The Best Spears in Elden Ring: Clayman's Harpoon

Spears in Elden Ring are often associated with traditional Strength or Dexterity builds, but a select few break that mold by offering meaningful synergy with Intelligence. Among these rare weapons, Clayman's Harpoon stands out as one of the most flexible and reliable choices for Intelligence-hybrid builds. With solid reach, a unique sweeping heavy attack, and the ability to scale effectively with magic when infused, this spear serves as an excellent all-rounder for players who want both melee presence and spellcasting power.

Clayman's Harpoon is one of the few spears in Elden Ring that naturally deals Magic damage and benefits from Intelligence investment. This alone makes it noteworthy, as most spears are designed exclusively around physical stats. While its base scaling leans toward Strength, the weapon truly shines when customized through infusions.

When infused with a Magic affinity, Clayman's Harpoon can reach B scaling in Intelligence, transforming it into a formidable option for battlemages and spellblades. This allows Intelligence-focused characters to remain effective in melee combat without sacrificing their primary stat investment.

In terms of reach, Clayman's Harpoon performs well compared to other spears in its class. It offers enough range to keep enemies at a safe distance while maintaining quick, responsive thrusting attacks. This makes it particularly effective for cautious players who rely on spacing and timing rather than brute force.

What further elevates this weapon is its special heavy attack. Unlike standard spears that rely solely on forward thrusts, Clayman's Harpoon features a horizontal sweeping motion on its heavy attack. This slashing arc is invaluable when dealing with multiple enemies, allowing players to control crowds more effectively than with traditional spear movesets.

This sweeping capability makes the weapon feel versatile, bridging the gap between spears and polearms while maintaining excellent stamina efficiency.

One of the most interesting aspects of Clayman's Harpoon is how it balances its stat identity. At its core, the spear scales primarily with Strength, making it usable even before committing heavily to Intelligence. This gives players flexibility during early and mid-game progression, especially if they are still experimenting with hybrid builds.

Once infused with Magic, however, the weapon shifts its focus dramatically. The improved Intelligence scaling allows sorcery-focused characters to deal meaningful damage in melee combat, complementing spellcasting rather than competing with it. This dual scaling identity is what truly defines Clayman's Harpoon as an all-rounder.

Players looking to streamline their build progression or skip extended farming often choose to buy Elden Ring Runes to accelerate access to infusion materials and upgrade resources.

Clayman's Harpoon excels when paired with a shield, making it ideal for defensive Intelligence-hybrid builds. Spears already benefit greatly from shield usage thanks to their thrusting attacks, and the Harpoon magic damage adds another layer of effectiveness.

This setup allows players to block incoming attacks, poke safely from behind a guard, and use the sweeping heavy attack when surrounded. Meanwhile, sorceries can be woven into combat to apply pressure from range or exploit enemy weaknesses.

For players who enjoy methodical, controlled combat rather than aggressive rushing, Clayman's Harpoon offers a rewarding and consistent playstyle.

Where to Find Clayman's Harpoon

Clayman's Harpoon is obtained as a drop from Claymen enemies, which are found in several underground regions of the game. These include:

Uhl Palace Ruins

Siofra River

Ainsel River

These eerie, magic-infused areas are often explored during mid-game progression, making the spear accessible without venturing into late-game zones. While the drop rate is not guaranteed, farming Claymen in these locations provides a reasonable chance to acquire the weapon, especially with increased Item Discovery.

Players who prefer efficiency over repeated farming sometimes opt to buy Elden Ring Runes to complete their builds faster and focus on mastering combat instead.

In PvE, Clayman's Harpoon performs exceptionally well across a wide range of encounters. Its magic damage allows it to deal consistent damage to enemies resistant to physical attacks, while its reach and sweeping heavy attack help manage groups effectively.

In PvP, the spear hybrid damage profile can catch opponents off guard. Many players underestimate magic-infused melee weapons, making Clayman's Harpoon particularly effective when used strategically. While it may not boast the raw burst damage of legendary armaments, its reliability and flexibility make it a strong choice in duels and invasions.

Clayman's Harpoon is a rare gem among Elden Ring spears, offering a level of adaptability that few weapons can match. Its combination of solid reach, horizontal sweeping attacks, and Intelligence scaling potential makes it an outstanding option for Int-hybrid builds that value both offense and defense.

For players who want to wield a spear without abandoning sorcery, Clayman's Harpoon delivers consistent performance and build freedom. Whether earned through exploration or by choosing to buy Elden Ring Items to optimize progression, this weapon proves that hybrid builds can thrive with the right tools in hand.