The Best Dexterity Weapons In Dark Souls 3, Ranked

Dark Souls 3 is a game all about overcoming difficult encounters. This game has some of the hardest bosses and enemies in the franchise, meaning players will need everything they can get to beat this game and its brutal DLC content. With that said, few enemies in PvE can match the skill of some players one will face in Arenas or invasions. Builds help mitigate this, focusing on certain attributes and gear to make fighting tough bosses and players easier. Dexterity builds are always a solid choice, and Dark Souls 3 is no exception to this golden rule. Their weapons focus mostly on rapid attacks and counterattacks after parrying an opponent.

While some people love walloping enemies to kingdom come with bigger weapons that require a fair bit of investment in strength, there’s no denying that players will get a kick out of using faster weapons that will irritate enemies to no end. There’s something to be said about nailing a combo using a Dexterity weapon and watching an enemy’s health bar be whittled down in no time flat. It’s a truly cathartic experience, and players should make it a point to get the best Dex weapons in Dark Souls 3 to make things easier for themselves.

Updated on February 17, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Dark Souls 3 is a fitting sendoff to one of the greatest trilogies in gaming history. Despite some issues that players have with the manner in which this final installment retread similar ground as the first game while also scaling back its impressive level design, there’s no denying that Dark Souls 3 has its fair share of strengths in the form of better combat and a suite of epic bosses that can take players for a wild ride. Players pursuing a Dexterity build should make it a point to use a weapon that complements their playstyle, letting them tear through enemies in style.

23 Demon’s Scar

Obtained By Transposing The Soul Of The Demon Prince

Here’s a weapon that will likely only be usable after the Ashen One has beaten the game once since it requires the Soul of the Demon Prince to be attained via transposition. As it does pure fire damage, which is arguably the most effective damaging type in all of Dark Souls 3, it is a very hard weapon to defend against.

The moveset of a standard light curved sword makes it very versatile at close range, though it can also be used as a Pyromancy Flame, which lets the wielder unleash scorching spells without having to change weapons. However, its high specialization leads to its downfall as a truly great weapon as it does not have heavy attacks and scales very poorly with Dexterity, making it only really suitable for some close-range pyromancer builds.

22 Crescent Moon Sword

Dropped By Ringfinger Leonhard After Fulfilling Certain Conditions

This unique weapon is a pretty easy one to miss, as attaining it requires the player to invade the world of the NPC Ringfinger Leonhard whilst inside Gwynevere’s chambers in Anor Londo. After defeating Leonhard and looting his weapon, one will now possess one of the most versatile split-damage swords in the game. Essentially an extremely curved shotel, the Crescent Moon Sword functions at close range like the Scimitar and similar curved swords, though it stands out in that it also does Magic damage and scales with Intelligence as well as Dexterity.

Though, with no actual Intelligence requirement to be wielded, it can be an excellent choice for any Dex build struggling with more physically defensive foes without having to put points into other stats. It should also be mentioned that its weapon art unleashes ranged magic attacks that can make this moon-powered blade effective at a greater range than many alternative arms.

21 Scimitar

Sold By The Shrine Handmaid & Dropped By Scimitar-Wielding Skeletons In Catacombs Of Carthus

As one of the better Dexterity weapons in Dark Souls 3 that one can acquire from the Shrine Handmaid very early on at Firelink Shrine, the Scimitar is very much capable of seeing the Ashen One through the entire game if upgraded and infused accordingly. It not only gains insane damage boosts from Sharp, Chaos, or Dark infusions but it is also very light and has low stat requirements, making it an excellent choice for nearly any build looking to specialize in Dexterity.

The downside to this blade is that it does not have a way to deal with heavily armored foes or enemies who excessively use shields since its moveset come with a distancing attack-and-retreat move instead of one that breaks an adversary’s guard. However, its rapid attacks, low stamina cost, and easily usable weapon art let one cleave through most other challenges easily enough.

20 Aquamarine Dagger

On A Pile Of Rubble Near The Dreg Heap Bonfire From Where A Harald Legion Knight Drops Down From

The daggers in Dark Souls 3 are pretty disappointing and are usually best avoided. The damage of most daggers is pitiful, and this can prove to be a huge pain for players who are struggling with the game and want to use a weapon that lets them feel competent in battle instead of rendering them helpless. However, while most daggers can be avoided, the same can’t be said for the Aquamarine Dagger.

This weapon is actually fun to use, although players have to invest in both Dexterity and Intelligence to make the most of this blade. The Weapon Art extends the reach of this blade using crystals, making it feel more like a regular sword that players can use to turn the tide of battle in a flash and show off the unique power of this weapon.

19 Drang Twinspears

Dropped By The Drang Knight Encountered After The Pontiff Sullyvahn Bonfire

There are many dual-wield weapons present in Dark Souls 3 that are a blast to use, and the Drang Twinspears are no exception to this golden rule. This weapon seems rather weird at first, but players need only use the dual-wield stance to make things harder for their opponent in every way. This weapon is a blast in PvE but can be a bit predictable in PvP if players don’t switch up their movesets.

Of course, the biggest reason why players love this weapon so much is the rolling special attack that most people spam in PvP. It’s hard to read, deals a lot of damage, and is pretty effective to boot. Suffice it to say, players who spend some time learning how this weapon works will be able to duke it out with skilled Dark Souls 3 players without breaking a sweat!

18 *Darkdrift

Dropped By Yuria Of Londor At Firelink Shrine (Can Also Be Obtained After Completing Her Quest)

The quest featuring Yuria of Londor is one of the more long-winded and complicated quests to complete in Dark Souls 3. It can be pretty hard to get through this quest without a guide, but doing so is worthwhile since it lets players access a different ending. Players also gain access to a pretty powerful katana that can slash and dice enemies in style.

Of course, impatient players can just kill Yuria to get this weapon instead. While it may not seem all that powerful, the fact that it can be buffed makes it a force to be reckoned with. By making sure that players enhance the effectiveness of this weapon during fights, most enemies can be whittled down with ease using this weapon.

17 Irithyll Straight Sword

Dropped By Outrider Knight At The Bottom Of The Elevator Shaft Just Before The Road Of Sacrifices

Most famous for being used by the savage and tricky-to-fight Boreal Outrider Knights, these frigid blades are as brutal as their former masters. One can be acquired after slaying the Outrider Knight found near the beginning of the Road of Sacrifices. The Irithyll Straight Sword, like some other rare Irithyll-originated weapons, comes already imbued with Frost: arguably the most devastating status effect in the game.

With relatively low scaling in both Strength and Dexterity, it may seem underwhelming. Though with its decent base damage and the classic moveset of a Longsword, this decent-range straight sword can apply a fair bit of pressure to foes if one uses the threat of Frost build-up in conjunction with standard attacks.

16 Carthus Curved Sword

Dropped By Skeletons Wielding This Weapon In Catacombs Of Carthus

Dropped by the mighty Skeletal Swordsmen in the Catacombs of Carthus, this bloody blade requires one to have sufficient stats in both Strength and Dexterity to even be used. The requirements may be worth it, however, as the Carthus Curved Sword has one of the best reaches and highest potential damage out of any curved sword.

Due to its weight and Bleed build-up, it is an ideal choice for facing more defensive foes as there is no way to block the Bleeding applied by this wicked blade and it is a difficult one to parry. The Stamina consumption may be high but the other attributes of this super-sized saber more than make up for it.

15 Washing Pole

Sold By The Shrine Handmaid After Giving Her The Easterner’s Ashes

The Washing Pole gives Greatswords a run for their money with how massive this weapon is. The range on this Katana is unmatched in its archetype, and its scaling with Dexterity is rather impressive.

An A scaling can be expected with a +10 Washing Pole with the Sharp infusion. It has an average moveset that can catch rolling players, and its damage output is the third-best in its weapon class. It’s a good weapon that can be acquired early game by turning in the Easterner’s Ashes to the Shrine Handmaid and buying the Washing Pole for 7,500 souls.

14 Onikiri And Ubadachi

Dropped By Black Hand Kamui At The Top Floor Of The Grand Archives

Dual-wielding blades in Dark Souls 3 make for a great time, which is why most people would salivate at the prospect of getting their hands on the Onikiri and Ubadachi. The weapons hit like a truck, inflict Bleed damage, and feature a weapon art that hits for serious damage if players time this move properly.

A unique caveat about these dual blades that most people may not be aware of is that these blades do more damage when they’re not infused. Of course, a Dexterity build will still benefit from a sharp infusion, but players who don’t mind experimenting can opt for a quality build to tear most enemies to shreds with this powerful dual blade that takes no prisoners.

13 Old Wolf Curved Sword

Received After Reaching Rank 1 Of The Watchdogs Of Farron Covenant

A dexterous Greatsword sounds oxymoronic, but that is exactly what the Old Wolf Curved Sword is. With a B rating in Dexterity when upgraded, this Greatsword packs a punch with a pure Dex build.

Many weapons beat the Old Wolf Curved Sword when it comes to scaling, but this weapon’s strength is the moveset. Rapid and intuitive swings allow it to cleave hordes of enemies or easily catch rolling invaders. Better yet, this weapon’s moveset is one of the game’s best that allows one to mimic Sif’s gracious attacks from the first Dark Souls.

12 Warden Twinblades

Dropped By Cathedral Grave Wardens

Twinblades are one of the deadliest weapon archetypes in Dark Souls 3 thanks to their fast moveset. A few rapid strikes from these weapons can kill any player or a common enemy.

Warden Twinblades are one of the lesser-used Twinblades due to their poorer scaling and damage. With that said, Warden Twinblades come with innate bleed to deal massive chunks of damage after consecutive strikes. Infusing with a Sharp Gem can make these have an A rating with Dex, but it is usually better to make these a Hollow weapon and use Carthus Rouge for some serious bleed damage per strike.

11 Black Blade

Looted From A Mimic Chest Near The Flame Demon

Size isn’t the Black Blade’s strong suit, having the shortest Katana range in Dark Souls 3. It does make up for this with its great base damage and scaling potential.

With a Sharp infusion, the Black Blade has an A scaling in Dex and a whopping 225 base physical damage. With enough Dexterity, a player can deal 800 damage with its R1 combo that can catch enemies mid-roll. It is somewhat lacking in PvE content due to its short range, but don’t underestimate this weapon in PvP encounters. It can shut down invaders after a weapon art parry or a few quick slashes.

10 Uchigatana

Dropped By Sword Master Outside Firelink Shrine

Many people feel like the iteration of the Uchigatana in Dark Souls 3 is one of the weakest in the Soulsborne series, so it’s a pretty great achievement that this weapon is still held in high regard nevertheless. This blade is a classic that players love to wield in the game, with this beginner-friendly katana being quick, effective, and deadly in the right hands.

While some people aren’t a huge fan of the Uchigatana’s relatively low damage, it’s still a blast to play through in every way and fans should definitely give this weapon a whirl despite all the negative things the community has to say about it. There’s always something amazing about parrying an enemy with a katana before hitting them with a critical attack that shaves off a ton of their health in no time flat!

9 Astora Greatsword

Looted From A Corpse At The Graveyard Near The Cleansing Chapel

Ultra Greatswords are some of the heaviest weapons in Dark Souls 3, requiring a large amount of Strength to wield. But not the Astora Greatsword. This weapon weighs a measly 13 units and requires 16 Strength and 18 Dexterity to use.

As the lightest Ultra Greatsword in the game, it is also the best Dexterity Ultra Greatsword. Clocking in with a fantastic S scaling in Dex at +10 Sharp, the Astora Greatsword gains +2 damage for every point in Dex. This weapon also scales well with elemental infusions thanks to its low wield requirements. There are better movesets for PvP Greatswords, but few can dish out as much damage per swing as the Astora Greatsword.

8 Farron Greatsword

Obtained By Transposing The Soul Of The Blood Of The Wolf

Just like the Astora Greatsword, the Farron Greatsword is one of the only Ultra Greatswords that scales well with Dexterity. With a Sharp infusion, this weapon comes with an A scaling in Dex.

Stranger yet, this weapon comes with a small dagger when two-handed to allow for parries. Counterattacks on this weapon are devastating, and capable of instantly killing opponents when used in conjunction with the Hornet Ring. Attacks with this weapon are solid, including general sweeps and vertical slashes. If one wants to use a Dexterity-heavy Ultra Greatsword build, it’s hard to beat the Farron Greatsword.

7 Black Knight Glaive

Found In The Boss Arena For Champion Gundyr

Black Knight weapons are some of the strongest weapons in the Dark Souls series. These weapons deal incredible amounts of damage but require high Strength to wield. While this is certainly true with the Black Knight Glaive, it suits Dexterity-heavy characters rather well.

Its attacks lend themselves to mid-range combos to catch rolling players or aggressive PvE foes. Its heavy attack can be chained with a light attack and another heavy for guaranteed damage in PvP. This weapon is even great in PvE thanks to the Black Knight series having a hidden 20% damage bonus versus demons, making this weapon adept at slaying many of DS3’s bosses.

6 Chaos Blade

Located In The Dark Firelink Shrine Parallel To The Location Where The Sword Master Is Fought

The fan-favorite and infamous Katana from previous Dark Souls games is back and with a serious bite. No katana can match the Chaos Blade’s damage output, but that damage comes at a cost.

Every strike from the Chaos Blade damages its wielder for a small percentage of their health, In turn, this weapon deals innate bleed damage, has an S scaling in Dexterity, and can parry players with ease thanks to its weapon art. While a solid choice in PvE, this weapon is downright frustrating to face in PvP with any bleed or Dex-heavy builds.

5 Crow Talons

Found On The Rooftops In The Corvian Village

The weapons, introduced in the DLC Ashes of Ariandel, are truly in a class of their own and worth checking out for fans of unique movesets. The Crow Talons are a great mention in this regard, letting players use a set of claws to completely obliterate their opposition without facing too many problems. It doesn’t take too long to get used to the excellence of this weapon, making it great for Dexterity builds who may be getting bored with their current weapon’s moveset.

The Crow Talons are excellent for PvE gameplay, letting players cut up enemies without a care in the world and punishing them for letting the player target their openings. Given the aggressive nature of some enemies in the game, it’s easy to see why most players would love using the Crow Talons to slice and dice their enemies.

4 Crow Quills

On An Elevated Platform Near The Corvian Settlement Bonfire That Players Can Access With A Calculated Jump

A great option for PvP is the Crow Quills. Nothing is more frustrating than having this weapon pelt one with illusionary quills before getting hit with a devastating counterattack.

If one couldn’t tell, this weapon pairs a thrusting weapon with a sort of offhand claw. Damage with this weapon is rather high thanks to its phenomenal S scaling in Dex while Sharpened. With a pure Dex build, Crow Quills are the most damaging weapons in the game. Their weapon art is a pain to deal with, pressuring opponents with light-damage quills fired midair. If that wasn’t enough, these weapons have a massive damage bonus when used in ripostes or backstab attacks, rivaling all but Daggers in critical damage. Pair this with a Hornet Ring and warriors can one-shot most low-Vitality characters.