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The Ultimate Weapon Against the Soul of Cinder: A Comprehensive Guide

The best weapon to use against the Soul of Cinder in Dark Souls III is highly dependent on your build and playstyle, but generally, a weapon with high damage output, fast attack speed, and preferably a thrusting or strike damage type is most effective. Weapons like the Lothric Knight Sword (infused with Lightning or Dark), Black Knight Sword, or Sellsword Twinblades are excellent choices. They offer a balance of damage, speed, and manageable stamina consumption, allowing you to capitalize on openings in the Soul of Cinder’s attacks. Further optimizing with buffs like Lightning Blade or Darkmoon Blade can significantly increase your damage output.

Understanding the Soul of Cinder

The Soul of Cinder is the final boss of Dark Souls III, a composite entity embodying all previous Lords of Cinder. This means his move set is incredibly varied and unpredictable. He cycles through various combat styles, mimicking past bosses and characters, making adaptability crucial. The fight is divided into two phases:

Phase 1: Features a rotating moveset encompassing magic, pyromancy, miracles, and melee combat styles reminiscent of previous bosses. He might wield a curved sword, a spear, a staff, or a pyromancy flame, each altering his attack patterns.
Phase 2: He transforms into a fiery form closely resembling Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, employing powerful lightning attacks and fast, aggressive melee strikes. This phase demands precise timing and spacing.

Weapon Recommendations by Build

Choosing the right weapon isn’t just about raw damage; it’s about synergy with your character’s stats and preferred playstyle.

Strength Builds

For Strength builds, weapons with high base damage and scaling are ideal.

Black Knight Sword: A classic choice, the Black Knight Sword deals significant physical damage and has a unique moveset. It’s particularly effective due to its high damage against demons, a hidden but relevant attribute.
Fume Ultra Greatsword: Though slow, the Fume Ultra Greatsword boasts incredible damage and hyper armor, allowing you to trade blows effectively. Proper timing is crucial to avoid getting punished during its lengthy attack animations.

Dexterity Builds

Dexterity builds benefit from weapons with fast attack speeds and scaling.

Sellsword Twinblades: These paired weapons are widely considered one of the best weapons in the game. Their rapid attacks and excellent scaling allow for massive damage output, especially when buffed.
Onikiri and Ubadachi: This paired katana offers a unique moveset with a focus on quick, consecutive attacks. It scales well with Dexterity and can inflict bleed buildup, adding another layer of damage.

Faith Builds

Faith builds can leverage weapons infused with Lightning or Blessed.

Lothric Knight Sword (Lightning Infused): The Lothric Knight Sword is a versatile weapon that can be infused with Lightning for significant damage. Buffing it further with Lightning Blade or Darkmoon Blade amplifies its effectiveness against the Soul of Cinder.
Wolnir’s Holy Sword: While generally not considered a top-tier weapon, Wolnir’s Holy Sword can be effective due to its innate Holy damage, which some players find useful against the Soul of Cinder.

Intelligence Builds

Intelligence builds often rely on magic, but can also use Crystal-infused weapons.

Moonlight Greatsword: A classic Dark Souls weapon, the Moonlight Greatsword scales with Intelligence and deals magic damage. Its unique heavy attack unleashes a powerful magic projectile.
Lothric Knight Sword (Crystal Infused): Similar to the Lightning infusion for Faith builds, Crystal infusion allows Intelligence builds to deal significant magic damage with a fast and versatile weapon.

Pyromancy Builds

Pyromancy builds can use weapons buffed with Carthus Flame Arc or Dark Blade.

Long Sword (Chaos or Dark Infused): A simple but effective choice, the Long Sword can be infused with Chaos or Dark to scale with both Intelligence and Faith, the two stats that govern Pyromancy. This allows for a hybrid melee/magic approach.
Astora Greatsword (Chaos or Dark Infused): A lightweight greatsword that can be infused with Chaos or Dark to scale with both Intelligence and Faith, the two stats that govern Pyromancy. This allows for a hybrid melee/magic approach.

Essential Strategies for the Soul of Cinder Fight

Regardless of your chosen weapon, certain strategies are essential for victory:

Learn the Attack Patterns: Knowing the Soul of Cinder’s various movesets is crucial. Observe his animations and learn to anticipate his attacks.
Manage Your Stamina: Overextending your attacks will leave you vulnerable. Maintain sufficient stamina for dodging and blocking.
Exploit Openings: Capitalize on the brief moments after the Soul of Cinder completes an attack to land a few hits.
Be Patient: This fight requires patience and precision. Don’t get greedy with your attacks, and focus on survival.
Adapt to the Second Phase: The Soul of Cinder’s Gwyn-like form is aggressive and unpredictable. Be prepared to dodge frequently and punish openings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is the Soul of Cinder weak to any particular element?

The Soul of Cinder is generally resistant to fire damage. Lightning and Dark damage are often considered effective due to his vulnerability during certain phases. However, his resistances can vary slightly depending on the form he’s currently taking.

2. Are status effects like bleed or poison effective against the Soul of Cinder?

Bleed can be effective, especially with weapons like the Sellsword Twinblades or Onikiri and Ubadachi. Poison and Toxic are less reliable due to the boss’s high resistance.

3. Should I use a shield against the Soul of Cinder?

A shield with high stability can be helpful, especially against the Gwyn-like phase. However, dodging is generally more effective, as the Soul of Cinder’s attacks can quickly deplete your stamina. Crest shields are a good choice.

4. What armor should I wear for this fight?

Prioritize armor with good physical defense and decent elemental resistance. Armor that allows you to medium roll (below 70% equip load) is crucial for mobility.

5. Is it better to summon help for this fight, or is it easier solo?

Summoning help can make the fight easier by distributing the boss’s aggression, but it also increases his health. Whether it’s easier solo or with summons depends on your skill and coordination with your co-op partners.

6. What are some good rings to use against the Soul of Cinder?

Ring of Favor: Increases HP, stamina, and equip load.
Havel’s Ring: Increases equip load.
Chloranthy Ring: Increases stamina recovery speed.
Lightning Clutch Ring (if using Lightning damage): Increases Lightning damage, but reduces physical defense.
Leo Ring (if using thrusting weapons): Increases counter-attack damage with thrusting weapons.

7. How do I deal with the Soul of Cinder’s magic attacks?

Dodging is the most reliable method. Watch for the wind-up animations and time your rolls accordingly. Magic-resistant armor can also help mitigate damage.

8. What’s the best way to deal with the Soul of Cinder’s Gwyn-like phase?

Patience and precise dodging are key. Gwyn’s attacks are fast and powerful, but he leaves openings after each combo. Capitalize on these moments to deal damage. Consider parrying his attacks if you are skilled at parrying.

9. Is parrying the Soul of Cinder viable?

Yes, parrying the Soul of Cinder is viable, especially in the Gwyn phase. However, it requires precise timing and knowledge of his attack patterns. Missing a parry can be deadly.

10. Should I use a specific covenant for this fight?

Covenants have no direct impact on the Soul of Cinder fight. Choose a covenant based on your preferred multiplayer experience.

11. Are consumables like resins or bundles useful?

Yes, resins and bundles can significantly increase your damage output. Lightning Resin or Dark Pine Resin are particularly effective if you’re not using an infused weapon.

12. How can I respec my character if I don’t have the right build for this fight?

You can respec your character by giving a Pale Tongue to Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth, in the Cathedral of the Deep. Note that you can only respec a limited number of times per playthrough.

13. What level should I be when fighting the Soul of Cinder?

Most players are typically between level 80 and 100 when facing the Soul of Cinder. This allows for sufficient stat investment in your chosen build.

14. How do I avoid the Soul of Cinder’s powerful lightning attacks in the Gwyn phase?

The best way to avoid them is to dodge roll at the precise moment he casts the spell. Learning the timing is crucial. Staying close to him can also sometimes bait him into using melee attacks instead.

15. Is it possible to cheese the Soul of Cinder?

While there are no foolproof “cheese” strategies, some players have exploited specific enemy AI patterns or used certain glitches to make the fight easier. However, these methods are often unreliable and may be patched in future updates. The best approach is to learn the fight and improve your skills.

What is the best weapon to use against the Soul of Cinder?