Smithscript Cirque
Smithscript Cirque is a Shadow of the Erdtree backhand blade found in Ruined Forge of Starfall Past. Its strong attacks throw paired circular blades that return to hand, combining reusable range with the class's mobile Blind Spot skill and ordinary customization.
Key Takeaways
Smithscript Cirque is a Shadow of the Erdtree backhand-blade weapon that combines close-range attacks with a returning thrown attack.
Returning thrown weapon
Its strong attack throws the cirque and brings it back to the wielder, giving the weapon a ranged option without ammunition.
DLC availability
The Smithscript Cirque is a Shadow of the Erdtree weapon found in Ruined Forge Starfall Past, so it is unavailable in the base game alone.
Stat requirements
Its use is not limited to Dexterity: the weapon also has Intelligence and Faith requirements, which matter when planning an attribute spread.
Flexible pressure, limited reach
The returning throw can pressure targets outside ordinary melee range, but it is still a close-range weapon rather than a replacement for dedicated long-range options.
Somber reinforcement
The Smithscript Cirque follows the Somber Smithing Stone reinforcement path, making its upgrade materials and progression distinct from standard-infusion weapons.
Distinct from the Smithscript Dagger
It shares the Smithscript Dagger's thrown-weapon concept, but its backhand-blade moveset makes it a separate choice rather than a direct duplicate.
Overview
Smithscript Cirque is a Shadow of the Erdtree throwing melee weapon in Elden Ring. Its distinctive strong attacks launch the paired blades, giving a close-range weapon a built-in ranged option without changing its weapon class.
Smithscript Cirque belongs to the Smithscript family of weapons introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. It is designed around rapid blade attacks and thrown attacks rather than a conventional sword or dagger moveset, making spacing a central part of using it effectively.
Its defining behaviour is that strong attacks throw the cirque blades. This lets the wielder pressure an enemy from outside normal melee contact, then return to close-range attacks when an opening appears. The weapon therefore occupies a middle ground between a standard melee armament and a dedicated ranged weapon.
The Cirque is most distinct from ordinary curved weapons because its throwing function is part of the weapon’s moveset rather than an ammunition-based attack. It also differs from a bow, crossbow, or spell catalyst: it remains a melee weapon, uses melee-oriented progression rules, and asks the player to manage attack timing and distance rather than maintain a separate ranged loadout.
As a downloadable-content weapon, Smithscript Cirque belongs to Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree progression rather than the base-game roster. Its appeal is practical as well as stylistic: players who want a light, mobile weapon with an innate way to threaten targets at range can use it without abandoning close-quarters combat.
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.
- CategoryHalberds
- Damage TypeSlash/Pierce
- Primary ScalingDex C
- Weight10
- SkillSmithscript Sunder (var.)
- Str Req13
- Dex Req20
- How to ObtainShadow of the Erdtree - Belurat
- DLCShadow of the Erdtree
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar halberds
| Weapon | Str Req | Dex Req | Weight | Primary Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithscript Cirque | 13 | 20 | 10 | Dex C |
| Ripple Crescent Halberd | 14 | 18 | 10 | Dex C |
| Halberd | 16 | 13 | 10.5 | Str D / Dex D |
| Gargoyle's Halberd | 18 | 15 | 9.5 | Str D / Dex D |
| Deathknight's Longshaft Axe | 16 | 18 | 9.5 | Str D / Fai D |
Requirements, scaling grades and weight are the game’s own published figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Shadow of the Erdtree DLC
- Access to the Ruined Forge of Starfall Past in Scadu Altus
- 01Enter the Ruined Forge of Starfall Past in western Scadu Altus, in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Collect the Smithscript Cirque from the fixed item pickup inside the forge; it is not purchased from a vendor and is not an enemy drop.
- 02The pickup is guaranteed when collected. No boss defeat, quest completion, or special key item is required beyond reaching the dungeon and accessing its interior.
Availability
Requires Shadow of the Erdtree access
This weapon is DLC content and is not available in the base game. It is a fixed-world pickup rather than vendor stock, so no purchase price or rotating availability applies.
Mechanics and Handling
Smithscript Cirque combines close-range slashes with a returning throwing attack. Its curved projectile path gives it an unusual way to pressure targets around corners or during retreats, while the returning weapon can punish enemies that remain in its line. The throw is part of the weapon’s moveset rather than an ammunition-based attack, so it does not require a separate projectile resource.
Throwing Pattern and Spacing
The Cirque’s melee strikes are most useful at close range, but its strong attack extends the engagement by sending the weapon outward before it comes back. The outgoing and returning paths reward lateral positioning rather than standing directly in front of a target. Because the projectile follows a curved path, it is less straightforward than a conventional straight-line throw and can miss if the spacing or angle is poorly chosen.
Blind Spot
Smithscript Cirque uses the Blind Spot weapon skill. The skill shifts the wielder around the opponent while attacking, making it useful for changing sides, avoiding a direct exchange, or setting up a follow-up from an unexpected angle. It is a positioning tool as much as a damage option; its value depends on having room to move and a target that can be flanked.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Its strong attacks can throw the cirque, giving a melee weapon a repeatable ranged option without ammunition or a separate ranged slot.
- The thrown attack returns to the wielder, allowing ranged pressure without permanently disarming the character.
- As a Backhand Blade, it retains close-range melee attacks, letting one weapon cover both spacing and committed melee exchanges.
Weaknesses
- The ranged option is tied to strong attacks, so it is less immediate and flexible than a dedicated bow, spell, or other ranged weapon.
- Thrown attacks require spacing and timing; opponents who stay inside the weapon's preferred distance can force the wielder back into melee exchanges.
- Using the cirque for ranged pressure means relying on its weapon-specific moveset rather than freely selecting ordinary melee attacks for every opening.
Best uses
- A flexible PvE loadout for players who want occasional ranged pressure without carrying ammunition or changing weapons.
- Maintaining pressure against enemies that retreat or briefly expose themselves outside ordinary melee distance.
- A melee-focused build that values weapon flexibility and can accept committed strong-attack timing instead of dedicated ranged damage.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class and role | Distinctive comparison | Progression and build considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithscript Dagger | More compact ranged-pressure option | Favors rapid thrown attacks and close-range dagger play; lacks the Cirque’s broader curved-blade profile | A closer fit for dexterity-oriented dagger setups; compare infusion and skill options at the intended reinforcement |
| Smithscript Axe | Heavier throwing-weapon alternative | Trades the Cirque’s mobile curved-blade handling for a more committed axe moveset | Better suited to characters already investing in axe-compatible attributes and heavier melee attacks |
| Smithscript Spear | Longer-reach throwing-weapon alternative | Emphasizes spear spacing and thrusting attacks rather than the Cirque’s curved-blade mobility | A natural alternative for spear-range and thrust-focused setups; compare requirements and upgrade state before choosing |
Lore and Design
The item description presents the Smithscript Cirque as the product of a smithing technique from a bygone era. Its circular form and ability to return after being thrown give the weapon a distinctive identity within that tradition. The description does not establish a documented relationship to a named character or faction, and no stronger design or development attribution is supported here.
Trivia
- The Smithscript Cirque is part of Shadow of the Erdtree’s Smithscript weapon family, whose defining concept is combining a conventional melee weapon with an integrated throwable attack. Its projectiles are part of the weapon’s moveset rather than a separate ammunition system.