Black Knife

Black Knife

Attack	66 Physical, 65 Holy
Critical	110
Scaling	Str E, Dex D, Fai D
Requires	Str 8, Dex 12, Fai 18
Effect
Guard	26% physical, 15 guard boost
Type	Dagger
Attack Type	Slash/Pierce
Skill	Blade of Death
FP Cost	25
Weight	2
Upgrades With	Somber Smithing Stones, to +10
Sell Price	100

The Black Knife is a Dagger in Elden Ring. It is picked up mid-game, in the Altus Plateau.

The Black Knife is the dagger of one of the assassins who murdered Godwyn the Golden on the Night of the Black Knives, its misshapen blade imbued with the power of the stolen Rune of Death. It drops from the Black Knife Assassin guarding the entrance of the Sainted Hero's Grave on the Altus Plateau. It deals physical and holy damage with a higher critical rating, and its unique heavy attack is a quick double slash that counts twice toward multi-hit talismans. Its unique skill, Blade of Death, fires a projectile that reduces a target's maximum HP for a time while damaging them, and its damage scales only with Faith. It suits a Dexterity and Faith build, or any Faith build that wants a strong ranged skill.

Why Players Pick It

Blade of Death fires a ranged holy wave, a skill no other weapon has, and the Black Knife reaches 161 physical and 159 holy at max upgrade with C Faith scaling. That split makes it the dagger of choice for a Dexterity and Faith build that wants a ranged option without swapping to a seal.

How to Get Black Knife Guide

Received upon defeating the Black Knife Assassin in front of Sainted Hero's Grave located in Altus Plateau.

Where to find Black Knife Location?

Black Knife map location:

Map credit by Map Genie.

Upgrades

Reinforcing it calls for Somber Smithing Stones, up to +10.

Level	Material	Amount	Attack	Scaling
+1	Somber Smithing Stone [1]	x1	75 Physical, 74 Holy	Str E, Dex D, Fai D
+2	Somber Smithing Stone [2]	x1	85 Physical, 83 Holy	Str E, Dex C, Fai D
+3	Somber Smithing Stone [3]	x1	94 Physical, 93 Holy	Str E, Dex C, Fai D
+4	Somber Smithing Stone [4]	x1	104 Physical, 102 Holy	Str E, Dex C, Fai D
+5	Somber Smithing Stone [5]	x1	113 Physical, 112 Holy	Str E, Dex C, Fai D
+6	Somber Smithing Stone [6]	x1	123 Physical, 121 Holy	Str E, Dex C, Fai D
+7	Somber Smithing Stone [7]	x1	132 Physical, 130 Holy	Str E, Dex C, Fai D
+8	Somber Smithing Stone [8]	x1	142 Physical, 140 Holy	Str E, Dex B, Fai D
+9	Somber Smithing Stone [9]	x1	152 Physical, 149 Holy	Str E, Dex B, Fai C
+10	Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone	x1	161 Physical, 159 Holy	Str E, Dex B, Fai C

Skill

Blade of Death costs 25 FP. The wielder crouches, then leaps into the air and fires a red, blade-like projectile of holy damage that scales with Faith. A hit reduces the target's maximum HP by 10 percent for a while and drains more HP over the next five seconds. Heavy hyper armor while airborne makes the skill very hard to interrupt once the leap begins. The skill is unique to this weapon and cannot be swapped out.

"Unleash the power of the Rune of Death to fire off a blade-like projectile. In addition to dealing immediate damage, the blade reduces the enemy's maximum HP and continues to wear down HP for a while."

Build

Buff with Golden Vow, stun-lock with rapid dagger combos, and use Blade of Death when melee is unsafe.

Stats	Dexterity 45, Faith 45 (38 at least for the build's incantations), Vigor 40 to 50, Mind 29, Endurance 20
Affinity	Cannot be infused; it keeps its own scaling.
Talismans	Winged Sword Insignia, Millicent's Prosthesis, Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman, Shard of Alexander
Pairs With	Erdsteel Dagger, Golden Vow, Black Knife Armor

All Daggers

Name	Physical	Magic	Fire	Light	Holy	Crit. Boost	Weight	Str.	Dex.	Int.	Fai.	Arc.	Sell Price	Skill
Black Knife	66 26	0 15	0 15	0 15	65 42	110 15	2	E 8	D 12	0	D 18	0	100	Blade of Death
Blade of Calling	71 31	0 18	0 18	0 18	43 30	110 15	1.5	D 6	D 13	0	C 15	0	1000	Blade of Gold
Bloodstained Dagger	81 36	0 21	0 21	0 21	0 21	110 15	2	C 9	E 12	0	0	0	100	Quickstep
Celebrant's Sickle	79 35	0 20	0 20	0 20	0 20	100 15	1.5	E 6	C 11	0	0	0	100	Quickstep
Cinquedea	98 43	0 25	0 25	0 25	0 25	100 18	3.5	D 10	E 10	0	0	0	500	Quickstep
Crystal Knife	82 32	53 31	0 18	0 18	0 18	100 15	2	D 8	D 12	D 9	0	0	100	Quickstep
Dagger	74 35	0 20	0 20	0 20	0 20	130 15	1.5	D 5	C 9	0	0	0	100	Quickstep
Erdsteel Dagger	67 36	0 21	0 21	0 21	0 21	110 15	2	D 7	D 12	0	D 14	0	200	Quickstep
Fire Knight's Shortsword	75 32.0	0 18.0	22 31.0	0 18.0	0 18.0	110 15	2.0	D 8	D 13	0	D 12	0	100	Quickstep
Glintstone Kris	57 23	68 45	0 14	0 14	0 14	110 15	1.5	E 5	D 12	D 16	0	0	100	Glintstone Dart
Great Knife	75 35	0 20	0 20	0 20	0 20	110 15	1.5	E 6	C 12	0	0	0	100	Quickstep
Ivory Sickle	60 26	60 42	0 15	0 15	0 15	100 15	2	E 6	D 11	D 13	0	0	100	Quickstep
Main-gauche	79 38.0	0 22.0	0 22.0	0 22.0	0 22.0	110 16	2.0	D 7	C 15	0	0	0	100	Parry
Miséricorde	92 36	0 21	0 21	0 21	0 21	140 15	2	E 7	D 12	0	0	0	100	Quickstep
Parrying Dagger	75 35	0 20	0 20	0 20	0 20	110 15	1.5	E 5	C 14	0	0	0	100	Parry
Reduvia	79 38	0 22	0 22	0 22	0 22	110 16	2.5	E 5	D 13	0	0	D 13	100	Reduvia Blood Blade
Scorpion's Stinger	79 38	0 22	0 22	0 22	0 22	110 16	2.5	D 6	C 12	0	0	0	100	Repeating Thrust
Wakizashi	94 42	0 24	0 24	0 24	0 24	100 18	3	D 9	D 13	0	0	0	100	Quickstep

Notes

"Dagger once belonging to one of the assassins who murdered Godwyn the Golden on the Night of the Black Knives. A ritual performed on the oddly misshapen blade imbued it with the power of the stolen Rune of Death."