Summary
A warrior’s weapon is a sacred thing; it’s a part of them and keeps them safe in times of war. It may also cause severe frustration if it’s completely useless against most foes (looking at you, Whip). InDark Souls, there are plenty of weapons to discover throughout a wonderful journey into Lordran. However, there are also many useful weapons that do not need to be found and are simply given to the player at the beginning.
Choice is a fragile thing. Some revel in this; many are overwhelmed. Thankfully, brain power levels will be at an all-time low as this list will state whichDark Soulsstarting weapons are the best and which ones should be avoided like a Basilisk’s curse.
10Club
Deprived
Not only does the Deprived class utterly embarrass any player who picks it because of the lack of clothes, but it also mocks them even further by giving them a weapon that can kill early hollows and nothing else. The Club is a weapon never used outside of picking the Deprived class because of its weak damage and slow speed.
It does possess an ‘A’ in strength scaling, so if using a pure strength build, it can be a viable weapon for a skilled player. While not the best of the starting weapons, it can get the job done against some of the gamesearlier and easier bosses.
9Bandit’s Knife
Thief
Not many weapons have as little damage output as the Bandit’s Knife. But what this little dagger lacks in traditional slashes, it more than makes up for with its critical hit bonuses. Coupled with the Target Shield, the Thief starts the game pretty well for a player who has mastered the art of parrying.
Most enemies can be instantly killed with the Bandit’s Knife once parried. Saving a lot of time and stress in the early portions. The problems with this weapon arise when it comes to battling foes that cannot be parried. The damage output is, to be frank, very poor. Even at +10 or +15, most tough enemies won’t be phased by the Bandit’s Knife’s weak but quick slashes.
8Short Sword and Short Bow
Hunter
A good starter class weapon-wise, the Hunter comes with TWO weapons. The short bow is decent, as is archery in general inDark Souls. Good, but not great. The short sword, however, is a very good weapon. Fast and with good damage output, the short sword is a weapon that can be carried through the early stages of the game butshould be droppedby the time the player reaches Sen’s Fortress.
Overall, the Hunter class’s starter weapons are good but not great. They don’t have any special stats like the Bandit’s Knife critical hit bonus damage and bleed effect. However, the inclusion of the bow allows for a more dynamic use during combat. Allowing both ranged and close-quarters engagements.
7Hand Axe and Pyromancy Flame
Pyromancer
A tree’s worst nightmare – fire and an axe. The Pyromancer’s starter weapons, the Hand Axe and Pyromancy Flame are excellent tools to use to cause extreme damage throughout the game’s early stages and beyond.
The Pyromancy flame includes the fireball pyromancy, a very good spell against most early-game bosses, with the exception being Quelaag.Asylum Demon, Taurus Demon, and the Bell Gargoylescan easily be defeated with the majority, or in some cases all, of the damage they receive coming from the fireball spell. The Hand Axe brings good damage at a steady rate with upgrades but drops off once reaching Anor Londo.
6Scimitar
Wanderer
The firstproper dexterity weaponofDark Soulsis the Wanderer’s Scimitar. An excellent weapon with a great move set that cuts apart all foes it encounters. Its lack of poise damage is made up by its quick attacks that can stun-lock weaker armored enemies.
Focusing on leveling dexterity and endurance can lead to a very powerful weapon that can take the player far into the game with relative ease if used correctly. With a little flair and enough Titanite to upgrade, the Scimitar could be taken from the Northern Undead Asylum all the way to the Kiln of the First Flame. It isn’t recommended for a first playthrough, but definitely a fun challenge.
5Broadsword
Knight
With clunky armor and a strong shield, the Knight class is excellent, even without the inclusion of the Broadsword. The Broadsword is great; it has strong damage,good stat scaling, and a basic move set that can be utilized by any player. Couple this with the aforementioned armor and shield; the Broadsword can be used to spam attack groups of enemies because of the Knight’s armor’s poise.
Using the Broadsword throughout the entire game is possible. There are better weapons along the way, but it isn’t the end of the world if the player decides to stick with the Broadsword. It’s a simple weapon to use with very little drawback. An excellent choice for a beginner or veteran looking at testing out different weapons.
4Dagger and Sorcerer’s Catalyst
Sorcerer
The game’s best spell caster, the Sorcerer, has one of the best starting weapons in the game. The Sorcerer’s Catalyst comes with the Soul Arrow spell, and it wreaks havoc against almost everyone in the early game. The Moonlight Butterfly is a joke when playing as a Sorcerer. Many other bosses are susceptible to magic inthe early gameand even the later game. Magic is extremely overpowered inDark Soulsand should be utilized.
The downsides come with the other weapon, the dagger. It’s a much weaker version of the Bandit’s Knife, both in standard damage and critical bonus damage. Don’t pick the Sorcerer class for the dagger; pick it for the Catalyst and witness immense power.
3Mace
Cleric
Another spell wielder but not the best spell user, the Cleric does, however, possess one of the game’s best early-game weapons. The Mace is a grand weapon that can demolish almost all foes throughout the entirety of the game, just like every holy man has dreamed of. As long as the player’s swings actually connect; otherwise, an awkward delay animation begins, so be careful!
But if the player is capable of overcoming this minor flaw and upgrades accordingly, the Mace can do the most damage out of almost all the starter weapons. Two-hand this bad boy, forget about theweak Cleric “armor"and focus on that damage. Bosses will stagger and fall within moments.
2Longsword
Warrior
A personal favorite of many players starting a new game, the Warrior’s Longsword is an amazing weapon. A similar move set as the Broadsword, the Longsword does great damage, has great stat scaling (C in both Dexterity and Strength), and can easily be carried throughout the entire game.
Using this weapon with the Heater shield is perfect for end-game combat as the shield possesses good stability and 100% physical resistance. Blocking and parrying are easy here. The Warrior is the go-to class for players wanting a well-rounded starter character, and the Longsword categorizes this perfectly. A great weapon that just misses out top spot for the worthy winner.
1Battle Axe
Bandit
The undisputed champion ofDark Soulsstarter weapons is the Battle Axe. With the most damage of every starting weapon, the Battle Axe is a monster on the battlefield against any and all that stand in its way. Slashing down hard with this weapon can knock back most enemies, as well as both Smough and Ornstein.
While the Bandit’s armor isn’t the greatest, its shield definitely is close. The Spider Shield has great stability and fire reduction. This allows the Battle Axe to be wielded one-handed if so desired; however, two-handing this beast will bring about the destruction that will bring the Chosen Undead all the way to the Kiln of the First Flame with relative ease. Making it the best starting weapon ofDark Souls.
