What is the Best Starter Weapon in Demon’s Souls?
The best starter weapon in Demon’s Souls is highly dependent on your chosen starting class and preferred playstyle, but if we are looking for the most broadly useful and accessible weapon early on, the Long Sword stands out as a top contender. While the game features several iconic and powerful weapons, the Long Sword offers a fantastic blend of speed, damage, and versatility right from the start. It’s the quintessential balanced weapon in the game, making it an excellent option for new players still finding their footing in the unforgiving world of Boletaria.
The Long Sword: A Solid Foundation
The Long Sword’s appeal stems from several key factors:
- Accessibility: Several classes, including the Knight, start with a Long Sword. If you choose a different class, you can often acquire one relatively early.
- Versatility: The Long Sword has a diverse moveset, including vertical slashes, horizontal sweeps, and thrust attacks. This makes it effective against a wide variety of enemies and situations. You aren’t locked into one style of attack, allowing you to adapt to whatever Demon’s Souls throws at you.
- Good Balance: It offers a solid balance between damage, speed, and range, without being exceptionally heavy. This makes it ideal for learning the core mechanics of combat in Demon’s Souls. It’s not too slow to get punished or too fast to be wasteful with stamina.
- Upgrade Potential: The Long Sword can be upgraded along several different paths, allowing you to tailor it to your build as you progress through the game. This flexibility ensures it remains viable throughout your entire journey.
Why Not Others?
While other starter weapons like the Falchion or the Scimitar are faster, the Long Sword provides a more reliable damage output early on. The Broadsword, while similar, can feel a touch heavier. The Long Sword strikes the perfect middle ground. Additionally, starting weapons like the Short Spear while useful, requires a different play style. The Long Sword’s diverse move set gives the most overall utility for beginners.
Beyond the Starting Weapon: Early Game Alternatives
While the Long Sword is a great starting point, here are a few other excellent early-game weapon options to consider:
- Uchigatana: This katana is a fan favorite that can be acquired early on and has an excellent mix of slash and thrust attacks and inflicts bleed damage. It scales with Dexterity, making it ideal for builds focusing on that stat.
- Kilij: If you prefer a curved sword, the Kilij is a strong choice, boasting a great blend of speed and damage. It also inflicts bleed and is another solid Dex option.
- Estoc: For those who struggle with slashing damage on certain enemies, the Estoc provides piercing attacks, making it useful for armored foes.
- Crescent Falchion: For magic-focused builds, the Crescent Falchion, found in 4-1, is an amazing option early on, as it has Magic damage scaling.
- Winged Spear: A decent piercing weapon that is also useful for staying at a safe range.
Upgrade Paths Matter
It’s not just about finding the “best” starter weapon, but also considering how you will upgrade it. Different upgrade paths in Demon’s Souls alter a weapon’s scaling with different stats and add effects. Some examples include:
- Sharp: Increases Dexterity scaling.
- Quality: Improves both Strength and Dexterity scaling.
- Crushing: Increases Strength scaling.
- Crescent: Removes Strength and Dexterity scaling and increases Magic Scaling.
- Blessed: Removes Strength and Dexterity scaling and increases Faith scaling.
Experiment with different upgrade paths based on your stat build. A good starter weapon can be phenomenal with the correct upgrades.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further explore the topic of starter weapons and related aspects of Demon’s Souls:
What is the easiest starter class in Demon’s Souls?
The Royalty class is often considered the easiest for beginners due to its starting spell, Soul Arrow, and decent equipment.
Does starting class matter in Demon’s Souls?
Yes and no. Starting classes primarily affect your starting equipment and stats, but you can build your character in any direction, regardless of your initial choice.
Is Demon’s Souls hard for beginners?
Yes, Demon’s Souls is known for being challenging, especially for newcomers. However, it’s an incredibly rewarding experience.
Where is the best place to start in Demon’s Souls?
For beginners, starting in World 1 (Boletarian Palace) is generally recommended. The first area is more linear and allows you to grasp the core game mechanics. After that, Stonefang Tunnel or the Valley of Defilement are solid options.
Is Demon’s Souls the easiest game in the Soulslike genre?
While Demon’s Souls is often cited as the easiest in the Souls series, it’s still a demanding game. It is generally considered less punishing than later entries in the series such as Dark Souls or Elden Ring.
What is the best starting gift in Demon’s Souls?
The Providential Ring is widely considered the best starting gift due to its ability to increase item discovery, which boosts your luck.
What is the best early Dex weapon in Demon’s Souls?
The Uchigatana is an excellent early-game Dex weapon. Other solid options include the Kilij and the Estoc.
What is the best weapon to upgrade in Demon’s Souls for magic builds?
Crescent weapons are best for magic builds, as they remove Strength and Dexterity scaling in favor of Magic scaling. The Crescent Falchion is a good option early on.
What is the most powerful weapon in Demon’s Souls?
The Northern Regalia is often cited as the most powerful, but it requires obtaining two specific swords and a Demon’s Soul to craft.
Is there a katana in Demon’s Souls?
Yes, the Uchigatana is a popular katana in Demon’s Souls.
What stats should I level first in Demon’s Souls?
It’s generally recommended to level up your Endurance and Vitality first, which increases your health and stamina. Then, focus on stats that scale with your chosen weapon.
What is the luck based sword in Demon’s Souls?
The Blueblood Sword is the only weapon that scales its damage with Luck. However, it requires high stats in Strength, Dexterity, Magic, and Faith.
How do I create unique weapons?
Unique weapons can be crafted at Blacksmith Ed by trading Boss Souls and specific items. You will have to give him the Searing Demon’s Soul first to unlock advanced crafting.
What is the most iconic weapon in the Souls series?
The Moonlight Greatsword is arguably the most iconic weapon in the Souls series, appearing in many of the games.
What weapon should I use for a strength build in Demon’s Souls?
For a strength build in Demon’s Souls, great options include the Greatsword, Great Axe or Dragon Bone Smasher. The Meat Cleaver is another great option later in the game.
By utilizing the Long Sword and understanding the basics, anyone can begin their foray into the challenging world of Demon’s Souls. Remember, experimentation and adaptability are the keys to success in this challenging game. Good luck, and may your journey through Boletaria be fruitful!