Summary
There are a staggering number ofweaponsto obtain inDark Souls 3, and while some are little more than inventory clutter, others are powerful tools. Some weapons are so powerful that once players have obtained them and put a little work into upgrading them, they can carry gamers through the majority of the game and well intoNew Game Plus. It’s not surprising for players to find one good weapon and stick to it, especially considering how tough things can get if they don’t have access to the best weapons.
What weapon is best for players inDark Souls 3comes down to personal preference, but if people are looking for a solid weapon to achieve any ending and survive until they get something better in new playthroughs, they should check out the weapons that best suit their playstyle. While there’s definitely some merit to learning how to make use of a weapon that appeals on a personal level to players, mostSoulsbornegames will punish those who haven’t maximized their DPS and efficiency in battle. This makes it important to find thebestDS3weaponsthat can decimate foes in no time.
Updated on June 18, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:When it comes to a game like Dark Souls 3, saying that a weapon makes it too easy is probably an overstatement. While for other games it would mean that defeating every boss is a breeze, in this regard, it actually means that players will have to struggle a bit less, but there will still be a struggle. Although dying to a boss several times in the Dark Souls franchise can be very frustrating, it’s also what makes it extremely rewarding when players finally manage to beat it. The weapons on this list can be upgraded to a point where players will have a considerable advantage, so they should only be used in cases where they’ve died a dozen times and feel like no progress is being made.
Weapon Skill
Demonic Flare
TheDemon’s Greataxeis one of the best Strength weapons inDark Souls 3, as it hits like a truck and has decent Strength scaling. While this weapon did not make an appearance inDark Souls 2, it was first introduced in the originalDark Souls, helping players make quick work of many enemies.
To get this weapon, players will have to defeat the Fire Demon in the Catacombs of Carthus. While it’s not a main boss, this demon will challenge players' skills and patience as it’s encountered at a point in the game where players aren’t that strong yet.
Flame of Lorian
Reaching Lothric Castle is probably one of the most rewarding experiences that players can get when playingDark Souls 3. To get there, players will have to defeat formidable bosses, including the dangerous Dancer of the Boreal Valley, which has been a central point of frustration for many.
WhileLorian’s Greatsworddoesn’t have the best Strength or Dexterity scaling, it still packs a huge punch and looks amazing. To get it, players will have to defeat Lorian and Lothric and then transpose their souls by talking to Ludleth of Courland in the Firelink Shrine.
Frost Blade
Dark Souls 3features many weapons that are a blast to use, but one particular blade that has captured the hearts and minds of fans is thePontiff Knight Curved Sword. This frosty blade features one of the best and trickiest movesets in the game, which players will love getting used to until they can decimate most enemies with ease.
Players love this weapon in PvP so much that a lot of people use this weapon to trick their opponents. It’s easily one ofDS3’s best weapons,and has earned its reputation. The moveset is not an easy one to handle and it may not be the most optimal weapon for PvE, but players who want to flex all over their opponents will love what this sword has to offer.
Spin Slash
Players who want to make a Dex build will love using theMurakumo. Sure, the base variant of this weapon may not scale all that well with Dex, but that’s precisely why Sharp Infusions exist. A Sharp Murakumo scales incredibly well with Dex and hits for serious damage, letting players flaunt thisgreatDS3weaponand decimate their foes in style.
The weapon’s weight isn’t as high as most other Dex weapons, meaning that a player’s equip load also becomes manageable with this weapon. With a reliable moveset that hits like a truck and lets players maintain a solid reach,the Murakumo is one of the few weaponsfrom the firstDark Soulsthat feels just as viable as the original iteration, if not more so.
Quickstep
The DLC weapons forDark Souls 3are a blast to use, with some of these armaments bringing a ton of pain and completely obliterating opponents. While the vast majority of these weapons are useful in PvE situations, one of thebestDS3weaponsfrom the DLC that became infamous in PvP circles is theMurky Hand Scythe.
Any player scared of being ganked by PvP experts should make it a point to carry a Murky Hand Scythe with them at all times. It will help them take out most opponents with its tricky moveset, and it’s great against regular enemies too. There’s a reason why so many people fear this weapon as one of thebest weapons inDark Souls 3;because it’s a nightmare to deal with.
Elfriede’s Stance
Friede is one of the few bright spots in a DLC that didn’t satisfy most players who expected the world from the studio’s expansions.The snowed-in areasadded to the game coupled with some unimaginative exploration and enemies made the bulk of the Painted World a pain to explore.
However, all of this was made worthwhile by the final boss, which is easily one of the most epic encounters that FromSoftware has ever developed. This three-phase battle is as epic as one would expect and will leave fans wanting more after this amazing experience is over. To obtainFriede’s Great Scythe,Dark Souls 3players defeat Sister Friede and transpose her soul. Having access to this intimidating scythe can makeDark Souls 3a much easier game than it should be.
Onislayer
The dual-blade combat styles inDark Souls 3are a thing of beauty, and players have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to enjoying this cool, fast-paced style of attacking. Many weapons can bedual-wielded to great effect, with a notable example being theOnikiri and Ubadachi.
These katanas require a near-perfect technique to wield, but players will be rewarded for spending their time trying to accommodate this weapon’s moveset in their play style. In the hands of an expert, this weapon can destroy most enemies in just a few hits.
Falling Bolt
One of the hardest-hitting weapons in the game, players who invest in Strength will be in shock and awe at just how powerful theDragonslayer Greataxereally is. Not only does the weapon hit like a truck, but its Weapon Art is one of the strongest in the game if players time it right.
This Greataxe absolutely wallops enemies to kingdom come and can be obtained by transposing thesoul of the Dragonslayer Armor. Players love using this weapon in PvE because of its ridiculous damage outlet, finishing off the strongest enemies in the game without breaking a sweat.
It’s a shame that theDemon’s Scaris available all the wayinThe Ringed CityDLCsince players would’ve loved to use this weapon early on in the game. Not only does this weapon look absolutely amazing, but it hits for a ton of damage and is a lot of fun to use, too, as long as players focus on a Faith and Intelligence-heavy build.
To obtain this weapon, players need to defeat the Demon Prince boss fight in this DLC. The Boss Soul can be transposed to form the Demon’s Scar, a fire-infused weapon that is great against the majority of enemies in the game who are weak to this element.
Stomp
TheZweihanderhas been a fan-favorite in theDark Soulsseries, with this ultra greatsword being considered by many to be one of the best swords in the entire franchise. Unlike a lot of great weapons from the firstDark Soulsgame that didn’t really maintain their lasting appeal inDark Souls 3, the Zweihander has been a solid and reliable option in the trilogy that players can count on against the strongest bosses in the game.
Players can obtain this weapon through Greirat, a thief who can be sent outside Firelink Shrine to bring back some valuable items. He can die during one of these excursions, but players don’t need to fear — they can simply pick up Greirat’s Ashes from his corpse and give it to the Shrine Handmaid if they wish to gain access to this weapon once again.
