Dark Souls has undoubtedly had a large impact on the gaming industry. Not only has it shown developers how difficulty can be used to set a specific tone, but the Souls series has created its own genre in wake of its excellent world design and punishing yet rewarding gameplay.

RELATED: Dark Souls 3: A Complete Guide To Infusions

These games are only as hard as you make them out to be, however. Dark Souls provides players with plenty of weapons, buffs, Miracles, and spells to overcome the hundreds of undead the player will face. Most important of all of those is your weapon. A weak weapon will struggle to kill fodder enemies, while high upgraded weapons can slay the game's strongest foes, including enemy players. Today, we will be looking at the best Strength weapons players can use in Dark Souls 3.

Last updated by Charles Burgar on April 29th, 2021: Our last update saw the addition of five excellent Strength weapons that have remained great choices in Dark Souls 3. Instead of adding more options, we've included stat breakdowns for each weapon to give you an idea of how much base damage they deal and how well they scale with Strength. Certain entries were also slightly rewritten to further explain why that weapon is worth using.

Initially updated by Michael Connor Smith on April 10th, 2020: Dark Souls 3 shows the pinnacle of Strength weapons for the series, as they're more versatile and devastating within this title than any other. While fancier, more complex weapons may be flashy and strategic, the raw destruction of Strength weapons cannot be discounted this time around.

This list was updated to include more of the many Strength weapons seen in Dark Souls 3, as there are too many viable and useful Strength weapons within the game to limit it to ten entries without leaving out widely-used and praised weapon choices.

15 Dragonslayer Greataxe

Dark Souls 3 Dragonslayer Greataxe

Dragonslayer Greataxe Stats

  • Attack Rating: 364 Physical, 136 Lightning
  • Weapon Art: Falling Bolt
  • Weapon Type: Greataxe
  • Required Stats: Strength (40)
  • Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (E), Faith (D)
  • Can Be Buffed? No
  • Can Be Infused? No

An unfortunate trend within Dark Souls 3 is the lackluster results of split damage weapons, and the Dragonslayer Greataxe falls victim to this as well. Its damage is split into dealing physical and lightning damage, which just isn't as potent as a lot of pure physically damaging weapons.

It is also the heaviest greataxe in the game, so it takes a ridiculous amount of Stamina to swing, even with max Stamina. This means you'll be throwing out slower swings, as well as less of them per combo, making other greataxes more appealing.

14 Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords

Dark Souls 3 Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords

Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords Stats

  • Attack Rating: 322 Physical, 20 Fire
  • Weapon Art: Ember
  • Weapon Type: Paired Ultra Greatswords
  • Required Stats: Strength (40), Dexterity (15)
  • Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (D), Intelligence (E), Faith (E)
  • Can Be Buffed? No
  • Can Be Infused? No

A single greatsword isn't enough for some people. Luckily, From Software has made a pair of greatswords players can use at the same time. And they are amazing, both in damage and moveset.

When both weapons are wielded, it is a flurry of attacks that would scare even the mightiest of foes. The weapon art lights the swords aflame, allowing it to deal a solid bit of split damage to kill PvE enemies weak to fire damage. Unfortunately, split damage is detrimental for scaling weapons long-term.

It doesn't scale nearly as well with Strength as other entries on this list, yet the rapid attacks and over-the-top flair of the Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords make them worth using for any Strength-stacking build.

13 Man Serpent Hatchet

Dark Souls 3 Man Serpent Hatchet

Man Serpent Hatchet Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 220 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Warcry
  • Weapon Type: Axe
  • Required Stats: Strength (16), Dexterity (13)
  • Scaling: Strength (B)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

Unlike the Greataxe and other popular Strength weapons, the Man Serpent Hatchet comes with a more versatile moveset to deal with crowds of enemies. Its heavy attacks provided from the weapon art are a sight to behold, killing all but the toughest of foes.

Sadly, this weapon is located at Archdragon Peak—one of the last areas and the second secret zone in Dark Souls 3. If players can find this zone and best the Serpent Men who reside there, they will be rewarded with a fantastic axe weapon that can penetrate shields with ease.

12 Long Sword

Dark Souls 3 Long Sword

Long Sword Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 203 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Stance
  • Weapon Type: Straight Sword
  • Required Stats: Strength (10), Dexterity (10)
  • Scaling: Strength (A)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

Knights start with some heavy armor, but their weapon is one of the best in the game. Don't let this starter weapon fool you, as it is one of the most versatile and deadly weapons in the game.

RELATED: Dark Souls 3: All Four Endings And How To Get Them

With a reasonable range, fantastic moveset, and reasonably effective weapon art, the Long Sword dominates most other straight swords in its category. Infusing this weapon with Heavy will make it suitable for Strength builds, or it can alternatively be infused with elemental damage instead to deal split damage. Its versatility is nearly unmatched in the Dark Souls weapon sandbox.

11 Greatsword

Dark Souls 3 Greatsword

Greatsword Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 294 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Stomp
  • Weapon Type: Ultra Greatsword
  • Required Stats: Strength (28), Dexterity (10)
  • Scaling: Strength (A)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

The simple title of "Greatsword" does its job in conveying the simple nature of this weapon, but that doesn't discount its usefulness. This is one of the longest reaching weapons in the game while also having a surprisingly low stat requirement to wield.

It has pretty average damage when compared to other bigger weapons, and has a basic moveset to go along with it. But, unlike some of the fancier weapons on this list, it can be infused and buffed to allow it the flexibility to be on a wider variety of builds.

10 Greataxe

Dark Souls 3 Greataxe

Greataxe Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 347 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Warcry
  • Weapon Type: Greataxe
  • Required Stats: Strength (32), Dexterity (8)
  • Scaling: Strength (B)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

The Greataxe is one of the best PvE weapons available in Dark Souls 3. It can be acquired very early, has lots of base attack damage, and has a skill that further boosts it.

The moveset for this weapon is good in PvE, allowing players to quickly kill tough enemies. With a Raw or Heavy infusion, this weapon quickly turns into a high-damage machine capable of downing bosses in seconds. With the right build, this weapon can reach one of the highest pure physical damage values in Dark Souls 3. Consequently, this weapon's lack of sweeping attacks and high stamina cost make it difficult to use in PvP.

9 Fume Ultra Greatsword

Dark Souls 3 Fume Ultra Greatsword
Via: littlevini (YouTube)

Fume Ultra Greatsword Stats

  • Attack Rating: 260 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Stomp
  • Weapon Type Ultra Greatsword
  • Required Stats: Strength (50), Dexterity (10)
  • Scaling: Strength (S)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? No

Wielded by one of the hardest bosses in Dark Souls history, the Fume Ultra Greatsword is one of the strongest weapons in the game for Strength-based users.

With a whopping 50 Strength requirement, this weapon provides a cataclysmic amount of damage to any enemy caught in its path. The vertical and thrust attacks in its moveset accentuate its focus on dealing devastating damage to a few enemies in front of the player. Also, the sword can be used as a pseudo-shield, blocking attacks with a decent absorption rate. The downside is just how much Stamina and Strength are needed to properly wield this monster, making it an uncommon pick for PvE and PvP.

8 Yhorm's Great Machete

Dark Souls 3 Yhorm's Great Machete

Yhorm's Great Machete Stats

  • Attack Rating: 338 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Warcry
  • Weapon Type: Greataxe
  • Required Stats: Strength (38), Dexterity (10)
  • Scaling: Strength (A)
  • Can Be Buffed? No
  • Can Be Infused? No

At least Yhorm brings in one actually useful weapon that isn't named "Storm Ruler," and this Great Machete is pretty dangerous as well. The biggest appeal of this weapon is definitely its damage output at 707 AR while two-handed.

What keeps this weapon from being completely devastating is its two-handed moveset, which does not have a guaranteed combo. Having a guaranteed combo with a two-handed, long-reaching weapon with 707 AR might have been too powerful to handle, but it does just fine as a single-handed weapon.

7 Winged Knight Twinaxes

Dark Souls 3 Winged Knight Twinaxes

Winged Knight Twinaxes Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 225 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Chain Spin
  • Weapon Type: Axe
  • Required Stats: Strength (20), Dexterity (12)
  • Scaling: Strength (A)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

Few enemies in PvE can survive the onslaught of attacks this pair of twin axes can dish out, and many phantoms in PvP fear the unrelenting damage this weapon deals.

This uncommon weapon can be dropped by Winged Knights, meaning players can acquire this weapon fairly early if they know where to farm. The weapon art is the star of the show here, letting users continuously spin until all of their stamina is exhausted. Unlike greatswords, axes don't require nearly as much stamina to use, meaning you can use this stance comfortably until any Estus-chugging enemy dies.

6 Black Knight Greatsword

Dark Souls 3 Black Knight Greatsword

Black Knight Greatsword Stats

  • Attack Rating: 322 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Stomp
  • Weapon Type: Axe
  • Required Stats: Strength (30), Dexterity (18)
  • Scaling: Strength (B), Dexterity (D)
  • Can Be Buffed? No
  • Can Be Infused? No

In contrast to the regular Greatsword, the Black Knight Greatsword has a few more important qualities to put it on top. It has a slightly higher AR than the standard Greatsword and has a bit more flexibility with its attack speed, and it also has the best poise damage of any Ultra Greatsword.

The Black Knight Greatsword used to dominate PvP with its R1 into R2 combo, which was very difficult to do but dealt an incredible amount of damage. This has been patched out, making it lose just a bit of PvP usage. Regardless, this is still a great weapon choice.

5 Millwood Greatbow

Dark Souls 3 Millwood Greatbow

Milwood Greatbow Stats

  • Attack Rating: 242 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Pierce Earth
  • Weapon Type: Greatbow
  • Required Stats: Strength (28), Dexterity (12)
  • Scaling: Strength (A), Dexterity (E)
  • Can Be Buffed? No
  • Can Be Infused? No

Ranged characters in video games are typically dexterous, leaping between enemies to slice them with daggers or a well-placed arrow. Dark Souls breaks this tradition by letting Strength characters get some mileage out of using greatbows.

RELATED: Dark Souls 3: The 10 Strongest Weapons In The Game, Ranked

Meet the Millwood Greatbow, a weapon made just for strong characters. With a 28 Strength requirement, players who build around that stat will be able to use one of the highest damage values of any bow in the game, out damaging even the Dragonslayer Greatbow! Bows have a different playstyle than melee but are equally rewarding if mastered.

4 Ledo's Great Hammer

Dark Souls 3 Ledo's Great Hammer

Ledo's Great Hammer Stats

  • Attack Rating: 296 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Call to Stone
  • Weapon Type: Great Hammer
  • Required Stats: Strength (60)
  • Scaling: Strength (A)
  • Can Be Buffed? No
  • Can Be Infused? No

If you couldn't already tell just by looking at it, Ledo's Great Hammer is a pure Strength weapon. It requires a whopping 60 Strength to wield, the highest Strength requirement in Dark Souls 3. Like any other Great Hammer in the game, this is an extremely slow but devastating weapon in the right hands.

What sets this hammer apart from other available ones is its weapon art, which is likely the best hammer art in the game. This art throws out a swift attack for a Great Hammer, which deals heavy damage while simultaneously catching opponents off-guard. Once you catch an opponent off-guard, use the weapon's brutal light and heavy attacks to chunk the enemy's HP. Few weapons hit as hard as Ledo's Great Hammer.

3 Exile Greatsword

Dark Souls 3 Exile Greatsword
Via: Durandal (YouTube)

Exile Greatswords Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 273 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Spin Slash
  • Weapon Type: Curved Greatsword
  • Required Stats: Strength (24), Dexterity (16)
  • Scaling: Strength (A)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

Curved greatswords fill a unique niche of being agile greatswords. Greatswords are typically known for their clunkiness to use yet massive damage, but the Exile Greatsword somehow manages to achieve both.

Capable of obtaining an A scaling in Strength, the Exile Greatsword is quick and packs a punch with each hit. The weapon art available allows for a spinning motion followed by a strong attack, decimating most targets. In PvP, the heavy follow-up can surprise foes, while it serves as a great damage option in most PvE scenarios.

2 Splitleaf Greatsword

Dark Souls 3 Splitleaf Greatsword

Splitleaf Greatsword Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 244 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Wind Wheel
  • Weapon Type: Halberd
  • Required Stats: Strength (26), Dexterity (16)
  • Scaling: Strength (S)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

Who wants to play as a helicopter? This greatsword allows players to spin to an absurd degree, slicing and dicing their way through any enemy that is caught in their path.

This weapon is acquired from the Stone-humped Hag in the Ringed City. These weapons deal reasonable damage and can be infused with Heavy. With these traits, it is one of the highest damaging halberd weapons in the game, and the weapon art elevates this weapon well above most. Better yet, ranged attacks such as arrows and bolts can be deflected while spinning, meaning it provides an aggressive yet defensive playstyle for both PvE and PvP.

1 Great Club

Dark Souls 3 Great Club

Great Club Stats (Heavy Infusion)

  • Attack Rating: 281 Physical
  • Weapon Art: Warcry
  • Weapon Type: Great Hammer
  • Required Stats: Strength (28)
  • Scaling: Strength (A)
  • Can Be Buffed? Yes
  • Can Be Infused? Yes

Dexterity is not even required to use this weapon. The Great Club is a giant club capable of beating any enemy with ease.

Obtainable in Farron Keep, the Great Club has a resounding amount of damage it can deal. Alongside its reasonable Strength scaling, it can also be buffed and infused with Heavy, meaning the already absurd damage gets multiplied even further. Warcry—the weapon art for this club—grants increased damage as well. It might not have the sheer scaling of the Fume Ultra Greatsword or the base AR of the Greataxe, but it's hard to argue that bonking enemies with this Great Club doesn't get results. It can be obtained early, doesn't require any Dexterity to wield—a rarity in Dark Souls 3—and looks ridiculous in the best way possible. Not many Strength weapons have as many pros as the Great Club.

Next: Dark Souls 3: The 10 Best Strength Builds