There are truly very few games that nail the visceral feel of melee combat as well asDark Souls. This landmark title was released by FromSoftware in 2011 and has gone on to become one of the greatest video games ever. Modern titles are still trying to emulate the core aspects of what madeDark Soulssuch an iconic and beloved title. The fact thatElden Ringsmashed sales records and became one of the most popular open-world games of all time is a testament to how beloved the FromSoftware formula is.
Thecombat ofDark Soulsis one of the major reasons why this title witnessed success across the board. This was mainly due to the sheer variety of weapons that people can find in the games, allowing players to utilize diverse and tailor-made moves that suit their build. That being said, the massive size of theDark Soulscommunity means that people have dissected all these weapons thoroughly, allowing them to find out the best ones of the lot that can decimate most enemies with ease. As a result, one can easily find and wield the best PvE weapons inDark Soulswithout having to experiment too much.
Updated on August 08, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Even after all the years that have passed, there are many people who can’t get enough of Dark Souls to this day. The game was a phenomenon that thrust Miyazaki and FromSoftware’s name to superstardom, with players not getting enough of this title’s amazing combat and world design that has yet to be matched in the eyes of many. While Elden Ring’s open world is a blast to explore, there’s something about the interconnected nature of Dark Souls that makes it such a blast to witness firsthand. Players who want to decimate most of the enemies in this game with an appropriate weapon will find themselves spoiled for choice in this regard.
23Dragonslayer Greatbow
A Massive Bow That Requires A Lot Of Strength
As the name suggests, this bow is one that was designed to take down dragons. The Dragonslayer Greatbow can be found in Anor Londo, just outside of a broken window above the grand doors that are initially locked until the player takes the long way around to open them from within.
In melee combat, it is far too slow to be useful, however, its spear-like projectiles can travel further than any arrow in the game. They also do huge damage to anything they hit, making this behemoth of a bow the ideal tool to snipe tough foes from a distance.
22Club
A Legendary Weapon For Fans Of The Bonk
Although basic in appearance, to dismiss the Club is to avoid one of the best-starting weapons in the game. Given to those who start as the Deprived Class, players have learned over the years that this simple wooden implement can trivialize much of the early game.
The Club is one of the few weapons that have a one-handed light attack that can stagger and stun most unarmored foes. It can also easily break the guard ofenemies bearing shields, making it difficult for most PvE enemies to counter. In addition, the Club’s excellent Strength scaling and the fact that it can be upgraded to +15 make it a great option for almost any build.
21Dragon King Greataxe
Obtained After Cutting The Tail Of The Gaping Dragon
Dragon weapons inDark Soulshold many advantages. They grant their wielder increased damage reduction against fire and magic attacks when held, though it is the offensive traits that make them shine. The Dragon King Greataxe, obtained as a tail-cut weapon from the Gaping Dragon, has one of the highest base damage stats in the game, which alone makes it a worthy weapon.
However, its unique two-handed strong attack is its most defining trait and makes it stand out from other greataxes with high base damage. When used, it unleashes an AOE shockwave that can devastate those standing too close. Not only can this move be useful against individual foes, but it can also clear out groups of enemies that are surrounding the player.
20Avelyn
A Repeating Crossbow With The Potential To Deal Immense Damage
This unique crossbow can be found within a chest in The Duke’s Archives close to a channeler enemy. This is a tool worth picking up during every playthrough for its deadly potential as a mid-range weapon. As opposed to other crossbows in the game, Avelyn launches three bolts in quick succession which equates to much more damage per second than any of its kind.
Since it can be wielded with the offhand, players can use this as an easy option for ranged damage against certain foes where one’s melee attacks are insufficient. With short reload times, the ability to be upgraded to +15, and low stat requirements, it is highly recommended to try this crossbow out at some point.
19Silver Knight Straight Sword
An Extremely Rare Drop From Silver Knights Wielding A Sword
The Silver Knights are some of the toughest enemies in the game, showing players just what they’re in for once they enter Anor Londo after struggling for the longest time. These knights sport a variety of weapons that can decimate the player in no time, and the ones that wield a sword are especially fearsome.
If players want to get their hands on the sword these enemies wield, then players must pray to the RNG gods that they get this weapon sooner rather than later. The chances of this weapon being acquired as a drop is only 2%, which can lead to a frustrating grind. Still, this is worthwhile for a weapon that’s pretty deft to wield and hits like a truck.
18Falchion
A Great Curved Sword That Hits Like A Truck
Sometimes, the simplest way to take out the toughest enemies in this game is to find an attack window and use an attack that maximizes the player’s DPS. This can be achieved with the Falchion, a weapon that may not be the most interesting one to use out of the many armaments present in Dark Souls but is still favored by many fans.
Spamming the light attack is a great way to chain quick blows and dish out a lot of damage. This is a great strategy as long as certain enemies don’t tank through these attacks to punish overzealous players. The only drawback of this weapon is that most people may not enjoy using it all that much, and players who want variety can pair this blade with another weapon that has an attractive moveset in comparison to this curved sword.
17Drake Sword
Breaks The Early Game
Like its draconic kin, the Drake Sword boosts one’s resistance to fire and magic damage when held and also has a unique two-handed strong attack. This special technique unleashes a wave of energy in a line before the wielder which deals huge health or stamina damage to anything it hits.
Since this blade has a moveset similar to many other straight swords, it is highly versatile for a great number of builds. With higher base damage than any other early-game weapon, it stands above more common swords in terms of foe-slaying capabilities. It can also be found very early, and acquired very easily, by shooting off the tail of the Hellkite Wyvern in the Undead Parish.
16Painting Guardian Sword
Extremely Rare Chance To Drop From The Painting Guardian
The Painting Guardian Sword is one of the most coveted blades inDark Souls, with its swift and deadly attacks enhancing a player’s DPS and ensuring that most of the player’s enemies can’t handle this relentless assault. However, there’s one major hitch that players encounter when trying to acquire this blade — the annoying grind that players have to deal with.
The 2% chance of dropping from a Painted Guardian means that players have to kill these enemies numerous times if they even wish to stand a chance of acquiring this blade. It’s a huge pain that players have to deal with and not something that is recommended for players who aren’t patient enough to endure this grind, which is perfectly understandable.
15Demon’s Great Hammer
Defeat the Asylum Demon Without Running Away to Get This Weapon
The Asylum Demon is a great introduction toDark Souls.Many players find this boss downright impossible to beat without any weapons. This is why players are encouraged to run away and come back with better gear instead.
However, if players have the Black Firebombs, or don’t mind walloping this enemy with their fists for an unreasonably long amount of time, then they’ll be rewarded with the Demon’s Great Hammer. This hammer scales well with Strength and hits for high damage.
14Estoc
Thrusting Attacks Inflict Pierce Damage
Apiercing sword that is easy to use for beginners, the Estoc may not blow anyone’s mind with its moveset or power… but it makes up for these deficiencies by letting players strike while keeping their guard up, which is incredibly useful in a game where a shield is downright necessary to survive the damage that can be incurred from certain attacks and combos.
The Estoc also boasts a high reach and can deal way more damage when two-handed, although some players would love the added security brought about by wielding a shield at all times. Whatever playstyle fans may love, they can rest assured that the Estoc will have all their bases covered.
