FromSoftware's classic title Dark Souls is renowned for its complexity and depth of combat. Though it may seem like a brutal hack-and-slash title at first glance, each of the game's weapons features numerous individual statistics and mechanics that work together in nuanced ways, creating a host of enjoyable ways to cleave through the game's many enemies. Indeed, there are so many weapons with standout qualities that it can be difficult for players to determine which is the best for any given scenario.
With a single exception, each of the weapons on this list is classified as "unique," meaning that there is only a single version of the weapon to be found in the game, as opposed to more common weapons that drop from slain enemies or can be purchased from the many merchants across Lordran. For those players seeking to harness the greatest offensive power that Dark Souls has to offer, don't miss out on these legendary weapons.
Drake Sword
The Drake Sword is arguably the best weapon that can be found in Dark Souls' early stages of the game, with nimble moderately damaging slashes and a ranged component to its two-handed heavy attacks. Its mild scaling renders it less useful the further the player progresses, but for new or inexperienced players, it handily outperforms any early-game common weapons.
Obtaining this weapon, however, is no easy feat, as players must sever the tail of the Hellkite Dragon in the Undead Parish to obtain it. It's a grueling fight, but well worth the trouble for the chance to wield this dynamic sword in Dark Souls' early stages.
Chaos Blade
Despite having a single-sided blade, this unique katana is also a metaphorical double-edged sword that inflicts damage on the player for every successful strike upon an enemy. This is a common mechanic among Soulsborne games, usually associated with the highest-tier weapons, like the Chikage from Bloodborne.
To make up for this punishing quality, the sword possesses the ability to inflict Bleed status on enemies, slowly draining them of vitality over time. It's not an easy blade to wield, but for skilled players with an ample pool of health and high Dexterity, the Chaos Blade easily ranks among the best weapons in the game.
Moonlight Greatsword
Arguably the most iconic weapon of the Dark Souls franchise with variations appearing within every title in the series, the Moonlight Greatsword represents one of the best weapons players can utilize in the game. This shimmering blade can be obtained during the boss battle with Seath the Scaleless by severing the pearlescent dragon's tail.
Its most notable feature is the ability to launch a magical projectile that scales damage with the player's Intelligence stat. Despite its advantages, players should be advised that this weapon deals only Magic-based damage, rendering it less useful against enemies that are usually susceptible to physical damage. For magic-focused builds, however, the Moonlight Greatsword is a perfect alternative to casting Miracles.
Grant
This great hammer is dropped by Paladin Leeroy's phantom and packs a wallop when paired with high Dexterity and Faith character builds. For slower strength-based characters, this great hammer has the unparalleled ability to stagger all non-boss enemies within range of its shockwave heavy attack.
This ability drains one-third of Grant's durability, however, so players should plan their ground pounds wisely to make the most of this legendary hammer. Most notable about this weapon, however, is its Divine-based auxiliary effect, which can cause skeletons in Dark Souls' deepest, darkest, and most immersive dungeons to stop respawning -- invaluable in NG+ playthroughs.
Dragon Tooth
A hybrid sword and club, the Dragon's Tooth is classified as a great hammer, though it's truly in a category of its own in terms of dealing damage. It possesses staggering power that far exceeds most other weapons in the game and can also be upgraded and enchanted -- rare qualities among one-of-a-kind weapons in the game. Adding to its greatness, this iconic weapon is wielded by Havel the Rock, a fan-favorite character known as one of the most dangerous NPCs in the Dark Souls series.
Smough's Hammer
Smough's Hammer is one of the most iconic weapons in the Dark Souls game, perhaps second only to the Moonlight Greatsword. Bearing the highest weight and strength requirements of all Dark Souls' weapons, this great hammer can only be wielded by the beefiest of character builds.
Though it is slow to swing, Smough's Hammer packs just as much punch as when it's swung by Executioner Smough, one of the game's most difficult tandem bosses. The lack of speed and its excessive stamina drain prevent it from ranking higher on the list, but it's a fan-favorite powerhouse that also bears the unique distinction of healing the wielder for every hit landed on an enemy.
Obsidian Greatsword
Like several other swords on this list, the Obsidian Greatsword can only be obtained by severing the tail of a dragon -- in this case, the Black Dragon Kalameet, one of the most difficult bosses in Dark Souls. Players who successfully obtain this DLC weapon can take advantage of its staggeringly powerful two-handed attack, which creates a fiery barrier -- visually similar to Kalameet's flame breath -- that damages nearby enemies. This ability, though powerful, is highly taxing on the sword's durability; it can only be used seven times before the blade must be repaired. Keeping that in mind, players should have no problem cleaving through Lordran's myriad monsters with this legendary greatsword.
Dragon King Greataxe
In an unusual twist on Dark Souls' usual gameplay mechanics, this top-tier weapon is dropped by one of the game's more lackluster bosses, the Gaping Dragon. The Dragon King Greataxe, however, has the highest capacity for single-stroke damage output in the game, beginning at a stunning 380 regardless of player strength.
This intimidating polearm does not scale with player stats, though it can be enchanted with a host of magical effects to offset its minimal drawbacks. The Dragon King Greataxe also borrows abilities from its draconian lineage and grants a minor buff to magic and fire resistance when equipped.
Demon Great Machete
Any player who has fought the Capra Demon knows how brutal these giant machetes can be. This crude "ultra greatsword" has the rare distinction of both scaling and accepting enchantments, making it hard to beat in terms of raw damage output. Its downfall is its speed -- the slowest of any weapon in its class -- and often feels more like a polearm or greataxe than a sword with its wide heavy swings. This greatsword can be found as a rare drop from the Capra Demon boss and more frequently among its lower-level counterparts in the Demon Ruins later in the game.
Great Club
On a list among demonic battleaxes and greatswords hewn from dragon tails, the Great Club may seem like an unusual choice for the best weapon in the game. Dark Souls aficionados, however, are sure to understand the true power of this innocuous stick that looks like it was vaguely inspired by The Flintstones. The Great Club features arguably the best weight to damage ratio of all weapons in the game, meaning that it can hit hard and fast without overtaxing player stamina.
Sure, it isn't as impressive looking as any of the preceding weapons, but few will care when they witness its power in action. While some might argue that the Great Club's slightly smaller and faster counterpart, the Large Club, is superior, the Great Club's unbeatable raw damage output ranks it as the best -- if least likely -- weapon in Dark Souls.