KEY POINTS

  • The Hand Ballista is in a tower at the Weeping Peninsula
  • This weapon can only use Ballista Bolts and Greatbolts
  • The Hand Ballista requires a fair bit of strength to wield

The Hand Ballista is one of the only two ballista-type weapons in “Elden Ring” that serve as heavy weapon options for ranged characters.

While heavy and unwieldy, the Hand Ballista can devastate targets with its extreme firepower. Players who build heavily toward abusing ranged weapons can use the Hand Ballista to deal big chunks of damage against any target that gets caught in their sights.

The Hand Ballista does not scale off of any stats, but it does require 30 STR and 14 DEX to wield.

This weapon can be obtained fairly early in the game. It can be picked up at a ruined lookout tower in the Weeping Peninsula, just west of the Bridge of Sacrifice.

The lookout tower containing the Hand Ballista in Elden Ring
The lookout tower containing the Hand Ballista in Elden Ring Elden Ring

From the Bridge of Sacrifice Site of Grace, go down the road past Irina and the ambushed convoy full of Misbegotten. Hug the right side of the ridge then up to the field above. Ride toward the tower in the distance, but be aware of a small group of enemies by the foot of the structure as well as a mounted turret user on the roof.

Clear the enemies and use the rubble to get up to the tower’s midsection. Then, go up the ladder, kill the ballista operator and open the chest to acquire the Hand Ballista.

Unlike the smaller crossbows, the Hand Ballista cannot use any of the normal crossbow bolts or any of their variants. Instead, players must use Ballista Bolts or Greatbolts.

Ballista Bolts can be purchased from either Patches in the Murkwater Cave or the Twin-maiden Husks at the Roundtable Hold after giving them Patches’ Bell Bearing. This ammunition type can also be found in bespoke locations as players explore The Lands between.

Meanwhile, both Explosive and Lightning Greatbolt variants can be purchased from two different merchants.

Explosive Greatbolts are sold in unlimited quantities from the Nomadic Merchant in Mt. Gelmir on a ledge past the Grafted Scion leading to the Ninth Mt. Gelmir Campsite.

Lightning Greatbolts can be purchased infinitely from the Nomadic Merchant at the Ancient Snow Valley Ruins Site of Grace at the Mountaintops of the Giants. From the Snow Valley Ruins Overlook grace, head south past the bridge near Stargazer’s Ruins to reach the merchant’s location.

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