Weapons are your primary means of offense. Understanding their types, how to modify them, and how to upgrade them is crucial.
Weapon Types:
- Straight Swords: Balanced, versatile.
- Greatswords: Slower, higher damage, good poise damage.
- Colossal Swords/Weapons: Very slow, highest damage, high poise damage.
- Katanas: Fast, often inflict Bleed, good Dexterity scaling.
- Curved Swords: Fast, good for dual-wielding.
- Axes/Greataxes: Strong, good for Strength builds.
- Hammers/Great Hammers: High blunt damage, good for breaking enemy stances.
- Spears/Halberds: Reach, poke attacks, good for mounted combat.
- Daggers: Very fast, good for critical hits and status effects.
- Fists/Claws: Fast, often inflict status effects.
- Bows/Greatbows/Crossbows: Ranged combat.
- Staves (Sorceries): Catalysts for Intelligence spells.
- Sacred Seals (Incantations): Catalysts for Faith spells.
Weapon Affinities (Ashes of War):
Ashes of War not only grant a Weapon Art but also allow you to change a weapon's affinity, altering its damage scaling and sometimes adding status effects. Examples include: Heavy (Strength), Keen (Dexterity), Quality (Str/Dex), Magic (Int), Sacred (Faith), Flame (Str/Faith), Lightning (Dex/Faith), Cold (Int/Frostbite), Poison (Arc/Poison), Blood (Arc/Bleed), Occult (Arc/Physical).
Weapon Upgrades:
Weapons are upgraded using Smithing Stones (up to +25 for regular, +10 for unique/somber). Regular Smithing Stones are found commonly, while Somber Smithing Stones are rarer and used for special weapons. Upgrading significantly increases a weapon's base damage and scaling.