Summary
Dark Soulsneeds no introduction. The magnum opus of FromSoftware is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most important video games of the last decade. The title defies modern AAA gaming tropes to craft an experience that is equal parts unique and sublime. The risks this title took to allow for a unique gameplay experience that rewarded players for learning how the game worked without holding their hands too much was critical to the success of this title, spawning an entire genre of its own and catapulting Miyazaki to the realm of superstardom.
One of the many great parts aboutDark Soulswas the amount of player freedom that was afforded when it came to creating a personalized character build. The player could choose to opt for the more traditional Strength-focused fighter or opt for a faster build by investing in Dexterity instead. For the players who took the latter approach, the game became more about landing quick hits in succession instead of landing just one or two solid blows before maintaining distance. So it’s a given that players would want tooptimize their loadoutand equip thebest Dex weaponthey can find to complement their playstyle.
Updated on July 05, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:The Dark Souls franchise has always been known for offering players a vast range of options in terms of the armor sets they can wear, the weapons they can build, the builds they can choose and the class they can start playing as. Typically, Dexterity and Strength are preferred by players, as they’re the builds with the most weapons available for them and the easiest to use. Some of the best Dexterity weapons in the game scale with that stat considerably well and allow players to both deliver quick blows and back away quickly to avoid taking damage and dying.
Requirements
5 Strength, 8 Dexterity
TheDaggermay not seem like the most interesting weapon to use. After all, there are so many otherbest Dex weaponsplayers can check out that relying on a seemingly boring weapon may not be the most appealing option for players. However, people who just want to mash the light attack button over and over again to whittle down an enemy’s health bar will love what the dagger brings to the table.
It may not have any special effects, but players won’t mind once they invest some points in Endurance and use their upgraded stamina to launch an unending flurry of fast attacks that can make for some decent DPS. However, enemies who don’t provide players with big attack windows may be a challenge, and players are better off switching to a weapon that hits harder, even if its attack speed is bound to be slower than the dagger. If players wish to start with the Dagger, they should choose the Sorcerer class, as this weapon is its default equipment. It can also be purchased from the Undead Merchant in the Undead Burg for 300 souls. Like any other short weapon, the dagger’s range isn’t great. However, it has one of the highest DPS stats in the entire game, which makes it ideal for players who want to deliver several blows in a split second.
7 Strength, 12 Dexterity
The bow can be a hard sell for players. Despite the immense benefits they enjoy in terms of scaling, the idea of stocking up on arrows and taking out enemies from range feels uninteresting and doesn’t excite most fans. Still, players who want to keep a ranged attack option on their person will find bows to be a decent addition to their arsenal.
TheShort Bowis not the strongest bow that players can invest in, but the golden rule ofDark Soulsis that every weapon is viable in the right hands. With enough arrows, points in Dexterity, and skill, players can use the Short Bow to trivialize numerous encounters inDark Soulsas long as they know what they’re doing. Hunters are known for their quickness and ease in striking targets from a distance, which is why the short bow is the initial equipment for this class. This weapon can be purchased from the Undead Merchant in the Undead Burg for 1000 Souls, and it’s also a rare drop (2% chance) from Hollows in the Undead Burg, the Northern Undead Asylum, the Depths, and the Painted World of Ariamis. The same goes for Torch Hollows in those locations and for skeletons in the Firelink Shrine Graveyard and The Catacombs. Short Bows are generally faster than their Long counterparts, so if players want a fast weapon that can deal some damage from a distance, this is an excellent choice.
9 Strength, 14 Dexterity
TheLongbowis another decent option for players who want to keep a bow on them as a secondary ranged option while exploring the world ofDark Souls. This weapon may not occupy a player’s main slot unless they want to actively challenge themselves, but a lot of people underestimate how effective this weapon can be in the right hands.
With enough arrows and distance from enemies, players can whittle down an enemy’s health bar quite a bit, if not defeat them outright. It may not be the most interesting way to take out enemies. However, players who have engaged with the regular gameplay loop ofDark Soulstime and again will find it amusing to take potshots at enemies from afar. If the Longbow is not obtained at Darkroot Garden, it can also be acquired as a rare drop (2% chance) from Undead Crystal Archers at the Duke’s Archives. This weapon can’t be enchanted, which might be disappointing to some players.
10 Strength, 10 Dexterity
One thing that players will hear time and time again regarding everyDark Soulsgame is that almost every weapon class is viable except for the whip. So, it can be puzzling to see theNotched Whipbe hailed as one of thebest Dex weaponsaround. It may not be the best weapon out there, but players who want to punish their enemies in style will find this whip to be right up their alley.
It’s the hardest-hitting whip in the game and features an interesting moveset that makes up for its perceived lack of damage. With enough upgrades and investments in Dexterity, players can turn a weapon many people deride into one of thebest Dex weaponsin the game that makes the Chosen Undead look cool as theytake out enemies in a humiliating fashion.
9 Strength, 18 Dexterity
A bow with immense range, theBlack Bow of Pharisis immensely powerful in the right hands. If players make the most of this bow’s range, they can effectively take out most enemies without even aggroing them. This makes for one of the funnier ways to take out enemies in this legendary game, even if the process can be a bit arduous for some.
Using a bow is simple, but players should always have a close-range backup. This will come in handy when enemies cover the distance, as they can decimate the Chosen Undead if they’re too busy fiddling around with their bow. This is fairly obvious, and it’s a shame that a bow can never be a player’s primary weapon. Still, that doesn’t mean weapons like the Black Bow of Pharis can’t be used for some sound strategies against both enemies and bosses.
Most people would assume that theRapieris a boring weapon to use, as its moveset is anything but memorable. However, that is far from the main strength of this weapon. Rather, it’s the immense damage dealt by ripostes and backstabs that makes the Rapier such a blast to use.
That being said, there’s no denying that its moveset is a bit uninspired and its best application is situational and might not be to every player’s taste. Some of the toughest enemies in the game aren’t even vulnerable to these attacks, and better outright damage dealers would be preferred by some instead. Unlike other weapons in the game, the Rapier can be enchanted, which can be very useful in combination with the great things it already has to its advantage.
8 Strength, 20 Dexterity
Ricard’s Rapieris a unique version of the rapier with a unique caveat of its own. Most of its moveset is similar to the standard Rapier, barring one particular move. Pressing the heavy attack button twice leads to the Chosen Undead unleashing four quick and damaging thrusts. While this is extremely effective in PvE,the same isn’t recommended against another human playersince this move can be parried quite easily.
With enough practice, Ricard’s Rapier can become a valuable weapon in any player’s arsenal. While people have complaints about this weapon’s usefulness in the late game, most people wouldn’t mind a tougher challenge if it allows them to look dazzling in combat.
14 Strength, 14 Dexterity
There are several gargoyles that players can fight during their adventure acrossthe many expansive areas inDark Souls. Slicing off their tail nets a unique Dexterity weapon that can serve as a valuable tool in any player’s arsenal.
TheGargoyle Tail Axehits like a truck and even bends after certain heavy attacks. As a bonus, it increases the toxic, bleeding, and poison resistance of a player as well. Obtaining this weapon may be a pain, but this exercise in patience yields a decent reward that fans would appreciate. Players who are struggling to defeat any gargoyle in the game, including the two Bell Gargoyles, might want to try using a weapon imbued with fire or lightning, as this enemy type is weak to both, making the fight easier in some ways.
16 Strength, 22 Dexterity
TheSilver Knight Straight Swordmay seem like an unremarkable weapon, but that doesn’t make it ineffective by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, the reliable nature of this weapon makes it worth checking out for any player pursuing a Dexterity build.
Of course, acquiring this weapon can prove quite a chore. However, players who get lucky in this regard will be rewarded with a pretty strong sword that players can potentially use till the end of the game. It’s the rarity of this weapon that doesn’t let it stand out too much, and players can only grind for so long before they settle for a different alternative instead. This weapon can be given to Kingseeker Frampt for 100 Souls and requires Twinkling Titanite to upgrade, which only adds to the inconvenience of it, as pairing rarity to obtain with upgrade requirements that call for rare elements can often be too much of a hassle. The Silver Knight Straight Sword can be enchanted to give it an additional effect, which can make it even more effective against any enemy if players manage to obtain it.
142 Physical, 97 LIghtning (Regular +5)
24 Strength, 24 Dexterity
Players who love the Ornstein and Smough boss fight and wish to get their hands on the spear that the former uses should beat down his companion first. Super-charged Orstein may be harder than his bulkier counterpart, but players won’t mind the heightened challenge as long as they get Ornstein’s soul and use it to ascend a fully upgraded spear and get one of thebest Dex weaponsin the game.
Truth be told, using theDragonslayer Spearwith a pure Dex build doesn’t make the most of this weapon. Players should also invest a few points in Faith to make the most of this weapon’s lightning damage and bring a world of trouble to enemies who have no idea what they’re in for. The Dragonslayer Spear can be given to Kingseeker Frampt for 100 Souls. However, given how hard this weapon is to obtain, it makes no sense to trade it for such a low price.
