The Ultimate Guide to Dexterity Weapons in Dark Souls

What are the best weapons for dex builds in Dark Souls? The answer isn’t a simple one, as the ‘best’ weapon depends heavily on your playstyle, preferred range, and the specific enemies you’re facing. However, several standout options cater exceptionally well to dexterity-focused characters. Generally, the top-tier choices include katanas (with the Washing Pole being an exception for its poor scaling), rapiers, curved swords, and spears, alongside unique weapons such as the Great Scythe. This selection offers a range of speeds, movesets, and damage types, allowing for a highly adaptable and powerful dexterity-based playstyle. Let’s dive deeper into the specifics and explore some individual weapons that stand out within these categories.

Top Weapon Categories for Dexterity Builds

Before delving into specific weapons, it’s helpful to understand the primary categories that cater to dexterity.

Katanas

Katanas are a cornerstone of many dexterity builds in Dark Souls. They combine decent damage with a quick moveset and the coveted bleed effect. While not every katana is a top performer (we’re looking at you, Washing Pole), weapons like the Uchigatana and Iaito are incredibly effective. The Iaito in particular boasts excellent reach and is easily obtainable.

Rapiers

Rapiers, while not boasting the highest raw damage, are excellent for those who prefer a more calculated approach. They are known for their piercing damage, quick attacks, and significant critical attack potential. The standard Rapier is a solid option, but Ricard’s Rapier, with its unique ability to string together multiple rapid thrusts with its special attack, can devastate enemies.

Curved Swords

Curved Swords offer a nice balance of speed and damage. Weapons like the Scimitar, Falchion, and Painting Guardian’s Curved Sword provide fast attacks and can be very effective when used with an aggressive playstyle. Their wide sweeping attacks are useful for crowd control and dealing with agile enemies.

Spears

Spears are incredibly versatile, boasting long reach and the ability to attack from behind a shield. The Silver Knight Spear is an exceptional choice due to its excellent scaling and damage, but the standard Winged Spear is a reliable and readily available alternative. Spears are particularly effective in tight corridors and for poking enemies from a safe distance.

Unique Standouts

Beyond the main categories, several unique weapons are essential considerations:

• Great Scythe: Despite its hefty swing, the Great Scythe’s 2-handed R2 attack at 40 DEX has the highest DPS of any dex weapon in the game, making it a powerhouse in the right hands.
• Balder Side Sword: A fast straight sword with excellent scaling for DEX, it’s a solid choice for those wanting a more traditional weapon, but the drop rate makes acquiring it a bit of a challenge.
• Priscilla’s Dagger: This unique dagger inflicts bleed and frost damage, offering a potent combination for those willing to seek it out.
• Bandit’s Knife: While seemingly simple, the Bandit’s Knife has excellent critical attack scaling making it great for backstabs and ripostes, and can cause bleed.

The Best Early-Game Dex Options

Starting with a dexterity build can feel daunting, but you have several excellent choices right from the start:

• Scimitar: Obtained from the Undead Merchant in Undead Burg, this curved sword is fast and effective early on.
• Uchigatana: While harder to obtain, once it drops this katana can carry you through most of the early game. It’s dropped by the Undead Male Merchant if he is killed.
• Winged Spear: A reliable spear with good reach is easily available at the Undead Merchant (male). It can help with most of the early-game encounters.

These weapons, combined with a Warrior or Bandit starting class, can give you a substantial advantage at the beginning of your journey. For a Pyromancy Dex build, the Pyromancer class is recommended for the early access to spells that can help augment the lack of early-game dex weapons or stat investment.

Scaling and Stat Allocation

It’s crucial to understand how dexterity scaling works in Dark Souls. Most dexterity weapons continue to gain significant damage up to a dexterity stat of 40. While you can push to 50 or even 60, the returns diminish significantly after 40. Therefore, focusing on getting your dexterity to 40, while also boosting endurance and other important stats like vitality, is the most effective way to build a powerful dexterity character.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions about dexterity builds in Dark Souls:

1. What is the best starting class for a dex build in Dark Souls?

The Warrior and Bandit classes are excellent starting points for a pure dex build, while the Pyromancer is the preferred choice for a dexterity/pyromancy hybrid build.

2. Does dexterity affect attack speed in Dark Souls?

While dexterity doesn’t directly increase attack speed, it can affect the recovery speed of your rolls and is more beneficial to weapon attack startup and recovery speeds.

3. What does dexterity actually do in Dark Souls?

Dexterity primarily increases the attack power of dexterity-scaling weapons, improves roll speed, and also impacts the cast speed of some spells.

4. Is strength or dexterity better in Dark Souls?

Neither is “better”; they are simply different. Strength weapons tend to be slower and more powerful per hit, while dexterity weapons are faster with lower per-hit damage but offer high DPS.

5. How does weapon scaling work?

Weapon scaling is how much a stat (like dexterity) contributes to a weapon’s damage. Weapons have scaling grades (S, A, B, C, etc.), with S being the best scaling and E being the worst.

6. Can you dual wield weapons in Dark Souls?

While true dual wielding isn’t implemented as in later games, some weapons can be held in both hands for a different moveset. This is typically a strong two-handed grip.

7. How do I get the Iaito early?

The Iaito is found in Blighttown after making your way along the platforms and ladders on the far left side of the swamp’s entrance area.

8. Is the Washing Pole a good dex weapon in Dark Souls?

No, the Washing Pole is not a great dex weapon, despite its length. Its poor scaling makes it a subpar choice for dex builds, and better katanas exist.

9. Should I level strength on a dex build?

Typically, only level strength enough to meet the minimum requirements for your chosen dexterity weapons, unless you are going for a hybrid build or want to carry heavier equipment.

10. What is the best armor for a dex build?

Armor choice is largely personal preference, but aim for armor that provides good protection while keeping your equipment load below 50% for medium rolls. Light armor is an alternative for even faster rolls, but is much more risky.

11. Is the Silver Knight Spear better than the Winged Spear?

Yes, the Silver Knight Spear is typically considered better due to its higher base damage and better scaling than the standard Winged Spear, but it is also more difficult to acquire.

12. How important is bleed on dex weapons?

Bleed can be incredibly powerful, as it deals a chunk of damage once the bleed effect is triggered. Many dexterity weapons apply bleed, making it a useful additional damage source.

13. When should I stop leveling dexterity in Dark Souls?

Aim to stop leveling dexterity around 40 as scaling begins to diminish significantly beyond that point.

14. What are some unique dex weapons worth hunting for?

Weapons like Priscilla’s Dagger, Ricard’s Rapier, Balder Side Sword, and the Great Scythe offer unique movesets and advantages for dexterity builds.

15. Can dexterity builds be viable in PvP?

Absolutely! Dexterity builds are very viable in PvP due to their speed and range, allowing for high damage output with the right equipment and skillset.

Conclusion

Choosing the right weapon for your dexterity build in Dark Souls is a critical part of your character’s development. Understanding how each weapon scales, learning the movesets and benefits of each category of weapon, and experimenting with different options will provide you with the adaptability and power needed to conquer the challenges that Lordran presents. Don’t be afraid to try new options; the world of Dark Souls is filled with hidden gems that can completely change the way you play.