Dark Souls 3 introduces a unique twist to combat with its Weapon Skills system, special abilities tied to nearly every weapon and shield in the game. These skills use Focus Points (FP) and add strategic depth to every build, whether you’re a sword-swinging knight or a spear-wielding pyromancer.
What Are Weapon Skills in Dark Souls 3?
In previous Souls games, only a few weapons had special abilities. But in Dark Souls 3, nearly every weapon, shield, and even some staves come with a dedicated skill.
Each Weapon Skill offers a unique effect, such as:
- Stance-based attacks
- Parrying
- Guard-breaking maneuvers
- Self-buffs
- Powerful charged strikes
How Weapon Skills Work
- Activate with L2 (Left Trigger)
When holding the weapon in two hands or using a shield with the “Skill” property, pressing L2 will activate the Weapon Skill. - Consumes FP (blue bar)
Just like casting magic, Weapon Skills use Focus Points. Be sure to manage your FP or use Ashen Estus Flasks to restore it mid-battle. - Skill Priority
If you have a shield equipped with “Parry” or “Skill,” it determines what L2 will trigger unless you’re two-handing your weapon.
Why Weapon Skills Matter
While a weapon’s damage and moveset are important, its Skill can completely change how it’s used. For example:
- Farron Greatsword: Uses a spinning sweep for crowd control.
- Great Club: Has a self-buff that boosts attack power and poise.
- Twinblades: Often have skills that unleash fast combos.
Builds that synergize with certain skills can dominate both PvE and PvP.
Dark Souls 3 Weapon Skills List
WEAPON SKILL APPEARS DESCRIPTION
Blind Spot Corvian Greatknife, Handmaid's Dagger Break through shielden enemies guard by attacking from side
Bloodlust Blood Lust Stain blade with own blade for temporary sharpness
Chain Spin Winged Knight Twinaxes, Winged Knight Halberd Use large spinning motion to sweep enemies and then use strong attack to continue spin until stamina is exhausted
Chained Dance Painting Guardian's Curved Sword Consecutive attacks while tracing a circle
Champion's Charge Gundyr's Halberd Charge at enemy with spear at waiste, use momentum to transition into spinning strong attack
Charge Astora Greatsword, Spears, Pikes, Halberd Charge at enemy with spear at waiste, using strong attack while change to extent length of attack.
Combustion Pyromancy Flame, White Hair Talisman Create powerful flame in hand.
Crescent Blade Crescent Moon Sword In a broad stance, fire crescent moon blades.
Dancer's Grace Dancer's Enchanted Sword In a dancing spinning motion, unleashes both blades, using strong attack to continue until stamina is exhausted.
Darkdrift Darkdrift Aim and pierce with strong, large lunch forward.
Darkmoon Arrow Darkmoon Longbow Infuse arrow with Darkmoon essence will grant it magic damage and pierce shields.
Demonic Flare Demon's Great Axe Flares flame within.
Ember Firelink Greatsword Fading flame illuminates brightly and launches forward.
Falling Bolt Dragonslayer Great Axe, Dragonslater Swordspear Generate lightning with axe held in the air, then strong whip to the ground to send bolts flying.
Feast Bell Eleonora Emit a solemn chime by holding axe in air. Restores HP for each hit.
Flame of Lorian Lorian's Greatsword Transforms smolder into flame with every lunge forward. Use strong attack to launch flames along ground.
Flame Whip Witch's Locks Coats whip in fire.
Flame Whirlwind Demon's Fist Flaming fists. Use strong attack while spinning to slam the ground with both fists.
Frost Pontiff Knight Great Scythe Creates frost with every swing of greatscythe.
Frost Blade Pontiff Knight Curved Sword Blade is frosted with every large spin. Strong attack slashes with a frozen blade.
Galvanize Warpick, Pickaxe Boosts stamina recovery speed.
Gentle Prayer Talismans Slowly recovers HP over a period of time.
Guiding Light Scholar's Candlestick, Cleric's Candlestick Candle which offers additional guidance.
Hold Katanas Lunging slash while in holding stance.
Impact Whips Evade shields with strike from the left. Deal powerful blow that slows stamina recovery.
Kindled Charge Gargoyle Flame Speak Charge at enemy with spear at waist, use momentum to execute strong fiery attack.
Kindled Flurry Gargoyle Flame Hammer Anchor your weapon in the ground and use strong attack to launch volleyes of fire from tip of hammer
Leaping Slash Claw Every leaping slash at enemy's head counts as headshot.
Lifedrain Dark Hand Steal a victim's HP by embracing them (humans only).
Lightning Charge Dragonslayer Spear Use lightning with spear at waist and release bolts with every thrust.
Moan Moaning Shield Attracts enemies with a gentle prayer to the shield.
Molten Perseverance Old King's Great Hammer Boost poise by anchoring weapon in ground, use strong attack to stab earth and trigger molten explosions.
Moonlight Vortex Moonlight Greatsword Torrential moonlight after dragging sword back and thrusting forward.
Morne's Rage Morne's Great Hammer Emits shockwave after planting weapon into ground.
Neck Swipe Reapers Attacks enemy's scruff, acting as a headshot.
Oath of Sunlight Sunlight Straight Sword Boosts attack and damage absorption for self and allies while holding the sword in the air while praising the sun.
Onislayer Onikiri and Obadachi Cut open forward by leaping forward and slashing.
Pacify Yorshka's Speak Wear down enemy FP with a prayer and offering of the shield.
Parry Parrying Dagger, Farron Greatsword Deflect an enemy attack for a follow-up critical hit.
Perseverance Black Knight Sword Boost poise.
Pharis Triple-shot Black Bow of Pharis Fire three arrows simultaneously.
Profaned Flame Profaned Greatsword Summon the Profaned Flame. Lunge forward and use strong attack.
Puncturing Arrow Greatbows Sends arrow flying and through multiple enemies in its path.
Punitive Flame Immolation Tinder Blankets the ground with a flame.
Quickstep Daggers, Thrall Axe Instantly avoid target lock-on.
Rapid Fire Composite Bow, Show Bow Allows consecutive shots with arrows.
Ricard's Lunge and Press Ricard's Rapier Assume quick stance, lunch forward to execute chain attack. Strong attack lasts longer.
Sacred Light and Flame Twin Princes' Greatsword Normal attack in stance will cast Sacred Lothric Light, and Flame of Lorian with strong attack.
Sacred Lothric Light Lothric's Holy Sword Imbue sword with sacred light witha stance. Strong attack releases light along with great thurst of sword.
Sharpen Butcher Knife, Great Machete Sharpens blade, increases HP restore with every hit.
Shield Bash All Shields Use equipped shield and strike enemy. Keep guard up.
Shield Splitter Mail Breaker Aim and lunge forward to attack enemy shields and cause direct damage.
Spin Slash Gotthard Twinswords, Curved Swords Large spinning motion slices into foes. Continued spinning leads to strong attack.
Spin Sweep Partizan Large spinning motion sweeps into foes. Continued spinning leads to strong attack.
Stance Straight Swords and Greatswords, Crystal Sage's Rapier Use normal attack while in stance to break enemy's guard. Strong attack slashes updates with forward lunge.
Stance of Judgement Greatswords of Judgment Unleash dark magic with stance. Normal attack with a lunging thrust, or strong attack for side-sweeping wave.
Steady Chant Heysel Pick, Golden Ritual Boosts strength of sorceries.
Stomo Dark Sword, Greatswords and Ultra Greatswords Use weight to lunge forward with low stance, increased poise. Strong attack creates spinning slash.
Stone Flesh Havel's Greatshield Raise shield in prayer, turns character body into solid mass of stone.
Storm King Storm Ruler In stance, imbue sword with storm. Useful against giants.
Tackle Crossbows Use shoulder tackle, push back enemies a fair distance.
Tornado Storm Curved Sword Use blade in a spinning motion, followed by strong attack.
Unfaltering Prayer Talismans Increases poise while casting miracles, preventing enemies from interrupting prayer.
Unleash Dragon Tailbone Shortsword, Tailbone Spear Trust spear to unleash the strength of dragons.
Warcry Axes, Greataxes, Hammers, Great Hammers, Crescent Axe Scream out a spirited warcry to boost attack and enable strong attack.
Weapon Skill All Shields Perform skill of right-hand weapon with weapon in left-hand.
Wheel of Fate Bonewheel Shield Spin the wheel to shred enemies with its outer spikes.
Wolf Leap Old Wolf Curved Sword Large spinning attack to slice up enemies, then jump out and back in with strong attack.
Wolf Sword Wolf Knight's Greatsword In stance, use normal attack for low spinning slash, or strong attack for vertical-slash sommersault.
Wrath of Gods Wolnir's Holy Sword Emits powerful shockwave after thursting weapon into the ground.
Final Tips for Mastering Weapon Skills
- Practice in PvP: Some skills are better in duels than against mobs
- Pair with the right ring or FP-boosting gear
- Use the “Skill” shield if you want to access your weapon’s skill without two-handing it.