Weapon Upgrades Guide

[IYI Кума Лиса IYI]

Hello, definate noob here. Wont like that the game is bonesgrindingly frustrating at times but in a good way. Just finished off the Gaping Dragon and am about to descend to lovely, lovely Blight Town. My question is can you all recommend a good upgrade path for weapons?

I have a +5 Zweihander, +6 Claymore, +5 Gargoyle Halberd, +5 Heavy Xbow, +5 Grass Crest shield, +5 Broadsword from the Asylum, +2 Black Knight sword that I am using and a Drake sword along with the Dragon Crest shield and Oscar's shield too. Gave Andre the Divine and Large embers and he can forge me Divine and Raw weapons even though I've read people advising against the latter.

It's just that I find it a bit confusing at times and I just want some gear that can help for almost any situation.
I read Gwyn dosent like Occult weapons
Lighting is really good against PvP (even though I am not planning on doing any if at all)
That the Zweihander can pretty much become invinsible
And that Divine weapons stop skellitons from putting themselves together
No clue about a good weapon for ghosts though...

So my point being can you guys recommend a good upgrade path with high damage and good farming methods for resources? Twinkling titatine is kinda hard to come by unfortunately...
Any feedback appreciated

Cheers!

[Walrus-Sama]

Standard Upgrade path. Depending of your preference upgrade the Zweihander or Claymore to +10. Can be later upgraded to +15 (max).

If you like the Black Knight Sword and have the Twinkling Titanite to spare you can upgrade that (Unique items, such as BK weapons, have a max of +5). Black Knight Weapons are pretty strong.

Drake Sword and Gargoyle Halberd are trash, don't use them.


Titanite Shards can be farmed from Undead Burg enemies. Large Titanite Shards can be farmed from worms in Blightown, Titanite Chunks can be farmed from Darkwraiths in New Londo Ruins.

Twinkling Titanite can be farmed from Clams (best place to farm them is in a late game area though).

[Beef]

ghosts cannot be hurt by any upgrade path, you either need a cursed weapon (there are like 3) or transcient curses, other than that standard is good. you can use pine resin depending on the boss you fight *like gold pine for dragons and charcoal pine for others*

or if you are a sorcerer i recommend magic/enchanted
same thing if you are a faith user except divine/occult

[IYI Кума Лиса IYI]

Originally posted by Cadmar:

ghosts cannot be hurt by any upgrade path, you either need a cursed weapon (there are like 3) or transcient curses, other than that standard is good. you can use pine resin depending on the boss you fight *like gold pine for dragons and charcoal pine for others*

or if you are a sorcerer i recommend magic/enchanted
same thing if you are a faith user except divine/occult

For some reason my character just shrugs when I try to apply resins to my Black knight sword I dont know why. Nor can he use simple miracles like heal or +1 Pyromancy. Is this a stat thing? Do I need more points in Intelligence or Attunement or something?

Also so you guys are saying its better to just keep upgrading weapons down the regular path and tank the damage output? Are you sure?

[Beef]

Originally posted by Nick Wilde:

Originally posted by Cadmar:

ghosts cannot be hurt by any upgrade path, you either need a cursed weapon (there are like 3) or transcient curses, other than that standard is good. you can use pine resin depending on the boss you fight *like gold pine for dragons and charcoal pine for others*

or if you are a sorcerer i recommend magic/enchanted
same thing if you are a faith user except divine/occult

For some reason my character just shrugs when I try to apply resins to my Black knight sword I dont know why. Nor can he use simple miracles like heal or +1 Pyromancy. Is this a stat thing? Do I need more points in Intelligence or Attunement or something?

Also so you guys are saying its better to just keep upgrading weapons down the regular path and tank the damage output? Are you sure?

some weapons cannot have things like pine resins applied to them. and some spells/miracles require certain stats. check the stat requirements

[Blitz4]

Originally posted by Walrus-Sama:

Standard Upgrade path.

This is golden advice.


Also. The reason raw isn't good, it doesn't upgrade the scaling of the weapon. (if you're not familiar with scaling, just ask). In general, if you're leveling your character, raw will generally hurt, not help you. Raw is good for SL1 runs, however it might not be the best.

I like how you leveled a bunch of different weapons to test. I think one of the most popular all-arounders is the claymore, but you can't ignore the BKH.

[Nobby]

If you are going for a strength build where you get str to 40-50 you're better off with a +15 weapon that has some decent scaling.

The damage bonus you get by using occcult/divine/... Will be smaller than the scaling bonus you get. You can also still infuse a regular +15 weapon with resins.

BK weapons are still very decent So if you need twinkling titanite there is an area called The Great Hollow where you can find 10 crystal lizards giving you all the twinkling titanite you need.

The drake sword is OK up until the point you're basically at right now. It's good in the beginning because of its high damage but by now you can get higher upgrades with regular weapons that have better scaling

[IYI Кума Лиса IYI]

Originally posted by Blitz4:

Originally posted by Walrus-Sama:

Standard Upgrade path.

This is golden advice.


Also. The reason raw isn't good, it doesn't upgrade the scaling of the weapon. (if you're not familiar with scaling, just ask). In general, if you're leveling your character, raw will generally hurt, not help you. Raw is good for SL1 runs, however it might not be the best.

I like how you leveled a bunch of different weapons to test. I think one of the most popular all-arounders is the claymore, but you can't ignore the BKH.

Yes scaling is kind of weird. Wouldn't mind a crash cource.
And since I am down below Blighttown now I am farming large titanite. But seriously the Green stuff drops at 5 chunks per drop its insane, yet I dont even think I need it!
Managed to upgrade my Elite Knight set to +5 and trying to gather a few more shards before I explore the Tree (heard there are some Lizards there) and fight the boss.
At best I'd like to upgrade both the Claymore and the Zweihander while using a BK sword to +5 or above (depending on the twinkling I find) and just alternate.
I am a sucker for historical swords so it was bound to be either them or the standart Longsword or Broadsword.
Plus those gilden Halberds in Anor Londo look mighty fine. Can't wait to get my hands on one!

[IYI Кума Лиса IYI]

Originally posted by Nobby:

If you are going for a strength build where you get str to 40-50 you're better off with a +15 weapon that has some decent scaling.

The damage bonus you get by using occcult/divine/... Will be smaller than the scaling bonus you get. You can also still infuse a regular +15 weapon with resins.

BK weapons are still very decent So if you need twinkling titanite there is an area called The Great Hollow where you can find 10 crystal lizards giving you all the twinkling titanite you need.

The drake sword is OK up until the point you're basically at right now. It's good in the beginning because of its high damage but by now you can get higher upgrades with regular weapons that have better scaling

Ah so I am glad I didnt spend the Scales on the Drake one, instead focusing the first one on the Dragon Crest shield. Seriously the thing looks gorgeous, I just wish it had the buff of the Grass Crest and I'd never put it down.

[nomoreblues]

Originally posted by Nick Wilde:

Yes scaling is kind of weird. Wouldn't mind a crash cource.

scaling = bonus damage output on top dependant on the level of certain stats

you have 4 stats that may apply scaling: dex, str, faith, int

most important is dex and/or str, most ordinary weapons scale with that.
You can check weapons you picked up in your inventory: you'll find 4 places for letters for the 4 stats

A letter (e.g. "B") indicates that there is scaling, "-" means no scaling with that stat

the amount of bonus dmg varies, from weak to stronger: E,D,C,B,A,S

MODIFYING A WEAPON (away from normal upgrade path) USUALLY REMOVES SCALING

[Blitz4]

Here's a neat tidbit I found in a guide that suggested you get a (standard) +15 Mace:

Originally posted by ClericKnight:

"Can I infuse my mace to make it a Divine Mace? Doesn't this give it better FTH scaling?"

NO. I mean, well, yes it DOES give better FTH scaling. But you should NOT make your mace Divine. The reason has to do with Split Damage. I'll explain with an example: A Silver Knight, a common mob in the mid-game, has 128 physical defense. A +15 Mace, at 30 STR, has a total of 376 AR. Take away the Silver Knight's physical defense, and you're dealing 248 physical damage. But a Silver Knight also has 102 magical defense. A Divine Mace+10 at 30 STR/30 FTH deals 190 physical damage and 257 Magical damage- the total attack rating is 447. Take away from this the 128 physical defense AND the 102 MAGICAL defense of a Silver Knight, and you're doing only 217 damage. So despite a higher total attack rating, you're actually doing less damage. That's a very simplified version of damage calculation and if you want more information you can look up parameter bonuses/enemy resistances, but trust me when I say that a pure physical weapon is preferable in almost every situation. There ARE circumstances where enemies will take bonus damage from a magical or elemental infusion, or when an infusion will provide a bonus effect. That's why you have a Divine Claymore. However, a split-damage weapon is best reserved for those specific situations instead of being your main weapon.

However, that same guide suggested a Divine +10 Claymore, only tobe used as a special use case, not a weapon to be used against all enemies. src

[IYI Кума Лиса IYI]

Originally posted by Blitz4:

Here's a neat tidbit I found in a guide that suggested you get a (standard) +15 Mace:

Originally posted by ClericKnight:

"Can I infuse my mace to make it a Divine Mace? Doesn't this give it better FTH scaling?"

NO. I mean, well, yes it DOES give better FTH scaling. But you should NOT make your mace Divine. The reason has to do with Split Damage. I'll explain with an example: A Silver Knight, a common mob in the mid-game, has 128 physical defense. A +15 Mace, at 30 STR, has a total of 376 AR. Take away the Silver Knight's physical defense, and you're dealing 248 physical damage. But a Silver Knight also has 102 magical defense. A Divine Mace+10 at 30 STR/30 FTH deals 190 physical damage and 257 Magical damage- the total attack rating is 447. Take away from this the 128 physical defense AND the 102 MAGICAL defense of a Silver Knight, and you're doing only 217 damage. So despite a higher total attack rating, you're actually doing less damage. That's a very simplified version of damage calculation and if you want more information you can look up parameter bonuses/enemy resistances, but trust me when I say that a pure physical weapon is preferable in almost every situation. There ARE circumstances where enemies will take bonus damage from a magical or elemental infusion, or when an infusion will provide a bonus effect. That's why you have a Divine Claymore. However, a split-damage weapon is best reserved for those specific situations instead of being your main weapon.

Well I do have a straight sword of Astora, that thing looks Divine as can be. And Green Titanite to spare so might as well make it Divine. Haven't encountered a Mace yet though, only the morning star from Firelink but yeah that seems about right and explains alot.
Thank you!

[Blitz4]

Originally posted by Nick Wilde:

Originally posted by Blitz4:

Here's a neat tidbit I found in a guide that suggested you get a (standard) +15 Mace:

Well I do have a straight sword of Astora, that thing looks Divine as can be. And Green Titanite to spare so might as well make it Divine. Haven't encountered a Mace yet though, only the morning star from Firelink but yeah that seems about right and explains alot.
Thank you!

Then for sure, read the guide's FAQ I clipped that from before upgrading it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/darksouls/comments/8m6n19/the_best_pve_build_in_dark_souls_become_a_cleric/

[Blitz4]

I can't find the part of the wiki that tells you what % the E,D,C,B,A,S contribute towards to the stat. But there's an awesome calculator that may help.

https://soulsplanner.com/darksouls/weaponatk

[IYI Кума Лиса IYI]

Originally posted by Blitz4:

I can't find the part of the wiki that tells you what % the E,D,C,B,A,S contribute towards to the stat. But there's an awesome calculator that may help.

https://soulsplanner.com/darksouls/weaponatk

Thank you very much! I will study these before I make an actual upgrade. But first gotta farm around 40 Large Titanites XD

[nomoreblues]

Originally posted by Nick Wilde:

I will study these before I make an actual upgrade.

Don't get fooled by numbers though, you need to hit something to apply the damage - there's weapon moveset, reach and speed, you won't find numbers for studying these.