We review the most effective weapons in the SoulsBorne series.
Of the roughly 67 title releases (including sequels) that FromSoftware has released over the years since 1994, the most popular of the lot is most definitely the SoulsBorne series.
The SoulsBorne series is made up of namely Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls 1, 2 & 3, Elden Ring, and, one of my personal all-time favorites, Bloodborne.
It is important to note that it’s particularly difficult to legitimately list the “best” weapons because for the most part it largely depends on the player themselves; from character build, to play style and personal preference.
I for one love and excel with twin-blade and bow weapon types, whereas many others will fumble and fail with those but absolutely annihilate with heavy weapons.
So take this list with a pinch of salt and see it as a mere guideline to some good options to consider.
10. Northern Regalia – Demon’s Souls
“Legacy of the Old Boletaria Kings. The shadow this sword casts is of both the Soulbrandt and the Demonbrandt. Little is known of its origin even in Boletarian Royal Family lore, but it is said to have been left in the world along with the Old One for malicious purposes.”
The Northern Regalia is certainly one of the strongest weapons, unfortunately, the biggest downfall of this Large Sword Weapon is that you basically need to finish the game at least once before being able to attain it and use it in your next playthrough.
On the upside, this gives you time to max out your Character Tendency (which does carry over to NG+) to reach either Pure Black or Pure White, which will then boost the Regalia’s Attack Rating to 540, split between Physical and Magick attack.
The Regalia is attained by combining the Demonbrandt, Soulbrandt, and False Kings Demon’s Soul.
If you aren’t patient enough to work up to the Northern Regalia, you could always go for the Kijil, which is a pretty decent Curved Sword weapon that focuses on slashing and bleed damage. Can be found on a corpse in the area where you fight the Vanguard at Islands Edge 4-1.
9. Red Iron Twinblade – Dark Souls 2
“A twinblade fashioned with heavy blades on each end. More suited to smashing enemies than slashing them.”
This twinblade is a little more unique in terms of its moveset is slightly different from standard twinblade types and is also one of the heaviest of its category. The Red Iron Twinblade has a high durability and poise and scaling focuses on strength. I won’t necessarily go so far as to say that this is the best weapon in the SoulsBorne series, but many do feel that it deserves recognition as one of the best.
This weapon can be found on a corpse in the Shrine of Amana.
8. Brigand Twindaggers – Dark Souls 3
“These paired daggers are the preferred weapons of the brigands of a distant land. When two-handed, the wielder holds a blade in each hand, allowing for divergent attacks that include left-handed moves.”
These are nifty little blades and are great as offhand weapons but just as great as primaries. These deadly daggers aren’t too shabby with their standard stats but pack on a few buffs and you have yourself probably one of the best weapons in the game (yes I know, every weapon improves to some extent with buffs but this one in particular just takes the cake).
The Brigand Twinblade can be found on a corpse near the spawn-point of The Madwoman in the Road of Sacrifices.
7. Claymore – Dark Souls 1
“This larger type of greatsword is normally wielded with two hands due to its weight. This highly flexible greatsword can be used to attack in swings or thrusts.”
Extremely versatile and obtainable relatively early on, the Claymore has a high damage rating, with stun-lock capabilities. The Claymore has a fast swing (for a greatsword anyway) and boasts fluid combos.
The Claymore can be found on a corpse on the bridge in the Undead Burg.
6. Rivers of Blood – Elden Ring
“Weapon of Okina, swordsman from the Land of Reeds. A cursed weapon that has felled countless men.
When Mohg, the Lord of Blood, first felt Okina’s sword, and madness, upon his flesh, he had a proposal, to offer Okina the life of a demon, whose thirst would never go unsated.”
The Rivers of Blood is a katana with the standard moveset of such weapons, the special skill “Corpse Piler”, however, transforms this into a blade of cursed blood.
Defeat Okina at the Church of Repose to obtain Rivers of Blood.
5. Hunters Axe – Bloodborne
“One of the trick weapons of the workshop, commonly used on the hunt. Retains the qualities of an axe, but offers a wider palette of attacks by transforming.
Boasts a heavy blunt attack, leading to high rally potential. No matter their pasts, beasts are no more than beasts. Some choose this axe to play the part of executioner.”
As a starting weapon, this is already a great choice especially if you are looking for a more strength-focused approach; and this can easily carry you through the whole game with ease with all of the varied upgrades and buffs to be added. It definitely isn’t one of the fastest weapons but it more than compensates with power and in its transformed halberd form it boasts quite an impressive ranged attack.
You can find the Hunters Axe at the beginning of the game where it’s one of the three primary weapons to choose from. If it is not the chosen one, then you can buy it from the Messengers after acquiring the Saw Hunter Badge.
4. Blasphemous Blade – Elden Ring
“Sacred sword of Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. Remains of the countless heroes he has devoured writhe upon the surface of this blade. Now they share the same blood, bound together as a family. Some HP is restored upon defeating an enemy.
Raise the sacred sword aloft to set it ablaze with blasphemous flames, then bring it down to fire off a forward blast. The flames steal HP from those they touch.”
The Blasphemous Blade greatsword can be acquired by trading Remembrance of the Blasphemous with Enia.
3. Blades of Mercy – Bloodborne
“A special trick weapon passed down among hunters of hunters. One of the oldest weapons of the workshop.
Splits into two when activated. The weapon’s warped blades are forged with siderite, a rare mineral of the heavens. Most effective in swift attacks, such as after a quick-stepping.”
Many don’t particularly enjoy this weapon because of its mostly weak stats before any upgrades or buffs but throw a few of these on and you have yourself quite a little beast of a weapon that also splits into dual-wielding blades.
This is my personal favourite in Bloodborne and certainly favour the dual-wielding, they have an impressive speed and as stated above, with some upgrades and buffs, they pack quite a punch and these have carried me through to my Bloodborne platinum trophy.
You can get the Blades of Mercy after receiving the Crow Hunter Badge from Eileen the Crow (either by killing her or completing her questline).
2. Simon’s Bowblade – Bloodborne
“Church hunter Simon despised firearms, and so the Church workshop had this specially fashioned to his liking. The large curved blade serves as a bow when transformed. But aside from a few close friends, Simon was scoffed at for his choice of arms, for who would dare face the beasts with a measly bow?”
This weapon is specifically on this list for its versatility especially. The curved sword version offers a decently fluid moveset and transforms into a powerful great bow, but at the cost of one quicksilver bullet per arrow.
Simon’s Bowblade can be found on Simon the Harrowed’s corpse in the Fishing Hamlet after following the questline or by killing Simon straight off the bat.
1. Bloodhounds Fang – Elden Ring
“Curved greatsword with a gently undulating blade wielded by Bloodhound Knights.A fearsome blade capable of brutal airborne attacks.”
Bloodhounds Fang is said to be one of the best weapons, if not the best, by many players and can be found early on. It causes Blood Loss build-up on top of its already powerful stats, it cannot be infused with Ashes of War but can be enchanted with Magic and buffed with Consumables.
Found in Limgrave, dropped by the Bloodhound Knight Darriwil.
We will be making a more thorough list of this topic for our beloved FromSoftware titles sometime in the future, which will include a more particulate list of order preferences and a more comprehensive detailing of each weapon. So be sure to keep an eye out for that one and many others.