Dexterity split, this provides balanced scaling and decent damage.
• Blood – The weapon’s innate bleed buildup (45) is boosted further, making it deadly against bosses that are weak to hemorrhage.
• Cold – Adds frost buildup, which can proc frostbite for a chunk of damage and a debuff, but splits the scaling.

For a standard playthrough, Keen is recommended if you have high Dexterity (60+). If you’re running a status effect build, Blood or Cold are excellent choices. The weapon can also be buffed with magic or incantations if you leave it at Standard affinity.

How to Build Around the Backhand Blade

The weapon shines on a Dexterity-focused build. Aim for 60 Dexterity, 20-30 Vigor, and 20-25 Endurance. Use the Winged Sword Insignia talisman to increase attack power with successive hits, and the Millicent’s Prosthesis for a similar effect plus Dexterity. The Claw Talisman boosts jumping attacks, which are strong on this weapon. For armor, any light or medium set that keeps you under 70% equip load works. The weapon’s fast attacks pair well with the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia (if you have it) and the Thorny Cracked Tear in your Physick for even more successive-hit damage.

Pros and Cons Compared to Other Curved Swords

Compared to the standard Scimitar or the Bandit’s Curved Sword, the Backhand Blade trades raw damage for speed and the unique skill. Its light attacks are slightly faster, and the charged heavy has a unique two-hit property that can break poise quickly. However, its reach is shorter, and its heavy attack leaves you slightly vulnerable. The Blind Spot skill is a major advantage over other curved swords that often have generic skills like Spinning Slash. For PvE, it’s a top-tier choice for aggressive players. For PvP, the skill’s sidestep can be punishing if timed well, but it’s also easily baited.

Common Mistakes and Tips

A common mistake is using the Blind Spot skill as a panic dodge—it has fewer i-frames than a roll, so you’ll get hit if you mistime it. Instead, use it proactively to sidestep a telegraphed attack and counter. Another mistake is ignoring the charged heavy’s follow-up: you can press the heavy attack button again after the first hit to perform a second slash, which is great for breaking stance. Also, remember that the weapon’s bleed buildup is a bonus, not the main damage source—don’t rely on it unless you’ve infused with Blood. Finally, the weapon is light (3.5 weight), so you can pair it with a shield or another weapon in your off-hand without heavy endurance investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the Backhand Blade without fighting the dragon?

No, the Ghostflame Dragon is the only source of the Backhand Blade. You must defeat it to obtain the weapon. There is no other drop or purchase location.

Is the Backhand Blade good for a bleed build?

Yes, it has innate bleed buildup (45) and can be infused with Blood to increase it to around 100. With fast attacks, it can proc bleed frequently, making it excellent for bleed-focused builds, especially against bosses weak to hemorrhage.

What stats should I level for the Backhand Blade?

Focus on Dexterity (up to 60) and Vigor (at least 40 for late game). Endurance is also important to keep your equip load light and allow more attacks. Strength can be ignored unless you want to use a quality infusion.

Does the Blind Spot skill work in PvP?

Yes, it works in PvP, but it’s risky. The sidestep can dodge a single attack, but experienced players can bait it and punish the recovery. Use it sparingly and mix it with normal rolls.

What talismans synergize best with the Backhand Blade?

The Winged Sword Insignia (or its upgraded version) is a must for successive hits. The Claw Talisman boosts jumping attacks, and the Shard of Alexander boosts the damage of the Blind Spot skill if you use it often. The Millicent’s Prosthesis also adds Dexterity and a damage buff.

Can I change the Ash of War on the Backhand Blade?

Yes, you can replace Blind Spot with any Ash of War that works on curved swords. However, if you replace it, you lose the unique skill permanently (unless you revert to the default). You can also apply different affinities without losing the skill if you keep it.

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