Unlocking the Hand Ballista in Elden Ring: A Complete Guide

The Hand Ballista is an incredibly potent ranged weapon in Elden Ring, designed for fierce offensive maneuvers against castles or when taking on an army single-handedly. This ballista utilizes ballista bolts as its primary ammunition, allowing it to unleash devastating attacks on unsuspecting enemies from a distance.

We’re here to guide you on how to find the elusive Hand Ballista in Elden Ring and provide tips on maximizing its effectiveness in combat.

Where to Find the Hand Ballista in Elden Ring

You can obtain the Hand Ballista by looting a treasure chest located on the Forest Lookout Tower.

This tower is situated in the northern part of the Weeping Peninsula, where Castle Morne lies. The Weeping Peninsula is the southernmost section of Limgrave, accessible via the Bridge of Sacrifice.

Begin your journey at the Bridge of Sacrifice Site of Grace. Head south until you reach the Castle Morne Ramparts Site of Grace. From there, turn west and continue heading north.

You’ll soon spot a ruined watchtower to the east of the Demi-Human Forest Ruins. Be cautious, as undead foes and dogs guard the Forest Lookout Tower.

Defeat the enemies protecting the tower, then summon your spectral steed, Torrent, to ascend to the top. At the summit, take down the enemy guarding the Ballista. Once you do, open the treasure chest nearby to claim the Hand Ballista for yourself.

Stats and Requirements for the Hand Ballista

Using the Hand Ballista requires 30 Strength and 14 Dexterity. It does not scale with any stats, but you can handle it with two hands if you have at least 20 Strength.

This weapon employs a default skill called Kick, which cannot be swapped for other Ashes of War. Furthermore, you cannot imbue it with magic or grease.

You can enhance the Hand Ballista using Smithing Stones, and at its maximum level (+25), it inflicts 600 Physical damage per shot. This weapon relies on Ballista Bolts, and you’re limited to carrying a maximum of 20 at once.

Weighing in at 10, the Hand Ballista can be sold for 200 Runes to any merchant you encounter in the game. When compared to the Jar Cannon, both weapons offer similar features, but the Jar Cannon demands more strength to wield and delivers slightly greater damage when fully upgraded.