RELATED: Games To Play If You Like Dark Souls (& Other Games You Should Avoid)
One of the many great parts about Dark Souls was the amount of player freedom that was afforded when it came to creating a personalized character build. The player could choose to opt for the more traditional Strength-focused fighter or opt for a faster build by investing in Dexterity instead. For the players who took the latter approach, the game became more about landing quick hits in succession instead of landing just one or two solid blows before maintaining distance. So it’s a given that players would want to optimize their loadout and equip the best weapon they could find to complement their playstyle.
Updated December 26, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Dark Souls is one of the greatest action-adventure titles ever made. The immense success achieved by this title put FromSoftware on the map and made it abundantly clear that this developer would be making some really special games over time.
Even with the massive popularity that Elden Ring has enjoyed, many people still look at Dark Souls as the most important game FromSoftware has ever developed. Players love using a Dexterity build in this game to slice and dice through enemies, and here are the best weapons to suit players who invest heavily in this stat.
Dexterity Weapon Upgrade Path Tips
It goes without saying that opting for the Regular Upgrade Path is the best course of action to take for new players. This is especially true for new players who don’t have in-depth knowledge of the Upgrade Path system. Raw Upgrades are good, but not great for the long haul. They’re better reserved for weapons that will be discarded early on. Keep in mind that most Dark Souls Dex weapons have lower durability and require more hits to down enemies than their Strength counterparts; thus, it’s best to avoid the Crystal Upgrade Path. Players who want to pursue an Intelligence build should opt for the Magic or Enchanted Upgrade Path. Other players who pursue a Faith build should go for the Divine or Occult Upgrade Path instead. Low-level players can opt for the Lightning, Fire, or Chaos Upgrade Path instead.
25 Rapier
Where to Find: Sold by Undead Merchant. Also a rare drop from the Balder Knight who wields a rapier.
Most people would assume that the Rapier is a pretty boring weapon to use, with its moveset being anything but memorable. However, that is far from the main strength of this weapon.
Rather, it’s the immense damage dealt by ripostes and backstabs that makes the Rapier such a blast to use. That being said, there’s no denying that its moveset is a bit uninspired and its best application is pretty situational and might not be to the taste of every player.
24 Ricard’s Rapier
Where to Find: Drops from Ricard the Archer at the top of Sen’s Fortress.
Ricard’s Rapier is a unique version of the rapier with a unique caveat of its own. Most of its moveset is pretty similar to the standard Rapier…barring one particular move.
Pressing the heavy attack button twice leads to the Chosen Undead unleashing four quick and damaging thrusts. While this is extremely effective in PvE, the same isn’t recommended against another human player since this move can be parried quite easily.
23 Gargoyle Tail Axe
Where to Find: Obtained after cutting off the tail of any gargoyle in the game.
There are several gargoyles that players can fight during their adventure across the many expansive areas in Dark Souls. Slicing off their tail nets a unique Dexterity weapon that can serve as a valuable tool in any player’s arsenal.
The Gargoyle Tail Axe hits like a truck and even bends after certain heavy attacks, which is certainly quite novel in its own right. As a bonus, it increases the toxic, bleeding, and poison resistance of a player as well.
22 Silver Knight Straight Sword
Where to Find: Rare drop from a Silver Knight.
The Silver Knight Straight Sword may seem like a pretty unremarkable weapon, but that doesn’t make it ineffective by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, the reliable nature of this weapon makes it worth checking out for any player pursuing a Dexterity build.
RELATED: Dark Souls: The Best Shields In The Game
Of course, acquiring this weapon itself can prove to be quite a chore. However, players who get lucky in this regard will be rewarded with a pretty strong sword that players can potentially use all the way to the end game.
21 Flamberge
Where to Find: Sold by Shiva of the East. Alternatively, can be obtained as a rare drop from Serpent Mages.
The Flamberge is a greatsword that scales pretty admirably with Dexterity. The unique look of this sword alone makes it well worth checking out for players who love the many stylish swords in the game.
It helps that each hit with the Flamberge leads to the buildup of the Bleed status. Players who are skillful with this sword will be taking out invaders and enemies in no time!
20 Great Scythe
Where to Find: In the Catacombs.
Scythes are a classic weapon in Dark Souls that most people love to use. So, it’s easy to see why so many people go gaga over the Great Scythe.
It’s one of the best Dark Souls dex weapons for many along with the Lifehunt Scythe. However, the risky nature of the Lifehunt Scythe makes this variant more popular among the masses.
19 Dark Silver Tracer
Where to Find: Either kill Lord’s Blade Ciaran or give her the Soul of Artorias.
Most people don’t really enjoy using daggers all that much in Dark Souls, mainly due to their low damage and reach. However, the Dark Silver Tracer is unique in the sense that it offers a massive critical damage bonus, making it perfect for backstabs and ripostes.
It also has a unique strong attack that causes Toxic buildup in enemies, making it great for PvP as well. Players who want to flex their skills can definitely do so with this cool Dark Souls dex weapon.
18 Priscilla’s Dagger
Where to Find: Cut off Priscilla’s tail.
The Painted World of Ariamis is one of the most beautiful locations in Dark Souls. The fresh change of pace offered by this area makes it invaluable for many.
RELATED: The Most Powerful Bosses In The Dark Souls Games (& The Weakest)
At the end of this area is a boss whose tail can be cut off to get Priscilla’s Dagger. It deals a decent amount of damage and also inflicts Bleed on the enemy, turning it into a perfectly serviceable Dark Souls dex weapon.
17 Gold Tracer
Where to Find: Either kill Lord’s Blade Ciaran or give her the Soul of Artorias.
Along with the Dark Silver Tracer, Lord’s Blade Ciaran will also give the player the Gold Tracer dagger if they decide to give her Artorias’ soul… or just straight-up murder her for the weapons. Combining this Dark Souls dex weapon with the Dark Silver Tracer makes for a unique dual-wielding moveset.
The Gold Tracer is a great weapon for the off-hand since it boasts a unique moveset of its own. Players can transform into a whirlwind of dagger strikes and slashes by equipping both this weapon and the Dark Silver Tracer.
16 Bandit’s Knife
Where to Find: Start out as a Thief. Can also be obtained as a very rare drop from Undead Assassins.
The Bandit’s Knife might not sound all that powerful, but it’s an amazing weapon that Dex builds can make the most of. Investing in this weapon allows players to pull off backstabs and ripostes that deal massive damage.
Along with this benefit, the Bandit’s Knife also allows for Bleed buildup as well. This makes it one of the most underrated Dark Souls dex weapons of all time, mainly because most people just write this weapon off!
15 Titanite Catch Pole
Where to Find: Rare drop from the Titanite Demon.
This is a rare drop found after defeating the non-respawning Titanite Demons; thus, it is understandable if players have completed multiple playthroughs without ever seeing this strange halberd. With its split damage that favors the magical side, it is truly unique among polearms.
RELATED: Ranked: Most Powerful Weapons In Dark Souls
It scales with Intelligence as well as Dexterity and Strength, which makes it a great choice for a variety of builds that need a long weapon that can get around a foe’s physical defenses. This is particularly true of Dexterity builds who already have a bit of Intelligence.
14 Guardian Tail
Where to Find: Cut off the Sanctuary Guardian’s tail.
As the most intimidating-looking whip in the game, the Guardian Tail’s appearance suits its combat potential. After acquiring this from severing the Sanctuary Guardian’s tail while entering Oolacile, the Chosen Undead can then use it to inflict pain similar to the kind its former owner did.
It may not have the highest Dexterity scaling of the whips to be found in Dark Souls. However, it does have the highest base damage and the ability to poison one’s adversary, making it arguably the best of these flexible armaments.
13 Iaito
Where to Find: Found in Blighttown on a platform next to the upper Bonfire that players must jump to.
Dark Souls has a ton of katanas that scale with Dexterity, and it must be said that the Iaito is a standout in this regard.
This fast katana has a deceptively long reach and can cause Bleed to build up in opponents, which can be quite helpful in a PvP situation as well. Needless to say, it developed quite an infamous (and well-deserved) reputation in the PVP circuit.
12 Painting Guardian Sword
Where to Find: Rare drop from the Painting Guardian.
The Painting Guardian Sword is a favorite of many people who play a Dexterity build, and it’s easy to see why this is the case. With a great moveset and even better damage, this sword is definitely a great tool to have in anyone’s arsenal.
RELATED: Dark Souls: Hidden Areas You Didn’t Know Existed
The only problem with the Painting Guardian Sword is actually obtaining it. Players can only obtain this weapon as an enemy drop, which is incredibly rare. Unless the player is lucky, there’s going to be a ton of grinding involved to get this weapon.
11 Claw
Where to Find: Sold by Shiva of the East.
Despite having one of the shortest reaches in Dark Souls, the Claw has many advantages that make up for this. They allow the wielder to strike blindingly fast with very little penalty for missing a hit. Since these handheld talons inherently apply bleed build-up, their fast strikes and low stamina cost are factors that should make all PVP foes wary.
To top it all off, this slashing tool can get up to an A-rank scaling bonus after being fully upgraded for excellent Dexterity-based damage.
10 Falchion
Where to Find: Found in Blighttown. Also dropped by skeletons and a mimic in the Duke’s Archives (the latter variant is enchanted).
The Falchion could’ve easily made this list for its speed alone. The fact of the matter is that this sword is lightning-quick and can turn enemies into mincemeat in mere seconds.
However, this does come at the cost of range. Players need to get up close and personal to deal with their enemies if they choose to use the Falchion.
9 Estoc
Where to Find: In Firelink Shrine while on the way to the New Londo Ruins.
One of the best piercing weapons in the game, the Estoc has exactly what the Falchion lacks — range. This makes it great for players who like to have a bit more distance between themselves and their enemies.
Using the Estoc is one of the most satisfying experiences in Dark Souls. Turning enemies into a pincushion from afar and watching them helplessly flail as they try and counter the player is quite a memorable sight to witness.
8 Uchigatana
Where to Find: Dropped by the Undead Merchant, and sold by Shiva of the East.
Players can receive the Uchigatana in the early stages of the game with relative ease. Coupled with a simple yet reliable moveset, this makes the Uchigatana one of the best and most popular katanas in the game.
RELATED: Dark Souls: Things You Didn’t Know About The Abyss
It’s a great weapon that players can use for the first half of the game, and can even prove to be a reliable companion for the latter half of the experience if need be. It’s a safe bet and a solid investment for most dexterity-focused players.
7 Washing Pole
Where to Find: Sold by Shiva of the East.
With such an unthreatening name, some overlook this katana as a silly weapon, though this is far from the truth. In fact, many consider the Washing Pole to be the best katana in the game. This blade is basically an Uchigatana with increased range with additional benefits. It is one of the few weapons of this type to scale with both Strength and Dexterity, which makes up for its lower Dexterity parameter bonus compared to similar blades.
The most notable feature is its incredible reach, which can catch many foes coming out of a roll with ease. Its rolling attack is especially deadly, as this has a very wide hitbox. The only real downside to the Washing Pole is its abysmally low durability.
6 Chaos Blade
Where to Find: Ascend a +10 katana with the Soul of Quelaag.
Chaos Witch Quelaag is easily one of the more memorable bosses in Dark Souls, and not for reasons that one might assume. Rather, it’s because her soul can allow the player to forge two of the best Dexterity weapons in the game.
The first one is the Chaos Blade, which is obtained when ascending a katana. While the Chaos Blade is quite powerful, these attacks come at the cost of the player’s health. The Chosen Undead needs to keep a close eye on their HP if they don’t want to experience a rather embarrassing demise.
