Hand Ballista

Hand Ballista

Attack	135 Physical
Critical	100
Scaling	None
Requires	Str 30, Dex 14
Effect
Guard
Type	Ballista
Attack Type	None
Skill	Kick
FP Cost	-
Weight	10
Upgrades With	Smithing Stones, to +25
Sell Price	200

The Hand Ballista is a Ballista in Elden Ring. It turns up early in a run, in the Weeping Peninsula.

The Hand Ballista is an unconventional ballistic device modeled on a weapon used to besiege castles, only capable of firing greatbolts and made for reckless acts such as storming a castle or facing an army alone. It sits at the top of the Forest Lookout Tower on the Weeping Peninsula. It does not scale with any attribute, so its damage comes from upgrades and the bolts loaded, and it breaks enemy stance at range. It can only be fired two-handed, which drops the real Strength need to 20, and it cannot fire from horseback, where it swings as a melee weapon instead.

Stats

The Hand Ballista brings heavy ballista damage, 135 physical at +0 and 600 at maximum, at 10.0 weight, a third lighter than the Jar Cannon, and two-handing eases its Strength demand. It can be collected before Margit and is still useful at the end of the game, so one weapon can serve a whole run.

How to Get Hand Ballista Guide

Found inside a chest at the top of the Forest Lookout Tower on the Weeping Peninsula, immediately west of the Bridge of Sacrifice from Limgrave.

Where to find Hand Ballista Location?

Hand Ballista map location:

Map credit by Map Genie.

Upgrades

Regular Smithing Stones take it all the way to +25.

Level	Material	Amount	Attack	Scaling
+1	Smithing Stone [1]	x2	138 Physical	-
+2	Smithing Stone [1]	x4	154 Physical	-
+3	Smithing Stone [1]	x6	171 Physical	-
+4	Smithing Stone [2]	x2	188 Physical	-
+5	Smithing Stone [2]	x4	205 Physical	-
+6	Smithing Stone [2]	x6	221 Physical	-
+7	Smithing Stone [3]	x2	238 Physical	-
+8	Smithing Stone [3]	x4	255 Physical	-
+9	Smithing Stone [3]	x6	272 Physical	-
+10	Smithing Stone [4]	x2	288 Physical	-
+11	Smithing Stone [4]	x4	305 Physical	-
+12	Smithing Stone [4]	x6	322 Physical	-
+13	Smithing Stone [5]	x2	339 Physical	-
+14	Smithing Stone [5]	x4	355 Physical	-
+15	Smithing Stone [5]	x6	372 Physical	-
+16	Smithing Stone [6]	x2	389 Physical	-
+17	Smithing Stone [6]	x4	406 Physical	-
+18	Smithing Stone [6]	x6	422 Physical	-
+19	Smithing Stone [7]	x2	439 Physical	-
+20	Smithing Stone [7]	x4	456 Physical	-
+21	Smithing Stone [7]	x6	473 Physical	-
+22	Smithing Stone [8]	x2	489 Physical	-
+23	Smithing Stone [8]	x4	506 Physical	-
+24	Smithing Stone [8]	x6	523 Physical	-
+25	Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone	x1	540 Physical	-

Skill

Kick costs no FP. The wielder plants a high front kick that pushes the enemy back and deals enormous stamina damage to anyone guarding, breaking the guard of nearly any shield. The kick itself deals little damage and costs no FP. The Divine Bird Warrior Greaves boost it.

"Push an enemy back with a high kick. Effective against enemies who are guarding, and can break a foe's stance. Sometimes a simple tool is the most effective."

Suggested Build

A ranged support weapon carried alongside a melee loadout, used to break stance or snipe with heavy greatbolts before closing in.

Stats	Strength 20 to fire it two-handed and Dexterity 14, with every other point going to Vigor 50 to 60 and Endurance for its 10.0 weight, since it has no scaling
Affinity	Cannot be infused; it keeps its own scaling.
Talismans	Arrow's Sting Talisman, Arrow's Reach Talisman, Ritual Sword Talisman
Pairs With	Ballista Bolt, Explosive Greatbolt

Notes

"An unconventional ballistic device modelled on a weapon used to besiege castles. Only capable of firing greatbolts. Perfect for reckless acts such as storming a castle or facing an entire army alone."

All Ballistas

The table below lists all Ballistas in Elden Ring.

Name	Image	Physical	Magic	Fire	Light	Holy	Crit. Boost	Range	Weight	Str.	Dex.	Int.	Fai.	Arc.	Sell Price	Skill
Hand Ballista		135 -	0 -	0 -	0 -	0 -	100 -	50	10	-30	-14	0	0	0	200	Kick
Jar Cannon		192 -	0 -	0 -	0 -	0 -	100 -	50	15	-34	-12	0	0	0	500	Kick