Decent sidearms for a sorcerer?

[Enderspoons]

I decided to try being a mage for a new 2nd playthrough, and boy 8 strength really puts a cap on my options for sidearms.

Other than the starting shortsword, are there any other recommendations within my budget of 8 strength + 12 dex + 7 faith?

[ViolentSweed]

I use that one dagger that has 140 Critical. You can get 10 "free" str and dex later for the cost of your Great Rune and a Talisman slot. Opens up options for a lot of Int weapons like Moonveil, Dark Moon Greatsword etc

[Tactical Drongo]

if you want to use the sidearm you should consider putting at least a little more in dex in the long run, that said:

Hookclaws (stormveil castle loot) or later Raptor Talons are great bleeding buildup weapons (with rather short range)

from the curved swords you can pick up the scimitar, the shamshir and two boss weapons

most daggers are within youd budget and they are good for critical hits (not so good for staggering the enemy to get there)

for only 2 strength more you can unlock 2 flails which are good ad staggering and grant bleed buildup
there are two boss flais which you can wear with that setup too

there are 4 fist weapons (cestus, spiked cestus, katar and the clinging bone) - last one needs some arcane though

Katanas are out of your reach though, the uchigatana needs 11 strenght (but it is a really good weapon, so consider it anyway) - theres even a magical katana for 12 strength

there are 5 straight swords for 8 strength, one which already supports a int + secondary dex build

there are 2 thrusting swords (rapier and a specific rapier) which work with 8 str
with 9 and 10 str you get one more each

and 3 out of six whips the game offers go by 8 str default

[Enderspoons]

I should have specified that this was a strict Int build, so I'm trying to rush toward 50 vigor / 50 mind / 70 int as fast as I can while ignoring strength and dex. The sidearm is for when I run out of blue flasks.

[Izlude]

Originally posted by Enderspoons:

I decided to try being a mage for a new 2nd playthrough, and boy 8 strength really puts a cap on my options for sidearms.

Other than the starting shortsword, are there any other recommendations within my budget of 8 strength + 12 dex + 7 faith?

Despite hating katanas in games...I think the Uchi-somethingorother is oddly really good due to its attack animations so I have been using it on my mageboi.

[Kain]

Glock. A Beretta is a good sidearm too if you have no mana.

[Enderspoons]

Originally posted by Philogosten:

Originally posted by Enderspoons:

I decided to try being a mage for a new 2nd playthrough, and boy 8 strength really puts a cap on my options for sidearms.

Other than the starting shortsword, are there any other recommendations within my budget of 8 strength + 12 dex + 7 faith?

Despite hating katanas in games...I think the Uchi-somethingorother is oddly really good due to its attack animations so I have been using it on my mageboi.

You raise a good point, but I already ran the Uchigatana for my first playthrough so I don't have much interest in doing another katana.

[Slippin Jimmy]

Helphen's Steeple greatsword looks pretty ccol.

[Lust]

Lordsworn's Straight Sword - I am not sure where I got it but its been a nice INT sword - I put a frost effect on it and leveled it up a bit too. And then Sword of Night & Flame.

[Unforseen_Queefer]

get enough strength for the night and flame sword. it woops A as a side arm. me having 70 int and 20 str it does around 300 dam for a light swing.

[Izlude]

Originally posted by Enderspoons:

Originally posted by Philogosten:

Despite hating katanas in games...I think the Uchi-somethingorother is oddly really good due to its attack animations so I have been using it on my mageboi.

You raise a good point, but I already ran the Uchigatana for my first playthrough so I don't have much interest in doing another katana.

Fair enough. uhhh rapiers maybe then. They got great crit so they are really good if you get backstabs and poisebroken front stab (whatever that mechanic is called)

[Retrox]

Whip. Put cold on it as soon as you're able, and keep it upgraded for INT scaling. The range makes it great for a sorceror with mostly long range spells to support. Mine's at +23, approaching endgame and I'm very happy with the investment.

[Unforseen_Queefer]

thing is mage attacks dont stagger for crits a whole lot or atleast they havnt for me.

[Unforseen_Queefer]

but if you have high enough int the crystal pebble torrent spell does around 2000 plus damage with a good staff.

[Lohikaarme]

Originally posted by Enderspoons:

I decided to try being a mage for a new 2nd playthrough, and boy 8 strength really puts a cap on my options for sidearms.

Other than the starting shortsword, are there any other recommendations within my budget of 8 strength + 12 dex + 7 faith?

Lazuli sword. It's light, needs almost NO stats, scales really good. Has a good Ash Of war to caught people offguard if you know the extra imput, and you can farm it easy. The downside is, it needs somer stones to upgrade

[Unforseen_Queefer]

the St sword with sleep affect is also good to buy time in most situations.