Unleash the Power of Intelligence with the Best Scaling Weapons in Dark Souls 3
The Intelligence build in Dark Souls 3 is a popular choice among magic enthusiasts. It supports a cautious style, allowing you to strike foes with potent spells from a safe distance. Yet, relying solely on magic can leave you vulnerable in close combat due to slow casting times.
To address this, most players incorporate a weapon, particularly one with strong intelligence scaling, to bolster their build. In this guide, I will be sharing the 15 best intelligence scaling weapons in Dark Souls 3.
What is Intelligence In Dark Souls 3
Your player‘s initial attributes in the game include Intelligence, which determines sorcery and pyromancy casting power. Boosting Intelligence enhances spell damage (faith affects pyromancy).
Additionally, Magic Defense and overall defenses increase by 1.1 and 0.4 per Intelligence point, respectively, along with a 0.2 increase in resistances.
Soft and Hard caps
Intelligence has a soft cap at 40, offering consistent benefits as explained earlier. Beyond this point, gains per level diminish. A hard cap at 99 results in minimal additional benefits.
To access all sorceries, 50 intelligence is required.
How does Scaling work?
Parameter Bonus
Scaling, or Parameter Bonus, in Dark Souls 3, enhances weapon damage based on attributes. The rating, from most to least effective, follows the order: S, A, B, C, D, or E. It‘s a key mechanic that complements the attribute system.
Bonus Damage
A weapon‘s scaling is influenced by both its parameter bonus and base damage. High scaling with low base damage may yield less bonus damage compared to weapons with higher base damage and similar scaling.
Surprisingly, a weapon with a worse parameter bonus might achieve superior scaling if it possesses substantially higher base damage.
Exact Calculation
There are two main factors that go into calculating the bonus damage:
Weapon‘s scaling rating:
| Scaling | % Damage Increase |
|---|---|
| S | 101% |
| A | 81-100% |
| B | 61-80% |
| C | 45-60% |
| D | 1-44% |
| E | 0-1% |
Intelligence level:
- 0 – 25 points: 50% of scaling bonus
- 25 – 50 points: 85% of scaling bonus (soft cap)
- 51 – 99 points: 100% of scaling bonus (hard cap)
So for instance, if we have a weapon with a base damage of 200 and an S scaling in intelligence, then you will enjoy around 101 bonus damage right before you hit the soft cap.
Best Intelligence Scaling Weapons
Now that we‘ve covered the fundamentals, let‘s look at some of the top intelligence scaling weapons in Dark Souls 3 recommended for Intelligence builds:
1. Moonlight Greatsword
- Requirements: 16 Strength, 11 Dexterity, 26 Intelligence
- Scaling: B Intelligence (max)
- Damage: 126 Physical, 238 Magic (max)
- Skill: Launch projectile doing heavy magic damage
- Location: Soul transposition using Consumed King‘s soul
Favored by veteran sorcerers, the Moonlight Greatsword allows you to launch a heavy magic projectile with its skill, doing high damage even from a distance.
2. Immolation Tinder
- Requirements: 18 Strength, 18 Dexterity, 12 Intelligence, 12 Faith
- Scaling: A Intelligence
- Damage: 206 Physical, 132 Fire (max)
- Spell Buff: 220
- Skill: Ignite weapon, enhancing next attack
- Location: Dropped by Irithyll Fire Witches
Despite being a halberd, the Immolation Tinder actually scales more with Intelligence rather than Strength or Dexterity. The fiery weapon art can give you an edge against tough enemies.
3. Heysel‘s Pick
- Requirements: 12 Strength, 10 Dexterity, 19 Intelligence
- Scaling: B Intelligence
- Damage: 93 Physical, 70 Magic (base)
- Skill: Enhance spell damage for a duration
- Location: Dropped from Yellowfinger Heysel invader
Heysel‘s Pick is a rare hybrid weapon that serves as both a rapier and a catalyst for sorceries. Its skill can further boost your magic damage.
4. Cleric‘s Candlestick
- Requirements: 8 Strength, 12 Dexterity, 12 Intelligence
- Scaling: A Intelligence (max)
- Damage: 115 Physical, 126 Magic (max)
- Spell Buff: 138
- Skill: Ignite candle for illumination
- Location: Soul transposition using Deacons‘ soul
Don‘t let its small size fool you – the Cleric‘s Candlestick can pack quite a punch with its Intelligence scaling. The fiery light from its skill can also come handy.
5. Crystal Sage‘s Rapier
- Requirements: 13 Strength, 18 Dexterity
- Scaling: A Intelligence (max)
- Damage: 55 Physical, 82 Magic (base)
- Skill: Unique stance
- Location: Soul transposition using Crystal Sage‘s soul
Boasting the longest thrust range in its weapon class, the Crystal Sage‘s Rapier empowers your spells while providing ample physical and magic damage for melee combat.
6. Onyx Blade
- Requirements: 14 Strength, 12 Dexterity, 15 Intelligence, 15 Faith
- Scaling: B Intelligence (max)
- Damage: 80 Physical, 115 Dark (base)
- Skill: Ignite blade, adding 145 Fire damage for 45 seconds
- Location: Dropped from Sir Vilhelm in Ariandel DLC
With balanced physical and dark damage, the Onyx Blade empowers Intelligence builds focused on dark sorceries and pyromancies. Its fiery weapon art can overwhelm enemies.
7. Friede‘s Great Scythe
- Requirements: 12 Strength, 16 Dexterity, 12 Intelligence, 11 Faith
- Scaling: A Intelligence (max)
- Damage: 110 Physical, 77 Magic (base)
- Skill: Quick dashing attack
- Location: Soul transposition with Sister Friede‘s soul
Wielded by the formidable Sister Friede, this Great Scythe inherits her swift, relentless fighting style and pairs well with an Intelligence build.
8. Crescent Moon Sword
- Requirements: 10 Strength, 16 Dexterity
- Scaling: C Intelligence
- Damage: 78 Physical, 78 Magic (base)
- Skill: Launch crescent projectile
- Location: Dropped by Ringfinger Leonhard
Though unable to be buffed, the elegant Crescent Moon Sword‘s unique projectile packs a punch at range while dishing out reliable melee damage too.
9. Lothric Knight Sword
- Requirements: 11 Strength, 18 Dexterity
- Scaling: S Intelligence (with Crystal Infusion)
- Damage: 103 Physical (base)
- Skill: Stance
- Location: Dropped by Lothric Knights
A quality weapon on its own, the Lothric Knight Sword becomes a powerhouse with Intelligence when Crystal infused, making it extremely versatile.
10. Scholar‘s Candlestick
- Requirements: 8 Strength, 10 Dexterity
- Scaling: B Intelligence
- Damage: 70 Physical, 77 Magic (base)
- Skill: Grant sorcery casting speed
- Location: Found at Grand Archives
Excellent for long, drawn out spell casting, the Scholar‘s Candlestick increases casting speed substantially when equipped in the off-hand, accelerating your magic potential.
The weapons covered in this guide should provide you with a great selection of armaments to consider when building out an Intelligence focused character in Dark Souls 3. I aimed to highlight weapons that offer strong Intelligence scaling through their Parameter Bonus grades, special effects or capacity for select Infusions. With the fundamentals and these fine weapons at your disposal, you stand primed to tackle the game’s challenges through masterful spellcasting and close quarters combat finesse when needed. Now go unleash your mystical potential and topple the mightiest of foes that await you. Good luck!
