As an avid Souls fan with over 500 hours across the Dark Souls trilogy, I‘ve defeated each boss countless times using a variety of weapons and builds.
One of my favorite parts of the games is acquiring boss souls after an intense, heart-pounding battle. The number of unique and powerful weapons you can craft with these souls in Dark Souls 2 is staggering.
Based on my extensive first-hand testing across various new game cycles, below I present my picks for the definitive top 5 boss soul weapons as of the 2023 update.
How I Chose the Top Weapons
Given the vast selection of options, what criteria did I use to narrow it down?
Raw Power – Attack ratings, damage output and killing speed were top considerations. However, bland "one shot" options weren‘t automatically the best picks in my view.
Usefulness – A weapon tailored to specific enemies and PvP duels held more weight than generally good ones. Specialization over generalization.
Enjoyment – This is crucial. An ultra fun weapon transcends pure stats for me. Highly unique movesets, weapon skills and combos took priority.
Let‘s jump in and analyze my personal top boss soul weapon picks! I‘ll share why I love each one based on look, feel, damage and more.
#1 Sacred Chime Hammer
Without a doubt, the Sacred Chime Hammer stands above the rest as my all-time favorite Dark Souls 2 boss weapon.
I still remember finally acquiring this monstrosity after dying to Velstadt dozens of times. And let me tell you – it was well worth the struggle.
How to Obtain:
Trade Velstadt‘s soul + 3,000 souls to Weaponsmith Ornifex in Brightstone Cove.
Stats:
- 152 Physical Attack
- Adds 50 Dark Damage
- Requires 40 Strength, 12 Dexterity/Intelligence/Faith
- Scaling: C/-/-/- Strength
- 85 Counter Damage
- 30 Stability
Moveset: Smashing overhead slams and wide spins.
Skills: Casts ranged Dark homing orbs (Affinity) with INT/STR scaling. Staggers/breaks shields.
This gigantic, skull-lined hammer packs an absolutely devastating punch. At +10 with a quality build, I‘ve reached over 750 Attack Rating which allows you flatten pretty much any enemy in your path.
In one memorable power stance run, I combined an ultra buffed Sacred Chime Hammer + a Lightning infused Dragon Tooth. Let‘s just say there wasn‘t a single boss that didn‘t go down in 5 hits or less! Not even Darklurker with insane elemental defenses could withstand more than a few crunching, lightning-quick blows.
In PvP, sneaking in that slow but massively damaging 2HR2 attack when someone isn‘t paying attention is supremely satisfying as well. I highly recommend carrying a Washing Pole or faster weapon in your second right hand slot though. Those running attack pokes help immensely in locking down enemies that try to dodge your hammer swings since you can switch between movesets rapidly.
And even if they manage to avoid your crushing attacks, that 50 Dark damage from the skill wrecks shields and finishes off low HP targets easily. I‘ve secured many a PvP win by perfectly timing an Affinity shot after whiffing my previous attack. So while not the fanciest option, the flexible movesets and sheer stopping power cement the Sacred Chime Hammer as number one for me!
DPS Comparison of Top Weapons
To give some numeric context around damage outputs, here‘s a comparison of potential Attack Ratings (AR) among the best boss weapons at max upgrade levels:
| Weapon | Physical AR | Elemental AR | Total AR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Chime Hammer | 650 | 120 | 770 |
| Warped Sword | 420 | 50 | 470 |
| Pursuer‘s UGS | 632 | – | 632 |
| Curved Dragon GS | 586 | – | 586 |
| Yorgh‘s Spear | 502 | – | 502 |
As you can see, the Sacred Chime Hammer delivers the highest combined magic and physical attack ratings out of any boss soul weapon when fully reinforced. Over 750 AR means you can blast through any PvE health bar and potentially one-shot phantoms on critical attacks in PvP.
Now let‘s see how these weapons stack up stat-wise at a glance:
Boss Weapons Stat Comparison
| Weapon | Attack | Req. STR/DEX | Scaling | Counter | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Chime Hammer | 152 | 40/12 | C/-/-/ | 85 | 30 |
| Warped Sword | 100 | 15/25 | E/A/-/- | 130 | 30 |
| Pursuer‘s UGS | 156 | 30/18 | E/A | 140 | 45 |
| Curved Dragon GS | 160 | 30/18 | B/-/-/- | 110 | 40 |
| Yorgh’s Spear | 214 | 30/25 | C/B/-/- | 130 | 25 |
#2 Warped Sword
If the Sacred Chime Hammer is my PvE destroyer of choice, then the Warped Sword stands as my favorite boss weapon for intense PvP duels.
Where to Find: Trade Flexile Sentry Boss Soul + 1,500 souls to Straid of Olaphis in Lost Bastille.
Stats:
- 100 Physical Attack
- Scaling: E/A/-/-/- Strength/Dex
- Requires 15 Strength, 25 Dexterity
- 130 Counter Damage (Highest of all curved swords)
- 30 Stability, 50 Durability
- 3.5 Weight
Moveset: Very fast slash attacks and combos
The Warped Sword boasts a lightning quick moveset of slashes, spins and combos that roll out CONSTANT damage. In fact, it has the highest DPS of any curved sword in DS2 – allowing me to shred other players‘ health bars if I can connect attacks.
I‘ve found this weapon is at its deadliest on high Dexterity builds. With 50 DEX, you can reach 420+ attack rating at max upgrades while still having room for adaptability, vigor and endurance stats.
Infusions work exceptionally well on the Warped Sword too since its base damage scales heavily with Dexterity. I‘d recommend Raw for low requirement builds or Lightning/Dark when you‘ve amassed high offensive stats.
In PvP, the Warped Sword allows me to aggressively push the pace of fights, bait whiffs and then punish with lightning fast counters. Very few weapons can match its speed and DPS. Combined with Stone Ring to shred poise and high counter damage, you have a great recipe for dominating duels.
It does struggle against heavy armor and shields so carrying a spear or thrusting sword in your off-hand helps immensely. But in terms of dishing out raw damage, no other curved swords can compete with this beauty once you master its moveset. If Dexterity is your main damage stat, the Warped Sword is a must have!
#3 Pursuer‘s Ultra Greatsword
In the mood the smash foes into oblivion with no finesse required? Then grab the Pursuer‘s Ultra Greatsword and never look back.
How to Get: Trade Pursuer Boss Soul + 1,500 souls to Straid of Olaphis.
Stats:
- 156 Base Physical Damage
- Requires 30 Strength, 18 Dexterity
- Scaling: E/A Strength/Dexterity
- 140 Counter Strength
- 45 Stability
Moveset: Giant slashes, smashes and thrust attacks. Fun 2-handed moveset.
As a long-time fan of heavy strength builds, I have an affinity for massive weapons that let me flatten enemies in a single well-aimed smash. And the Pursuer‘s Ultra Greatsword delivers BIG in that regard!
On my main character that sports 50 strength and 40 dexterity, I was able to push this beast to a whopping 632 attack rating at +5 reinforcement. That‘s enough to one or two-shot most non-boss enemies and chunk players for 60-70% of their health on a perfectly spaced 2HR2 attack.
The feeling of wielding this metal monstrosity in two hands and cleaving through the Alonne Knights in Iron Keep never gets old. And for PvP, I bait people into trying to stagger me out of a fully charged heavy attack. Little do they know, I have enough poise to tank the first hit and still crush them with 700+ damage on the follow through!
Of course, you sacrifice speed and versatility by lugging around such a giant slab of metal. But if you get the spacing down and master unlocked aim, you can catch overeager opponents by surprise quite consistently.
While the Warped Sword takes the crown for DPS, the lumbering might and raw stopping power from the Pursuer‘s Ultra Greatsword secures it as my favorite strength option for deleting foes from existence!
#4 Curved Dragon Greatsword
An often overlooked gem, the Curved Dragon Greatsword brings excellent base damage and unique versatility among curved greatswords.
Where to Find: Trade Ancient Dragon Soul to Weaponsmith Ornifex along with 14,000 souls.
Stats:
- 160 Physical Attack
- Requires 30 Strength, 18 Dexterity
- Scaling: B/-/-/- Strength
- 110 Counter
- 40 Stability
Moveset: Wide slashes, overhead smash and thrust attacks.
Most curved greatswords lack thrust attacks or extensive range, limiting their usefulness in my experience. However, the varied moveset of the Curved Dragon Greatsword caught me pleasantly by surprise.
The wide slashes help maintain proper spacing against crowds while the forceful thrust attacks let you punish whiffs from a safer distance compared to riskier close-range attacks.
In one memorable co-op session, my host managed to poise break the Fume Knight using the strong attack thrusts right as he entered second phase. I followed up by riposting him to secure a flawless victory against one of the toughest DS2 bosses!
So while it packs no fancy weapon skills, the Curved Dragon Greatsword brings excellent range, sweeping attacks to control space and long thrusts to safely pick at tough enemies. Top tier damage and scaling means it works splendidly on any quality build as well. Just don‘t expect the blistering speed of lighter curved swords.
#5 Yorgh‘s Spear
Last but certainly not least, we have the criminally underused Yorgh’s Spear – arguably the best Dexterity-focused spear in Dark Souls 2 once mastered.
Where to Obtain: Trade Sinh‘s Soul + 14,000 souls to Weaponsmith Ornifex.
Stats:
- 214 Physical Attack
- Requires 30 Strength, 25 Dexterity
- C/B Strength/Dexterity Scaling
- 130 Counter Damage
- 25 Stability
Moveset: Quick spear slashes, jabs and spin attacks
I discovered this beauty while searching for flashier strength/dexterity weapons beyond the standard Halberd/Claymore fare. And let me tell you – this weapon single-handedly reignited my passion for spear class weapons!
The quick jabs keep constant pressure on enemies and allow you to safely whittle down terrifying foes like King Vendrick all while staying mobile. If they get too close, swift backstep slashes create space again.
In PvP, the moveset absolutely shines since you can push the pace of fights and punish mistakes without trading damaging blows. I‘ve had great success shredding heavy armor users who struggle to connect their slow strikes against my superior reach and speed.
Plus, the strong attack dash impales enemies and allows me to chase down annoying sorcerers endlessly. They can chug Estus and run all they want but I will skewer them eventually!
On my 40 Dexterity build, I can reach over 500 ATK with Yorgh‘s Spear when fully reinforced. While split damage or special effects would be nice, the sheer speed and pressure you apply cannot be overstated. I find Yorgh‘s Spear criminally underused but no less potent in capable hands. Give it a shot if you crave lethal dexterity weapons!
Closing Thoughts on Boss Soul Weapons
And there you have it! My absolute top picks for Dark Souls 2 boss soul weapons as of 2023. While these 5 stand at the pinnacle for me currently, the full roster contains countless unique, specialized and downright crazy options to discover.
I hope this guide gives you some fresh ideas or motivation to revisit old favorites with a new perspective. Please let me know which boss soul weapons stand as your personal favorites and why! The beauty of these games lies in the vast diversity of playstyles available.
Now if you‘ll excuse me, I‘m off to flatten a few more Alonne knights with my shiny new Sacred Chime Hammer + Warped Sword combo. May the flames guide thee, Ashen One! \[T]/
