For the longest time, game publishers were becoming more and more risk-averse, not adding any substantial level of challenge in their games out of the fear that they'd alienate their fanbase as a result. It was an erroneous judgment that showed how disconnected the industry players were from its fans. However, this dynamic was completely altered with the release of Dark Souls, a game in which players were finally given the respect they deserved in the form of one of the most challenging video games that had ever been released in the modern era.
Dark Souls is easily one of the greatest and most impactful video games ever released, and one need only look at the massive number of "Souls-likes" that have come up after this title to realize why this is the case. So, it goes without saying that more and more people would want to get into this brilliant series, as well. However, Dark Souls can be quite tricky to navigate and understand in the early going, especially when it comes to the act of choosing a weapon. While some weapons have received way more love than they deserve, there are others that have been left in the dust. Keeping this in mind, here are ten examples of the most overrated and underrated weapons in Dark Souls.
10 Overrated: Uchigatana
The Uchigatana is considered by many to be one of the best Dexterity weapons that can be used all the way to the endgame, but this statement is only partly correct. This katana might be great during the starting moments of Dark Souls, but the Uchigatana slowly loses steam as the game progresses, forcing players to either be okay with the idea of lower damage or shifting to a weapon that is more suited for the endgame.
9 Underrated: Bandit's Knife
The Bandit's Knife is one of the fastest weapons on this list, and it's definitely a blast to use for anyone who likes moving around quickly in combat. A person who combines the quick nature of this weapon with adequate parrying knowledge will definitely be an absolute beast in combat for the majority of Dark Souls.
8 Overrated:Â Man-Serpent Greatsword
The Man-Serpent Greatsword might be a rare and welcome find, but the fact of the matter is that this weapon is just too unwieldy for the majority of Dark Souls players. It might be one of the faster Strength weapons around, but this comes at the cost of lower damage and a higher overall sense of frustration as the player needs more hits to take down tougher enemies.
7 Underrated: Quelaag's Furysword
Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, there's a greatsword borne from the soul of Quelaag that is incredibly damaging, can be upgraded fairly quickly, and deals fire damage with every hit as well.
It goes without saying that Quelaag's Furysword is one of the more entertaining weapons to use on this list, and it's a must-have for anyone who wishes to enjoy an entertaining and flashy moveset.
6 Overrated: Estoc
The Estoc might seem like a great Dexterity weapon to use in the early going, but, just like the Uchigatana, it is overshadowed by most other weapons later on in the game. In fact, there's a weapon one can obtain fairly early on as well that completely blows the Estoc out of the water.
5 Underrated: Balder Side Sword
The Balder Side Sword might be one of the rarest weapons in Dark Souls, but one can't deny that it's an absolute blast to use in combat. The adaptability of the weapon is enough to make the act of tediously farming it worthwhile.
Whether in PvP or PvE, rest assured that the Balder Side Sword is a reliable weapon that will pretty much always ensure that players will have a way to get out of the stickiest of situations.
4 Overrated: Zweihander
The Zweihander is considered by many to be their weapon of choice for the entirety of Dark Souls, and it's easy to see why this is the case. After all, the fact that this weapon can be obtained incredibly early on in the game is definitely one of its biggest selling points.
However, keep in mind that the Zweihander is one of the slower weapons around, and players who are just starting out with Dark Souls might find this weapon a tad too unwieldy for their liking.
3 Underrated: Murakumo
It's a shame that the Murakumo is barely talked about when discussing great weapons in Dark Souls. After all, this weapon is easily one of the most entertaining greatswords that people can use battle.
While the fact that it requires a minimum of 28 Strength yet primarily scales with Dexterity might be rather mind-boggling, the end result, being the weapon's massive damage and reach, more than makes up for this small hiccup.
2 Overrated:Â Black Knight Halberd
The Black Knight Halberd is considered to be one of the best weapons in the entire game, and a favorite of most speedrunners due to its massive damage output that can be unlocked fairly early on in the game.
However, one thing to keep in mind about the Black Knight Halberd is that it's not all that players build it up to be. The weapon is incredibly slow and completely unusable in a PvP scenario. In fact, using this weapon in PvE can also get extremely boring after a while, as well. Players who are searching for a good endgame weapon would be better off with the next weapon on this list.
1 Underrated: Lifehunt Scythe
For the most part, people rate the Great Scythe quite highly and completely throw the Lifehunt Scythe out of the equation when it comes to discussing the best Dexterity weapons in the game, which is a shame, as the Lifehunt Scythe is an excellent weapon that players should look out for when deciding upon a good endgame weapon.
The damage this weapon can dish out is excellent, and the massive Bleed buildup can make it a pain for Dark Souls invaders to deal with your attacks. While this does come at the cost of a self-Bleed buildup, wearing appropriate armor and accessories can make this status infliction way more manageable.