A good, solid melee weapon can be the difference between life and death in Dark Souls 3, but they can be hard to find and access, so that’s where our Dark Souls 3 melee weapons guide comes in. There’s an intimidatingly large number of weapons to be found throughout the world, some while exploring, others from beating down one of the game’s many, many beasts of the night.
A few things to know before you jump in:
- Most melee weapons require some level of Str or Dex to equip and use, while others require Int or Faith. Of course, being Dark Souls, there are weapons that require 2, 3 or 4!
- Each weapon is given a “power” rating, as you will see in the tables. “P” stands for Physical, “M” for magic, “F” for fire, “l” for lightning, “D” for Dark, and “C” for critical. A handful of weapons have additional effects: “B” for bleed, “po” for poison or “fr” for frozen.
For more details on weapon skills, check out our Dark Souls III Weapon Skills Guide.
Dark Souls 3 Melee Weapons Guide
Daggers
| Dagger | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandit's Knife | Slash/Trust | Quickstep | 5 | 1.5 | 66p/110c | Greirat |
| Brigand Duel Shortsword | Slash/Trust | Quickstep | 5 | 2.5 | 55p/110c | Road of Sacrifices |
| Corvian Greatknife | Slash/Trust | Blind Spot | 10 | 2.5 | 83p/110c | Corvians |
| Dagger | Slash/Trust | Quickstep | 5 | 1.5 | 55p/130c | Hollows |
| Handmaid's Dagger | Slash/Trust | Blind Spot | 10 | 0.5 | 72p/110p | Jailers |
| Harpe | Slash/Trust | Quickstep | 5 | 1.5 | 52p | Peasant Hollow |
| Mail Breaker | Slash/Trust | Shield Splitter | 12 | 1.5 | 75p/130p | High Wall of Lothric |
| Parrying Dagger | Slash/Trust | Parry | - | 1.0 | 50p/110c | Shrine Handmaid |
| Rotten Ghru Dagger | Slash/Trust | Quickstep | 5 | 2.0 | 54p | Ghru |
| Scholar's Candle Stick | Slash/Trust | Guiding Light | 5 | 1.5 | 58p/110c | Grand Archives Scholar |
| Tailbone Short Sword | Slash/Trust | Unleash Dragon | 25 | 2.0 | 90p/110c | Wretch |
Straight Swords
| Dagger | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anri's Straight Sword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 3.0 | 117p | Irithyll of the Boreal Valley |
| Astora Straight Sword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 3.0 | 129p | High Wall of Lothric |
| Barbed Straight Sword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 3.0 | 111p | |
| Broadsword | Standard | Stance | 17/20 | 3.0 | 117p | High Wall of Lothric |
| Broken Straight Sword | Standard | Stance | 17/20 | 1.0 | 70p | Cemetary of Ash |
| Cleri'cs Candlestick | Standard/Thrust | Guiding Light | 5 | 2.0 | 70p/77m/60sb | Deacons of the Deep Soul |
| Dark Sword | Standard/Thrust | Stomp | 13/13 | 4.5 | 115p | Darkwraith |
| Gotthard Twinswords | Standard/Thrust | Spin Slash | 5/17 | 6.5 | 100p | Grand Archives |
| Irithyll Straight Sword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 4.0 | 124p | Undead Settlement |
| Long Sword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 3.0 | 110p | Hollows |
| Lothric Knight Sword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 4.0 | 103p/110c | Lothric Knight, Greirat |
| Lothric's Holy Sword | Standard/Thrust | Sacred Lothric Light | 17/22 | 4.0 | 107p | Twin Princes Soul |
| Morion Blade | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 4.0 | 131p | Yuria of Londor |
| Shortsword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 2.0 | 99p/110c | Shrine of Handmaid |
| Sunlight Straight Sword | Standard/Thrust | Oath of Sunlight | 40 | 3.0 | 112p | Lothric Castle |
Greatswords
| Dagger | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bastard Sword | Standard | Stomp | 12/15 | 8.0 | 125p | Greirat, Shrine Handmaid |
| Black Knight Sword | Standard/Thrust | Perseverance | 10 | 10.0 | 156p | Smouldering Lake |
| Claymore | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 9.0 | 125p | High Wall of Lothric |
| Drakeblood Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 6.0 | 83p/65m/65l | Champion in Archdragon Peak |
| Executioner's Greatsword | Strike | Stomp | 12/17 | 9.0 | 119p | Cathedral of the Deep |
| Firelink Greatsword | Standard | Ember | 25 | 9.0 | 119p/80f | Soul of the Lords |
| Flamberge | Slash | Stance | 17/20 | 8.5 | 144p | Hollow Slave |
| Greatsword of Judgement | Standard | Stance of Judgement | 19/22 | 9.0 | 101p/78m | Soul of Sulyvahn |
| Hollowslayer Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Stance | 17/20 | 8.5 | 130p | Rotted Greatwood Soul |
| Moonlight Greatsword | Standard | Moonlight Vortex | 18 | 10.5 | 79p/110m | Oceiros' Soul |
| Storm Ruler | Standard | Storm King | 20/20 | 8.0 | 110p | Profaned Capital, Siegward of Catarina |
| Twin Princes' Greatsword | Standard | Scared Light and Flame | 22/22 | 9.5 | 118p/73f | Combined of Ludleth from both Twin Princes swords |
| Wolf Knight's Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Wolf Sword | 19/23 | 11.5 | 126p | Blood of Wolf Soul |
| Wolnir's Holy Sword | Standard | Wrath of the Gods | 30 | 7.5 | 137p | High Lord Wolnir Soul |
Ultra Greatswords
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astora Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Charge | 13/13 | 8.0 | 122p | Cathedral of the Deep |
| Black Knight Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Stomp | 10/16 | 16.0 | 185p | Black Knight |
| Cathedral Knight Greatsword | Strike/Thrust | Stomp | 10/20 | 15.0 | 149p | Knight of the Deep |
| Farron Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Parry | - | 12.5 | 125p | Blood of the Wolf Soul |
| Fuma Ultra Greatsword | Strike | Stomp | 10/18 | 25.5 | 189p | Smouldering Lake |
| Greatsword | Standard | Stomp | 10/20 | 20.0 | 159p | Farron Keep |
| Lorian's Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Flame of Lorian | 10/18 | 14.0 | 151p/79f | Twin Princes Soul |
| Lothric Knight Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Stomp | 10/15 | 16.5 | 131p/87l | Lothric Knight, Greirat |
| Profaned Greatsword | Standard/Thrust | Profaned Flame | 10/17 | 13.5 | 161p | Sulyvahn's Soul |
| Zweihander | Standard/Thrust | Stomp | 10/15 | 10.0 | 140p | Grierat |
Curved Swords
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthus Curved Sword | Slash | Spin Slash | 6/12 | 5.5 | 115p | Skeleton Swordsman |
| Carhus Shotel | Slash | Spin Slash | 5/12 | 3.0 | 106p | Skeleton SwordsmanAnor Londo |
| Crescent Moon Sword | Slash | Crescent Blade | 15 | 2.5 | 78p/78m | Dancer's Soul |
| Dancer's Enhanced Swords | Slash | Dancer's Grace | 6/17 | 8.5 | 79p/62m/62f | Skeleton |
| Falchion | Slash | Spin Slash | 6/12 | 4.0 | 117p | Greirat |
| Painting Guardian's Curved Sword | Slash | Chained Dance | 5/15 | 1.5 | 88p | Irithyll of the Boreal Valley |
| Pontiff Knight Curved Sword | Slash | Frost Blade | 8/14 | 3.5 | 123 | - |
| Rotten Ghru Curved Sword | Slash | Spin Slash | 6/12 | 2.0 | 103p | Ghru |
| Scimitar | Slash | Spin Slash | 4/12 | 2.5 | 90p | Shrine Handmaid |
| Sellsword Twinblades | Slash | Spin Slash | 4/12 | 5.5 | 99p | Road of the Sacrifices |
| Shotel | Slash | Spin Slash | 5/12 | 2.5 | 104p | Shrine Handmaid |
| Storm Curved Sword | Slash | Tornado | 7/15 | 5.0 | 110p | Nameless King's Soul |
| Warden Twinblades | Slash | Spin Slash | 7/9 | 6.5 | 93p | Cathedral Grave Warden |
Curved Greatswords
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargus Curved Greatsword | Slash | Spin Slash | 9/13 | 10.5 | 132p | Skeleton Swordsman |
| Exile Greatsword | Slash | Spin Slash | 12/13 | 17.0 | 157p | Road of Sacrifices |
| Murakumo | Slash | Spin Slash | 9/15 | 11.0 | 135p | Irithyll Dungeon |
| Old Wolf Curved Sword | Slash | Wolf Leap | 10/15 | 13.0 | 151p/79f | Watchdogs of Farron reward |
Thrusting Swords
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Sage's Rapier | Thrust | Stance | 15/15 | 2.5 | 55p/82m | Crystal Sage's Soul |
| Estoc | Standard/Thrust | Shield Splitter | 14 | 3.5 | 105p | Greirat |
| Irithyll Rapier | Thrust | Shield Splitter | 14 | 3.0 | 116p/110c | Lothric Castle |
| Rapier | Thrust | Stance | 15/15 | 2.0 | 95p/110c | High Wall of Lothric |
| Ricard's Rapier | Thrust | Ricard's Lunge and Press | 2.5 | 97p | Champion in Archdragon Peak |
Katanas
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Blade | Slash/Thrust | Hold | 17/5 | 6.5 | 122p | Smouldering Lake Mimic |
| Bloodlust | Slash/Thrust | Bloodlust | 10 | 5.0 | 105p | Mound-Makers |
| Chaos Blade | Slash/Thrust | Hold | 17/5 | 6.0 | 103p | Untended Graves |
| Darkdrift | Slash/Thrust | Darkdrift | 20 | 3.5 | 129p | Yuria of Londor |
| Onikiri and Ubadachi | Slash/Thrust | Onislayer | 20 | 8.5 | 104p | Grand Archives |
| Uchigatana | Slash/Thrust | Hold | 17/5 | 5.5 | 115p | Firelink Shrine Unkindled |
| Washing Pole | Slash/Thrust | Hold | 22/8 | 8.5 | 126p | Shrine Handmaid |
Axes
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Axe | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 4.0 | 125p | High Wall of Lothric, Warrior starting weapon |
| Brigand Axe | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 3.0 | 124p | Road of Sacrifices |
| Butcher Knife | Slash | Sharpen | 18 | 7.0 | 95p | Road of Sacrifices |
| Dragonslayer's Axe | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 4.0 | 90p/90l | Creighton the Wandered invasion behind Church of Yorska in Irithyll (after Sirrir co-op event) |
| Eleonora | Standard | Feast Bell | 24 | 6.5 | 156p | Profaned Capital |
| Hand Axe | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 2.5 | 110p | Undead Settlement |
| Man Serpent Hatchet | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 4.0 | 125p | Serpent-man |
| Thrall Axe | Standard | Quickstep | 5 | 1.5 | 104p | Hollow Slave |
| Winged Knight Twinaxes | Standard | Chain Spin | 17 | 8.5 | 122p | Winged Knight/Gertrude's Knight |
Greataxes
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Knight Greataxe | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 19.5 | 216p | Black Knight |
| Demon's Great Axe | Standard | Demonic Flare | 35 | 14.5 | 157p/88f | Demon Soul |
| Dragonslayer Greataxe | Standard | Falling Bolt | 35 | 20 | 203p/74l | Dragonslayer Armour Soul |
| Great Machete | Slash | Sharpen | 20 | 14.0 | 167p | Hollow Manservant |
| Greataxe | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 16.0 | 188p | Farron Keep |
| Yhorm's Great Machete | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 19.0 | 185p | Yhorm's Soul |
Hammers
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksmith Hammer | Strike | Perseverance | 9 | 5.0 | 105p | Untended Graves |
| Club | Strike | Warcry | 20 | 2.5 | 108p | High Wall of Lothric |
| Dragon Hammers | Strike | Spin Bash | 7/15 | 9.0 | 110p | Cathedral of the Deep |
| Heysel Pick | Thrust | Steady Chant | 9 | 4.5 | 93p/70m/60sb | Yellowfinger Heysel |
| Mace | Strike | Perseverance | 9 | 5.0 | 115p | Greirat |
| Morning Star | Strike | Perseverance | 9 | 5.0 | 122p | Shrine Handmaid |
| Reinforced Club | Strike | Warcry | 20 | 4.0 | 110p | Greirat |
| Warpick | Thrust | Galvanize | 9 | 4.5 | 113p | Undead Settlement |
Great Hammers
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Tooth | Strike | Perseverance | 12 | 12.0 | 188p | Champion in Archdragon Peak |
| Gargoyle Flame Hammer | Strike | Kindled Flurry | 12/15 | 11.0 | 122p/100f | Headless Gargoyle |
| Great Club | Strike | Warcry | 20 | 12.0 | 152p | Road of Sacrifices |
| Great Mace | Strike | Perseverance | 12 | 18.0 | 173p | Knight of the Deep |
| Great Wooden Hammer | Strike | Spin Bash | 13/10 | 6.0 | 103p | Peasant Hollow |
| Large Club | Strike | Warcry | 20 | 10.0 | 148p | Undead Settlement |
| Morne's Great Hammer | Strike | Morne's Rage | 50 | 24.0 | 200p | Eygon of Carim |
| Old King's Great Hammer | Strike | Molten Perseverance | 12/15 | 18.5 | 180p/69f | Old Demon King's Soul |
| Pickaxe | Thrust | Galvanize | 11 | 8.0 | 140p | Irithyll Dungeon |
| Smough's Great Hammer | Strike | Perseverance | 12 | 24.0 | 205p | Irithyll of the Boreal Valley |
| Spiked Mace | Strike | 13/10 | 16.0 | 149p | Cathedral Evangelist | |
| Vordt's Great Hammer | Strike | Perseverance | 12 | 17.0 | 176p | Vordt's Soul |
Spears
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arstor's Spear | Thrust | Shield Splitter | 16 | 6.5 | 118 | Rotted Greatwood Soul |
| Dragonslayer Spear | Thrust | Lightning Charge | 17/12 | 9.5 | 113p/70l | Archdragon Peak |
| Dragonslayer Swordspear | Standard/Thrust | Falling Bolt | 20 | 14.5 | 128p/34l | Nameless King's Soul |
| Drang Twinspear | Standard/Thrust | Charge | 13/9 | 8.0 | 100 | Irithyll of the Boreal Valley |
| Four-Pronged Plow | Thrust | Charge | 13/9 | 6.5 | 105p | Peasant Hollow |
| Gargoyle Flame Spear | Thrust | Kindled Charge | 13/15 | 9.5 | 103p/90f | Headless Gargoyle |
| Golden Ritual Spear | Thrust | Steady Chant | 9 | 3.0 | 73p/77m/20sb | Irithyll of the Boreal Valley |
| Partizan | Standard/Thrust | Spin Sweep | 11/11 | 6.5 | 108p | Undead Settlement |
| Rotten Ghru Spear | Thrust | Charge | 13/9 | 5.5 | 104p | Ghru |
| Saint Bident | Thrust | Charge | 13/9 | 8.5 | 98p | Cathedral of the Deep |
| Soldering Iron | Standard | Charge | 13/9 | 5.0 | 39p/96f | Jailer |
| Spear | Thrust | Shield Splitter | 16 | 4.5 | 104p | Greirat |
| Tailbone Spear | Thrust | Unleash Dragon | 25 | 4.5 | 118p | Wretch |
| Winged Spear | Thrust | Charge | 13/9 | 6.0 | 95p | Unbreakable Patches/Shrine Handmaid |
| Yorshka's Spear | Standard/Thrust | Pacify | 25 | 6.5 | 98p | Irithyll of the Boreal Valley |
Pikes
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greatlance | Thrust | Charge | 15/15 | 10.5 | 129p | Lothric Castle |
| Lothric Knight Long Spear | Thrust | Charge | 13/9 | 8.0 | 11p | Lothric Knight, Greirat after pillaging Irithyll |
| Pike | Thrust | Charge | 13/9 | 7.5 | 105p | Road of Sacrifices Hollows/Lycanthrope Hunter |
Halberds
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Knight Glaive | Standard | Spin Sweep | 8/14 | 9.0 | 159p | Untended Graves |
| Crescent Axe | Standard | Warcry | 20 | 6.0 | 129p | Shrine Handmain |
| Glaive | Slash | Spin Sweep | 8/14 | 11.0 | 141p | Greirat |
| Gundyr's Halberd | Standard | Champion's Charge | 15/15 | 13.0 | 145p | Vhampion Gundyr's Soul |
| Halberd | Standard/Thrust | Charge | 15/13 | 8.0 | 125p | Shrine Handmaid |
| Immolation Tinder | Thrust | Punitive Flame | 20 | 10.0 | 118p/75f/20sb | Burning Stake Witch |
| Lucerne | Thrust | Spin Sweep | 8/14 | 7.5 | 126p | High Wall of Lothric |
| Red Hilted Halberd | Standard/Thrust | Perseverance | 11 | 8.0 | 130p | Undead Settlement |
| Winged Knight Halberd | Standard | Chain Spin | 10/18 | 14.0 | 145p | Winged Knight |
Reapers
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Scythe | Slash | Neck Swipe | 13 | 7.0 | 105p | Undead Settlement |
| Pontiff Knight Great Scythe | Slash | Frost | 15 | 7.5 | 100p | Pontiff Knight |
| Storyteller's Great Scythe | Slash | Neck Swipe | 13 | 9.0 | 97p | Corvian Storyteller |
Whips
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notched Whip | Slash | Impact | 14 | 2.0 | 95p | Cathedral of the Deep |
| Spotted Whip | Slash | Impact | 14 | 2.5 | 102p | Undead Setttlement outside Cornyx's cage |
| Whip | Slash | Impact | 14 | 2.0 | 90p | Undead Settlement |
| Witch's Locks | Slash | Flame Whip | 18 | 3.0 | 77p/80f | Grand Archives |
Fists
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caestus | Strike | Perseverance | 7 | 0.5 | 80p | Undead Settlement |
| Dark Hand | Strike | Lifedrain | 18 | 0.0 | 77p/150d | Yuria of Londor |
| Demon's Fist | Strike | Flame Whirlwind | 10/10 | 8.0 | 93p/77f | Demon Soul |
Claws
| Name | Type | Effect | Cost | Weight | Power | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claw | Slash/Thrust | Leaping Slash | 10 | 1.5 | 75p/110c | Consumed King's Garden |
| Manikin Claws | Slash/Thrust | Quickstep | 4 | 2.0 | 79p/110c | Farron Keep/Irithyll Valley |
