Weaponsupporting

Smithscript Axe

Smithscript Axe is a Shadow of the Erdtree throwing axe found in Taylew's Ruined Forge. Its strong attacks hurl the runic weapon before it reforms in hand, while ordinary upgrades, affinities, and compatible Ashes give it unusual build flexibility.

Importance

supporting

Elden Ring · weapon

Key Takeaways

Smithscript Axe is a Shadow of the Erdtree throwing axe that extends a conventional axe moveset with reusable ranged attacks. Its value comes from combining close-range pressure with flexible spacing rather than from replacing dedicated ranged weapons.

Reusable throwing attacks

Its heavy-attack inputs throw the axe without ammunition, giving the weapon a built-in ranged option while preserving its melee role.

DLC and location requirement

The Smithscript Axe is a Shadow of the Erdtree weapon found in the Ruined Forge Lava Intake, so it is unavailable in the base game.

Mixed-stat requirements

Its requirements include Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith, which can make it less convenient for narrowly focused builds than a conventional axe.

Flexible spacing tool

The throwing attacks let the wielder pressure targets or maintain distance without switching to a bow, crossbow, or spellcasting tool.

Close-range limitations remain

The weapon still relies on axe-range melee attacks when enemies close in, and its throwing option does not remove the commitment and stamina considerations of heavy attacks.

Customizable standard reinforcement

As a standard weapon, it uses the regular Smithing Stone upgrade path and can be configured through Elden Ring's Ash of War and affinity systems where compatible.

Distinct from ordinary axes

Compared with a conventional axe, the Smithscript Axe trades some specialization for an integrated thrown-weapon option, making reach and utility central to its comparison.

Overview

Smithscript Axe is a Shadow of the Erdtree axe that extends the Smithscript weapon concept into a close-range weapon with a built-in throwing option. It is a standard DLC armament rather than a boss- or remembrance-specific weapon, giving axe users a way to pressure targets at a distance without changing weapon class or relying on conventional ammunition.

The Smithscript Axe belongs to Elden Ring’s Smithscript family, whose defining feature is that certain attacks throw the weapon as part of the moveset. That makes it more than a conventional axe with a different appearance: its combat role includes both ordinary melee exchanges and deliberate ranged pressure. The thrown attacks are part of the weapon’s use rather than a separate ammunition system, so the axe can support spacing and harassment while remaining equipped as a melee weapon.

Its identity is therefore built around flexibility rather than a single exceptional damage profile. At close range, it occupies the familiar axe role, with the commitment and positioning concerns expected from that class. At longer distances, its throwing behaviour can help draw a reaction, finish a weakened opponent, or create an opening before returning to melee range. The practical value of that option depends on timing, spacing, and the player’s build rather than on treating the weapon as a replacement for a dedicated ranged armament.

The weapon is found in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and is intended for characters exploring the Realm of Shadow. It is not a base-game variant of an ordinary axe, and its DLC identity matters when comparing availability and progression. As a standard weapon, it should be evaluated alongside other upgradeable and customizable armaments rather than alongside uniquely scripted legendary rewards; its attraction is the Smithscript moveset and the choices that moveset creates.

For players deciding between an ordinary axe and the Smithscript Axe, the key question is whether an integrated throwing attack is useful enough to justify choosing this particular weapon. A conventional axe offers a more straightforward close-quarters role, while the Smithscript Axe asks the player to make use of its extra reach and attack options without losing the basic axe identity. Its overview belongs in that trade-off: it is a flexible melee weapon with ranged functionality, not a universal substitute for bows, spells, or dedicated long-range weapons.

Statistics

Elden Ring publishes no 0–100 stat bars, so this page lists the verified requirements, scaling and handling figures instead. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.

Category
Axes
Damage Type
Slash
Primary Scaling
Str D / Dex D
Weight
6
Skill
Smithscript Axe Skill
Str Req
13
Dex Req
15
How to Obtain
Found in the Belurat area, Shadow of the Erdtree
DLC
Shadow of the Erdtree

Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.

Compared to similar axes

Weapon	Str Req	Dex Req	Weight	Primary Scaling
Smithscript Axe	13	15	6	Str D / Dex D
Messmer Soldier's Axe	14	13	6	Str D
Battle Axe	12	9	6.5	Str D
Sacrificial Axe	14	10	5.5	Fai D
Stormhawk Axe	13	13	5.5	Str D / Dex D

Requirements, scaling grades and weight are the game’s own published figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.

How to Obtain

Before you start

Shadow of the Erdtree DLC access is required.
No specific boss defeat, NPC quest, or NG+ requirement is needed.

01Enter the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and travel to the Ruined Forge Lava Intake in Gravesite Plain, a standalone dungeon in the southern part of the region. The Smithscript Axe is obtained inside this dungeon rather than from a vendor, quest reward, or enemy drop.
02Progress through the Ruined Forge Lava Intake until reaching the chest that contains the Smithscript Axe, then open it to claim the weapon. The chest pickup is guaranteed and remains available without a quest prerequisite; the item is a fixed one-per-playthrough pickup, not a random drop.

Availability

Base gameunavailable

Smithscript Axe is not part of the base-game weapon pool.

Shadow of the Erdtreeavailable

Requires Shadow of the Erdtree expansion

The weapon is DLC content; no separate difficulty or NG+ requirement applies.

Mechanics and Handling

Smithscript Axe’s defining feature is that its heavy attack can be thrown instead of remaining a conventional close-range swing. The throw does not use ammunition or a separate resource, and the weapon returns to the character after the attack, allowing repeated ranged pressure while the axe remains equipped as a melee weapon. This gives the weapon a way to punish enemies outside normal axe range, though the throw’s timing and recovery still matter when used against opponents who can close distance quickly.

Throwing heavy attacks

The heavy-attack input is the important handling distinction: it sends the axe toward the target rather than simply producing the class’s ordinary two-handed heavy strike. The attack follows a committed wind-up, so it is more useful when an enemy is recovering, approaching, or briefly exposed than when the player is standing directly in front of an active foe. Because the throw returns without ammunition management, it can be incorporated into regular attack strings rather than reserved for a limited supply of projectiles. Its practical value is spacing and reach extension, not a replacement for every close-range exchange.

War Cry and close-range pressure

Smithscript Axe carries the War Cry weapon skill. The skill temporarily changes the weapon’s attack profile in the usual War Cry manner, making it a commitment tool for players who want stronger follow-up attacks after creating an opening. The axe still has ordinary axe swings for close combat, so the skill and the throwing heavy attack serve different purposes: War Cry supports an aggressive melee sequence, while the throw lets the player continue threatening an enemy before re-entering striking distance. Its use should therefore be timed around recovery windows rather than activated indiscriminately.

Spacing, blocking, and status behaviour

The Smithscript Axe has no ammunition, reload cycle, or separate throwing resource to manage. The returned weapon also means that a missed throw does not leave the player unarmed, although the attack’s commitment can still create an opening for a fast enemy. It is not primarily a status-delivery weapon; its identity comes from the repeatable thrown heavy attack and axe moveset rather than an innate buildup effect. Players who rely on blocking or parrying should treat the throw as an approach-control option, then return to the weapon’s normal melee attacks once the opponent is within reliable striking range.

Upgrades and Variants

Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses

Strengths

Combines an ordinary axe moveset with a built-in ranged option: its heavy attacks throw the weapon instead of requiring a separate ammunition supply.
The throwing attacks let the wielder punish openings or approach exposed targets without abandoning a melee-focused loadout.
As an axe-class weapon, it keeps close-range pressure available when an enemy closes distance or when throwing would be unsafe.
Its Smithscript design supports a flexible weapon slot: ranged harassment comes from the weapon itself rather than from carrying a bow or dedicated throwing consumables.

Weaknesses

The ranged option is tied to heavy attacks, so using it involves more animation and stamina commitment than a quick melee strike.
Thrown attacks do not replace a true ranged weapon; distance, elevation, movement and enemy pressure can make the axe harder to place reliably.
The weapon's close-range identity still imposes axe-class spacing and recovery commitments, limiting its convenience against highly mobile enemies.
Choosing the Smithscript Axe uses a weapon slot that could instead provide a longer-reaching melee moveset or a more specialized ranged tool.

Best uses

Use it for hybrid melee play when occasional ranged pressure is valuable but a dedicated bow, crossbow or spell tool would be excessive.
Throw it during safe attack windows to pressure an enemy across a short gap, then return to the axe moveset when the target engages.
Keep it available for enemies that punish immediate approach, while recognizing that sustained or precision ranged combat calls for a more specialized weapon.

Compared With Similar Weapons

Compared With Similar Weapons
Weapon	Class and role	Key distinction	Choice context
Smithscript Greataxe	Shares the Smithscript throwable-attack concept but uses a larger, more committed weapon profile	Prefer when heavier melee attacks matter more than quick recovery and flexible spacing	—
Smithscript Dagger	Provides the same general thrown-weapon concept with faster dagger handling and closer-range pressure	Prefer for mobility and repeated ranged harassment rather than axe reach and impact	—
Hand Axe	Lacks the Smithscript Axe's integrated thrown-attack identity, but offers a simpler conventional axe moveset	Prefer when a normal axe moveset is wanted and thrown attacks are not part of the plan	—

Lore and Design

The Smithscript Axe’s item description connects it to the ancient smiths of the Rauh civilization. Its construction is distinctive within that tradition: the axe’s blade is fashioned from a smithing stone rather than described as ordinary forged metal. This gives the weapon a clear material and historical association with the ruins and craft traditions of the Realm of Shadow.

The description also presents the axe as a purpose-built throwing weapon, rather than a conventional axe that happens to be usable at range. That distinction is part of its documented identity, while the practical details of its throwing attacks belong in the weapon’s mechanics section. The item text does not establish a named smith, surviving faction, or broader historical event, so those relationships should not be inferred.

Trivia

The Smithscript Axe belongs to the Smithscript weapon family introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree. The family’s defining concept is an ancient smithing tradition that produces weapons capable of being used both as conventional arms and as thrown weapons.
Unlike ordinary axes, the Smithscript Axe’s throwing function is part of the weapon’s built-in design rather than a separate consumable-weapon mode. This places it among Elden Ring’s DLC weapons that blur the usual boundary between melee and ranged attacks.