Maximizing your attack rating in Lothric requires pairing the right armaments with optimal stat scaling. If you're tired of chipping away at boss health bars with underperforming gear, you need to match top-tier hardware with focused builds.
The absolute best weapons in Dark Souls 3 combine high base damage, strong attribute scaling, and versatile movesets. For pure physical DPS, options like the Sellsword Twinblades and the Lothric Knight Sword dominate, while heavy hitters rely on the Lothric Knight Greatsword or Yhorm's Great Machete.
Understanding Stat Scaling and Infusions
Weapon choice means nothing if your character stats don't match the weapon's scaling grades (S, A, B, C, D, E). A weapon with an S-tier scaling in Dexterity will deal negligible damage if your Dex stat sits at base level.
Infusions completely change how armaments scale. You can manipulate physical attributes using gems found throughout Lothric or craft elemental powerhouses.
- Heavy Gem: Boosts Strength scaling while reducing base damage and other attributes. Ideal for colossal weapons.
- Sharp Gem: Maximizes Dexterity scaling, making fast weapons devastating.
- Refined Gem: Balances Strength and Dexterity scaling, though it's often outperformed by pure Heavy or Sharp builds at meta levels (SL 120-125).
- Chaos and Dark Gems: Scale primarily with Intelligence and Faith, offering phenomenal elemental damage for pyromancers and dark builds.
For detailed community data on weapon stats and scaling tables, check out the Fextralife Dark Souls 3 Wiki.
Top Tier Weapons for Strength Builds
Strength builds focus on hyper-armor, staggering enemies, and delivering crushing single-hit damage. If you like slow, deliberate combat that punishes boss windows, these choices fit best.
Yhorm's Great Machete
Found in the Profaned Capital after defeating Yhorm the Giant, this machete boasts massive physical attack power. It has fantastic reach and requires minimal dexterity investment to shine. When infused with a Heavy Gem, its Strength scaling reaches high tiers, letting you stunlock many mid-sized enemies in PvE.
Ledo's Great Hammer
Introduced in The Ringed City DLC, this colossal hammer requires a steep 60 Strength to one-hand effectively. Its weapon art, Call to Stone, buffs your physical attack rating even further while granting passive hyper-armor during swings. It wrecks armored targets and melts boss health pools.
Fume Ultra Greatsword
Despite past balance patches, the Fume Ultra Greatsword remains a fan favorite for heavy fighters. It offers incredible block frames during its heavy attacks, allowing you to absorb minor hits while executing your swing. Pair it with Heavy armor and the Bandai Namco Entertainment Official Site for game updates and franchise news.
Top Tier Weapons for Dexterity Builds
Dexterity builds emphasize rapid attack speeds, high stamina efficiency, and multi-hit combos that melt boss health bars through sheer DPS.
Sellsword Twinblades
Don't let their early-game availability fool you; the Sellsword Twinblades offer the highest sustained DPS in Dark Souls 3. Starting as the Mercenary class, you can carry these straight through to the final boss. When infused with a Sharp Gem and paired with the Myrrah/Pontiff's Right Eye rings, their two-handed L1 combo tears through bosses like Sister Frieda and the Soul of Cinder.
Lothric Knight Sword
Widely considered the best straight sword in the game, the Lothric Knight Sword features a 110 critical modifier, a thrusting heavy attack, and refined S-tier Sharp scaling. It gives you incredible safety, fast recovery frames, and adaptability against agile targets.
Frayed Blade
For players deep into The Ringed City, the Frayed Blade is a premier Dexterity/Luck katana. Its weapon art launches waves of dark projectiles that stagger foes and inflict heavy bleed build-up. It rewards precise spacing and aggressive playstyles.
Elemental and Hybrid Damage Options
If you prefer casting spells alongside melee combat, hybrid builds deliver incredible burst potential without sacrificing range.
Moonlight Greatsword
A staple of FromSoftware titles, the Moonlight Greatsword requires a dedicated Intelligence build. Its heavy attack fires a projectile beam that costs durability instead of spell slots. Pair it with sorceries like Crystal Soul Spear for a pure magic setup.
Crucifix of the Mad King
Found in The Ringed City, this halberd scales with Faith and Strength and deals innate dark damage. Buffing it with the Dark Blade miracle pushes its attack rating to astronomical levels, making it one of the most feared weapons in PvP and PvE alike.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading Stats Too Thin: Trying to level Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith all at once leaves your character weak. Pick one primary offensive stat focus (or two for quality/hybrid builds) and cap it at 40 or 60.
- Ignoring Upgrade Materials: A +6 weapon with proper scaling will often underperform compared to a maxed-out +10 weapon with mediocre stats. Prioritize gathering Titanite Slabs.
- Neglecting Stamina: High damage means nothing if you run out of stamina before dodging an incoming boss counter-attack. Keep Enduring stamina in mind when managing your rings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single highest DPS weapon in Dark Souls 3?
The Sellsword Twinblades hold the crown for sustained DPS when infused with a Sharp Gem and built for high Dexterity. For single-hit burst damage, the Dragonslayer Greataxe or Lothric Knight Greatsword with lightning buffs take the lead.
Are Refined builds still viable?
Refined infusions were heavily nerfed years ago. For almost all weapons, pure Heavy or pure Sharp infusions yield higher attack ratings at meta levels (Soul Level 125) than splitting stats evenly between Strength and Dexterity.
Where do I find Titanite Slabs?
Titanite Slabs are rare items used to upgrade weapons to their maximum level (+10 for regular, +5 for boss/twinkling weapons). You can find them late-game in areas like the Grand Archives, Archdragon Peak, and through NPC questlines like Siegward of Catarina's.
Can I respec my stats if I choose the wrong weapon?
Yes. You can reallocate your attributes up to five times per playthrough by visiting Rosaria, Mother of Rebirth, located in the Cathedral of the Deep. You need to offer her a Pale Tongue for each respec.
