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The art of making boss weapons in the original Dark Soulsis much more taxing than in future installments. Players must upgrade a base weapon to a certain threshold before it can be ascended at the Giant Blacksmith in Anor Londo. These weapons should be unstoppable, and some certainly are. Sadly, just as many weapons are worth skipping. Here are the five best and worst boss weapons players can use in the original Dark Souls.
Updated March 22, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Dark Souls features a litany of bosses that players can best in battle. As a reward, players are awarded a Boss Soul along with the usual bunch of Souls that let them purchase equipment and level up. While these Boss Souls can be consumed, players can infuse these souls with certain weapons to level them up and unlock some truly powerful weapons. Unfortunately, not all Boss Souls weapons are as good as others, and this list will take a look at the best of the bunch that players can check out in the game.
10 Tin Darkmoon Catalyst
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Dark Sun Gwyndolin Base Weapon Required: Any Catalyst Attack Rating: 230 Magic Adjustment Moveset: Catalyst (Spellcasting) Required Stats: Strength (4), Intelligence (16) Scaling: Faith (A) Unique Traits: Lets players cast powerful spells with a relatively low requirement
Catalysts are a great tool that let players cast high-damage magic at relatively low costs. In this regard, the Tin Darkmoon Catalyst absolutely excels, with its low Intelligence requirement allowing players to use some truly powerful spells indeed.
Dark Bead and Orb can hit enemies at range for massive damage. Given how powerful magic is in most Soulsborne games, it’s easy to see why players should use the Tin Darkmoon Catalyst if they want to branch out with their combat styles.
9 Golem Axe
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of the Iron Golem Base Weapon Required: +10 Axe weapon Attack Rating: 255 Attack Moveset: Axe Required Stats: Strength (36), Dexterity (8) Scaling: Strength (C) Unique Traits: Can unleash an air blast projectile at the cost of weapon durability
The Golem Axe is one of the best weapons that players can use in the game… so it’s a shame that the weapon’s so underrated. By the point players have cleared out Sen’s Fortress, it’s quite possible that they’ve already met the Strength requirements of this weapon anyway if they’re pursuing a Strength build.
It helps that the Golem Axe has a ton of attacking power as well, letting it absolutely blast through the defenses of most enemies in the game. The cherry on top of this cake is an air blast projectile that can hit enemies at range, although it does reduce weapon durability by quite a major extent.
8 Smough’s Hammer
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Smough Base Weapon Required: +10 Hammer or Great Hammer Attack Rating: 450 Attack Moveset: Hammer Required Stats: Strength (58) Scaling: Strength (D) Unique Traits: Massive damage and heals the player for 10 HP with each hit
The duo of Ornstein and Smough forms one of the best and most challenging boss fights in the game. These enemies hit like a truck and can down even the most powerful warriors around with a few well-placed hits and great teamwork.
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Fighting the buffed version of Smough and defeating him nets a Boss Soul that can be used to acquire his hammer. It’s ridiculously large and covers up most of the screen, which can be a bit counterintuitive at times. Thankfully, its high damage and surprising healing capabilities make it a fun weapon to use indeed.
7 Abyss Greatsword
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Artorias Base Weapon Required: +10 Greatsword, Straight Sword, or Dagger Attack Rating: 240 Attack Moveset: Greatsword Required Stats: Strength (22), Dexterity (18), Intelligence (18), Faith (18) Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (C) Unique Traits: Damage scales with Humanity
Given how Artorias wielded this weapon, it only makes sense that this Greatsword has the highest Attack Rating out of all the other Greatswords present in the game. It’s also a lot of fun to use, and the novelty of using Artorias’ amazing sword doesn’t wear off either.
That being said, the stat requirements to wield this weapon are pretty high. Players should be doubly sure about going through with their decision to wield this sword, so that can develop a build that complements this playstyle from the get-go.
6 Manus Catalyst
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Manus Base Weapon Required: Any Catalyst Attack Rating: 295 Magic Adjustment, 190 Attack Moveset: Catalyst (Spellcasting) Required Stats: Strength (14), Intelligence (13) Scaling: Intelligence (S) Unique Traits: A catalyst with high physical damage
At a glance, the Manus Catalyst looks like nothing more than a run-of-the-mill Catalyst that lets players cast powerful spells. However, there’s a twist to this weapon that will intrigue most players.
For a catalyst, the weapon boasts a really high Physical Attack. Using this weapon almost feels like wielding a Greataxe, which is pretty unique indeed!
5 Moonlight Butterfly Horn
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of the Moonlight Butterfly Base Weapon Required: +10 Thrust weapon Attack Rating: 180 Magic Moveset: Spear Required Stats: Strength (12), Intelligence (14) Scaling: Intelligence (B) Unique Traits: Excellent reach and no Physical damage
Arguably the most underrated boss weapon in the original Dark Souls, the Moonlight Butterfly Horn is a fantastic Spear that can be infused into a +10 spear. This weapon is unique in that it only deals magic damage. At +5, this weapon has an Attack Rating of 180 with a B scaling in intelligence.
Pressuring opponents with its pokes is great for PvP. As for PvE, this weapon pairs exceptionally well with any close-range spells such as Dark Bead. Considering how early players can obtain this spear, this is certainly a great choice for intelligence builds.
4 Dragonslayer Spear
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Ornstein Base Weapon Required: +10 Thrust weapon Attack Rating: 142 Physical, 97 Lightning Moveset: Spear Required Stats: Strength (24), Dexterity (24) Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (B), Faith (B) Unique Traits: One-handed R1 fires a lightning bolt; large weapon model
Virtually every build in Dark Souls can take advantage of the Dragonslayer Spear. Obtained by ascending a +10 spear using the Soul of Ornstein, this weapon is arguably one of the best spears in the game.
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While it does require a massive 24 strength and dexterity to wield, the Dragonslayer Spear has a C scaling in strength, B scaling in dexterity, and B scaling in faith. Faith builds can scale the lightning damage to extreme heights, while quality builds can make the weapon’s Physical portion pack a serious punch. It can also fire lightning projectiles at targets with its one-handed strong attack, allowing it to damage targets at long distances.
3 Quelaag’s Furysword
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Quelaag Base Weapon Required: +10 Curved Sword Attack Rating: 90 Physical, 255 Fire Moveset: Curved Sword Required Stats: Strength (11), Dexterity (13) Scaling: Strength (E), Dexterity (B) Unique Traits: Deals increased damage for each held Humanity
Ascending a curved sword to Quelaag’s Furysword is one of the best choices a player can make. This blade has incredible attack speed and deals a massive amount of fire damage per hit. At +5, expect this blade to hit for 90 physical damage and 255 fire damage a swing.
Since this weapon is in the Chaos archetype, having ten Humanity on hand will grant additional damage. Most enemies in Dark Souls are vulnerable to fire, which makes this weapon a true powerhouse for PvE and against most hostile players.
2 Lifehunt Scythe
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Priscilla Base Weapon Required: +10 Halberd Attack Rating: 270 Physical Moveset: Halberd Required Stats: Strength (16), Dexterity (14) Scaling: Strength (E), Dexterity (B) Unique Traits: Inflicts 50 Bleed and 40 self-Bleed with each strike; bleeds remove 50% of an enemy’s total health pool
By ascending a +10 halberd or whip with the Soul of Priscilla, players can create the devastating Lifehunt Scythe. This weapon is unique in that it inflicts extremely powerful bleeds both on hostiles and its wielder. That negative might turn some players away from trying this weapon, but it was likely put in place to offset the weapon’s insanely strong bleed status effects.
A single bleed status effect will cause an enemy to hemorrhage 50% of their health pool. That also includes the player if they get inflicted by a bleed effect, so be sure to use a Bloodbite Ring and any bleed-resistance armor to make this weapon less stressful to wield. It might not have the raw damage per swing that the Great Scythe has, although the bleeds the Lifehunt Scythe deal are so powerful that it outclasses the Great Scythe if players use it properly.
1 Chaos Blade
Weapon Stats
Boss Soul: Soul of Quelaag Base Weapon Required: +10 Katana Attack Rating: 216 Physical Moveset: Katana Required Stats: Strength (16), Dexterity (14) Scaling: Dexterity (B) Unique Traits: Inflicts 36 Bleed per strike; drains 20 HP per strike; damage scales with Humanity
If players would prefer to wield a katana than a curved sword, using the Soul of Quelaag to build the Chaos Blade is a better idea than making Quelaag’s Furysword. What makes the Chaos Blade a better option is its sheer damage output.
Every swing from this katana deals 216 physical damage with a B scaling in dexterity when upgraded. The blade also scales off a player’s Humanity, granting increased damage up til a player reaches ten Humanity. At 40 dexterity and ten Humanity, players can deal 450 damage a strike. This is further enhanced with the weapon’s passive bleed status effect. Considering this weapon’s great moveset and long reach, the Chaos Blade is one of the best boss weapons a player can make in Dark Souls. Just be sure to have a healing method while wielding this blade as it deals 20 HP damage to its wielder with every strike.
Dark Souls was released on September 22, 2011 and is available for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5.
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