Summary
WhenFromSoftware releasedDemon’s Soulsback in 2009, they probably didn’t think they’d be starting a gaming revolution that would continue setting new standards after more than a decade. TheDark Soulsfranchise helped turn this once modest Japanese studio into a AAA behemoth developer, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars worth of game purchases and merchandise yearly.
Over time, theDark Soulsuniverse has expanded and reinvented itself with every installment of the franchise, bringing about new bosses, game mechanics,grim areas to explore, and powerful weapons to decimate mighty foes. However, not all weapons are created equal, and while players might be able to obtain amazing swords, axes, and clubs by simply progressing through the story, they’ll have to work very hard to acquire others.
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The originalDark Soulsis full of challenges. From vicious rats that attack the Ashen One in damp, dark sewers, to poison dart-blowing enemies in Blighttown, one of the most universally hated areas of the franchise (and with good reason). However, they all pale in comparison to the obstacles players will have to face intheArtorias of the AbyssDLC.
In this downloadable content, players will get the chance to finally meet and fight Knight Artorias, master of Sif, the Great Grey Wolf, and they’ll also get to fight Black Dragon Kalameet, a large enemy with quick attacks and a robust Health Bar. Defeating Kalameet is hard enough without trying anything complicated. But players who want theObsidian Greatswordwill have to dodge the dragon’s attacks while aiming for his tail, as cutting it off is the only way to get this weapon. Since the windows to strike at the tail are few and far between, and an unbelievable amount of precision is required to hit it, the Obsidian Greatsword is among the hardest weapons to unlock in theDark Soulsseries.
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Anyone who’s ever played the originalDark Soulshas likely struggled at least once to defeat agroup of Balder knightswhile exploring the game’s world. These enemies are fast and hard-hitting killing machines that will attack the Ashen One mercilessly until they die. Luckily, the great effort it takes to learn how to dispatch them is sometimes worthwhile, as these foes can very rarely drop theBalder Side Sword.
This weapon from the ancient kingdom of Balder was standard issue for all its knights. It’s great for long-range thrusting attacks and can inflict upwards of 200 Physical damage when fully upgraded. While the Balder Side Sword is not as flashy as other melee weapons in the game, it has a staggeringly low drop rate of 1%, which means that players may have to kill 100 Balder knights to get a single sword.
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Knight Artorias is one of the most legendary figures inDark Soulslore. As one of the four knights of Gwyn and commander of the Lord of Cinder’s army, he was known for his indomitable spirit and hatred for the dark creatures of the world. After learning the ability ofabysswalking, he delved deep into the Abyss, which eventually swallowed him, and he was never to be seen again.
Those who’ve playedtheArtorias of the AbyssDLCwill likely be familiar with Artorias, as the expansion is not only named after him, but he’s also one of the 4 bosses gamers will have to defeat to complete it. His boss fight is quite challenging, but the effort to defeat him is worthwhile, as it yields the Soul of Artorias, which can be used to obtain theAbyss Greatsword.
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Dark Souls 2is probably most players' least favorite installment in the franchise, and up to a certain point, that opinion holds up due to various standardssuch as story, combat, and other game mechanics that were better in the title’s prequel and sequel. Still,Dark Souls 2has many salvageable aspects, including areas like Drangleic Castle, bosses like the Fume Knight, and neat-looking weapons, such asEleum Loyce.
This strange curved sword was crafted from the soul of Alsanna and can heal a nearby ally when using a special attack. To get Eleum Loyce, players will have to get theCrown of the Ivory KingDLC and collect 50 Loyce Souls to ultimately receive the Soul of Alsanna. Then, the next step is to go with Weaponsmith Ornifex and trade it with an additional 12,000 regular souls. With so many requirements, including the tedious task of locating all 50 Loyce Souls, Eleum Loyce is certainly one of thehardest weapons to unlockin theDark Soulsseries.
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As stated previously,Dark Souls 2is, for many, the weakest point in an otherwise perfect trilogy. However, FromSoftware has the rare talent to make even a “bad” title feel enjoyable by hitting the nail on the head with a few great bosses.
Dark Souls 2’s Fume Knight is considered by several players to bethe hardest boss in the gamedue to its swift sword swings, long blade range, and AoE attacks. The reward for defeating him can either be theFume Swordor theFume Ultra Greatsword, depending on each player’s preference when trading the Soul of the Fume Knight with Weaponsmith Ornifex. Considering how big of a headache fighting and defeating the Fume Knight can be, it’s safe to say these swords can also be categorized as some of thehardest weapons to unlockinDark Souls.
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As opposed to its predecessors,Dark Souls 3has much darker, grim areas. Whether it is the corpse-grub-infested graveyard outside the Cathedral of the Deep or the dark, macabre air around Untended Graves, players won’t be able to ever feel comfortable. That said, despite their heavy atmosphere, some areas are still worth exploring to the deepest extent, as they hold precious items and rare weapons.
A great example of this isthe Irithyll Dungeon, where players can find theTailbone Spear, a weapon that is neither strong nor greatly scalable, but it is as rare as they come. This weapon is seldom dropped by Wretches within the dungeon’s cells (the creepy enemies with the body of a dog and the face of a baby). Unfortunately, the low drop rate, combined with the small number of Wretches in the area, make the Tailbone Spear one of thehardest weapons to unlockin theDark Soulsseries.
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Friede’s Great Scytheis a weapon that any player who’s completed theAshes of AriandelDLC is sadly very familiar with. As Sister Friede’s main weapon, this sharp curved blade not only has a freakishly long range but also allows its wielder to deliver swift attacks thanks to its light weight.
And if that wasn’t enough, this scythe also inflicts frost damage to enemies, making it a force to be reckoned with. Friede’s Great Scythe is undoubtedly one of thehardest weapons to unlockin theDark Soulsgames due to how challenging Sister Friede’s boss fight is. With three different fight stages, including a dual boss fight, and Friede’s swift and unpredictable attacks, players will feel ecstatic when they finally beat her and get her Great Scythe, though doing so is much easier said than done.
