The Best Weapons In The Dark Souls Series

Summary

• Dragonslayer Greatbow is ideal for strength builds, offering range and explosive arrows to deal with enemies.
• Washing Pole’s impressive range makes it the go-to choice for dexterity builds, despite durability issues.
• Black Bow of Pharis, with high dexterity scaling, is simple yet effective at dealing massive damage quickly in the trilogy.

It’s no easy task to determine the best weapons in the Dark Souls trilogy. All three titles of the series are well-polished action RPGs that allow you to approach combat however you want, either by blocking, dodging, or casting spells to overcome challenges. As such, almost every weapon that appears in Dark Souls, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls 3 is viable in a specific build.

Yet, as years go by, only a handful of weapons are remembered by the community. That’s because, while everyone has their favorite weapons, some pieces of equipment in the three games stand out for their versatility or raw power. So, while hundreds of options exist in each FromSoftware dark fantasy trilogy, only a handful deserve the title of best weapons in the Dark Souls series.

Updated on January 12, 2025 by Alfredo Robelo: Elden Ring might be the newest IP by FromSoftware, but fans will always remember the original trilogy fondly. With the announcement of Elden Ring Nightreign and its many references to the Dark Souls trilogy, we decided to update this article to include even more iconic weapons from the series.

13

Dragonslayer Greatbow

Giving Strength Some Range

Greatbows were first introduced as a weapon used by Anor Londo knights to knock intruders off the many narrow walkways of the area. Their impressive size and even more impressive ammo makes this a type of bow that relies on strength rather than dexterity, making it an ideal ranged option for strength builds in all three games.

The one type of Greatbow that appears in all three games is the Dragonslayer version, but different variants with their own scaling exist. One of the most oppressive versions of the weapon is the Millwood Greatbow from the Ashes of Ariandel DLC of Dark Souls 3, since the special skill of that Greatbow makes the arrows explode on impact.

12

Washing Pole

The Ideal Dexterity Weapon

Creating a dexterity build in these games often means using short and fast weapons, ideal for counter-attacks and critical hits. Katanas tend to be favored over most other options, even though they have significantly lower durability than most weapons, and the Washing Pole is the most useful of the bunch thanks to its impressive range.

While you won’t look the best with this weapon, mostly due to it clipping over most terrain, you’ll be dealing with swarms of enemies with ease, especially in Dark Souls 2 where you’re often surrounded by opponents from all sides. As a dexterity user, you should take out some enemies from affar with a bow, finishing them off with the katana so the durability doesn’t become a problem.

11

Black Bow Of Pharis

Simple Yet Effective

The Black Bow of Pharis is the ultimate bow weapon of the trilogy, with the best dexterity scaling out of all other bows. Unlike other similar weapons like crossbows or Greatbows, bows aren’t anything fancy or flashy, hence why the Black Bow of Pharis looks like a regular old bow.

In Dark Souls 2, the weapon is simply called Black Bow.

It is meant to shower your enemies with arrows, not for long-ranged, slow-paced combat, so it might not be the best fit for your current bow build. But if you’re looking to deal the most damage in seconds, particularly against large creatures that would receive every single arrow hit, it is the best bow by far.

10

Great Scythe

Present In All Three Games

The Great Scythe has a complicated movement pattern that scares away newcomers. Yet, that’s precisely what makes it such a great choice for PvP, one of the main reasons for the longevity of the Dark Souls series. Mastering the Great Scythe is no easy feat. Still, once you learn its moveset, this weapon allows you to surprise your adversaries with unique combinations of attack that are hard to dodge.

The Great Scythe is also a good choice of weapon for PvE, thanks to its ability to cause Bleed damage, an effect most bosses are vulnerable to. Finally, as a simple weapon, the Great Scythe is easy to acquire, doesn’t demand high stats, and can fit many different builds.

9

Heide Spear

Dark Souls 2

While the Heide Spear is only present in Dark Souls 2, its ability to carry you through the game is hard to ignore. The weapon is fast and light, so you don’t need to worry about your speed or reaching your weight limit. Even so, the Heide Spear hits hard, dealing a mix of physical and electric damage that melts most enemies’ defenses.

Even if adding electric damage to your arsenal is good for any build, the Heide Spear shines with high Faith levels, as its damage scales with this stat. That’s why the Heide Spear is remembered as a way to unlock easy mode in Dark Souls 2, helping you take down even the mightiest of bosses.

8

Lifehunt Scythe

Dark Souls

The Lifehunt Scythe is exclusive to Dark Souls and Dark Souls: Remastered. However, the unique qualities of this weapon make it stand out. That’s because the Bleed effect caused by the Lifehunt Scythe takes no less than 50 percent of its target’s health points. That means, regardless of how big the health pool of a boss is, the Lifehunt Scythe will easily take them down if they are vulnerable to Bleed.

The Lifehunt Scythe blows through most bosses’ defenses, but the weapon is also considered one of the best because it is fashionable. As a legendary weapon made from a boss soul, in this case, Priscilla’s, the Lifehunt Scythe has a unique design that will scratch your Fashion Souls’ itch.

Using the Lifehunt Scythe also increases your own Bleed build-up. You can mitigate that by consuming Bloodred Moss Clumps.

However, you’ll kill enemies so fast with this weapon that the consumable is rarely needed.

7

Farron Greatsword

Dark Souls 3

Darron Greatsword is a fan-favorite weapon in Dark Souls 3. It consists of a greatsword and a parrying dagger, which allows you to avoid damage and greatly punish your adversaries. Farron Greatsword is a perfect option for quality builds with a complex moveset that fits PvP and PvE, high damage output, and an unusual scaling with Dex. In addition, this weapon deals extra damage against Abyssal creatures, including bosses such as Aldrich and Midir.

The lore behind the sword also makes it one of the best weapons in Dark Souls 3. You get the Farron Greatsword after defeating the Abyss Watchers, a group of warriors dedicated to following the footsteps of Artorias. It’s a nice tie-in with the first game, rewarding lore-hunters with a deeply emotional story about duty and loyalty.

6

Gravelord Sword

Dark Souls

The Gravelord Sword is the most powerful weapon you can get in the first hours of Dark Souls. It deals a lot of damage and causes Toxin build-up, being capable of defeating the first couple of bosses you find with just a few hits. That’s before you find enough Demon Titanite to upgrade it and make it even deadlier.

What makes the Gravelord Sword so special is its unique moveset. Instead of only doing slashes like other Greatswords, this weapon can also perform thrust attacks. That means you’ll hit your enemies from a safe distance and easily stand your ground in narrow corridors. The fact you get this sword from Nito, the First Dead, only makes the weapon cooler.

5

Zweihander

Present In All Three Games

There’s beauty in simplicity, as the Zweihander shows. Built for strong characters who like to bash their enemies into a pulp, this weapon can take down large foes in just a few hits. The Zweihander is easy to acquire in all three Dark Souls games, increasing its viability.

The Zweihander also has a moveset that’s faster than other strength weapons, making it easier to dodge even when two-handing it. Finally, since this is a simple weapon, the Zweihander can be buffed and infused to deal damage of any kind, which means you can use spells and consumables to adjust it to each boss’ weakness.

4

Moonlight Greatsword

Present In All Three Games

FromSoftware has included the Moonlight Greatsword in almost every game, and every version is special. In the Dark Souls series, the Moonlight Greatsword is a huge weapon capable of dealing physical and magical damage, and its destructive power scales with Intelligence.

While most Intelligence-based weapons are small, the Moonlight Greatsword invites you to spend a few points in Strength to carry a powerful weapon to help you kill monsters when you deplete your spells. It can also be used by Strength characters who want to add magic damage to their arsenal.

3

Claymore

Present In All Three Games

The Claymore is another simple weapon that proves versatility is critical to conquering Dark Souls’ fans’ hearts. The Claymore is simple but effective, with a fluid moveset and the ability to scale with Strength and Dexterity. It can also be buffed and infused with any elemental damage, making it useful regardless of what challenge you try to tackle with it.

While fancier weapons might work for specific builds, the Claymore is one of the best weapons in Dark Souls’ history because it fits in many different builds. So, instead of trying out many different weapons to see what fits your playstyle better, you can grab a Claymore and be certain it can follow you through the game.

2

Gael’s Great Sword

Dark Souls 3

Gael’s Great Sword’s moveset reflects the personality of its owner, unleashing erratic attacks that are hard to dodge in PvP. Its unique Skill makes you swing the sword violently around you, taking the enemy by surprise and ensuring you’ll do some serious damage. The sword’s effectiveness is enough to be one of the best weapons in the Dark Souls series. However, its lore significance is even more important.

The Gael’s Grea Sword can only be obtained after you defeat Gael, the final boss in The Ringed City DLC. This DLC presents the last pieces of Dark Souls lore, tying up a story that takes you through beautiful places filled with tragic characters. Having it means you have gotten to the end of the road and have witnessed all the wonders of a brilliant trilogy.

1

Murakumo

Present In All Three Games

Since the first Dark Souls, the Murakumo has been considered one of the best weapons you could get. It’s fast, strong, and has a good reach. In addition, it can be one-handed or two-handed, with a moveset that’s varied enough to deal with any kind of enemy. It also rewards an aggressive playstyle with attacks that don’t use much stamina. Finally, it can be buffed and infused.

The many infusions of the Murakumo also have great scaling properties, with the weapon gaining auxiliary effects such as Bleed and Frost, depending on the game and the type of infusion. Overall, there’s no other weapon capable of dealing so much damage in many different ways than the Murakumo, making it a great choice for almost any build.