The Ultimate PvE Weapon Guide: Conquering Dark Souls 3

So, you’re asking about the best PvE weapon in Dark Souls 3? The simple answer is: it depends on your build and playstyle, but for pure effectiveness and ease of use, the Sellsword Twinblades often reign supreme, especially when infused with Sharp and buffed with resins or spells. Their rapid, sustained damage output melts through most enemies and bosses, making them a top-tier choice. However, versatility is key in Dark Souls 3, and other weapons shine in different situations. Let’s dive deeper.

Understanding PvE Weapon Selection

Choosing the right weapon for Player vs. Environment (PvE) in Dark Souls 3 isn’t just about raw damage numbers. It’s about finding a weapon that complements your character build, your preferred combat style, and the specific challenges you face. A weapon that excels against one boss might be utterly useless against another. Factors to consider include:

• Damage Type: Physical (Standard, Striking, Thrusting, Slashing), Magic, Fire, Lightning, Dark.
• Scaling: How well the weapon’s damage increases with your stats (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith).
• Weapon Art: Unique abilities that can provide significant advantages in combat.
• Move Set: The range of attacks available, including light attacks, heavy attacks, running attacks, and rolling attacks.
• Weight: Heavier weapons require more Strength and can impact your mobility.
• Range: Vital for maintaining a safe distance and controlling the battlefield.

Top Contenders for PvE Dominance

While the Sellsword Twinblades are a popular choice, several other weapons deserve recognition for their PvE prowess. Here’s a breakdown of some of the best options:

Sellsword Twinblades

As mentioned, these are a powerhouse. Their dual-wielding nature allows for incredibly fast attacks, and when infused with Sharp and buffed, they become damage-dealing monsters. They are especially effective against bosses with large health pools. Their weakness can be their shorter range, requiring players to get up close and personal.

Black Knight Sword

A classic choice, the Black Knight Sword boasts high damage output and the Perseverance weapon art, allowing you to trade blows effectively. It’s particularly effective against demons, a common enemy type. Its moveset is fairly standard for greatswords, making it easy to learn.

Claymore

The Claymore is the epitome of a quality weapon, scaling well with both Strength and Dexterity. Its versatile move set and respectable damage make it a reliable choice for almost any situation. It has thrusting attacks for tight corridors and sweeping attacks for crowd control.

Gael’s Greatsword

This weapon, obtained from the Ringed City DLC, has a unique and powerful moveset, including a spinning weapon art that can devastate enemies. It’s a bit heavier than the Claymore, but the increased damage and unique playstyle make it worthwhile.

Hollowslayer Greatsword

Early access to the Hollowslayer Greatsword makes it a fantastic option for starting strong. The passive hyper-armor during its weapon art provides extra poise during attacks, making it ideal for aggressive play.

Astora Greatsword

While technically an Ultra Greatsword, the Astora Greatsword is surprisingly lightweight and boasts excellent scaling with Dexterity. It can be buffed and infused, making it a versatile option for Dex-based builds.

Lothric Knight Sword

Another fantastic straight sword option. It has a great moveset and is effective when infused with Lightning.

Pyromancy Flame

While not a traditional weapon, the Pyromancy Flame deserves a mention. Pyromancy is incredibly powerful in PvE, offering a range of spells that can deal massive damage to bosses and clear out groups of enemies with ease. Great Chaos Fire Orb and Chaos Bed Vestiges are particularly effective. The Games Learning Society often explores how game mechanics like pyromancy affect player engagement and learning, which is something to think about.

Beyond the Weapon: Build Optimization

The best weapon is only as good as the build supporting it. Consider these factors:

• Stats: Allocate your stats based on your chosen weapon’s scaling. Strength builds favor heavy weapons, while Dexterity builds benefit from faster, lighter weapons.
• Rings: Equip rings that enhance your damage, survivability, and stamina management.
• Armor: Choose armor that provides a balance of defense and mobility. Staying under 70% equip load is crucial for maintaining a decent roll.
• Infusions: Infuse your weapons with gems to optimize their scaling and damage type. Sharp infusions are excellent for Dexterity builds, while Heavy infusions are ideal for Strength builds.
• Buffs: Use resins and spells to further increase your damage output.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the “best” PvE weapon in Dark Souls 3 is subjective. Experiment with different weapons, find one that suits your playstyle, and optimize your build accordingly. Don’t be afraid to respec your character and try new things. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the challenge!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Black Knight Halberd still good in PvE?

Yes, absolutely. The Black Knight Halberd remains a strong contender due to its high damage, long reach, and the Perseverance weapon art. It’s especially effective against bosses with predictable attack patterns.

2. What’s the best weapon for a Strength build in PvE?

The Demon’s Greataxe is a clear winner for raw damage output. However, the Great Club and Fume Ultra Greatsword are also excellent choices, offering a blend of damage and crowd control.

3. What’s the best weapon for a Dexterity build in PvE?

Aside from the Sellsword Twinblades, the Sharp-infused Uchigatana and Warden Twinblades are great options. The Astora Greatsword is also an excellent choice, scaling well with Dexterity.

4. What’s the best weapon for a Quality build (equal Strength and Dexterity)?

The Claymore is the quintessential Quality weapon, offering a versatile move set and decent damage. The Lothric Knight Sword is also a strong contender.

5. Are Ultra Greatswords viable in PvE?

Yes, but they require patience and strategic play. Ultra Greatswords deal massive damage but are slow and consume a lot of stamina. Learn their movesets and use them against enemies with predictable attack patterns. The Zweihander and Greatsword are excellent choices.

6. How important is weapon art in PvE?

Weapon arts can be incredibly useful, providing unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Perseverance, in particular, is invaluable for trading blows with bosses.

7. Should I infuse my weapon?

In most cases, yes. Infusing your weapon with a gem that matches your build can significantly increase its damage output. Sharp infusions are ideal for Dexterity builds, while Heavy infusions are best for Strength builds.

8. What are the best rings for PvE?

Some of the best rings for PvE include:

• Havel’s Ring: Increases equip load, allowing you to wear heavier armor without sacrificing mobility.
• Ring of Favor: Increases HP, stamina, and equip load.
• Chloranthy Ring: Increases stamina recovery speed.
• Prisoner’s Chain: Increases Vigor, Endurance, and Vitality at the cost of increased damage taken.
• Ring of Steel Protection: Increases physical defense.

9. Does armor matter in PvE?

Yes, but it’s more about fashion than stats (to an extent). Wearing armor reduces damage taken, but staying under 70% equip load is crucial for maintaining a decent roll.

10. What’s the best way to deal with groups of enemies?

Weapons with wide sweeping attacks, such as Greatswords and Ultra Greatswords, are excellent for crowd control. Pyromancy and sorcery spells can also be effective for clearing out groups of enemies.

11. How do I upgrade my weapons?

Weapons are upgraded using Titanite shards, chunks, and slabs, found throughout the game. Special weapons, such as those obtained from bosses, require Twinkling Titanite or Titanite Scales.

12. What’s the best way to farm souls?

Some popular soul farming locations include:

• Lothric Castle: The Lothric Knights are relatively easy to kill and drop a decent amount of souls.
• Grand Archives: The Scholars are weak to thrusting attacks and can be farmed for souls and Titanite shards.
• Archdragon Peak: The Rock Lizards and Man-Serpents drop a significant amount of souls.

13. What are the best consumables for PvE?

Useful consumables include:

• Estus Flasks: Restore HP.
• Ashen Estus Flasks: Restore FP (for weapon arts and spells).
• Resins: Temporarily buff your weapon with elemental damage.
• Green Blossoms: Temporarily increase stamina recovery speed.
• Divine Blessings: Fully restore HP and cure status effects.

14. How do I respec my character?

You can respec your character by offering a Pale Tongue to Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth, in the Cathedral of the Deep. You can respec up to five times per playthrough.

15. Where can I learn more about Dark Souls 3 strategies and builds?

There are numerous online resources available, including wikis, forums, and YouTube channels. Joining online communities can provide valuable insights and tips. You can also check out research from organizations like the GamesLearningSociety.org to understand the learning dynamics within games like Dark Souls 3. It explores things like how challenge and feedback are used to promote engagement and skill development in video games. This kind of learning can be found in many video games that exist, and is something important to remember when trying to figure out builds.