Dark Souls: The Best Boss Weapons

Highlights

• Boss weapons in Dark Souls are highly sought after due to their unique traits and high effectiveness in battle. These weapons can be crafted using a boss’s soul and a base weapon that meets certain requirements.
• While some players may argue that sticking with a base weapon is worthwhile, most boss weapons offer a more enjoyable and satisfying gameplay experience due to their unique abilities and design.
• The stat requirements and scaling of boss weapons can vary, so players should carefully consider their build and playstyle before investing in a specific weapon.

One of the most iconic aspects of the Dark Souls franchise is the bosses that inhabit the world. Each boss has a surprising amount of lore and challenges players with a deadly suite of moves. Should players be able to defeat the boss, they will drop their soul, which can be used to craft boss weapons. The art of making boss weapons in the original Dark Souls is much more taxing than in future installments. Players must upgrade a base weapon to a certain threshold before it can be ascended at the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo.

The majority of these weapons are unstoppable and can take out most unsuspecting enemies in a single shot. While some people may argue that sticking with a base weapon is worthwhile in its own right, the truth is that most boss weapons end up being popular because of how unique they are. After all, any player who learns the ropes in this game will prefer to use a weapon that feels good instead of something that is widely labeled by the community as the best weapon around, despite feeling rather boring to use.

Updated on December 22, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Dark Souls is one of the greatest action games ever made that needs no introduction. The sheer amount of love and effort put into this title is amazing and defines a generation of gaming. FromSoftware’s meteoric rise to success was sparked by the advent of this title, with players enjoying the act of hunting down bosses and using their Souls to either bolster their strength or craft some impressive weapons that will slice and dice enemies to ribbons.

15 Dragon Bone Fist

A Hardcore Weapon That Veterans Will Have A Great Time With

• Boss Soul: Soul of the Iron Golem
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Caestus or Claws
• Attack Rating: 142 Physical
• Moveset: Fist Weapon
• Required Stats: Strength (20)
• Scaling: Strength (S)
• Unique Traits: Strong Attack unleashes a massive uppercut that Shoryukens opponents to oblivion

Most people would scoff at the idea of using a brawling weapon in a game where high damage and a good reach are important to take out most enemies. So, a Chosen Undead who decides to use the Dragon Bone Fist to wallop their enemies should be lauded for their bravery, if nothing else.

However, while most people underrate the Dragon Bone Fist to be a joke weapon, players who master its moveset will become gods among men in both PvE and PvP because of its erratic moveset. The strong attack of this weapon is especially fun to pull off, uppercutting enemies and flooring most weak ones in no time flat.

14 Darkmoon Bow

Perfect For Dealing Ranged Magical Damage

• Boss Soul: Soul of Dark Sun Gwyndolin
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Bow
• Attack Rating: 127 Physical, 127 Magical
• Moveset: Bow
• Required Stats: Strength (7), Dexterity (16), Intelligence (16)
• Scaling: Strength (E), Dexterity (D), Faith (D)
• Unique Traits: Fires Moonlight Arrows

The Darkmoon Bow is a pretty great magical bow that players can use to shoot out some high-damage projectiles. This weapon is pretty fun to use, even if players have to invest in their stats wisely if they wish to make the most out of this bow.

Faith users will love the idea of a long-range weapon that can cause some serious damage if used properly. However, given how unwieldy bows are in the majority of situations, it’s easy to see why players may ignore this weapon for other options instead.

13 Great Lord Greatsword

Gwyn’s Iconic Blade That Can Only Be Wielded Properly In An NG+ Playthrough

• Boss Soul: Soul of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Dagger, Straight Sword, or Great Sword
• Attack Rating: 384 Physical Damage
• Moveset: Greatsword
• Required Stats: Strength (20), Dexterity (10)
• Scaling: Strength (D), Dexterity (D)
• Unique Traits: A high-damage Greatsword

For many people, the Great Lord Greatsword is a disappointment. Players expected the sword to be wreathed in fire and hit for both physical and elemental damage, but this isn’t the case.

That being said, the weapon is still a blast to use, even if players can only use it on a second playthrough. The Great Lord Greatsword hits like a truck and looks pretty cool to boot, which makes up for its shortcomings that the community simply can’t stop talking about.

12 Greatsword Of Artorias

Split Damage Is The Only Drawback For An Otherwise Brilliant Weapon

• Boss Soul: Soul of Great Wolf Sif
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Broken Straight Sword or Straight Sword Hilt
• Attack Rating: 180 Physical, 127 Magical
• Moveset: Greatsword
• Required Stats: Strength (24), Dexterity (18), Intelligence (20), Faith (20)
• Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (C), Intelligence (B), Faith (B)
• Unique Traits: Perfect for traversing New Londo Ruins and The Catacombs because of its Divine Damage

There are two variants of Artorias’ patented greatsword that can be forged after obtaining Sif’s Soul. Most people prefer the Cursed variant because of its focused damage, but the regular version of this blade isn’t all that far behind.

However, players need to construct a proper build to make the most of this weapon. Split damage is a pain to get used to, but the blade’s unique characteristics make it perfect for veterans to try out in battle.

11 Greatsword Of Artorias (Cursed)

The Cursed Variant Of Artorias’ Sword

• Boss Soul: Soul of Great Wolf Sif
• Base Weapon Required: Almost any +10 Sword
• Attack Rating: 267 Physical Damage
• Moveset: Greatsword
• Required Stats: Strength (24), Dexterity (18), Intelligence (18), Faith (18)
• Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (C), Intelligence (C), Faith (C)
• Unique Traits: A cursed sword that can kill ghosts

Cursed weapons are pretty useful for players who struggle with ghost enemies and how annoying they can be to deal with due to their corporeal nature. Players don’t need a divine weapon or any sort of item — they can simply swing these weapons around to hit for some serious damage.

The Cursed Greatsword of Artorias is one such weapon that players can use to great effect against these foes, even if the weapon itself has some ridiculous stat requirements and scaling. Perhaps the worst part of this weapon is that players have to take part in one of the game’s most heartbreaking boss fights, with Sif being a beloved character for a reason.

10 Tin Darkmoon Catalyst

Perfect For Casting Powerful Magic

• Boss Soul: Soul of Dark Sun Gwyndolin
• Base Weapon Required: Any Catalyst
• Attack Rating: 230 Magic Adjustment
• Moveset: Catalyst (Spellcasting)
• Required Stats: Strength (4), Intelligence (16)
• Scaling: Faith (A)
• Unique Traits: Lets players cast powerful spells with a relatively low requirement

Catalysts are a great tool that lets players cast high-damage magic at relatively low costs. In this regard, the Tin Darkmoon Catalyst excels, with its low Intelligence requirement allowing players to use some truly powerful spells.

Dark Bead and Orb can hit enemies at range for massive damage. Given how powerful magic is in most Soulsborne games, it’s easy to see why players should use the Tin Darkmoon Catalyst if they want to branch out with their combat styles.

9 Golem Axe

A Great Strength Weapon That Hits For Massive Damage

• Boss Soul: Soul of the Iron Golem
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Axe weapon
• Attack Rating: 255 Attack
• Moveset: Axe
• Required Stats: Strength (36), Dexterity (8)
• Scaling: Strength (C)
• Unique Traits: Can unleash an air blast projectile at the cost of weapon durability

The Golem Axe is one of the best weapons that players can use in the game, so it’s a shame that the weapon’s so underrated. By the point players have cleared out Sen’s Fortress, they may have already met the Strength requirements of this weapon anyway if they’re pursuing a Strength build.

It helps that the Golem Axe has a ton of attacking power as well, letting it absolutely blast through the defenses of most enemies in the game. The cherry on top of this cake is an air blast projectile that can hit enemies at range, although it does reduce weapon durability to quite a major extent.

8 Smough’s Hammer

Hits Like A Truck And Heals The Player With Each Hit Too

• Boss Soul: Soul of Smough
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Hammer or Great Hammer
• Attack Rating: 450 Attack
• Moveset: Hammer
• Required Stats: Strength (58)
• Scaling: Strength (D)
• Unique Traits: Massive damage and heals the player for 10 HP with each hit

The duo of Ornstein and Smough forms one of the best and most challenging boss fights in the game. These enemies hit like a truck and can down even the most powerful warriors around with a few well-placed hits and great teamwork.

Fighting the buffed version of Smough and defeating him nets a Boss Soul that can be used to acquire his hammer. It’s ridiculously large and covers up most of the screen, which can be a bit counterintuitive at times. Thankfully, its high damage and surprising healing capabilities make it a fun weapon to use.

7 Abyss Greatsword

A Unique Weapon Whose Damage Scales With The Player’s Humanity

• Boss Soul: Soul of Artorias
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Greatsword, Straight Sword, or Dagger
• Attack Rating: 240 Attack
• Moveset: Greatsword
• Required Stats: Strength (22), Dexterity (18), Intelligence (18), Faith (18)
• Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (C)
• Unique Traits: Damage scales with Humanity

Given how Artorias wielded this weapon, it only makes sense that this Greatsword has the highest Attack Rating out of all the other Greatswords present in the game. It’s also a lot of fun to use, and the novelty of using Artorias’ amazing sword doesn’t wear off, either.

That being said, the stat requirements to wield this weapon are pretty high. Players should be doubly sure about going through with their decision to wield this sword so that can develop a build that complements this playstyle from the get-go.

6 Manus Catalyst

A Magic-Wielding Catalyst Obtained By Beating One Of The Game’s Toughest Bosses

• Boss Soul: Soul of Manus
• Base Weapon Required: Any Catalyst
• Attack Rating: 295 Magic Adjustment, 190 Attack
• Moveset: Catalyst (Spellcasting)
• Required Stats: Strength (14), Intelligence (13)
• Scaling: Intelligence (S)
• Unique Traits: A catalyst with high physical damage

At a glance, the Manus Catalyst looks like nothing more than a run-of-the-mill Catalyst that lets players cast powerful spells. However, there’s a twist to this weapon that will intrigue most players. For a catalyst, the weapon boasts a high Physical Attack. Using this weapon almost feels like wielding a Greataxe, which is pretty unique indeed.

Getting the Manus Catalyst is easier said than done, as it requires players to defeat the brutally difficult Manus, Father of the Abyss, who is the final boss of the acclaimed Artorias of the Abyss DLC.

5 Moonlight Butterfly Horn

A Magical Spear That’s Amazing With The Appropriate Build

• Boss Soul: Soul of the Moonlight Butterfly
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Thrust weapon
• Attack Rating: 180 Magic
• Moveset: Spear
• Required Stats: Strength (12), Intelligence (14)
• Scaling: Intelligence (B)
• Unique Traits: Excellent reach and no Physical damage

Arguably the most underrated boss weapon in the original Dark Souls, the Moonlight Butterfly Horn is a fantastic Spear that can be infused into a +10 spear. This weapon is unique in that it only deals magic damage. At +5, this weapon has an Attack Rating of 180 with a B scaling in intelligence.

Pressuring opponents with its pokes is great for PvP. As for PvE, this weapon pairs exceptionally well with any close-range spells such as Dark Bead. Considering how early players can obtain this spear, this is certainly a great choice for intelligence builds.

4 Dragonslayer Spear

A Spear With Long Reach And Lightning Damage

• Boss Soul: Soul of Ornstein
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Thrust weapon
• Attack Rating: 142 Physical, 97 Lightning
• Moveset: Spear
• Required Stats: Strength (24), Dexterity (24)
• Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (B), Faith (B)
• Unique Traits: One-handed R1 fires a lightning bolt; large weapon model

Virtually every build in Dark Souls can take advantage of the Dragonslayer Spear. Obtained by ascending a +10 spear using the Soul of Ornstein, this weapon is arguably one of the best spears in the game.

While it does require a massive 24 strength and dexterity to wield, the Dragonslayer Spear has a C scaling in strength, B scaling in dexterity, and B scaling in faith. Faith builds can scale the lightning damage to extreme heights, while quality builds can make the weapon’s Physical portion pack a serious punch. It can also fire lightning projectiles at targets with its one-handed strong attack, allowing it to damage targets at long distances.

3 Quelaag’s Furysword

A Fiery Sword That Is A Fan-Favorite For Obvious Reasons

• Boss Soul: Soul of Quelaag
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Curved Sword
• Attack Rating: 90 Physical, 255 Fire
• Moveset: Curved Sword
• Required Stats: Strength (11), Dexterity (13)
• Scaling: Strength (E), Dexterity (B)
• Unique Traits: Deals increased damage for each held Humanity

Ascending a curved sword to Quelaag’s Furysword is one of the best choices a player can make. This blade has incredible attack speed and deals a massive amount of fire damage per hit. At +5, expect this blade to hit for 90 physical damage and 255 fire damage per swing.

Since this weapon is in the Chaos archetype, having ten Humanity on hand will grant additional damage. Most enemies in Dark Souls are vulnerable to fire, which makes this weapon a true powerhouse for PvE and against most hostile players.

2 Lifehunt Scythe

Bleed Build-up Makes The Weapon’s High Damage Even More Potent, But This Goes Both Ways

• Boss Soul: Soul of Priscilla
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Halberd
• Attack Rating: 270 Physical
• Moveset: Halberd
• Required Stats: Strength (16), Dexterity (14)
• Scaling: Strength (E), Dexterity (B)
• Unique Traits: Inflicts 50 Bleed and 40 self-bleed with each strike; bleeds remove 50% of an enemy’s total health pool

By ascending a +10 halberd or whip with the Soul of Priscilla, players can create the devastating Lifehunt Scythe. This weapon is unique in that it inflicts extremely powerful bleeds both on hostiles and its wielder. That negative might turn some players away from trying this weapon, but it was likely put in place to offset the weapon’s insanely strong bleed status effects.

A single bleed status effect will cause an enemy to hemorrhage 50% of their health pool. That also includes the player if they get inflicted by a bleed effect, so be sure to use a Bloodbite Ring and any bleed-resistance armor to make this weapon less stressful to wield. It might not have the raw damage per swing that the Great Scythe has, although the bleed damage that the Lifehunt Scythe deals is so powerful that it outclasses the Great Scythe if players use it properly.

1 Chaos Blade

A Katana That Hits Like A Truck

• Boss Soul: Soul of Quelaag
• Base Weapon Required: +10 Katana
• Attack Rating: 216 Physical
• Moveset: Katana
• Required Stats: Strength (16), Dexterity (14)
• Scaling: Dexterity (B)
• Unique Traits: Inflicts 36 Bleed per strike; drains 20 HP per strike; damage scales with Humanity

If players would prefer to wield a katana than a curved sword, using the Soul of Quelaag to build the Chaos Blade is a better idea than making Quelaag’s Furysword. What makes the Chaos Blade a better option is its sheer damage output.

Every swing from this katana deals 216 physical damage with a B scaling in dexterity when upgraded. The blade also scales off a player’s Humanity, granting increased damage up til a player reaches ten Humanity. At 40 dexterity and 10 Humanity, players can deal 450 damage a strike. This is further enhanced by the weapon’s passive bleed status effect. Considering this weapon’s great moveset and long reach, the Chaos Blade is one of the best boss weapons a player can make in Dark Souls. Just be sure to have a healing method while wielding this blade, as it deals 20 HP damage to its wielder with every strike.