How To Obtain The Winged Knight Halberd in Dark Souls III
The Winged Knight Halberd is a formidable weapon in Dark Souls III, boasting a unique moveset and considerable damage potential. Acquiring it requires venturing into the later areas of the game, specifically Lothric Castle and the Grand Archives. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to get your hands on this prized halberd:
How To Get The Winged Knight Halberd – The Quick Answer
The Winged Knight Halberd is dropped by Winged Knights who wield them. The most reliable locations to farm for this weapon are:
- High Wall of Lothric: While not as efficient for farming, Winged Knights are initially encountered here. These encounters are typically one-off and not ideal for repeated attempts.
- Lothric Castle: You’ll encounter more Winged Knights as you progress into Lothric Castle. Though better than the High Wall, these still aren’t the most optimal for farming.
- Grand Archives: The most efficient place to farm the Winged Knight Halberd is in the Grand Archives. Here you’ll find two Gertrude’s Knights who wield the weapon and can be killed repeatedly for the chance at a drop.
Grand Archives Farming Method – Step-By-Step
- Reach the Grand Archives Bonfire: You’ll need to progress through Lothric Castle until you reach the Grand Archives. This bonfire is your starting point for this farming method.
- Use the Elevator: From the Grand Archives bonfire, take the nearby elevator upwards.
- Circle to the Roof: At the top of the elevator, go right and then circle around to the left to reach the rooftop.
- Engage the Gertrude’s Knights: On the roof, you’ll find two Gertrude’s Knights wielding the Winged Knight Halberd. They are easily identifiable by their golden armor and imposing presence.
- Farm Repeatedly: Defeat these knights. If they drop the Winged Knight Halberd, you’ve succeeded. If not, either use the bonfire to reset the area or travel to another bonfire and back to refresh the spawns. Repeat this process until you acquire the halberd.
The drop rate for the Winged Knight Halberd isn’t extremely high, so be prepared for some repetition. Equipping items that boost your item discovery stat (like the Crystal Sage’s Rapier or the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring) can help to improve your chances of obtaining the halberd.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where Else Can I Encounter Winged Knights?
Besides the Grand Archives, you can initially encounter Winged Knights in the High Wall of Lothric and in other areas of Lothric Castle. However, these locations are not ideal for farming due to the limited number of knights and their placement.
2. Do Winged Knights Respawn?
Yes, Winged Knights do respawn, allowing you to farm them repeatedly. The two Gertrude’s Knights on the roof of the Grand Archives are particularly reliable for farming purposes.
3. Can I Parry Winged Knights?
Yes, the Twin-Axe version of the Winged Knight can be parried and riposted. However, not all Winged Knights will use the twin-axe variation, so make sure you have good parry timing and recognize which variation you’re facing.
4. What are the Winged Knight Weaknesses?
Winged Knights are weak to Frostbite, Dark Damage, Magic Damage, and Thrust Damage. Use weapons or spells with these damage types to deal more effective damage. They are also resistant to Poison/Toxic and Bleed.
5. Where do I get Winged Knight Armor?
The Winged Knight Armor set can be found in Lothric Castle. From the initial bonfire, go up the path and enter the room with the ladder and an axe-wielding Winged Knight. At the top of the stairs, hit the rightmost panel of the back wall to reveal an Illusory Wall. The set is on a corpse in front of a painting of a Winged Knight.
6. Is The Winged Knight Halberd a Good Weapon?
Yes, the Winged Knight Halberd is a good weapon in Dark Souls III. It has a unique moveset, and deals decent damage and can be very effective in both PvE and PvP scenarios with practice.
7. What are the Base Stats for Winged Knight Halberd?
The base stats for the Winged Knight Halberd include physical attack power, as well as a scaling with Strength and Dexterity. The values may vary based on the version of the game, but it can be upgraded to further enhance its stats.
8. How can I increase my chances of obtaining the halberd?
To increase your chances of getting the Winged Knight Halberd, focus on boosting your item discovery stat. Use items like the Crystal Sage’s Rapier (equipped on your back), the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, and the Symbol of Avarice (with caution). The more item discovery you have, the better your chances of rare loot.
9. How often do Winged Knight Halberds drop?
The Winged Knight Halberd has a somewhat low drop rate, so it may take a few attempts to obtain. However, with patience and boosted item discovery, it is quite obtainable.
10. Is the Black Knight Halberd better than the Winged Knight Halberd?
The Black Knight Halberd is generally considered superior due to its raw damage output, range, speed, and ease of acquisition early in the game, though it can be harder to farm. Both are good weapons, but the Black Knight Halberd is often seen as more effective. However, players might prefer the Winged Knight Halberd for its unique moveset.
11. How Do You Farm the Black Knight Halberd?
There is only one respawning Black Knight that wields the halberd, located in the Kiln of the First Flame (end-game area). Other Black Knights that carry this weapon are in specific locations, but they are one-time encounters, making the Kiln the only reliable farming spot.
12. Can you backstab with the Black Knight Halberd?
Yes, you can backstab with the Black Knight Halberd, but this also triggers a specific animation quirk. If the player is backstabbed while wielding the halberd in two hands, and they don’t move after recovering, they will spin 360 degrees upon standing up.
13. Can I get the Black Knight Halberd early in the game?
Yes, you can get the Black Knight Halberd early but it is dependent on RNG (random number generator). A Black Knight that wields the halberd is located in Darkroot Basin, a hidden section of the map. However, this is a one-time encounter.
14. What other Halberds are considered good in Dark Souls III?
Some of the best halberds in Dark Souls III include the Glaive, Lucerne, and the Splitleaf Greatsword for their effectiveness and varied movesets. Each halberd has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choosing the best one often comes down to your playstyle.
15. What is the best weapon type in Dark Souls III?
There is no singular “best” weapon type in Dark Souls III, as weapon effectiveness often depends on personal preference and build. However, greatswords, katanas, and halberds are widely regarded as very strong weapon classes because they offer a good balance between damage, speed, and range. Experimenting with various weapon types is highly recommended to find which fits best to you.
By diligently farming the Gertrude’s Knights in the Grand Archives and using strategies to boost item discovery, you should be able to acquire the Winged Knight Halberd. Good luck, Ashen One!