The 10 Best Dark Souls 3 Weapons You Can Get Early in Your Adventure

Update #2: We have introduced the Sellsword Twinblades to this list after hours of testing.

Update: We have added 5 more weapons to the list!

Gear plays an important role in Dark Souls 3, and for that matter your weapon can mean the difference between an enemy being difficult or easy. With more than 50 weapons available in the game, it isn’t easy to decide on what to wield and invest upgrades into.

In this guide we will go over five of the best weapons you can find during the early hours of Dark Souls 3. These cover Dexterity, Strength, and Intelligence-based weapons, but keep in mind that you can infuse a couple of these to have the bonuses that you prefer.

Note that this list is in no particular order. Which weapon works best will depend on your tastes and character build.

10. Uchigatana

Weapon Type: Katana

Requirements: 11 STR, 16 DEX

Primary Bonus Attribute: Dexterity

Infusion: Available

Location: Outside Firelink Shrine. Head right upon exiting the front entrance to encounter an Uchigatana wielding Sword Master. He is tough to kill, but will drop his Uchigatana and armor if you defeat him.

Details: As the first Katana available in the game, the Uchigatana is sure to be a favorite among players. It has fast swings with high base damage, and potential to be a primary weapon throughout the journey once upgraded. It’s especially potent for parries thanks to its Hold skill, which knocks opponents off balance leaving them open to counter-attacks. Most importantly, it’s a cool-looking weapon.

9. Claymore

Weapon Type: Greatsword

Requirements: 16 STR, 13 DEX

Primary Bonus Attribute: Strength

Infusion: Available

Location: High Wall of Lothric. In the far left corner of the top platform where the Dragon breathes fire.

Details: The Claymore is a fan favorite in the series, and thankfully is obtainable early in this latest game. It’s a powerful but low weight weapon for its class that has a preferable moveset, one that has seen minor changes since its last iteration. It can be an excellent primary weapon that fills multiple roles due to its powerful damage when dual-wielded, and high speed when one-handed. Also, unlike many greatswords it can be infused, allowing it to be customized to fit your playstyle.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 Exotic Armor Sets in Dark Souls 3

8. Crystal Sage’s Rapier

Weapon Type: Rapier

Requirements: 13 STR, 18 DEX

Primary Bonus Attribute: Intelligence

Infusion: Not available

Location: Transposition. Defeat of the Crystal Sage boss in Road of Sacrifices will yield you a boss soul. This can be traded in for the Crystal Sage’s Rapier as long as you have a Transposing Kiln obtained from the Curse-Rotted Greatwood.

Details: This Rapier is one of the only weapons in the game that comes with an intelligence primary attribute without infusion. Because of this, it makes for a great weapon for magic-oriented builds, primarily Sorcerers and Pyromancers. This weapon hits fast like other rapier class wepaons, and after several upgrades will reap the benefits of your high Intelligence pool. It also comes equipped with a 50 Item Discovery attribute, allowing you to farm for rare items more easily.

7. Irithyll Straight Sword

Weapon Type: Straight Sword

Requirements: 12 STR, 14 DEX

Primary Bonus Attribute: Strength

Infusion: Not available

Location: Undead Settlement. Dropped by the Outrider Knight (frost enemy) near the bottom of the elevator. This enemy is mandatory to kill in order to progress.

Details: This was my primary weapon throughout my first play through. It’s a very reliable weapon, with quick strikes and a high base damage. It also upgrades to be viable throughout the later parts of the game, although it requires the less preferable Twinkling Titanite. Note that this weapon scales toward quality with a preference in Strength, and can’t be infused or buffed. Though, it does have a frostbite attribute, which is useful in PvP.

ALSO SEE: 10 Fun Build Ideas For DS3’s Most Interesting Weapons

6. Sellsword Twinblades

Weapon Type: Curved Sword

Requirements: 10 STR, 16 DEX

Primary Bonus Attribute: Dexterity

Infusion: Available

Location: Road of Sacrifices. Enter the area and enter the water before heading right. Enter the castle walls in the corner of this area. Beyond the Black Knight are the Sellsword Twinblades. These are also the starting weapon for Mercenary

Details: Most dual-wield weapons in Dark Souls 3 are outclassed by the multitude of single weapon options, but not the Sellsword Twinblades. This weapon has high base damage and can scale up to B in Dexterity, or even higher if infused. If you choose to use this weapon, you will want to forego a shield most of the time, because the weapon shines only when dual-wielded. The moveset is equally flashy and powerful, allowing for high momentum combos that put enemies in disarray.

This is a premium choice for Rogue/Thief type characters that want to build an agile character, but don’t enjoy the gameplay style of daggers. Note that, yes, these are a starting weapon for the Mercenary class. However, the class is one of the least popular and therefore this weapon hasn’t received the attention it deserves.