Dexteritybuilds are somewhat looked down upon by theDark Souls3community due to how powerful they can be. These builds typically revolve around reaching a high Dexterity value while investing plenty in endurance. It allows players to attack with reckless abandon, but there’s a good reason why these builds are so popular.
For PvE, some of the strongest weapons inDark Souls 3scale the best with Dexterity.As for PvP, many weapon types have incredible movesets that deal large amounts of damage when paired with high dexterity.Here are the best PvE and PvP builds for dexterity users inDark Souls 3.Since most Dexterity builds are the same, this guide will focus less on stats and more on weapons and their play style.
Updated on July 05, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:One of the greatest things about the Dark Souls franchise is that it allows players to complete the games regardless of which build they choose. If some players prefer a high Poise build with a Strength weapon that hits like a truck but takes ages to deliver a single blow, that’s fine. And if others prefer a more agile build based on Dexterity, swift attacks, and perfectly timed dodges, that is also okay. Many players prefer a Dexterity build, as it makes for the most fast-paced combat mechanics. A well-crafted build of this type can be great against both area enemies during the story, and other Ashen Ones in PvP.
Scaling
Strength (E), Dexterity (B)
TheFrayed Bladeis a katana that not only looks incredibly menacing but also has a long-range skill called “Hold” that sends a shockwave along the earth. This weapon is great for Dexterity Builds, as it has a B scaling rating and can deal great damage through swift combos. Thanks to its special skill, it can deal with enemies at long distances and also produce a series of quick slashes, ideal for when players are surrounded by enemies.
Combining this weapon with the Chloranthy Ring can prevent players from running out of Stamina too quickly. Equipping the Carthus Milkring is also a great idea, as it gives 3 additional Dexterity points and obscures the wearer when rolling. To top it all off, it’s recommended to equip the Ring of Favor, which increases max HP by 3%, max Stamina by 8.5%, and max Equip Load by 5%. This weapon requires a whopping 40 Dexterity to wield, which means that it’s supposed to be used in the late stages of the game. This makes a lot of sense, as it can be obtained through theRinged CityDLC, which is not recommended before reaching Soul Level 90 or 100.
How To Get The Frayed Blade
This weapon can be obtained inDark Souls 3’s DLC,The Ringed City. Once players have defeated the mighty Darkeater Midir, they can use soul transposition to get this katana.
Strength (D), Dexterity (D)
The Estoc is one of the lightest and most versatile weapons inDark Souls 3. With fast thrust attacks and wide swings, this weapon is ideal for PvP. It doesn’t deal the most damage and doesn’t have the best Dexterity scaling (D), but given its speed, it can keep constant pressure on opponents, forcing them to roll continuously until their Stamina is depleted.
The Estoc is relatively long, which means it can be used in short, medium, and long-range combat with similar efficiency. Since this build is all about agility, it’s recommended for players to wear lightweight armor to move freely. The ideal companions for this weapon are the Ring of Favor, the Chloranthy Ring (for quicker Stamina regeneration), and the Prisoner’s Chain. For further buffing, players can use Magic Weapon and/or Sacred Oath, dealing additional damage to their opponents.
How To Get The Estoc
If players start with the Assassin class, they will already have the Estoc as their primary weapon. Players using other classes can purchase this weapon from Greirat after sending him to pillage the Undead Settlement.
If, for whatever reason, Greirat dies before players can purchase the Estoc, they can also hand Greirat’s Ashes to the Shrine Handmaid, who will sell it to them for 3,000 Souls.
Daggers are mainly used as parrying tools in theDark Soulsfranchise, but players might be surprised to know just how deadly the Brigand Twindaggers are when built around them. These daggers have the highest damage per second of any dagger in the game, and they have an incredibly fast moveset.
Invest heavily in dexterity, preferably hitting 60 in the stat, then upgrade endurance to take full advantage of this weapon’s multi-attacks. Infuse the weapon with sharp for even more damage. It also has the Quickstep weapon art for easy traversal. The Stats for wielding these daggers aren’t very high, which means that players can take advantage of them rather early on. Unfortunately, the Strength and Dexterity scaling leaves a bit to be desired.
Strength (E), Dexterity (C)
Known as the “Sellsword Winblades” by many, these blades make for a top-tier PvE choice and a great PvP option. The moveset for the Sellsword Twinblades emphasizes multi-attacks that punish greedy players and those that time their dodges poorly.
The weapon art is great at spacing as well, although be prepared for Greatswords to retaliate during the animation.As with most dexterity builds, 60 dexterity and a sharp infusion is the build of choice here.Pontiff’s Eye ringsare also a great choice for this build, since these weapons attack so quickly. If players infuse the Sellsword Twinblades with something like Carthus Rouge, they’ll have a weapon of mass destruction in their hands, as the Bleed buildup can get overpowered very quickly. With a few hits, players will be able to deal massive damage to most enemies who are susceptible to this status effect.
Most community members regard the Claymore as a low-skill weapon that only noobs use.While it is true that newer players typically gravitate towards the Claymore, that is for good reason: it can be earned in the first hour of a playthrough, has a fantastic moveset, and scales well with virtually any build—dexterity included.
Infuse the Claymore with a Sharp Gem to achieve an A scaling in dexterity. A high Dexterity stat allows the Claymore to safely one-shot most enemies in NG+ and beyond. In-built hyperarmor also allows this weapon to shine when the player gets swarmed by half a dozen enemies, making this a great all-rounder for PvE and even PvP—although its wide swings make it better for dealing with PvE combatants.
Part rapier and part claw, the Crow Quills are devastating weapons that have an S scaling in dexterity when infused with sharp. These weapons have a solid moveset that can invite attacks from opponents and heavily punish them with its quill projectiles or their ability to chain attacks onto each other.
It’s a difficult weapon to master due to its intricate combos, but a Crow Quill build with high Dexterity in the hands of a skilled player is a terrifying sight in PvP.The Hornet Ring also pairs well with this weapon, provided the player is good at parrying enemies. If players have never seen this weapon in action and have already started theAshes of AriandelDLC, they will soon encounter an enemy who wields it. Unfortunately, many of those who have the misfortune of having the Crow Quills used on them for the first time don’t survive, which goes to show just how dangerous this weapon is.
Strength (D), Dexterity (C)
Damage output is the Murakumo’s strong suit in PvE. Featuring an S scaling in dexterity with a +10 Sharp infusion, this weapon can output enough damage to take down tougher PvE enemies in a couple of swings.
A solid amount of hyper armor provided by the Murakumo makes it good against a small horde of enemies, especially when coupled with its spinning weapon art. Any build that plans to obtain 20 strength and at least 40 dexterity should give the Murakumo a shot. Its main downsides are its rather high strength requirement, its weight of 11, and only being obtainable around halfway through a playthrough.
Virtually every curved sword inDark Souls 3will serve as a solid weapon for PvP fights. Every curved sword has a good moveset, at least a C scaling in dexterity when upgraded, and a deceptively large range.
Using a Lothric Knight Sword or other meta choices will indeed fare better for most players in PvP, yet these weapons are such a good tool for learning how to duel. Their great variety of moves and great range make curved swords one of the most versatile and hard-to-read weapon archetypes in the game. Curved swords do struggle against great shields and defensive players, although a few slashes of a bleed-infused dagger should get them to panic. A solid option for a Curved sword that can be obtained rather early in the game is theCarthus Curved Greatsword. Many of the enemies in Carthus wield this devastating blade, and since it has decent Dexterity scaling from the get-go, it’s a solid choice for players who want a good weapon before reaching Irythill of the Boreal Valley.
Fast attacks and innate healing make the Old Wolf Curved Sword one of the most fun weapons in theDark Soulsfranchise.This weapon has great scaling with Dexterity when upgraded, making it a great fit for pure Dexterity builds.
Since the weapon attacks so quickly with its weapon art, it pairs well with Pontiff’s Left and Right Eye rings, granting Attack Power and HP with successive attacks. With this combination of stats and rings, the game plays closer toBloodbornethanDark Souls.
Nearly every build inDark Souls 3can turn the Astora Greatsword into a powerhouse thanks to its ultralight weight and great scaling.When sharpened, this sword gains a lot of points in its Attack Rating when past the soft cap of 40 Dexterity, meaning the Astora Greatsword hits like a truck when used alongside a Dexterity build.
It has a great mix of thrusts and slash attacks for PvP as well. Few weapons can round off a Dexterity build for PvP, as well as the Astora Greatsword. Aside from having so many technical advantages, the Astora Greatsword is also massive and extremely long, which means that it provides the Ashen One with outstanding range. This can be useful when dealing with large groups of enemies.
