Summary
Dark Souls 3is a game all about overcoming difficult encounters. This game has some of the hardest bosses and enemies in the franchise, meaning players will need everything they can get to beat this game and its brutal DLC content. With that said, few enemies in PvE can match the skill of some players one will face in Arenas or invasions. Builds help mitigate this, focusing on certain attributes and gear to make fighting tough bosses and players easier.Dexteritybuilds are always a solid choice, andDark Souls 3is no exception to this golden rule. Their weapons focus mostly on rapid attacks and counterattacks after parrying an opponent.
While some people love walloping enemies to kingdom come with bigger weapons that require a fair bit of investment in strength, there’s no denying that players will get a kick out of using faster weapons that will irritate enemies to no end. There’s something to be said about nailing a combo using a Dexterity weapon and watching an enemy’s health bar be whittled down in no time flat. It’s a truly cathartic experience, and players should make it a point to get thebest Dex weapons inDark Souls 3to make things easier for themselves.
Updated on August 01, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:Dark Souls 3 allows players to use any build they want. Some prefer the unmatched power of a Strength and Poise build, whereas others like to fight from a distance using spells. Of course, there are also players who like quick action and fast dodges. For them, a Dexterity build is ideal. There are several Dexterity weapons in Dark Souls 3 that have decent Dexterity scaling and allow players to land numerous hits before having to back away from their enemies. A lot of them can be obtained simply by exploring, whereas others will require players to face and defeat formidable enemies and transpose their Souls.
Scaling
Strength (D), Dexterity (B)
Bows can be a pain to use inDark Souls 3. Players need to stay at a safe distance and have enough ammunition along with a decent ranged weapon to make these attacks viable. A lot of people may find this way too cumbersome for its own good, making it easy to see why the bulk of these weapons are ignored by players. However, there are some amazing bows that players are sleeping on if they don’t want to engage with ranged combat at all, with theOnislayer Greatbowbeing a great example of the same.
As long as players have a decent stock of heavy arrows, they should be able to knock down most enemies and make them eat dirt with one of thebestDS3Dex weapons. The sheer amount of fun players can have with this weapon as long as they use it correctly makes it a great weapon, especially since it boasts the longest range of any bow in the game. The act of drawing and firing a great arrow can take a long time, but most players will be aware of this drawback and maintain a safe distance before peppering their foes with huge projectiles.
The Onislayer Greatbow cannot be infused or buffed and requires Twinkling Titanite to be reinforced. With a range value of 63, it has the highest range of any kind of bow in the entirety of the game. While it requires 18 Strength to wield, bows cannot be used with one hand, which makes its true Strength requirement 12. This weapon has a Strength bonus peak of 27, and a Dexterity bonus peak of 36. One thing that makes this bow and other bows inDark Souls 3so great, is that the amount of damage it deals can greatly depend on the ammunition that’s being used.
Dexterity (E), Intelligence (C), Faith (C)
Here’s a weapon that will likely only be usable after the Ashen One has beaten the game once since it requires the Soul of the Demon Prince to be attained via transposition. As it does pure fire damage, which is arguably the most effective damaging type in all ofDark Souls 3,Demon’s Scaris a very hard weapon to defend against.
The moveset of a standard light curved sword makes it very versatile at close range, though it can also be used as a Pyromancy Flame, which lets the wielderunleash scorching spellswithout having to change weapons. However, its high specialization leads to its downfall as a truly great weapon as it does not have heavy attacks and scales very poorly with Dexterity, making it only suitable for some close-range pyromancer builds.
Strength (D), Dexterity (A)
A weapon with such ridiculously low durability that it has become the butt of many jokes in the Soulsborne community, theFrayed Bladeis certainly an interesting weapon that players can use to dish out some serious damage. 40 points in Dexterity can sound downright unreasonable, but this sword is perfect for a pure Dex build and is obtained near the end of the game anyway, so it’s not a major loss.
The fact that this katana is acquired at such a late stage in the game and loses durability quickly can make it a pain to use at times, but players willing to work around these limitations can find themselves equipped with one of the most unique blades in the game. The Weapon Art essentially allows players to unleashDark Souls 3’s take on Ichigo’s Getsuga Tensho, which makes for an awe-inspiring moveset. Similar to other weapons in the game, the Frayed Blade cannot be buffed or refused and must be reinforced with Titanite Scales, which are hard to come by. If players truly want to maximize this weapon’s potential, they’ll have to reach 60 Dexterity and 16 Strength, at which point, the weapon has an AR of 468, surpassing the Chaos Blade in critical hits.
Strength (E), Dexterity (A)
The katanas inDark Souls 3are a bit of a mixed bag, to the point where most fans were angered by their supposed nerf in the third game. However, players can still have a great time with the weapon of their choice as long as they’re aware of its drawbacks, and Bloodlust is no exception here. The lack of reach may be a major detriment for most fans, but players who give this katana its time in the spotlight will realize that Bloodlust is one of thebestDS3Dex weaponsin the game.
Players can make up for its smaller reach by using the Weapon Art to turn it into aDark Souls 3Chikage-lite that benefits from enhanced damage while inflicting the Bleed status. It may be far from the most optimal weapon in the game, but players who want to have fun with a cool-looking katana will find the Bloodlust to be right up their alley.
Strength (D), Dexterity (B), Faith (D)
Split damage weapons can be a pain to use, with the damage of these armaments feeling rather underwhelming as opposed to other weapons that specialize in one form of damage. It takes a well-thought-out build to maximize the damage of these weapons, which is precisely why the Dragonslayer Spear can be so daunting to use in combat. Despite being one ofDS3’s best Dex weapons, dumping stats into Faith also helps boost the damage of this weapon.
It takes a while to bring this weapon’s damage up to par, but players who want to pay their respects to Dragon Slayer Ornstein will love using this weapon to stab and shock their enemies in style. It’s an excellent and unique spear that stands out from other weapons in this category that feel rather mundane, in comparison.
Strength (C), Dexterity (C)
Most people would argue that theCarthus Curved Greatswordis one of the best weapons in the game, and perfect for players pursuing a Dexterity or Quality build. However, these players are the ones who had good RNG, since this weapon has the unfortunate reputation of being one of the toughest weapons to farm in the game.
Even if players get this weapon, it will be questionable if this grind was a worthwhile endeavor. However, with high damage and a fun Weapon Art, players who take time to master this weapon’s moveset and use a Sharp Infusion will find it to be perfect for a Dexterity build. While it doesn’t have the highest Bleed damage in the game, it does inflict some of this passive effect, which means that with enough consistent hits, players can quickly melt their enemies’ health bars. Players who want to maximize the Bleed effect of this weapon must upgrade it to +10, infuse it with Blood and spend their Souls to reach 40 Luck, which will bring the Bleed status up to 99.
Dexterity (C), Intelligence (D)
This unique weapon is a pretty easy one to miss, as attaining it requires the player to invade the world of the NPC Ringfinger Leonhard whilst inside Gwynevere’s chambers in Anor Londo. After defeating Leonhard and looting his weapon, one will now possess one of the most versatile split-damage swords in the game. Essentially an extremely curved shotel, theCrescent Moon Swordfunctions at close range like the Scimitar and similar curved swords, though it stands out in thatit also does Magic damageand scales with Intelligence as well as Dexterity.
Though, with no actual Intelligence requirement to be wielded, it can be an excellent choice for any Dex build struggling with more physically defensive foes without having to put points into other stats. It should also be mentioned that its weapon art unleashes ranged magic attacks that can make this moon-powered blade effective at a greater range than many alternative arms. The Crescent Moon Sword has an in-built shield piercing attribute of 65% while doing a heavy attack and 45% on the slash from its weapon skill. It also has a 15% attribute for all other attacks in the same category. While this weapon scales decently with both Dexterity and Intelligence, it gains more from the former than it does from the latter.
It’s a shame that this weapon doesn’t enjoy S scaling with Dexterity even after a Sharp Infusion, sinceRicard’s Rapierhas the potential to become one of the swiftest and most damaging weapons in the entire game. As things stand, this weapon boasts decent damage and a fun Weapon Art that is a blast to whip out once players master how it works.
Ricard’s Rapier is a fun weapon for players who’ve exclusively used this weapon from the very first game. Getting it inDark Souls 3can take a while, but is worth the wait. Fans familiar with this weapon will appreciate its large damage numbers and effective mobility in no time.
Strength (E), Dexterity (A), Intelligence (C), Faith (C)
As one of the betterDexterity weapons inDark Souls 3that one can acquire from the Shrine Handmaid very early on at Firelink Shrine, theScimitaris very much capable of seeing the Ashen One through the entire game if upgraded and infused accordingly. It not only gains insane damage boosts from Sharp, Chaos, or Dark infusions but it is also very light and has low stat requirements, making it an excellent choice for nearlyany build looking to specialize in Dexterity.
The downside to this blade is that it does not have a way to deal with heavily armored foes or enemies who excessively use shields since its moveset come with a distancing attack-and-retreat move instead of one that breaks an adversary’s guard. However, its rapid attacks, low stamina cost, and easily usable weapon art let one cleave through most other challenges easily enough.
Strength (E), Dexterity (C), Intelligence (C)
Thedaggers inDark Souls 3are pretty disappointing and are usually best avoided. The damage of most daggers is pitiful, and this can prove to be a huge pain for players who are struggling with the game and want to use a weapon that lets them feel competent in battle instead of rendering them helpless. However, while most daggers can be avoided, the same can’t be said for theAquamarine Dagger.
This weapon is fun to use, although players have to invest in both Dexterity and Intelligence to make the most of this blade. The Weapon Art extends the reach of this blade using crystals, making it feel more like a regular sword that players can use to turn the tide of battle in a flash and show off the unique power of this weapon.
