Dark Souls: The Best Strength Weapons, Ranked (2024)

One doesn't need to describe the monumental achievement that was Dark Souls. After all, the massive legacy of the game pretty much speaks for itself. From ushering in the golden age of From Software to inspiring a ton of modern games (indie or otherwise) to emulate what made it great, there's no end to the sheer number of ways in which Dark Souls has impacted the gaming industry. The combat is one of the many facets that makes Dark Souls great. The sheer number of weapons that one can equip is quite extensive. However, depending on whether the player is going for a Strength or Dexterity build, the selection of weapons needs to change accordingly.

Strength weapons are generally quite beloved by Dark Souls veterans, who love the idea of walloping enemies with their powerful weapons and seeing their health bars deplete in no time flat. Players need to time their swings with the majority of the best DS1 Strength weapons properly if they don't want to be caught out in the middle of a blow. This is easier said than done, but players who get enough practice in Dark Souls will eventually be able to wipe out most tough enemies without too many problems as long as their poise is high enough.

Updated on July 26, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Dark Souls is one of the most important video games ever made, coming out during a time when the relentless need to make games as diverse and approachable as possible led to a massive influx of watered-down games that were far from stimulation. In such a climate, FromSoftware satiated fans with a hardcore action title that was completely fair despite its heightened difficulty. The majority of deaths players experienced in this game were the player's fault, forcing them to improve their skills and ensure that they're using a weapon that goes well with their build. Players who want to use slow weapons that inflict massive damage should make it a point to use one of the best DS1 strength weapons to flatten their foes in no time.

Strength Weapon Upgrade Path Tips

• For the most part, players new to Dark Souls should go down the regular upgrade path for their Strength weapons. It's the only upgrade path to reach a +15 modifier and makes the most of the player's Strength stat to maximize damage with the appropriate weapons.
• Players who want to use a weapon early on and know they'll discard it later down the line can pursue either the Crystal or Raw Upgrade Paths. The Lightning Upgrade Path is also great, especially for low-level PVP, when most players don't have any armor with good lightning resistances.
• Aside from this, there is a slew of Magical Upgrade Paths that the player can opt for as well. Just keep in mind that the player's Intelligence needs to be at an acceptable level so that damage levels aren't hampered, thereby negating the effectiveness of a Dark Souls Strength build.

30 Dragon Bone Fist

Ascend A +10 Upgraded Caestus Or Claws With The Core Of An Iron Golem

Sometimes, weapons in Dark Souls don't need to be practical, with long reaches, huge damage numbers, and the like. Instead, the major part of playing Dark Souls — or any other video game for that matter — is to have fun and be as creative as possible just to see how far players can push the systems of any game.

The Dragon Bone Fist is exactly the ridiculous weapon players should use if they want to humiliate the enemies of Dark Souls. Punching enemies into a pulp and expertly parrying their attacks makes for a great time if players are skilled enough to use this weapon. Sure, it may not be the strongest Strength weapon around, but there's something immensely satisfying about using a joke weapon to embarrass enemies in a game that is notorious for its high difficulty.

29 Pickaxe

Drops From Infested Barbarians In Blighttown

Most people would assume that something as simple as a pickaxe can't hack it against some of the other weapons that are more flamboyant, in comparison. However, one place where Dark Souls excels is balance, and a player who likes the moveset of the pickaxe can very much turn it into the weapon of their choice if they wish.

The pickaxe is a thing of beauty in the right hands, able to pierce and destroy enemies once players invest enough points in Strength. Given how much players love to challenge themselves, it's easy to see why some people wouldn't mind completing a run using the pickaxe as their main weapon.

28 Hand Axe

Starting Equipment For Pyromancers

It's easy to write off the Hand Axe as a forgettable weapon given the sheer number of creative armaments players can get their hands on in the game. However, players who want to get their hands on one of the best DS1 strength weapons with high attack speed and DPS will love what the Hand Axe has to offer.

The swift attacks make it one of the best PvE weapons players can use if they want to hack down most enemies without too much of a fuss. It can be a bit boring to use after a point, but players who only care about ensuring that the weapon they're using is as viable as possible against Dark Souls' toughest foes will find this simple and lovable weapon to be right up their alley.

27 Gough's Greatbow

Either Talk To Gough After Defeating Black Dragon Kalameet Or Kill Him

Ranged weapons can be tricky to use in Dark Souls, and most beginners would prefer to just stick to melee weapons instead of doing anything fancy. However, if players don't mind experimenting, then investing in Gough's Greatbow can be a wise decision indeed.

Taking out enemies from a distance is always a welcome bonus, even if players have to invest in a ton of arrows to ensure that they don't run out during a particularly harrowing run. Gough's Greatbow is massive, requires a lot of strength, and hits like a truck when upgraded to its fullest potential.

26 Warpick

Purchase From Andre Of Astora In Undead Parish

Despite boasting the moveset of a hammer, the Warpick deals thrusting damage and scales with Dexterity too. This makes it a better recommendation for a Quality build. Nevertheless, Strength builds can still squeeze out a lot of damage from this weapon.

The focus on thrusting damage means that players can use the bonuses of Leo's Ring to make things easier for themselves. It's far from the most optimal Strength weapon, but a great pick for players who are seeking out something new and interesting.

25 Club

Starting Weapon For The Deprived Class, Sold By The Undead Merchant

Dark Souls is full of fantastic and awe-inspiring weapons that are a blast to use. So, at a glance, it's easy to see why using a basic club may seem like a waste of the game's expansive list of the best DS1 strength weapons that players can use to great effect.

However, players who care more about utility than anything else know just how useful of a weapon the Club is, especially in the early game. Players can purchase this weapon for a pittance and use it to deal great damage, although missing a hit with this weapon can leave players pretty vulnerable. Some players have gone the extra mile and completed the entire game with this weapon, showing just how underrated the Club is in the grand scheme of things.

24 Morning Star

Found In A Chest When Players Drop From A Staircase In Firelink Shrine

The Morning Star is one of the most brutal weapons used in medieval times, and players who get their hands on this armament during their adventures in Dark Souls won't be disappointed. Not only does this weapon hit like a truck at early levels, but it also causes the Bleed status effect on unsuspecting enemies.

This means that players need only land a few consecutive hits on players to watch their health bars melt in no time. The acquirement of this weapon in the game coupled with its low strength and excellent viability in combat makes the Morning Star one of the best DS1 strength weapons players can get their hands on.

23 Stone Greataxe

Rare Drop From The Stone Guardian

The Stone Guardian is a powerful enemy in Dark Souls that is encountered in Royal Wood, an area added in the Artorias of the Abyss DLC. This enemy can hit for serious damage, so players should exploit its slow moves to take it down without getting too greedy.

If the axe that this monstrous enemy wields interests the player, then they need to settle in for a serious grind. This enemy has a 2% chance of dropping the Stone Greataxe, which is one of the best DS1 strength weapons to use and something players can flaunt if the RNG gods are kind to them.

22 Hammer Of Vamos

Dropped From Blacksmith Vados

Weapons with split damage are a tough sell. Some enemies are resistant to certain damage types and can make it hard to recommend such weapons, so there is something special about the Hammer of Vados that makes it such a blast to use in battle. It may not be the best DS1 strength weapon, but players who want to flex on enemies with a weapon that smashes and burns them at the same time will love what this hammer brings to the table.

Blacksmith Vados deserves a better fate, but players who want to acquire a fire weapon that humiliates foes must kill this character or use the Wheel Skeletons in the area to give him a swift and undeserved death. Doing so ensures that players can get their hands on a weapon that hits for decent damage and can be magical in the hands of a skilled Chosen Undead.

21 Mace

Starting Weapon For The Cleric Class

It's a shame that the Mace doesn't get a lot of love from the community. Sure, there are other weapons that are way more interesting, but the Mace is a blast to use. Players can just bonk enemies to kingdom come after upgrading this weapon to the max.

The damage potential of this weapon is severely underrated and one of the biggest reasons why players should give this weapon a shot. Clerics will find this weapon worth using until they find something that compliments their Faith build unless they also want to invest points in Strength.

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19 Large Club

A Rare Drop From The Club-Wielding Infested Barbarian In Blighttown

The Large Club should ideally be ranked way higher when compared to some of the other best strength weapons in Dark Souls simply because of the insane amount of damage that it can dish out. However, this weapon is an extremely rare drop that players have to farm in the game's worst area: Blighttown.

Getting the Large Club is a celebration since it has one of the hardest-hitting charged strong attacks in the entire game. It's just a shame that most players will never even get the chance to use this weapon because of how low the drop rate is.

18 Reinforced Club

Sold By The Undead Merchant

The Reinforced Club might not be the greatest Strength weapon around, but it's a great option for players who are just starting and don't want to grind or put themselves in a sticky situation to gain a particular weapon.

Keeping that in mind, it must be said that the Reinforced Club is a great weapon to opt for in this regard. Players can finish the entire game with this weapon, making it a great early-game Strength weapon.

17 Stone Greatsword

Sold By Shiva Of The East; Also, A Rare Drop From The Great Stone Knight

This moss-covered blade is most famous for being used against the Chosen Undead by the stone knights who guard Darkroot Garden as well as a few other places. Initially, it comes off as odd for it has moderate scaling in Strength and Dexterity, along with low scaling for Intelligence despite needing 40 Strength to even be wielded effectively.

However, it does magical damage in addition to physical, which can be useful against many enemies in PVE. On top of this, the two-handed strong attack casts a miracle similar to the Tranquil Walk of Peace, much like the one the stone knights use -- a great way to slow down any invaders or adversaries in PVP.

16 Grant

Dropped By Paladin Leeroy In The Tomb Of Giants

Players who want to pursue a unique build where they invest in both Strength and Faith will find their options to be pretty limited. It's only when they reach the Tomb of the Giants that players will defeat Paladin Leeroy, and gain access to a weapon that is right up their alley.

Grant requires a lot of investment from the player's end, which is why most people find this weapon viable only in NG+. However, this should take nothing away from the effectiveness of the Grant when players can finally wield it. It lets them obliterate most enemies in no time.

15 Claymore

On The Bridge Where The Hellkite Wyvern Resides

The Claymore is a great weapon that players can use for both PvE and PvP. The fact that it's found fairly early is a huge plus for this weapon, although obtaining it is quite a task. After dodging the Hellkite Wyvern's fire, the player can run for their lives to land right under this dragon, where a body with this weapon can be found.

Upgrading this weapon turns it into an absolute beast in combat. It's easy to see why so many players hold this weapon in high regard, making it one of the standout Strength weapons that beginners can use to turn the game into a breeze.

14 Zweihander

In Front Of A Tombstone In The Graveyard Area Near Firelink Shrine

While the Claymore might be a great weapon in its own right, most people consider the Zweihander to be the superior greatsword for several reasons.

The fact that it can be obtained even earlier than the Claymore — albeit through a suicide run of sorts — makes it an even easier recommendation, and the damage it can dish out in the early game is nothing to scoff at, either.

13 Gravelord Sword

Join The Gravelord Servant Covenant

As the very same weapon used by Gravelord Nito, the First of the Dead, this curved greatsword matches its reputation. Low Strength scaling and low base damage make many overlook the Gravelord Sword at first, but when one realizes its other effects, they quickly change their minds. Most curved swords and greatswords exclusively deal slash damage, though not this one, as Nito's sword has a move set that includes trust attacks, which can be immensely helpful in corridors and for armored enemies resistant to slash damage.

In addition, this weapon is one of the only two in the entire game that applies Toxic build-up, which, when peaked, will last on the target for a staggering ten minutes at five damage per second for what will feel like an eternity of suffering if in PVP.

12 Dragon Greatsword

Cut The Tail Of The Everlasting Dragon

It is likely many are well aware of the power of dragon weapons in Dark Souls. The might of these everlasting behemoths lives on in the blades formed from their tails. Dragon weapons cannot be augmented and do not have scaling, which places a ceiling over their usability, though they offer plenty of other benefits. The Dragon Greatsword, which can be acquired by cutting off the tail of the Everlasting Dragon found in Ash Lake, has one of the highest base damage of any weapon in the game.

When wielded, it also grants the user damage reduction from fire and magic attacks, as well as greatly increases resistance to all status effects. Despite being as slow as other ultra-greatswords, the two-handed strong attack unleashes a fast vertical cleave that extends farther than one expects, making it ideal for catching nimble adversaries.

11 Demon Great Machete

Sold By Shiva Of The East; Also Obtained As A Rare Drop From The Capra Demon

Almost every Demon weapon can enjoy the title of being the best DS1 strength weapon — and to an extent, they do — so it's no surprise that one of these weapons qualifies in this regard. The Demon Great Machete might be slower than most other greatswords, but the massive damage they can dish out with the greatest of ease can easily make up for this deficit.

Players are better off purchasing this weapon from Shiva of the East instead of going through the painful grind of farming these weapons from the dreaded Capra Demon. Fighting multiple types of this dreaded foe is not an alluring prospect in the slightest, and players are better off using Souls instead of spending their sanity to acquire one of the best DS1 strength weapons.