Weapon Arts

A new addition to the Dark Souls series, it adds a special move to every weapon, such as spinning attacks, sweeping strikes, or self buffs. You need Focus Points (blue bar on your HUD) to perform weapon arts attack and it can be tremendously useful in turning the tides of a battle. To use weapon arts, equip your weapon with two hands and press left trigger to perform the weapon art. Read the item description to learn the weapon arts skill for every weapon. You can find information on all the different weapon arts skill in the game below along with the names of weapons or shields that correspond to each skill.

 


Blind Spot: Use against shielded foes to break through their guard by attacking from the side.

Items: Corvian Greatknife, Handmaid's Dagger

 


Bloodlust: Stain blade with one's own blood to temporarily grant uncanny sharpness.

Items: Bloodlust

 


Chain Spin: Sweep foes in a wide spinning motion and use strong attack to continue the motion until stamina is exhausted.

Items: Winged Knight Twinaxes, Winged Knight Halberd

 


Chained Dance: Use strong attack to execute relentless consecutive attacks while tracing a circle in a unique dance of deadly grace.

Items: Painting Guardian's Curved Sword

 


Champion's Charge: Hold spear at waist and charge at foe, and use momentum to transition into sweeping strong attack.

Items: Gundyr's Halberd

 


Charge: Hold weapon at waist and charge at foe. Only, it is important to have good footing.

Items: Astora Greatsword, Halberd, Soldering Iron, Four-Pronged Plow, Rotten Ghru Spear, Pike, Lothric Knight Long Spear, Saint Bident, Drang Twinspears, Greatlance

 


Combustion: Creates a powerful flame in the wielder's hand. One of the most basic pyromancies, and for this very reason, the flame created is fierce. Works while equipped in either hand.

Items: Pyromancy Flame, White Hair Talisman

 


Crescent Blade: Assume a broad stance and fire off cresecent moon blades. Similar to Holy Moonlight Sword or Greatsword of Judgement.

Items: Crescent Moon Sword

 


Dancer's Grace: Unleash the fury of both blades in a dancing spin motion and use strong attack to continue the performance until stamina is exhausted.

Items: Dancer's Enchanted Swords

 


Darkdrift: Aim carefully, and pierce with a large forward lunge. The unseen blade penetrates straight through shields, for nothing can defend from Darkdrift.

Items: Darkdrift

 


Darkmoon Arrow: Infuse a readied arrow with Darkmoon essence, granting it magic damage and the ability to pierce shields.

Items: Darkmoon Longbow

 


Demonic Flare: Briefly cause flame within to flare, and smash it upon earth and foes.

Items: Demon's Greataxe

 


Ember (Skill): The fading flame momentarily illuminates and launches itself forward.

Items: Firelink Greatsword

 


Falling Bolt (Dragonslayer Greataxe): Hold weapon high in air to gather fierce lightning, and smash ground to whip the bolts to the ground.

Items: Dragonslayer Greataxe

 


Falling Bolt (Dragonslayer Swordspear): Hold weapon high to summon lightning upon one's foe.

Items: Dragonslayer Swordspear

 


Feast Bell: Hold up axe and wave to emit a solemn chime to temporarily make weapons lacerating, and to restore HP for each hit.

Items: Eleonora

 


Flame of Lorian: Lunge forward to transform smolder into flame, and follow with strong attack to launch flame across ground.

Items: Lorian's Greatsword

 


Flame Whip: Unleash a very powerful combo that deals fire damage.

Items: Witch's Locks

 


Flame Whirlwind: Spin through opponents with abandon, flaming fists outstretched. Using a strong attack while spinning utilizes your momentum to slam the ground with both fists.

Items: Demon's Fist

 


Frost: Create a bone-chilling frost with each swing of the greatscythe that causes a temporary frost effect.

Items: Pontiff Knight Great Scythe

 


Frost Blade: Execute large spinning motion to embue blade with frost, and follow through with a strong attack that slashes with a giant blade made of frost.

Items: Pontiff Knight Curved Sword

 


Galvanize: Temporarily boost stamina recovery speed by sheer force of will, or perhaps as a channeling of the original owner's industrial efforts.

Items: Warpick, Pickaxe

 


Gentle Prayer: Recovers HP for a period of time, albeit extremely slowly. Works while equipped in either hand.

Items: Cleric's Sacred Chime, Saint-tree Bellvine, Yorshka's Chime, Caitha's Chime, Crystal Chime

 


Guiding Light: A candle provides a temporary source of light which reveals additional guidance.

Items: Scholar's Candlestick, Cleric's Candlestick

 


Hold: Assume a stance from which to execute a lunging slash or a deflecting parry

Items: Uchigatana, Washing Pole, Chaos Blade, Black Blade

 


Impact: Strike from the left to evade shields and deal a stinging blow that temporarily slows stamina recovery. The shackles of bondage lie deep in the hearts of all humankind.

Items: Whip, Notched Whip, Spotted Whip

 


Kindled Charge: Hold spear at waist and charge at foe, and use momentum to transition to a fiery strong attack.

Items: Gargoyle Flame Spear

 


Kindled Fury: Anchor weapon in earth and use strong attack to launch successive volleys of fire from the tip of the hammer.

Items: Gargoyle Flame Hammer

 


Leaping Slash: Peform a forward leaping slash at the opponent's head. When successful, functions as a head shot, inflicting heavy damage.

Items: Claw, Onikiri and Ubadachi

 


Lifedrain: Embrace the victim and steal their HP. Can only be used against humans.

Items: Dark Hand

 


Lightning Charge: Charge with spear at waist to enwreathe with lightning, then release bolts with final thrust.

Items: Dragonslayer Spear

 


Moan: Offer a gentle prayer to the shield, causing the woman's face to give out a low moan and attract enemies.

Items: Moaning Shield

 


Molten Perseverance: Anchor weapon in earth to temporarily boost poise, and use strong atack to repeatedly stab earth to trigger molten explosions.

Items: Old King's Great Hammer

 


Moonlight Vortex: Draw sword back and thrust to unleash torrential moonlight.

Items: Moonlight Greatsword

 


Morne's Rage: Stick weapon into earth and emit a powerful shockwave. Temporarily boosts poise and reduces damage received.

Items: Morne's Greathammer

 


Neck Swipe: This attack aims for the scruff of a foe's neck, and when successful, functions as a head shot, inflicting heavy damage.

Items: Great Scythe, Great Corvian Scythe

 


Oath of Sunlight: Raise the sword aloft when praising the sun to boost attack and damage absorption for self and allies in vicinity. The warriors of sunlight are co-operators from an ancient age.

Items: Sunlight Straight Sword

 


Pacify: With a prayer and an offering of this spear, temporarily wear down enemy FP.

Items: Yorshka's Spear

 


Parry: Deflect an attack when timed properly and follow up with a critical hit. Works while equipped in either hand.

Parry (Weapons): Parrying Dagger, Rapier (left hand only), Farron Greatsword, Caestus (left hand only), Demon's Fist (left hand only), Claw (left hand only), Manikin Claws (left hand only), Painting , Guardian's Curved Sword (left hand only), Scimitar (left hand only), Rotten Ghru Curved Sword (left hand only), Pontiff Knight Curved Sword (left hand only), Sellsword Twinblades (left hand only)

Parry (Special Shields): Buckler, Target Shield, Small Leather Shield

Parry (Standard Shields): Large Leather Shield, Leather Shield, Caduceus Round Shield, Round Shield, Iron Round Shield, Llewellyn Shield, Carthus Shield, Crimson Parma, Blue , Wooden Shield, East-West Shield, Wooden Shield, Kite Shield, Lothric Knight Shield, Grass Crest Shield, Spirit Tree Crest Shield, Crest Shield, Dragon Crest Shield, Golden Falcon Shield, Silver Knight Shield, Sunlight Shield

 


Perseverance: Cross arms in front of body to temporarily boost poise. Damage reduced while activated.

Items: Black Knight Sword, Red Hilted Halberd, Caestus, Blacksmith Hammer, Mace, Morning Star, Great Mace, Vordt's Great Hammer, Smough's Great Hammer, Dragon Tooth

 


Pharis Triple-Shot: Swiftly nocks three arrows with finesse after drawing the bow, firing them simultaneously. The arrows are not meant for a single target and are to be used for spraying.

Items: Black Bow of Pharis

 


Poison Spores: Storyteller's Staff

 


Profaned Flame: Temporarily summon the Profaned Flame. Lunge forward and use strong attack to enshroud blade in flame.

Items: Profaned Greatsword

 


Puncture: Pull the arrow even further back for a more powerful shot that can also pierce shields.

Items: Longbow, Dragonrider Bow

 


Puncturing Arrow: Masterfully fires off a great arrow that pierces through all enemies in its path, infllicting damage.

Items: Dragonslayer Greatbow, Onislayer

 


Punitive Flame: Punish foes with a flame that blankets the ground.

Items: Immolation Tinder

 


Quickstep: Instantly step behind or around the side of foes. Especially effective when locked on to target.

Items: Thrall Axe, Manikin Claws, Dagger, Bandit's Knife, Rotten Ghru Dagger, Brigand Twindaggers

 


Ricard's Lunge and Press: Assume a quick stance, lunge forward, and execute a stunning chain attack. Sustain offensive with a strong attack.

Items: Ricard's Rapier

 


Rapid Fire: Swiftly nocks arrows with finesse after drawing the bow, allowing for consecutive shots. Speed of shots roughly doubles but damage is likewise halfed. Costs minor FP per shot.

Items: Composite Bow, Short Bow

 


Sacred Light and Flame: While in stance, use normal attack to cast Sacred Lothric Light, and strong attack to cast Flame of Lorian.

Items: Twin Prince’s Greatsword

 


Sacred Lothric Light: Assume stance to imbue sword with sacred light, and use strong attack to release light together with a great thrust of the sword.

Items: Lothric Holy Sword

 


Sharpen: Scrape the blade to sharpen (damage buff for Machete) or regain health with each hit (Butcher Knife)

Items: Butcher Knife, Great Machete

 


Shield Bash (Light): Ghru Rotshield, Plank Shield, Porcine Shield, Pierce Shield

Shield Bash (Heavy): Without lowering your guard, strike the enemy with the shield to knock them back or stagger them. Works while equipped in either hand.

Items: Twin Dragon Greatshield, Black Iron Greatshield, Lothric Knight Greatshield, Cathedral Knight Greatshield, Greatshield of Glory, Yhorm's Greatshield, Dragonslayer Greatshield, Stone Greatshield

 


Shield Splitter: Aim carefully, and attack in a large forward lunge to pierce through enemy shields and inflict damage directly.

Items: Mail Breaker, Darkdrift (skill is named Darkdrift), Irithyll Rapier, Spear, Arstor's Spear

 


Shield Strike: Use shield to attack enemies. Works while equipped in either hand.

Items: Spiked Shield,

 


Spell Parry: Repel an attack at the right time to follow up with a critical hit. Works while equipped in either hand. Also deflects spells.

Items: Golden Wing Crest Shield, Sacred Bloom Shield

 


Spin Bash (Drang): Drang Hammers

Spin Bash (Spiked Mace): Spiked Mace

 


Spin Slash: Slice into foes with a large spinning motion, and follow with a strong attack for a spinning vertical-slash.

Spin Slash (Gothard): Gotthard Twinswords

Spin Slash (Vertical): Scimitar, Shotel, Rotten Ghru Curved Sword

Spin Slash (Horizontal): Falchion, Carthus Curved Sword, Carthus Shotel

Spin Slash (Twinswords): Sellsword Twinblades, Warden Twinblades

Spin Slash (Great, Horizontal): Murakumo, Exile Greatsword

Spin Slash (Great, Vertical): Carthus Curved Greatsword

 


Spin Sweep: Sweep foes in a large spinning motion, and utilize momentum to transition into and overhanded strong attack slash.

Items: Partizan, Lucerne, Glaive, Black Knight Glaive

 


Stance: While in stance, use normal attack to break a foe's guard from below, and strong attack to slash upwards with a forward lunge.

Stance (Sword): Shortsword, Longsword, Broken Straight Sword, Broadsword, Barbed Straight Sword, Lothric Knight Sword, Irithyll Straight Sword, Anri's Straight Sword

Stance (Rapier): Rapier, Crystal Sage's Rapier

Stance (Greatsword): Claymore, Drakeblood Greatsword, Hollowslayer Greatsword, Flamberge

 


Stance of Judgement: Assume stance to unleash dark magic. Use normal attack for a lunging thrust, and strong attack to emit side-sweepoing wave.

Items: Greatsword of Judgment

 


Stomp: Use one's weight to lunge forward with a low stance and increased poise, and follow with a strong attack for a spinning slash.

Items: Dark Sword, Executioner's Greatsword, Greatsword, Lothric Knight Greatsword, Cathedral Knight Greatsword, Black Knight Greatsword, Fume Ultra Greatsword, Bastard Sword, Zweihander

 


Stone Flesh: Raise the shield in silent prayer, turning the user's body into a solid mass of stone.

Items: Havel's Greatshield

 


Storm King: Assume stance to imbue sword with storm. Most effective when facing giants. You need to hold the stance until it shines brightly with a storm. Stance + R1 or R2 to unleash the sword's deadly fury.

Items: Storm Ruler

 


Steady Chant: Boost the strength of sorceries for a very short period. Works while equipped in either hand.

Items: Heysel Pick, Golden Ritual Spear

 


Tackle: Lunge into a shoulder tackle pushing back enemies to create distance. Deals no damage and serves as a kind of kick.

Items: Light Crossbow, Knight's Crossbow, Arbalest, Heavy Crossbow, Sniper Crossbow, Avelyn

 


Tornado: Imbue blade with the wrath of storm in a spinning motion, and follow with a strong attack to bear that wrath upon foes.

Items: Storm Curved Sword

 


Unfaltering Prayer: Temporarily increase poise while casting miracles, preventing enemy attacks from interrupting prayer. Works while equipped in either hand.

Items: Talisman, Saint's Talisman, Sunlight Talisman

 


Unleash Dragon: Thrust the spear to unleash the strength of the dragon, similar to an ancient dragon weapon, only with its power tragically faded.

Items: Tailbone Short Sword, Tailbone Spear

 


War Cry: Let out a spirited warcry that temporarily boosts attack, and enables a special consecutive strong attack.

Items: Hand Axe, Battle Axe, Brigand Axe, Man Serpent Hatchet, Greataxe, Crescent Axe, Club, Reinforced Club, Large Club, Great Club, Yhorm's Great Machete, Black knight Greataxe

 


Weapon Skill: Equipping this shield in the left hand allows one to perform the Skill of the right hand weapon.

Items: Warrior's Round Shield, Wargod Wooden Shield, Silver Eagle Kite Shield, Eastern Iron Shield, Stone Parma, Pontiff Knight Shield, Shield of Want, Black Knight Shield, Ancient Dragon Greatshield, Curse Ward Greatshield, Wolf Knight's Greatshield

 


Wheel of Fate: Thrust out the wheel and give it a good spin, shredding enemies with the outer lining of spikes.

Items: Bonewheel Shield

 


Wolf Leap: Slice into foes with a larg spinning motion, then leap out of harm's way and follow with a strong attack.

Items: Old Wolf Curved Sword

 


Wolf Sword: While in stance, use normal attack for a low spinning slash, or the strong attack to leap forward in a vertically-slashing somersault.

Items: Wolf Sword

 


Wrath of the Gods (Skill): Thrust weapon into earth to emit powerful shockwave.

Items: Wolnir's Holy Sword

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