How to Get the Moonveil Katana in Elden Ring
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Elden Ring
How to Get the Moonveil Katana in Elden Ring
Tips
Moonveil remains one of the most popular INT/Dex weapons in Elden Ring because it combines fast katana moves, magic damage, bleed pressure, and an exceptionally strong weapon skill in one package.
Its biggest strength is that you can get it relatively early compared with how long it stays useful. That makes it a natural bridge into a Best INT Build if you want a hybrid character instead of a pure caster.
It also pairs well with respec planning, because many players pick it up early and then shift their stats around once they decide whether they want to stay Moonveil-focused or move into full sorcery later.
⚡ Quick Answer
Step by Step
The Moonveil Katana drops from the Magma Wyrm boss inside Gael Tunnel in eastern Caelid, on the border with Limgrave. Defeat the Wyrm and it drops automatically — 100% drop rate. The weapon requires 12 Strength, 18 Dexterity, and 23 Intelligence to wield and scales strongly with Intelligence, making it one of the best katanas for INT/Dex hybrid builds. If you want the full hybrid setup, see Best INT Build.
1
Find Gael Tunnel. The tunnel entrance is on the border between Limgrave and Caelid — look for it on the eastern edge of Limgrave just before the red Caelid landscape begins. It’s a mine dungeon marked by wooden scaffolding at the entrance. The Site of Grace is just inside the entrance tunnel.
2
Navigate through the mine to the boss fog gate. Gael Tunnel is relatively short — follow the main path downward past the Miners (pickaxe enemies) and through the tunnel system. There is a second Site of Grace deeper in before the boss room. Activate it before fighting the boss.
3
Defeat the Magma Wyrm. The Wyrm is a large dragon-like enemy that spews magma and performs wide sweeping attacks. Stay to its sides or rear — its front breath attack covers a large frontal cone. Attack its legs and underbelly for the most consistent damage. It is recommended level 30–40 for a comfortable fight.
4
Collect the Moonveil from the boss reward screen. The Moonveil drops automatically after the Wyrm dies — no RNG involved. Check your inventory to confirm you have it. Note that you need 23 Intelligence to use it effectively — if you don’t meet the stat requirement yet, keep it in your inventory and level INT before equipping it.
5
Upgrade with Somber Smithing Stones. Moonveil is a special weapon that uses Somber Smithing Stones (not regular Smithing Stones) — upgrade it to +9 or +10 for maximum damage. Somber Stones are found throughout the world and from Smithing-Stone Miner’s Bell Bearings at the Roundtable Hold shop. Once upgraded, it fits perfectly into a Best INT Build.
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Transient Moonlight is one of the strongest weapon skills in the game — Moonveil’s unique skill sends a horizontal beam of magic damage that staggers most enemies. The heavy version sends a vertical beam with massive poise damage. It is one of the main reasons Moonveil works so well in a Best INT Build.
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Pair with 60 Intelligence for maximum damage — Moonveil’s INT scaling reaches S-tier at max upgrade. A build of 60 INT + 18 Dex with Moonveil at +10 deals significantly more damage than lower INT investments.
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Gael Tunnel is accessible very early — you can reach it from the start of the game with careful navigation, making Moonveil obtainable before clearing Limgrave if you’re willing to run past enemies at low level.
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Moonveil has innate bleed buildup in addition to its magic damage — this makes it effective against a wide range of enemies, combining the benefits of a bleed weapon with the high burst damage of Transient Moonlight.