Is the Lothric Holy Sword Worth It? A Deep Dive
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Yes, the Lothric Holy Sword can be worth it, but its value is highly dependent on your build and playstyle. While it boasts a powerful weapon art, Holy Light, and respectable damage scaling with Strength, Dexterity, Faith, and Intelligence (quality/faith hybrid), it’s outshone in raw damage by more specialized weapons. Its effectiveness truly shines in specific PvE scenarios against enemies weak to holy damage and in PvP when used strategically with its weapon art. This analysis will dissect its strengths, weaknesses, and comparisons to other options, helping you decide if it’s a worthwhile addition to your arsenal.
Understanding the Lothric Holy Sword
The Lothric Holy Sword is a unique straight sword in Dark Souls 3, obtained by transposing the Soul of the Twin Princes with Ludleth of Courland. It’s renowned for its split damage (physical and faith) and its potent weapon art, Holy Light, which projects a beam of holy energy.
Key Stats and Requirements
- Weapon Type: Straight Sword
- Attack Type: Standard / Thrust
- Durability: 70
- Weight: 5.0
- Attack Power: (Varies depending on upgrade level and scaling. Starts relatively low but increases with investment in Strength, Dexterity, Faith, and Intelligence.)
- Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
- Faith: D
- Intelligence: D
- Requirements:
- Strength: 12
- Dexterity: 18
- Intelligence: 12
- Faith: 12
The Allure of Holy Light
The Holy Light weapon art is the Lothric Holy Sword’s defining feature. It fires a beam of holy damage that can pierce through enemies and has decent range.
- Pros:
- Excellent Range: Allows for engagements from a safe distance.
- Piercing Attack: Hits multiple enemies lined up.
- Holy Damage: Effective against certain enemy types (e.g., undead).
- Relatively Low FP Cost: Can be used multiple times without chugging Ashen Estus constantly.
- Cons:
- Telegraphing: The animation is noticeable, giving opponents time to react.
- Vulnerable During Cast: Leaves you open to attacks while charging the beam.
- Split Damage: Its effectiveness hinges on your opponent’s resistance to both physical and holy damage.
- Can be Parried: Skilled players can parry the Holy Light weapon art.
Comparing the Lothric Holy Sword to Alternatives
To accurately assess the Lothric Holy Sword’s worth, it’s crucial to compare it to other viable options, especially within the straight sword category.
Lothric Knight Sword: The Damage Dealer
The Lothric Knight Sword is arguably the best straight sword in the game for quality builds (high Strength and Dexterity). It has higher physical damage potential than the Lothric Holy Sword and can be infused and buffed. If you prioritize raw damage output, the Lothric Knight Sword is generally a superior choice.
Sunlight Straight Sword: The Buffing Master
The Sunlight Straight Sword provides the Oath of Sunlight weapon art, which buffs attack power and defense. While it deals less damage than the Lothric Holy Sword and Lothric Knight Sword, its buffing capabilities make it invaluable for co-op play and certain PvE builds that rely on buffing their weapon.
Irithyll Straight Sword: The Frostbite Enabler
The Irithyll Straight Sword deals innate frost damage. It is good at quickly inflicting frostbite on enemies, which can significantly lower enemy defenses, thus making it more appealing for builds focused on inflicting status effects.
Other Considerations
Other straight swords like the Broadsword, Long Sword, and Dark Sword all have their niche uses, but generally don’t outperform the options listed above in most situations. The choice depends on your specific build and playstyle.
Is the Lothric Holy Sword Right for You?
Consider these factors when deciding if the Lothric Holy Sword is a worthwhile investment:
- Your Build: If you are running a quality/faith hybrid build, the Lothric Holy Sword can be a decent fit. However, dedicated faith builds might prefer weapons with higher faith scaling.
- Your Playstyle: If you enjoy using weapon arts and engaging enemies at a distance, the Holy Light can be effective. However, if you prefer aggressive, close-quarters combat, other straight swords might be more suitable.
- Your Stage in the Game: The Lothric Holy Sword is acquired relatively late in the game (after defeating the Twin Princes). By this point, you likely have access to other powerful weapons.
- Your PvP Intentions: The Holy Light can be a surprise attack in PvP, but its telegraphing makes it easily punishable by experienced players. In PvP it can work very well against enemies who are unfamiliar with the moveset and timing.
Final Verdict
The Lothric Holy Sword is a situational weapon. It’s not the best straight sword in the game, but its unique weapon art and split damage can be effective in specific scenarios. If you’re looking for a weapon that excels against enemies weak to holy damage or enjoy using weapon arts for ranged attacks, the Lothric Holy Sword might be worth considering. However, for pure damage output, other straight swords are generally superior. Ultimately, the decision depends on your build, playstyle, and personal preference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best infusion for the Lothric Holy Sword?
Since the Lothric Holy Sword cannot be infused or buffed, this question is not applicable. Its scaling is fixed.
2. How much damage does the Holy Light weapon art do?
The damage of the Holy Light weapon art is dependent on your Faith and Intelligence stats. Higher stats result in increased damage output.
3. Is the Lothric Holy Sword good against bosses?
It can be effective against bosses weak to holy damage, such as the Deacons of the Deep. However, against bosses with high holy resistance, its damage will be significantly reduced.
4. Can the Holy Light weapon art be parried?
Yes, skilled players can parry the Holy Light weapon art. Therefore, using it predictably can be risky in PvP.
5. Does the Lothric Holy Sword do more damage than the Lothric Knight Sword?
Generally, the Lothric Knight Sword does more physical damage than the Lothric Holy Sword, especially when infused with a damage-scaling gem.
6. Is the Lothric Holy Sword good for a pure faith build?
Not particularly. While it deals holy damage, its faith scaling isn’t high enough to make it optimal for a pure faith build. Other faith-based weapons, like the Sunlight Straight Sword or weapons infused with blessed gems, are better suited.
7. How do I obtain the Lothric Holy Sword?
You must transpose the Soul of the Twin Princes with Ludleth of Courland at Firelink Shrine.
8. What are the best rings to use with the Lothric Holy Sword?
Rings that boost damage output, such as the Ring of Favor, Havel’s Ring (if you need the equip load), and Pontiff’s Right Eye (for sustained attacks), can be beneficial. The Clutch Ring to increase elemental damage might also be useful.
9. Does the Lothric Holy Sword benefit from Flynn’s Ring?
No. Flynn’s Ring boosts physical damage based on equip load. Lothric Holy Sword is a hybrid weapon with both physical and elemental/holy damage. Therefore, it will not benefit from Flynn’s Ring.
10. Is the Lothric Holy Sword good for early game?
No. You cannot obtain the Lothric Holy Sword until late in the game, after defeating the Twin Princes.
11. Can the Holy Light weapon art be used in the air?
No, the Holy Light weapon art can only be used on the ground.
12. What are the best armor sets to pair with the Lothric Holy Sword?
This is largely a matter of personal preference and depends on your desired level of protection and mobility. Consider armor sets that offer a balance of poise and defense while allowing you to fast roll.
13. Is the Lothric Holy Sword effective against invaders?
It can be situationally effective. The Holy Light can catch invaders off guard, but experienced players will be able to parry it or dodge it easily.
14. Can I use the Lothric Holy Sword with a shield?
Yes, the Lothric Holy Sword can be used with a shield. A shield with high stability can help protect you while charging the Holy Light weapon art.
15. Is there a better holy damage straight sword in Dark Souls 3?
The Sunlight Straight Sword, while not solely focused on holy damage, can be buffed with miracles like Lightning Blade or Darkmoon Blade, potentially surpassing the Lothric Holy Sword in holy damage output when properly buffed. Certain faith scaling weapons infused with blessed gems can also deal more consistent holy damage.