Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024]

Dark Souls 3 is a classic game, but not all weapons are equal. Here's the ultimate Dark Souls 3 tier list with all the best games to help you win.

By Samuel StewartAugust 31, 2022July 21, 2022

Dark Souls revolutionized gaming by rewarding players who have gone through and conquered extreme difficulty.

Dark Souls 3, the final entry in the series, is a culmination of everything great (and challenging) from the franchise. While it’s an all-time great game, the mechanics can be extremely overwhelming for someone going into it blind.

In this article we shed light on one of the most important facets of the game – its complex weapons. Here we rank all Dark Souls 3 weapons from best to worst. With this as your guide, we hope you won’t be seeing much of You Died on your screen again, eh?

S-Tier

Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024] - GamingScan (1)

These are the best weapons in the game. They generally would outmatch most weapons in lower tiers beneath them when player skill is equal.

Weapon	Type	Scaling	Skill
Murky Hand Scythe	Dagger	STR – D SKL – D INT – E FTH – E	Quickstep
Corvian Greatknife	Dagger	STR – E SKL – E	Blind Spot
Lothric Knight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Long Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Pontiff Knight Curved Sword	Curved Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Frost Blade
Demon’s Scar	Curved Sword	SKL – E INT – D FTH – D	Spin Slash
Saint Bident	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – E FTH – C	Charge
Four-Pronged Plow	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D	Charge
Frayed Blade	Katana	STR – E SKL – B	Hold
Gael’s Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Blade of Peril
Black Knight Sword	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Perseverance
Wolf Knight’s Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Wolf Sword
Crucifix of the Mad King	Halberd	STR – D INT – E FTH – D	Mad King’s Folly
Splitleaf Great Sword	Halberd	STR – C SKL – E	Wind Wheel
Friede’s Great Scythe	Reaper	STR – E SKL – B INT – C FTH – C	Elfriede’s Stance
Arbalest	Crossbow		Tackle
Gotthard Twinswords	Paired Short Swords	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Slash
Valorheart	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Lion Stance

A-Tier

Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024] - GamingScan (2)

These are excellent weapons but not as easy to use as those in S-tier. They have almost equal utility and versatility though, so they’re still worth checking out.

Weapon	Type	Scaling	Skill
Aquamarine Dagger	Dagger	STR – E SKL – D INT – D	Crystal Blade
Rotten Ghru Dagger	Dagger	STR – E SKL – C	Quickstep
Anri’s Straight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – E	Stance
Dark Sword	Straight Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Stomp
Ringed Knight Straight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Ember
Barbed Straight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Sunlight Straight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – E SKL – E	Oath of Sunlight
Millwood Battle Axe	Axe	STR – C SKL – E	War Cry
Man Serpent Hatchet	Axe	STR – D SKL – D	War Cry
Follower Sabre	Curved Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Prying Wedge
Scimitar	Curved Sword	STR – E SKL – B	Spin Slash
Lothric Knight Long Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D	Charge
Ringed Knight Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D INT – E FTH – E	Ember
Washing Pole	Katana	STR – D SKL – D	Hold
Uchigatana	Katana	STR – E SKL – C	Hold
Onyx Blade	Great Sword	STR – E SKL – E INT – D FTH – D	Elfriede’s Blackflame
Claymore	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Hollowslayer Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – C	Stance
Great Sword of Judgement	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D INT- D	Stance of Judgement
Exile Great Sword	Curved Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Slash
Harald Curved Great Sword	Curved Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Sever
Gundyr’s Halberd	Halberd	STR – C SKL – E	Champion’s Charge
Glaive	Halberd	STR – D SKL – E	Spin Sweep
Warpick	Hammer	STR – C SKL – E	Galvanize
Heysel Pick	Hammer	STR – D SKL – E INT – C	Steady Chant
Spiked Mace	Great Hammer	STR – C	Spin Bash
Yhorm’s Great Machete	Great Axe	STR – C	War Cry
Lothric Knight Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Stomp
Astora Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – D SKL – C	Charge
Estoc	Thrusting Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Shield Splitter
Crystal Sage’s Rapier	Thrusting Sword	STR – E SKL – E INT – C	Stance
Great Corvian Scythe	Reaper	STR – D SKL – C	Neck Swipe
Heavy Crossbow	Crossbow		Tackle
Avelyn	Crossbow		Tackle
Winged Knight Twinaxes	Paired Axes	STR – D SKL – D	Chain Spin
Sellsword Twinblades	Paired Curved Swords	STR – E SKL – C	Spin Slash

B-Tier

Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024] - GamingScan (3)

Good weapons that have a few flaws but still solid overall. Mastering these weapons can still allow you to dominate even against users of the high tier weapons.

Weapon	Type	Scaling	Skill
Bandit’s Knife	Dagger	STR – D SKL – D	Quickstep
Mail Breaker	Dagger	STR – E SKL – D	Shield Splitter
Tallbone Short Sword	Dagger	STR – E SKL – E	Unleash Dragon
Irithyll Straight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Broadsword	Straight Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Stance
Butcher Knife	Axe	STR – A	Sharpen
Dragonslayer’s Axe	Axe	STR – D SKL – E	War Cry
Brigand Axe	Axe	STR – D SKL – D	War Cry
Carthus Shotel	Curved Sword	STR – E SKL – C	Spin Slash
Carthus Curved Sword	Curved Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Slash
Rotten Ghru Curved Sword	Curved Sword	STR – E SKL – C	Spin Slash
Gargoyle Flame Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – E SKL – D INT – E FTH – E	Kindled Charge
Lothric War Banner	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D	Lothric War Banner
Greatlance	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D	Charge
Dragonslayer Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – C FTH – D	Lightning Charge
Dragonslayer Swordspear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – C FTH – D	Falling Bolt
Chaos Blade	Katana	STR – E SKL – A	Hold
Wolnir’s Holy Sword	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – E FTH – D	Wrath of the Gods
Moonlight Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – E INT – C	Moonlight Vortex
Murakumo	Curved Great Sword	STR – D SKL – C	Spin Slash
Old Wolf Curved Sword	Curved Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Wolf Leap
Black Knight Glaive	Halberd	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Sweep
Lucerne	Halberd	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Sweep
Mace	Hammer	STR – C SKL – E	Perseverance
Reinforced Club	Hammer	STR – C	War Cry
Great Club	Great Hammer	STR – C	War Cry
Ledo’s Great Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – B	Call to Stone
Great Machete	Great Axe	STR – D SKL – E	Sharpen
Dragonslayer Great Axe	Great Axe	STR – D SKL – E FTH – D	Falling Bolt
Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stomp
Fume Ultra Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – A SKL – E	Stomp
Ricard’s Rapier	Thrusting Sword	STR – D SKL – C	Ricard’s Lunge and Press
Knight’s Crossbow	Crossbow		Tackle
Composite Bow	Bow	STR – D SKL – D	Rapid Fire
Light Crossbow	Crossbow		Tackle
Onikiri & Ubadachi	Paired Katanas	STR – D SKL – C	Onislayer
Crow Quills	Thrusting Sword	STR – E SKL – B	Quill Dart

C-Tier

Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024] - GamingScan (4)

These are your average weapons that don’t stand out. They are still dependable, but you’re generally at a disadvantage when using them.

Weapon	Type	Scaling	Skill
Harpe	Dagger	STR – E SKL – C	Quickstep
Dagger	Dagger	STR – E SKL – C	Quickstep
Lothric’s Holy Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Sacred Lothric Light
Morion Blade	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Short Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – C	Stance
Astora Straight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – E	Stance
Hand Axe	Axe	STR – D SKL – D	War Cry
Battle Axe	Axe	STR – D SKL – D	War Cry
Storm Curved Sword	Curved Sword	STR – D SKL – C	Tornado
Falchion	Curved Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Slash
Painting Guardian’s Curved Sword	Curved Sword	STR – E SKL – B	Chained Dance
Partizan	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Sweep
Rotten Ghru Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D	Charge
Black Blade	Katana	STR – E SKL – C	Hold
Darkdrift	Katana	STR – E SKL – D	Darkdrift
Twin Princes’ Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D INT – D FTH – D	Sacred Light and Flame
Drakeblood Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Bastard Sword	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stomp
Flamberge	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Red Hilted Halberd	Halberd	STR – D SKL – D	Perseverance
Halberd	Halberd	STR – D SKL – D	Charge
Winged Knight Halberd	Halberd	STR – D SKL – E	Chain Spin
Morning Star	Hammer	STR – D SKL – E	Perseverance
Club	Hammer	STR – C	War Cry
Great Mace	Great Hammer	STR – D	Perseverance
Quakestone Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – C	Quake
Dragon Tooth	Great Hammer	STR – C	Perseverance
Smough’s Great Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – C	Perseverance
Vordt’s Great Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – C	Perseverance
Demon’s Great Axe	Great Axe	STR – C SKL – E INT – D FTH – D	Demonic Flare
Lorian’s Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D INT – D FTH – D	Flame of Lorian
Profaned Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Profaned Flame
Pontiff Knight Great Scythe	Reaper	STR – E SKL – A	Frost
Great Scythe	Reaper	STR – E SKL – C	Neck Swipe
Claw	Fists/Claws	STR – E SKL – C	Leaping Slash
Repeating Crossbow	Crossbow		Repeat Fire
Sniper Crossbow	Crossbow		Tackle
Drang Twinspears	Paired Spears	STR – D SKL – D	Charge
Farron Great Sword	Paired Great Swords	STR – D SKL – C	Parry

D-Tier

Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024] - GamingScan (5)

These weapons actively hinder your chances of winning. They have inferior traits – usually they’re just weaker versions of stronger weapons. Use these if you want the challenge.

Weapon	Type	Scaling	Skill
Handmaid’s Dagger	Dagger	STR – E SKL – E	Blind Spot
Parrying Dagger	Dagger	STR – E SKL – C	Parry
Cleric’s Candlestick	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D INT – C	Guiding Light
Thrall Axe	Axe	STR – D SKL – D	Quickstep
Eleonora	Axe	STR – D SKL – E	Feast Bell
Crescent Moon Sword	Curved Sword	SKL – C INT – D	Crescent Blade
Shotel	Curved Sword	STR – E SKL – C	Spin Slash
Pike	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – C	Charge
Tallbone Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – E SKL – D	Unleash Dragon
Winged Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – C	Charge
Arstor’s Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – C	Shield Splitter
Golden Ritual Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – E SKL – D FTH – B	Steady Chant
Bloodlust	Katana	STR – E SKL – C	Bloodlust
Firelink Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Ember
Executioner’s Great Sword	Great Sword	STR – C SKL – E	Stomp
Carthus Curved Great Sword	Curved Great Sword	STR – D SKL – C	Spin Slash
Immolation Tinder	Halberd	STR – D SKL – D INT – B	Punitive Flame
Morne’s Great Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – D FTH – D	Morne’s Rage
Great Wooden Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – C	Spin Bash
Large Club	Great Hammer	STR – C	War Cry
Earth Seeker	Great Axe	STR – C FTH – D	Earthen Wrath
Black Knight Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – C SKL – D	Stomp
Zweihander	Ultra Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stomp
Irithyll Rapier	Thrusting Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Shield Splitter
Caestus	Fists/Claws	STR – D SKL – D	Perseverance
Manikin Claws	Fists/Claws	STR – E SKL – C	Quickstep
Demon’s Fist	Fists/Claws	STR – D INT – E FTH – E	Flame Whirlwind
Short Bow	Bow	STR – E SKL – D	Rapid Fire
White Birch Bow	Bow	STR – E SKL – D	Unseen Arrow
Dragonrider Bow	Bow	STR – D SKL – E	Puncture
Black Bow of Pharis	Bow	STR – E SKL – C	Pharis Triple-Shot
Drang Hammer	Paired Hammers	STR – C SKL – E	Spin Bash
Warden Twinblades	Paired Curved Swords	STR – D SKL – D	Spin Slash
Dancer’s Enchanted Swords	Paired Curved Swords	STR – D SKL – D INT – D FTH – D	Dancer’s Grace

F-Tier

Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024] - GamingScan (6)

These weapons have no business being used in PvP. Use them for aesthetic purposes (or for the memes).

Weapon	Type	Scaling	Skill
Scholar’s Candlestick	Dagger	STR – C SKL – C	Guiding Light
Broken Straight Sword	Straight Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Stance
Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – C	Shield Splitter
Yorshka’s Spear	Spear/Pike	STR – D SKL – D FTH – D	Pacify
Follower Javelin	Spear/Pike	STR – C SKL – E	Hurl Spear
Storm Ruler	Great Sword	STR – D SKL – D	Storm King
Crescent Axe	Halberd	STR – D SKL – D	War Cry
Rose of Ariandel	Whip	STR – C SKL – E FTH – B	Awakening
Blacksmith Hammer	Hammer	STR – C	Perseverance
Gargoyle Flame Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – D INT – E FTH – E	Kindled Fury
Old King’s Great Hammer	Great Hammer	STR – D INT – D FTH – D	Molten Perseverance
Black Knight Great Axe	Great Axe	STR – C SKL – D	War Cry
Great Axe	Great Axe	STR – C SKL – E	War Cry
Cathedral Knight Great Sword	Ultra Great Sword	STR – C SKL – E	Stomp
Rapier	Thrusting Sword	STR – E SKL – C	Stance
Crow Talons	Fists/Claws	STR – E SKL – C	Raptor Flurry
Dark Hand	Fists/Claws	STR – E SKL – E INT – C FTH – C	Lifedrain
Longbow	Bow	STR – E SKL – D	Puncture
Onislayer Great Bow	Great Bow	STR – E SKL – C	Puncturing Arrow
Millwood Great Bow	Great Bow	STR – C SKL – E	Pierce Earth
Dragonslayer Great Bow	Great Bow	STR – D SKL – D	Puncturing Arrow
Darkmoon Longbow	Bow	SKL – E INT – C	Darkmoon Arrow
Ringed Knight Paired Great Swords	Paired Ultra Great Swords	STR – C SKL – E INT – E FTH – E	Ember
Brigand Twindaggers	Paired Daggers	STR – D SKL – D	Quickstep

Dark Souls 3 Weapon Tier List [July 2024] - GamingScan (2024)