The Best Strength Weapons, Ranked

One doesn’t need to describe the monumental achievement that was Dark Souls. After all, the massive legacy of the game pretty much speaks for itself. From ushering in the golden age of From Software to inspiring a ton of modern games (indie or otherwise) to emulate what made it great, there’s no end to the sheer number of ways in which Dark Souls has impacted the gaming industry. The combat is one of the many facets that makes Dark Souls great, with the sheer number of weapons that one can equip being quite extensive. However, depending on whether the player is going for a Strength or Dexterity build, the selection of weapons needs to change accordingly.

Strength weapons are generally quite beloved by Dark Souls veterans, who love the idea of walloping enemies with their powerful weapons and seeing their health bars deplete in no time flat. Players need to time their swings with the majority of Strength weapons properly if they don’t want to be caught out in the middle of a blow. This is easier said than done, but players who get enough practice in Dark Souls will eventually be able to wipe out most tough enemies without too many problems… as long as their poise is high enough, that is.

Updated on January 4, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Dark Souls is one of the greatest video games ever made, with the title’s revolutionary action gameplay opening the doors for a wealth of players to step up and prove themselves in a game that takes no prisoners. Players must understand how the mechanics of this title work if they even stand a chance of beating the many tough bosses in this title. A great way to power through the game is to upgrade the Chosen Undead’s Strength so that they can barrel through foes using a weapon that works best with their build. Given the wealth of Strength weapons in the game, most people would find it prudent to do some research on which weapon they should obtain if they want to be serious about this build.

Strength Weapon Upgrade Path Tips

• For the most part, players new to Dark Souls should go down the regular upgrade path for their Strength weapons. It’s the only upgrade path to reach a +15 modifier and makes the most of the player’s Strength stat to maximize damage with the appropriate weapons.
• Players who want to use a weapon early on and know they’ll discard it later down the line can pursue either the Crystal or Raw Upgrade Paths. The Lightning Upgrade Path is also great, especially for low-level PVP, when most players don’t have any armor with good lightning resistances.
• Aside from this, there is a slew of Magical Upgrade Paths that the player can opt for as well. Just keep in mind that the player’s Intelligence needs to be at an acceptable level so that damage levels aren’t hampered, thereby negating the effectiveness of a Dark Souls Strength build.

23 Dragon Bone Fist

Ascend A +10 Upgraded Caestus Or Claws With The Core Of An Iron Golem

Sometimes, weapons in Dark Souls don’t need to be practical, with long reaches, huge damage numbers, and the like. Instead, the major part of playing Dark Souls — or any other video game for that matter — is to have fun and be as creative as possible just to see how far players can push the systems of any game.

The Dragon Bone Fist is exactly the ridiculous weapon players should use if they want to humiliate the enemies of Dark Souls. Punching enemies into a pulp and expertly parrying their attacks makes for a great time if players are skilled enough to use this weapon.

22 Pickaxe

Drops From Infested Barbarians In Blighttown

Most people would assume that something as simple as a pickaxe can’t hack it against some of the other weapons in the game that are more flamboyant, in comparison. However, one place where Dark Souls excels is balance, and a player who likes the moveset of the pickaxe can very much turn it into the weapon of their choice if they wish.

The pickaxe is a thing of beauty in the right hands, able to pierce and destroy enemies once players invest enough points in Strength. Given how much players love to challenge themselves in the game, it’s easy to see why some people wouldn’t mind completing a run using the pickaxe as their main weapon.

21 Gough’s Greatbow

Either Talk To Gough After Defeating Black Dragon Kalameet Or Kill Him

Ranged weapons can be pretty tricky to use in Dark Souls, and most beginners would prefer to just stick to melee weapons instead of doing anything fancy. However, if players don’t mind experimenting, then investing in Gough’s Greatbow can be a wise decision indeed.

Taking out enemies from a distance is always a welcome bonus, even if players have to invest in a ton of arrows to ensure that they don’t run out during a particularly harrowing run. Gough’s Greatbow is massive, requires a lot of strength, and hits like a truck when upgraded to its fullest potential.

20 Club

Starting Weapon For The Deprived Class That Is Also Sold By The Undead Merchant

Dark Souls is a game full of fantastic and awe-inspiring weapons that are a blast to use. So, at a glance, it’s easy to see why using a basic club may seem like a waste of the game’s expansive list of weapons that Strength builds can use to great effect.

However, players who care more about utility than anything else know just how useful of a weapon the Club is, especially in the early game. Players can purchase this weapon for a pittance and use it to deal great damage, although missing a hit with this weapon can leave players pretty vulnerable.

19 Stone Greataxe

Rare Drop From The Stone Guardian

The Stone Guardian is a powerful enemy in Dark Souls that is encountered in Royal Wood, an area added in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC. This enemy can hit for serious damage, so players should exploit its slow moves to take it down without getting too greedy.

If the axe that this monstrous enemy wields interests the player, then they need to settle in for a serious grind. This enemy has a 2% chance of dropping the Stone Greataxe, which is a pretty fun weapon to use and something players can flaunt if the RNG gods are kind to them.

18 Large Club

A Rare Drop From The Club-Wielding Infested Barbarian In Blighttown

The Large Club should ideally be ranked way higher when compared to some of the other best strength weapons in Dark Souls simply because of the insane amount of damage that it can dish out. However, this weapon is an extremely rare drop that players have to farm in the game’s worst area: Blighttown.

Getting the Large Club is a celebration since it has one of the hardest-hitting charged strong attacks in the entire game. It’s just a shame that most players will never even get the chance to use this weapon because of how low the drop rate is.

17 Reinforced Club

Sold By The Undead Merchant

The Reinforced Club might not be the greatest Strength weapon around, but it’s a great option for players who are just starting and don’t want to grind or put themselves in a sticky situation to gain a particular weapon.

Keeping that in mind, it must be said that the Reinforced Club is a great weapon to opt for in this regard. Players can genuinely finish the entire game with this weapon, making it a great early-game Strength weapon.

16 Stone Greatsword

Sold By Shiva Of The East; Also, A Rare Drop From The Great Stone Knight

This moss-covered blade is most famous for being used against the Chosen Undead by the stone knights who guard Darkroot Garden as well as a few other places. Initially, it comes off as odd for it has moderate scaling in Strength and Dexterity, along with low scaling for Intelligence despite needing 40 Strength to even be wielded effectively.

However, it does magical damage in addition to physical, which can be useful against many enemies in PVE. On top of this, the two-handed strong attack casts a miracle similar to the Tranquil Walk of Peace, much like the one the stone knights use — a great way to slow down any invaders or adversaries in PVP.

15 Claymore

On The Bridge Where The Hellkite Wyvern Resides

The Claymore is a great weapon that players can use for both PvE and PvP. The fact that it’s found fairly early is a huge plus for this weapon… although obtaining it is quite a task.

After dodging the Hellkite Wyvern’s fire, the player can run for their lives to land right under this dragon, where a body with this weapon can be found. Upgrading this weapon turns it into an absolute beast in combat.

14 Zweihander

In Front Of A Tombstone In The Graveyard Area Near Firelink Shrine

While the Claymore might be a great weapon in its own right, most people consider the Zweihander to be the superior greatsword for several reasons.

The fact that it can be obtained even earlier than the Claymore — albeit through a suicide run of sorts — makes it an even easier recommendation, and the damage it can dish out in the early game is nothing to scoff at, either.

13 Gravelord Sword

Join The Gravelord Servant Covenant

As the very same weapon used by Gravelord Nito, the First of the Dead, this curved greatsword matches its reputation. Low Strength scaling and low base damage make many overlook the Gravelord Sword at first, but when one realizes its other effects, they quickly change their minds. Most curved swords and greatswords exclusively deal slash damage, though not this one, as Nito’s sword has a move set that includes trust attacks, which can be immensely helpful in corridors and for armored enemies resistant to slash damage.

In addition, this weapon is one of the only two in the entire game that applies Toxic build-up, which, when peaked, will last on the target for a staggering ten minutes at five damage per second for what will feel like an eternity of suffering if in PVP.

12 Dragon Greatsword

Cut The Tail Of The Everlasting Dragon

It is likely many are well aware of the power of dragon weapons in Dark Souls. The might of these everlasting behemoths lives on in the blades formed from their tails. Dragon weapons cannot be augmented and do not have scaling, which places a ceiling over their usability, though they offer plenty of other benefits. The Dragon Greatsword, which can be acquired by cutting off the tail of the Everlasting Dragon found in Ash Lake, has one of the highest base damage of any weapon in the game.

When wielded, it also grants the user damage reduction from fire and magic attacks, as well as greatly increases resistance to all status effects. Despite being as slow as other ultra-greatswords, the two-handed strong attack unleashes a fast vertical cleave that extends farther than one expects, making it ideal for catching nimble adversaries.

11 Demon Great Machete

Sold By Shiva Of The East; Also Obtained As A Rare Drop From The Capra Demon

This list could honestly fit pretty much every Demon weapon in the game — and to an extent, it does — so it’s no surprise that one of these weapons has made the list.

The Demon Great Machete might be slower than most other greatswords, but the massive damage they can dish out with the greatest of ease can easily make up for this deficit.

10 Butcher Knife

Defeat Maneater Mildred

It might seem odd to see a knife rank so high on the list, but veterans of Dark Souls will instantly recognize the power of the legendary Butcher Knife. This weapon is a knife only by name — the Butcher Knife has massive reach, damage, and an interesting move set that will keep players guessing in PvP.

Another great thing about the Butcher Knife is that it heals 5HP with each hit. While this might seem like a minor amount, successive hits can go a long way in restoring the player’s health and conserving Estus Flasks.

9 Man-Serpent Greatsword

Rare Drop From The Man-Servant In Sen’s Fortress

The Man-Serpent Greatsword is considered by many to be one of the best weapons in the entire game and a must-have for anyone pursuing a Strength build. This is mainly because this Greatsword hits like a truck and can decimate enemies in a few shots.

However, the main reason why the Man-Serpent Greatsword is held in such high regard is that the move set is an absolute blast to use, making it an interesting choice for both PvE and PvP encounters.

8 Black Knight Greatsword

Dropped By A Black Knight Who Wields Said Greatsword

The Black Knight weapons are some of the best strength weapons in Dark Souls, capable of destroying most enemies before they can even land a single hit. While these weapons can’t be upgraded, they’re just so strong that most people won’t find any need to in the first place.

The Black Knight Greatsword may be super slow, but players who time their attacks correctly will be able to decimate enemies with ease. A great strategy to use with this weapon is to dodge and hit enemies to gain some ground quickly and unleash a smooth attack that hits for massive damage.

7 Black Knight Halberd

Dropped By A Black Knight Who Wields Said Halberd

Before getting to the reason why the Black Knight Halberd is such a great weapon, keep in mind that this weapon is horrible in PvP. It’s incredibly slow, takes up a ton of stamina, and leaves players wide open when they miss a hit.

However, it must be said that the sheer damage output of this weapon is incredible, especially if obtained in the early game. This weapon can decimate enemies without any problems and is unanimously chosen by speedrunners to make their battles much easier.

6 Black Knight Greataxe

Dropped By A Black Knight Who Wields Said Greataxe

Out of all the Black Knight weapons out there, many people consider the Greataxe to be the best of the bunch. This is hefty praise, given how powerful and viable the other two weapons are in their own right.

The Black Knight Greataxe hits like a truck and destroys most enemies before they even have any time to react. The Strength requirement to wield this weapon may be high, but it’s well worth the investment.

5 Demon’s Great Hammer

Beat The Asylum Demon Without Running Away The First Time

The Demon weapons make another appearance in the form of the Great Hammer. The damage output of this weapon is simply insane and is one of the biggest reasons why so many players hold this weapon so close to their hearts.

This weapon could’ve easily been the most damaging weapon on this list had it not been for another weapon of the same series that just does everything this weapon does… but better.

4 Great Club

In Blighttown, Right Next To The Entry For Quelaag’s Domain

The Great Club is a legendary weapon in the Dark Souls community. One look at the move set and damage of this weapon is more than enough to indicate why this is the case.

While the act of finding this weapon might force players to roam around Blighttown way more than they would like, there’s no denying that the payoff is more than worth it.