Weapons in Dark Souls 3 that possess innate attack of an element other than physical are uncommon and are often sought out for many builds who seek to become an offensive force that few can defend against. Dark damage is a useful element to have on one's side, as it is particularly effective against many of the greatest and most frequent threats that the Ashen One will encounter.
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The mighty Black Knights, the savage Boreal Outrider Knights, and the formidable Ringed Knights are all susceptible to dark, as are Demons and Mimics. These are but a few of the many enemies (and bosses) that can succumb to the power of The Abyss.
Dark weapons will be especially useful to builds that have high Intelligence and Faith, as this damage type scales with these stats. There are 6 to be found in DS3, and although each is intended for notably different purposes and playstyles, some simply stand out as more viable for better damage output and more interesting movesets.
Although it is technically classified in-game as a catalyst, despite being unable to cast spells, the Dark Hand is significantly more well known for its melee potential. The infamous Lifedrain weapon skill allows the wielder to reach into a target's body with a grab that deals decent damage and heals the user.
Its moveset is usable as a fist or claw-like weapon that deals split physical and dark damage, though heavily favors the latter. It cannot be upgraded, therefore its stats remain the same, allowing it to be both great for low-levels players and nearly useless for high-level ones. This unique weapon has 88 physical attack, 150 dark attack, and scales with all of the 4 main stats; C-tier for Strength and Dexterity with D-tier for Intelligence and Faith, making it particularly handy for Quality builds.
This long, sickle-like dagger looks like a perfect tool for harvesting crops, though it would be better used to reap souls from foes. Possessing the Quickstep weapon skill lets its wielder get in and out of melee range quickly as well as granting them greater maneuverability for backstab attempts.
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It is also one of the weapons that are particularly geared towards a Dark infusion for its innate dark attack, and therefore makes a decent melee weapon for dark sorcery or miracle users. At the +10 Dark infusion upgrade, the Murky Hand Scythe obtains 68 physical attack, 102 dark attack, and acquires scaling with all main stats; D-tier in Strength, C-tier in Dexterity, and B-tier with both Intelligence and Faith.
Found in the Dreg Heap, this staff is an appropriate tool for dark spells, as those cast with this catalyst will scale with both Intelligence and Faith accordingly. Its weapon skill, Chant from the Depths, will boost the power of dark sorceries, making this an abyss-inclined sorcerer's best friend.
The Murky Longstaff also has surprisingly useful melee stats that are accentuated by its long reach. Like all staves, it can be only upgraded along the Regular path and not infused, though when it reaches +10, it attains 194 physical attack, 46 dark attack, as well as quadruple scaling: D-tier with Strength and Dexterity as well as A-tier with Intelligence and E-tier with Faith.
Acquired by transposing the Soul of Darkeater Midir, this katana is appropriately powerful, for it possesses great physical attack, dark attack, and innate bleed build-up. The Frayed Blade can deliver swift slashes and its weapon skill, Hold, is a variant of the well-known katana-stance technique that lets the wielder unleash waves of dark energy with the light attack and a flurry of strikes with the strong attack.
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However, with incredibly low durability, players will have to bring Repair Powder with them in order to use this deadly weapon for extended battles. When this unique armament is upgraded to the max level of +5 on the regular path (cannot be infused), it achieves 184 physical attack, 76 dark attack, 35 points of bleed build-up per strike, and gets D-tier scaling in Strength along with A-tier in Dexterity.
Ornate and steeped in lore, the Onyx Blade once belonged to a knight who served Sister Friede, though when he was gifted this greatsword he was also banished. That knight, Sir Vilhelm, can be found in the Painted World of Ariandel and defeated to acquire this excellent armament.
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In addition to dealing a solid amount of physical and dark damage, the Onyx Blade's weapon skill, Elfriede's Blackflame, will coat this greatsword in a pitch-black blaze that will add 145 fire attack to the weapon's damage output. It cannot be infused, though doesn't need to be when upgraded to the max level at +5, for it obtains 140 physical attack, 200 dark attack, and gets quadruple scaling: D-tier with Strength and Dexterity as well as C-tier with Intelligence and Faith.
A sinister halberd entwined with the remains of a pygmy lord, the Crucifix of the Mad King is an intimidating and dangerous weapon. Its chaotic weapon skill can produce 1 of 3 effects at random: the first is a buff that decreases incoming damage from everything, the second is an AoE that lets loose a shockwave in front as well as to the flanks of the wielder, and the third is the summoning of a dark orb that will float around for a few seconds before exploding to deal dark damage to anything caught in the blast, including the user.
In addition to this immensely varied weapon skill, its halberd moveset is also sufficiently usable and easy to out-space foes with in most situations. At the highest upgrade level of +5, this unique armament gets 216 physical attack, 130 dark attack, and triple scaling: C-tier in Strength, E-tier in Intelligence, and D-tier in Faith.