Summary
TheDark Soulsseries is one of FromSoftware’s most beloved titles. It’s also one of the most customizable action RPGs ever, especiallyDark Souls 3, which is filled with tons of outfits, builds, magic, and all the weapons players could ever want.
However, with all the variety, one would need to separate the good from the bad and what works with a build and what doesn’t. As an example, we’ll be ranking the very best weapons one would need for aquality build. A quality build is one which does not focus too much more on either Strength or Dexterity but instead increases both of them. This allows the player to use more weapons but also means that certain weapons that scale with both Strength and Dexterity become incredibly powerful.
Updated on August 02, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:At this point in time, every weapon variety within Dark Souls 3 has been deeply studied by the fans of the franchise, leading to a much better understanding of how they scale depending on the infusions used on them. A weapon that might not seem all that great for a Quality build in its base form might benefit greatly from a certain infusion that helps balance out the Dexterity and Strength stats present. Although many would argue that it’s a lot better to focus on either one stat or the other to deal the most damage possible, it’s undeniable that Quality builds are great to make and use.
103 Physical (base)
Scaling
Strength (C), Dexterity (C)
Like the Moonlight Greatsword, theUchigatanahas been present in every installment of theDark Soulsfranchise and has even made an appearance inElden Ring. InDark Souls 3, this classic katana has decent range and can be obtained by defeating the Swordmaster near the dilapidated tower in the Firelink Shrine.
In its base form, it packs an okay punch with mediocre Strength scaling. However, when infused with a Refined Gem, both Strength and Dexterity scale with a rating of “C”, making it ideal for a Quality build.
Strength (D), Dexterity (D)
TheRinged CityDLC fromDark Souls 3is considerably harder thanAshes of Ariandel. Not because the latter isn’t difficult, but rather because the former has some of the most deadly bosses in the franchise, such as Darkeater Midir, the Demon Prince, and Slave Knight Gael.
Even area enemies like the Ringed Knights are extremely dangerous, as they’ll often carry large paired greatswords and even Ringed Knight Spears. After being upgraded once, theRinged Knight Spearhas a Strength scaling rating of “C” and a Dexterity scaling rating of “D”, which makes it ideal for a Quality build.
Strength (B), Dexterity (B)
TheDark Swordis a weapon that looks simple enough but weighs a ton and packs a punch. It is dropped by Darkwraiths, which can be found at the High Wall of Lothric or close to the Abyss Watchers boss door at Farron Keep.
The weapon was quite overpowered at release but has since been nerfed. Nevertheless, it is a great weapon that works well with strength builds and quality builds alike. It is also the only straight sword with theStomp Weapon Art, making it a good defensive option.
The best infusion for thissinister Straight SwordisRefined, for at +10, this grants the Dark Sword B-tier scaling in both strength and dexterity. Combined with its 198 physical attack, when fully upgraded, can lead to an excellent damage output.
TheEstocis an assassin class weapon that is automatically given to players choosing theAssassin Starting Class. It can also be purchased for 3000 souls from Greirat once released from his cell in the High Wall of Lothric.
The Estoc is not only great for players choosing the quality build but also a good sword for thrusting enemies with a shield at hand or for close-quartered but not too close combat. Its speed, its range, and theShield Splitter Weapon Artwill prove dangerous to any foe in PVP or PVE.
As with most other quality build weapons, the Estoc benefits the most from a Refined infusion. At the maximum level of upgrades, it will receive C-tier scaling in strength and dexterity that goes nicely with its 189 physical attack. Despite being a bit weaker than the Dark Sword, this piercing blade is a fair bit faster, and its thrust-type attacks allow it to take advantage of the extra counterattack damage exclusive to this damage type.
Strength (C), Dexterity (A)
Right after players have cut down their firstLord of Cinder, the Abyss Watchers, and maybe even attained a Dark Sword from the Darkwraiths roaming the area, this weapon can then be transposed from the Soul of the Blood of the Wolf.
TheFarron Greatswordis an Ultra Greatsword, especially good for quality builds. It combines a Greatsword and a dagger and has a rather unique and pleasing moveset as well. In PVE, its wide, swing-based moveset is especially useful for attacking multiple enemies at a time. However, it’s quite lacking when it comes to PVP, as it can easily be parried mid-attack.
As a unique weapon, the Farron Greatsword cannot be infused and can only be upgraded to +5. Though, when boosted to the max with the help of Andre of Astora, it gains C-tier scaling in strength and A-tier scaling in dexterity. This is a bit strange for an Ultra Greatsword, though, likely due to this paired weapon’s lightness and the inclusion of a dagger in the offhand. It should also be noted that the Farron Greatsword does20% additional damage to foes and bosses who are tied to The Abyss. This makes it great for taking out some more challenging enemies like Darkwraiths and Pus of Men as well as a few bosses likeHigh Lord WolnirandDarkeater Midir.
This straight sword may seem simple at first, but it can output a ridiculous amount of damage in a very short window. Aside from its great base damage, it also has thelongest reach of all the straight swordsand has the jointhighest critical modifierat 110. It also has the Stance Weapon Art, which deals good damage and can break through guard.
Players wanting to find this incredible weapon will want to farm Lothric Knights, as they have a small chance to drop it. It can also be bought from Greirat for 4,000 souls after he has fully pillaged Irithyll Valley.
At +10, the Refined infusion gives the sword a B scaling in both Strength and Dexterity, which makes it one of the best-quality weapons in the game. As it also has 185 physical attack and the quick attack speed of a straight sword, this weapon makes quick work of players and bosses alike.
Murakumocan be found by heading to Irithyll Dungeon and killing Alva, Seeker of the Spurned. As thelongest-curved greatsword in the game, Murakumo has the best reach. Like all curved greatswords, it has theSpin Slash Weapon Artand also has good hyper armor and deceptive animations, which make it very strong against other players.
It is also one of the few weapons in the game that can get a B scaling in both strength and dexterity with a Refined infusion. With this scaling and 225 physical attack at +10, Murakumo is a good option for quality builds, especially against aggressive foes or in PVP.
Strength (C), Dexterity (D)
TheBlack Knight Swordis regarded as one of the best weapons in the game for PVE, mostly due to its high poise stance andPerseverance, which can be capitalized on to deal a good amount of damage to enemies.
Players can find this sword in the Smouldering Lake on a corpse. It’s also a sword with decent reach and speed, and among the other Black Knight weapons, it is merciful to the stamina bar. The Black Knight Sword is a dependable sword that can take players all the way to the end of the game if treated right.
With moderate scaling in strength at C-tier and dexterity at D-tier, a player’s stats won’t add to the attack rating of the Black Knight Sword as much as its base damage will. At +5, it possesses a huge 302 physical attack as well as a 20% damage bonus against all demonic enemies.
TheBlack Knight Greataxeis another fantastic choice for PVE. This weapon can be attained as a drop from Black Knights wielding a Greataxe with some good RNG. It is an excellent weapon with incredible damage, a variety of moves, and a wide range to boot.
For more reasons as to why this weapon is so great, its weapon art,War Cry, adds a 10% damage boost. It also naturally deals with 20% damage to demons, like all black knight weapons, making it a solid choice for a particular location in the game.
Much like the Black Knight Sword, thisdevastating Greataxepossesses C-tier scaling in strength and D-tier scaling in dexterity. However, its massive 350 physical attack at +5 makes it a fair bit more dangerous. The weapon skill also grants it a unique attack combo that bestows some hyper armor for a great way to poise through almost any attack while unleashing devastation in return.
After players have finallydefeated Pontiff Sulyvahn, some would either use up his Soul due to the sheer annoyance and frustration of the fight or transpose it with 3000 souls to acquire theProfaned Greatsword, which is a fantastic weapon for both PVP and PVE.
It deals an impressive amount of damage but is only at its best with a quality build. Although it may not be an end-game boss killer, it is still an excellent weapon to use before moving on to a better one later in the game.
With C-tier scaling in both strength and dexterity, the Profaned Greatsword is pretty much locked into a quality build-only niche. However, 294 physical attack when fully upgraded to +5 is nothing to laugh at. Especially when one uses its unique skill,Profaned Flame, to give it a natural fire buff that enhances its deadliness.
