Strength weapons in Dark Souls 3 range from Great hammers to Greatswords to basic swords. Strength weapons scale with the strength stat, with the heavier and harder-hitting ones requiring a higher strength level. Strength weapons primarily deal physical damage and their moveset usually consists of slashes, thrusts and slam attacks.
For strength weapons, we recommend a strength level of at least 40, which is the soft level cap for Strength. Some heavier weapons, however, will require a Strength level of 50 to wield in one hand. We also recommend a high vitality and endurance level for most strength weapons will consume a lot of stamina. While no armour set is recommended in particular, consider equipping one of these armor sets sets for they will greatly complement the aesthetics of your Strength Weapons.
For more Dark Souls 3, consider checking out Dark Souls 3 Pyromancer Builds and Dark Souls 3 Thief Build.
Key Takeaways
- The composite bow is a simple short bow that shoots really quickly and is great for short to mid-range encounters. It has quick attack and rapid fire. To acquire this bow, one needs to give the Dreamchaser’s Ashes to the shrine handmaiden.
- The black bow of Pharis is a unique longbow with the most range among all bows in Dark Souls 3. To acquire a bow, one needs to defeat the Dark Spirit, Holy Knight Hodrick, then progress to the Road of Sacrifices & enter the cave behind the first giant crab.
- The Dragonslayer Greatbow is a massive bow that requires 20 strength to wield and scales with strength. To acquire this bow, one needs to transpose the Soul of Dragonslayer Armour with Ludleth of Courland.
- The White Birch Bow is a rare and unique bow that requires a high dexterity stat to wield. To acquire this bow, one needs to progress to the first bonfire in the Road of Sacrifices and then head to the right to find a crystal lizard carrying the White Birch Bow.
- The Shortbow is a very basic and quick bow, great for short-range encounters. To acquire this bow, one needs to purchase it from the Shrine Handmaid in Firelink Shrine for 1,000 souls.
- The Millwood Greatbow is a massive bow that requires 24 strength to wield and scales with strength. To acquire this bow, one needs to defeat the Millwood Knight in the Ashes of Ariandel DLC area and acquire the Millwood Greatbow from his corpse.
Here is a comparison table for the Best Strength Weapons in Dark Souls 3. Each stat can be arranged to view the highest and lowest values for a comparison:
No. Weapons Physical Damage Magic Damage Fire Damage Lightning Damage Critical Damage Physical Reduction Magic Reduction Fire Reduction Lightning Reduction Stability Strength Req. Dexterity Req. Intelligence Req. Faith Req. Weight Durability Weapon Type Attack Type
1 Great Club 135 - - - 100 50.0 10.0 35.0 35.0 32 28 - - - 12.0 250 Great Hammer Strike
2 Cathedral Knight Greatsword 140 0 0 0 100 60.0 50.0 40.0 40.0 45 20 10 - - 15.0 120 Ultra Greatsword Strike
3 Ledo’s Greathammer 170 0 0 0 100 85.0 55.0 60.0 55.0 50 60 - - - 28.0 310 Great Hammer Strike
4 Butcher’s Knife 112 0 0 0 0 55.0 10.0 30.0 30.0 40 25 8 - - 16.0 40 Great Hammer Strike
5 Greatsword 130 - - - 100 70.0 10.0 50.0 50.0 44 28 10 - - 12.0 200 Ultra Greatswords Regular / Thrust
6 Vordt’s Greathammer 178 0 0 0 100 55.0 45.0 35.0 35.0 45 30 - - - 17.0 170 Great Hammer Strike
7 Winged Knight Twinaxe 122 0 0 0 100 45.0 30.0 25.0 25.0 35 20 12 - - 8.5 80 Axe (Paired) Standard
8 Fume Ultra Greatsword 149 0 0 0 100 80.0 55.0 65.0 60.0 55 50 10 - - 25,5 170 Ultra Greatsword Strike
9 Dragonslayer Greataxe 200 0 0 74 100 55.0 45.0 40.0 40.0 40 40 - - - 20,0 165 Greataxe Standard
Best Strength Weapons In Dark Souls 3
While you cannot go wrong with almost any Strength Weapon in Dark Souls 3, we tried to compile the best ones in a list. Owing to their high damage output, unique movesets and strength scaling, the following are what we consider to be the greatest pure strength weapons in Dark Souls 3.
Great Club
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 135 |
| Magic Damage | - |
| Fire Damage | - |
| Lightning Damage | - |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 50.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 10.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 35.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 35.0 |
| Stability | 32 |
| Strength Req. | 28 |
| Dexterity Req. | - |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 12.0 |
| Durability | 250 |
| Weapon Type | Great Hammer |
| Attack Type | Strike |
While this may come as a surprise to some, the Great Club is probably one of the greatest early game/beginner strength weapons in Dark Souls 3. It is also a great option for people transitioning into weapons such as the Greatsword and FUGS. The Great Club is dropped from the Watchdog of the Farron NPC near Farron Keep.
It has a relatively quick moveset that consists of Blunt/Slam attacks and requires a Strength level of at least 28. It deals a ton of damage and has a very beginner-friendly learning curve. The Great Club can also be infused with the Heavy Gem for additional damage strength scaling. You can upgrade the Great Club with Titanite Shards.
The Great Club is a great option for both PVE and PVP, which is evident by how often you will be encountering an online opponent wielding this weapon. Its straightforward moveset and high backstab damage make it a strong choice for all sorts of encounters. The powerful blunt attacks mean the Great Club will be staggering almost every non-boss enemy.
Cathedral Knight Greatsword
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 140 |
| Magic Damage | 0 |
| Fire Damage | 0 |
| Lightning Damage | 0 |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 60.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 50.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 40.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 40.0 |
| Stability | 45 |
| Strength Req. | 20 |
| Dexterity Req. | 10 |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 15.0 |
| Durability | 120 |
| Weapon Type | Ultra Greatsword |
| Attack Type | Strike |
The Cathedral Knight Greatsword is one of the greatest ultra greatswords in the game, and arguably the best ones for beginners. This also happens to be one of those weapons that practically announce you are a pure strength player. The ultra greatsword class is one of the harder to learn weapon classes in Dark Souls 3, the extremely slow hitting time, the very heavy weight and dual wielding are all things one has to get acquainted to.
The Cathedral Knight Greatsword is a sword that is very welcoming to new players considering the ultra greatsword class. It has a low strength requirement compared to other ultra greatswords and has a relatively quicker moveset while retaining the high damage output.
You can pick up the Cathedral Knight Greatsword from the Knights that wield this Greatsword in the Cathedral of the deep. This weapon is upgraded with Titanite shards. Its moveset consists primarily of Slash and Thrust type attacks You will require a minimum strength level of at least 28 and a minimum dexterity level of at least 10. This weapon can be infused, we recommend infusing it with the Heavy Gem for higher Strength scaling.
Ledo’s Greathammer
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 170 |
| Magic Damage | 0 |
| Fire Damage | 0 |
| Lightning Damage | 0 |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 85.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 55.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 60.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 55.0 |
| Stability | 50 |
| Strength Req. | 60 |
| Dexterity Req. | - |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 28.0 |
| Durability | 310 |
| Weapon Type | Great Hammer |
| Attack Type | Strike |
This is both the heaviest in the game and the weapon with the highest Strength requirement. Ledo’s Greathammer certainty is not one for beginners or those new to Strength builds, but it is arguably one of the greatest late game weapons in all of Dark Souls 3. You can acquire this Greathammer after beating Silver Knight Ledo in the Ringed City DLC. This weapon is one of the ardest hitting weapons in the game. While it does have a steep learning curve, it is justified by the skillset of this weapons.
Ledo’s greatsword has an L2 called call to stone that buffs the attacks of this weapon and the following R2 shatters nearby stones, causing damage. This weapon can be upgraded using twinkling titanate. Its moveset consists primarily of slow hitting strike attacks.
While not a good PvP option, Ledo’s Greathammer is a contender for the best PvE weapons in Dark Souls 3. Once you get comfortable with it and are timing your hits correctly, you will be shredding through all kinds of enemies. From multiple ads to a high health bossfight, this weapon can cover every encounter.
Butcher’s Knife
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 112 |
| Magic Damage | 0 |
| Fire Damage | 0 |
| Lightning Damage | 0 |
| Critical Damage | 0 |
| Physical Reduction | 55.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 10.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 30.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 30.0 |
| Stability | 40 |
| Strength Req. | 25 |
| Dexterity Req. | 8 |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 16.0 |
| Durability | 40 |
| Weapon Type | Great Hammer |
| Attack Type | Strike |
Butcher’s Knife is one of the most welcoming weapons in Dark Souls 3. Found during the early parts of a playthrough, this axe is sure to get you through multiple playthroughs. The Butchers Knife is a pure Strength weapon that has a very quick moveset considering its Strength scaling. Its unique attacks, L2 buff and moveset make it one of the best Strength weapons for beginners and veterans alike.
You can acquire the Butcher’s Knife after being an NPC wielding it in the Road of Sacrifices. It can be upgraded using titanate shards. This weapon offers very good range and a very fast moveset consisting of slash attacks. It also scales really well with strength and has unique R2 attacks. It has an L2 buff called sharpen which provides bonus attack and HP recovery with every hit for 25 seconds. You will require a Strength level of at least 18 to be able to use this weapon.
The Butcher’s knife is an excellent option for both PvP and PvE. The very fast moveset along with the Strength scaling, make it an exceptional PvP weapon. The unique R2 attacks along with the HP regeneration, make it a very strong PvE weapon. Overall, the Butcher’s Knife is one of the best weapons in Dark Souls 3. While its simplicity and ease of use might make it seem boring to some, if you choose to look beyond that you will get what is weapon certain to get you through many playthroughs.
Greatsword
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 130 |
| Magic Damage | - |
| Fire Damage | - |
| Lightning Damage | - |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 70.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 10.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 50.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 50.0 |
| Stability | 44 |
| Strength Req. | 28 |
| Dexterity Req. | 10 |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 12.0 |
| Durability | 200 |
| Weapon Type | Ultra Greatswords |
| Attack Type | Regular / Thrust |
Everyone probably saw this coming. Inspired by Berserk’s main character Guts’ sword (check out our Guts Builds), the Greatsword is one of the most iconic weapons in the Souls Series. This Ultra greatsword is one the greatest-looking weapons in Dark Souls 3. Its menacing aura, moveset and unique R2 attacks make it one of the best Strength weapons in Dark Souls 3.
You can find this weapon lying in Farron Keep. There is a broken bridge in Farron Keep that is not hard to miss. The Greatsword is lying atop that bridge. The Greatsword can be levelled up using Titanite Shards. It can be buffed and infused. The Greatsword has a moveset consisting of slashes and thrust attacks. It requires a Strength level of at least 28 and a dexterity level of at least 10.
You can, however, use a Heavy Gem to make it a Pure Strength weapon. What separates the Greatsword from most other ultra Greatswords is its ability to be buffed, which will come in handy quite often.
Due to its length and high damage output, the Greatsword can serve as both a PvP and PvE option. We recommend it as a PvE weapon though, for its slow hitting time might make it underwhelming for PvP, especially 1v1 encounters. When it comes to PvE though, the Greatsword will excel at almost every encounter, from ads to bosses.
Vordt’s Greathammer
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 178 |
| Magic Damage | 0 |
| Fire Damage | 0 |
| Lightning Damage | 0 |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 55.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 45.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 35.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 35.0 |
| Stability | 45 |
| Strength Req. | 30 |
| Dexterity Req. | - |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 17.0 |
| Durability | 170 |
| Weapon Type | Great Hammer |
| Attack Type | Strike |
Vordt’s Greathammer, due to its high damage, ability to cause frostbite and perseverance, is one of the best Strength weapons in Dark Souls 3. This weapon cannot be buffed or infused. Its moveset consists primarily of strike attacks. Since its a boss soul weapon, you can acquire it by transposing the souls of Vordt of the Borreal valley. It is reinforced using Titanite Scale. You will require a strength level of at least 30 to use Vordt’s Greathammer.
This weapon causes frostbite really quickly, often taking only 2 or 3 hits. It also has a strong L2 called Perserverance. Perseverance largely reduces incoming damage and gives you a lot of poise for 6 seconds, making you a tank for moments where you just want to jump in and spam attack
Voedt’s Greathammer is good for both PvE and PvP. Its high damage output, coupled with its moveset makes it a great PvE option, helping you melt through your enemies. Perseverance and frostbite make it a great PvP weapon, especially if you are an offensive player and like to bait your enemies.
Winged Knight Twinaxe
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 122 |
| Magic Damage | 0 |
| Fire Damage | 0 |
| Lightning Damage | 0 |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 45.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 30.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 25.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 25.0 |
| Stability | 35 |
| Strength Req. | 20 |
| Dexterity Req. | 12 |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 8.5 |
| Durability | 80 |
| Weapon Type | Axe (Paired) |
| Attack Type | Standard |
You know the Winged Knight Twinaxe will be a great Strength weapon the first time you come across a foe wielding them. This weapon, owing to its unique spinning attack, long length, high damage output and strength scaling is one of the greatest weapons in Dark Souls 3.
This weapon has a moveset that spans wide, clearing a large number of ads in mere seconds. You can acquire this weapon from Winged Knights that wield it as a drop, you will require a Strength level of at least 20 and a Dexterity level of at least 12 to wield this weapon. You can upgrade it using Titanite shards. It can be buffed and Infused.
While not a great PvP option, its length and versatile moveset make the Winged Knight Twinaxe a great PvE option. It is especially good against multiple foes and its spinning attack can be devastating. It is also decent against single large health pool enemies and bosses. All in all, this is one of the finest PvE weapons in Dark Souls 3.
Fume Ultra Greatsword
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 149 |
| Magic Damage | 0 |
| Fire Damage | 0 |
| Lightning Damage | 0 |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 80.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 55.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 65.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 60.0 |
| Stability | 55 |
| Strength Req. | 50 |
| Dexterity Req. | 10 |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 25,5 |
| Durability | 170 |
| Weapon Type | Ultra Greatsword |
| Attack Type | Strike |
This list would not have been complete without the inclusion of the Fume Ultra Greatsword (FUGS). Making its first appearance in Dark Souls 2 during what might be the greatest bossfight of the game, FUGS is probably the most iconic Strength weapon in Dark Souls. Just the looks of this weapon make it worthy of being on this list. Despite it being a very heavy weapon and a weapon requiring a lot of Strength, FUGS is a weapon we recommend everyone in the game should at least try once.
To acquire FUGS, you have to beat Knight Slayer Tsorig. Tsorig invades you shortly after the first bonfire in the catacombs. Upon killing Tsorig, you receive the Fume Ultra Greatsword. While FUGS cannot be infused, it can be buffed. It can be upgraded using Twinkling Titanite. You require a Strength level of 50 and a Dexterity level of 10 to use FUGS. It has a move set similar to that of the Greatsword although it deals a little more damage.
While you can wield FUGS in one hand, it is recommended to be dual-wielded for the best moveset and max damage optimization. It does have a learning curve due to its weight and slow hitting time, which is why we recommend getting acquainted with Ultra Greatswords with any one of the previously mentioned Ultra Greatswords in this list. Once you are comfortable with Ultra Greatswords, however, FUGS is arguably the greatest option in the game.
Fume Ultra Greatsword is good for both PvE and PvE. Its very long length, insane damage output and combo consisting of strikes make it an exceptional choice against ads, mini bosses and bosses. Once mastered, it has a quick time to kill and will get you through every encounter in the game with ease. When it comes to PvP, FUGS is excellent for creating distance and having your opponent second guess your every move. When it connects, it deals a ton of damage and will easily kill PvP opponents in a few hits. Overall, FUGS is one of the greatest weapons in Dark souls 3, period.
Dragonslayer Greataxe
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical Damage | 200 |
| Magic Damage | 0 |
| Fire Damage | 0 |
| Lightning Damage | 74 |
| Critical Damage | 100 |
| Physical Reduction | 55.0 |
| Magic Reduction | 45.0 |
| Fire Reduction | 40.0 |
| Lightning Reduction | 40.0 |
| Stability | 40 |
| Strength Req. | 40 |
| Dexterity Req. | - |
| Intelligence Req. | - |
| Faith Req. | - |
| Weight | 20,0 |
| Durability | 165 |
| Weapon Type | Greataxe |
| Attack Type | Standard |
The Dragonslayer Greataxe is one o the most menacing weapons in the game. It is arguably the best Greataxe in the game. This weapon does a ton of physical damage, and if you happen to level up faith, it will deal Lightning Damage alongside that, with a chance to deal Critical Damage.
This weapon is a boss soul weapon, you will require the soul of the Dragonslayer armour to acquire it. While it cannot be buffed or infused, it has a good enough base damage and lightning damage alongside it so there is no need for them either. It requires a Strength level of at least 50 and has minor scaling with Dexterity and Faith. It has a moveset consisting of strikes and slam attacks. It has a very powerful 2 that damages lightning damage and an L2 called falling bolt that deals an overhead strike causing a lightning shockwave. Falling bolt is easy to -predict and can be parried so its best for PvE encounters only.
While it can carry you through during PvP, we recommend the Dragonslayer Greataxe exclusively as a PvE weapon for its slow and telegraphed moves and relatively low range make it an underwhelming PvP weapon. The high damage with those slow hits, however, means that it will be melting through your foes in PvE. Especially effective against slower bosses and Darkeater Midir, the hardest boss in the Souls series. Yes, it does have a learning curve, but it is most definitely justified by how powerful the Dragonslayer Greataxe is.
FAQs
Yes and no, while some of the heavier and more iconic weapons, such as the Fume Ultra Greatsword do have a steep learning curve, others like the broadsword and butcher’s knife are some of the easiest to use weapons in Dark Souls 3. We do recommend getting acquainted with the moveset of an Ultra Greatsword or a Greataxe if you plan on running a pure Strength build though.
No, you can use these weapons as long as you meet the required Strength level. Pure Strength builds, however, will be maximizing the utility of these weapons so we do recommend you run with those if considering some of the heavier weapons in this list.
While there is not one answer to this for almost every Strength weapon in Dark Souls 3 is a good one, the weapons in this list are the ones we believe to be the greatest ones in all of Dark Souls 3.
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