Dark Souls has a wide array of weapons at your disposal, but there are so many to choose from that it can sometimes be overwhelming trying decide which is best to use. Do you go with a spear? Or maybe an ax? Or how about a whip? Well, there's nothing wrong with going with the classic fantasy weapon: the sword.
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But even among the swords in the game there arejust too many to choose from. Whether it's straight swords, greatswords, or katanas, some of the best weapons for taking outDark Souls' many enemies can be found among the swords. Without further ado, here's a look at the best swords for PVE.
10 Quelaag's Furysword
Usually, weapons with split damage, that is weapons that deal physical and elemental damage, aren't recommended because they don't maximize damage but Quelaag's Furysword is an exception.
You can obtain this weapon by upgrading any +10 curved sword or curved greatsword with Quelaag's soul and it's a good weapon option even into late game. As an added bonus, this weapon gains additional damage from the amount of humanity you're holding up to 10.
9 Balder Side Sword
The Balder Side Sword is easily one of the best one-handed straight swords you could use against enemies, and it's also better than some greatswords. This sword has everything you could want: great range, excellent damage output, and low stat requirements which make it viable with almost any build you use.
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The only downside of this weapon is the difficulty of obtaining it. The weapon can be obtained early on from Balder Knights but it has a very low drop rate, so it's advised to wear the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring while farming it.
8 Moonlight Greatsword
A great option for intelligence builds, The Moonlight Greatsword is the best sword option for magic users against enemies. The sword deals pure magic damage and has relatively low stat requirements, and its heavy attacks shoots explosive blades of magic at enemies.
Unfortunately, you can't obtain the weapon until the late game by cutting off Seath the Scaleless's tail, but it's still plenty useful for PVE in subsequent playthroughs.
7 Greatsword Of Artorias (Cursed)
Made from the Soul of Great Wolf Sif, the cursed version Greatsword of Artorias is a surprisingly agile weapon, especially for a greatsword. It's a great weapon to use against enemies but where it really shines is in New Londo.
Being a cursed weapon, this greatsword is one of the few weapons that can damage ghosts without having to worry about running out of Transient Curse items.
6 Claymore
The classics are classics for a reason. While it doesn't have the most interesting move set or the most fantastical design, the claymore gets the job done better than almost any other weapon in the game.
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The claymore can be obtained very early on in your playthrough, located on the bridge guarded by the Hellkite Wyvern, and it can carry you to the endgame and even throughout subsequent playthroughs.
5 Black Knight Sword
The Black Knights inDark Souls are formidable enemies mainly because they all wield such amazing weapons. When looking for swords that are great against just about every enemy, you can't go wrong with the Black Knight Sword.
A great mid-game weapon, the Black Knight Sword is best used two handed. Even though it means foregoing a shield, this weapon's two handed regular attacks are both quick and deal great damage, while its heavy attack does devastating damage but requires good timing.
4 Uchigatana
If speed is what you're looking for, look no further than the Uchigatana, a katana that you can purchase from Shiva of the East or get very early by killing the Undead Merchant in the Undead Burg.
The perfect weapon for a dexterity build, the Uchigatana is fast, hits hard, and causes bleeding damage. A fully upgraded Uchigatana can do devastating damage and it can easily carry you to the endgame and beyond.
3 Zweihander
Easily the best greatsword in the game, the Zweihander is also a weapon that you can get as soon as arrive at Firelink Shrine, in the adjacent graveyard area near one of the giant skeletons.
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The Zweihander has decent enough scaling but its damage is so ridiculously high to begin with that it can easy carry you through the entire game. With enough strength, you can two-hand this sword and absolutely wreck anything in your path.
2 Estoc
The estoc, like the other thrusting swords, isn't very strong on its own but with the right build it can be devastating, especially when paired with the hornet ring.
To maximize your damage, you'll want to focus on parrying enemy attacks and then riposting. Doing so will kill most enemies in a single hit and even if it doesn't, it will take a massive chunk out of their health. Backstabbing works too but parrying is the better option.
1 Drake Sword
Without a doubt the strongest weapon you could find early on, the Drake Sword often feels like a cheat because of how strong it is in the early to mid game, but if you want the best sword to use against enemies, you'd be hard pressed to find something better.
You'll need a bow and a whole lot of arrows to fire at the Hellkite Wyvern's tail to get this weapon but once it's in your hands, you'll be leaving legions of dead enemies in your wake. However, this sword can't take you to the end of the game. By the time you reach mid game, you'll likely have found a better weapon to use, but in the early stages you won't find anything better.
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