15 Best Dark Souls 3 Intelligence Scaling Weapons - VeryAli Gaming (2024)

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.

Comparison For Intelligence Scaling Weapons

Here is a comparison table of my 15 best Intelligence Scaling Weapons in Dark Souls 3. Each stat can be sorted to view the highest and lowest values, which has been done for your convenience:

Comparison Table.

All the nine attributes in Dark Souls 3. Can you spot the Intelligence icon?

Your player’s initial attributes in the game include Intelligence, which determines sorcery and pyromancy casting. Boosting Intelligence enhances spell power (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.

Related: Dark Souls 3 Best Faith Weapons

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.

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.

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.

Two main factors go into calculating the bonus damage. Let’s analyze Intelligence for the sake of this guide. The first factor is your weapon’s scaling in a particular attribute:

Crescent Moon Sword

Best Weapon Art Mechanism.

Crescent Moon Sword Stats Table.

It’s worth noting that while the Crescent Moon Sword requires 10 strength and 16 dexterity for wielding, it lacks any scaling in strength. Instead, it boasts a C scaling in dexterity and a D scaling in intelligence. This weapon can’t be infused or buffed; it can only be reinforced using Titanite Scales.

At maximum reinforcement, it achieves an impressive 142 in both physical and magic damage. An exceptional feature of this weapon is its distinctive Crescent Blade weapon art, allowing your character to assume a broad stance and launch a long-range crescent moon projectile.

Location: Dropped by Ringfinger Leonhard if killed after using the Black Eye Orb in Anor Londo, after defeating Aldrich, going up one of the elevators in the back of the boss arena, then entering the large bed chamber. Does not drop if you kill him without meeting these conditions (for instance, killing him at Firelink Shrine).

Crystal Sage’s Rapier

Best Longest Thrusting Weapon.

Crystal Sage’s Rapier Stats Table.

The Crystal Sage’s Rapier, adorned with tiny crystals on its blade, serves as a preferred self-defense tool for Crystal Sages. These crystals enhance both the weapon’s magic damage and the wielder’s item discovery, a result of extensive sage research.

Notably, it ranks among the top intelligence scaling weapons in Dark Souls 3, partly due to its distinction as the longest-thrusting weapon in the game.

Requiring 13 strength and 18 dexterity for proper use, this weapon exhibits E scaling in both strength and dexterity, alongside a C scaling in intelligence. While it’s exclusively upgradable with Titanite Scales and remains un-infusible, its scaling improves notably with each reinforcement. At +5, it achieves an A-tier in intelligence and a D-tier in both strength and dexterity.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of the Soul of a Crystal Sage at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine.

Moonlight Greatsword

Best Mage Build Weapon.

Moonlight Greatsword Stats Table.

Arguably the finest greatsword for sorcerers and one of the premier intelligence-scaling weapons, it stands out for fully charged heavy attacks that launch a far-reaching projectile, augmenting blade damage.

To wield the Moonlight Greatsword effectively, you need 16 strength and 11 dexterity. In its base form, it exhibits E scaling in strength and C scaling in intelligence. It’s not infusible or buffable, only upgradeable with Titanite Scales.

At +5 reinforcement, it elevates to a B scaling in intelligence, delivering an impressive 126 physical and 238 magic damage. Its distinctive weapon art, Moonlight Vortex, sets it apart. Your character retracts the greatsword and thrusts, unleashing a formidable moonlight projectile, making it a must-have for mage builds.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of the Soul of Consumed Oceiros at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine. It is obtained after beating Oceiros, the Consumed King in the Consumed King’s Garden.

Greatsword of Judgement

Best Dark Energy Buff Weapon.

Greatsword of Judgement Stats Table.

It’s wielded in Pontiff Sulyvahn’s left hand, mirroring the dark blue hues that resonate with his nature. Ideal for a physical/intelligence build, it earns its place among the best intelligence scaling weapons.

Proper one-handed use of the Greatsword of Judgment necessitates 17 strength and 15 dexterity. It features a D scaling in strength, dexterity, and faith. As for upgradability, it’s exclusively reinforced with Titanite Scales.

Notably, its distinguishing feature is the “Stance of Judgment” weapon art, which buffs it with dark energy. This allows for a lunging thrust with a normal attack or the emission of far-reaching, side-sweeping waves with a strong attack.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of the Soul of Pontiff Sulyvahn at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine.

Darkmoon Longbow

Best Ranged Support for Spellcasters.

Darkmoon Longbow Stats Table.

It truly shines when paired with Moonlight Arrows, performing noticeably worse with other ammunition. Nevertheless, its uniqueness and intelligence scaling easily place it among the best intelligence scaling weapons in Dark Souls 3.

Effective use of the Darkmoon Longbow calls for 7 strength, 16 dexterity, and 10 intelligence, marking it as one of the more stat-demanding weapons in this list.

It features E scaling in dexterity and C scaling in intelligence. This bow is non-buffable and non-infusible, limited to upgrade through Titanite Scale reinforcement.

Notably, its weapon art, “Darkmoon Arrow,” infuses readied arrows with Darkmoon essence, granting magic damage and the capacity to pierce shields. This renders it an excellent long-range support for spellcasters.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of the Soul of Aldrich at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine.

Old King’s Great Hammer

Best Weapon For Pyro Builds.

Old King’s Great Hammer Stats Table.

Imbued with remnants of the Chaos Flame, a renowned endgame boss from the original Dark Souls, it stands as the foremost melee weapon suitable for pyromancers on this list. It holds the distinction of being the finest intelligence scaling weapon in Dark Souls 3.

Wielding the Old King’s Great Hammer demands a substantial 30 strength, along with 10 intelligence and 10 faith. This attribute combination not only aligns it with pyromancy builds but also offers potential for integration into intelligence-based setups, given the link between pyromancy potency and both intelligence and faith.

It exclusively upgrades through Titanite Scales and cannot be buffed or infused. At maximum reinforcement, it reaches an impressive Attack Rating (AR) of 326, making it notably effective against shields.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of the Soul of the Old Demon King at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine.

Heysel’s Pick

Best Counter And Chip Damage Weapon.

Heysel’s Pick Stats Table.

The Heysel’s Pick is the favored weapon of Yellowfinger Heysel, a Finger of Rosaria and Xanthous Scholar. It ranks among the most viable intelligence scaling weapons, making it an excellent choice for physical sorcerer builds.

This unique weapon serves both as a melee weapon and a sorcery catalyst, synergizing well with spells like Farron Flashsword, Great Farron Dart, and Great Soul Arrow. To wield it effectively, you need 12 strength, 10 dexterity, and 19 intelligence. Its scaling includes a D in strength, an E in dexterity, and a formidable B in intelligence.

In its role as a melee weapon, the Heysel’s Pick can bypass shields with chip damage, execute jump attacks, and boast counter-damage potential due to its Thrust-type nature. While it’s not infusible, like many catalysts, it features the Steady Chant weapon art, which enhances both spell and melee damage.

Location: Drops from Yellowfinger Heysel, an invading dark spirit encountered in the Road of Sacrifices.

Immolation Tinder

Best Weapon For Sorcerers.

Immolation Tinder Stats Table.

Wrapped in an eternal flame, it should not be underestimated. Its versatility for casting sorceries and inflicting physical damage earns it a spot among the top intelligence-scaling weapons.

Despite expectations, it excels at casting sorceries, not pyromancies, making it a good match for spells like Farron Flashsword and Soul Greatsword.

To wield the Immolation Tinder effectively, a substantial stat investment is required: 18 strength, 18 dexterity, 12 intelligence, and 12 faith. It features D scaling in both strength and dexterity, along with a commendable B scaling in intelligence.

While it’s neither buffable nor infusible, reinforcing it with Titanite Scales significantly enhances its scalings, particularly elevating intelligence to an A-tier.

This results in substantial physical damage (206) and solid fire damage (132). With 60 intelligence, it achieves an impressive spellbuff of 220.

Location: Drops from Fire Witches in Irithyll of the Boreal Valley.

Lothric Knight Sword

Best Physical Intelligence Build Weapon.

Lothric Knight Sword Stats Table.

This sword is the optimal choice for a sorcerer’s physical intelligence build and a vital inclusion in any list of the finest weapons. With a requirement of 11 strength and 18 dexterity, it offers impressive capabilities at a modest stat investment.

Naturally, it features a D scaling in both strength and dexterity. The versatility of the Lothric Knight Sword extends to its capacity for buffs and infusions, alongside the option for standard Titanite reinforcement.

While it thrives in physical/quality builds, it seamlessly integrates into intelligence-based setups. A Crystal infusion (via Crystal Gem) or a Simple Infusion (via Simple Gem) catapults it to an S-scaling in intelligence.

With a Crystal infusion, it reaches 133 physical and magic damage, and with a Simple infusion, it boasts 113 in both categories, not accounting for scaling.

Location: Dropped by Lothric Knights, which can be easily farmed down the stairs from the Tower on the Wall bonfire. Also sold by Greirat for 4000 souls, after pillaging Irithyll Valley.

Great Corvian Scythe

Best Ranged INT Damage Weapon.

The Great Corvian Scythe Stats Table.

It holds the distinction of being the premier intelligence scaling weapon in Dark Souls 3 for bleed/intelligence builds, thanks to its remarkable synergy with the attribute and its status as the weapon with the highest innate bleed in the game.

To wield the Great Corvian Scythe effectively with one hand, you need 16 strength and 18 dexterity. It bears a D scaling in strength and a C scaling in dexterity.

Although it lacks innate scaling in intelligence, it remarkably attains an S scaling in intelligence through either a Crystal infusion (via Crystal Gem) or a Simple Infusion (via Simple Gem).

While it may not match the speed of other weapons on this list, it excels in range, outclassing all other reaper-class weapons. Its weapon art, “Neck Swipe,” boasts significant hyper armor and aims for the scruff of a foe’s neck.

When executed successfully, it functions as a headshot, dealing substantial damage.

Location: Dropped by Corvians (winged enemies) wielding it in Road of Sacrifices, Untended Graves, and Grand Archives.

Friede’s Great Scythe

Best Dual Attack Weapon.

Friede’s Great Scythe Stats Table.

It stands as the sole dual-wielded scythe on this list and is recognized among the top weapons. However, it demands a substantial stat investment, necessitating 12 strength, 16 dexterity, 12 intelligence, and 11 faith to wield effectively.

Reinforcement for Friede’s Great Scythe exclusively involves Titanite Scales, with no options for buffs or infusions. Nevertheless, its scaling improves significantly with each reinforcement, making it an ideal fit for a dexterity/intelligence build.

At +5 reinforcement, it reaches an impressive A-tier scaling in both dexterity and intelligence. This is a standout feature. Additionally, the weapon possesses innate Frostbite, and its weapon art, “Elfriede’s Stance,” allows you to perform a normal attack to leap forward and swing twice, or a strong attack to coat the ground with freezing frost.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of Soul of Sister Friede (Ashes of Ariandel DLC) at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine.

Onyx Blade

Best Dark INT Build Weapon.

Onyx Blade Stats Table.

If you seek a fitting weapon for your Dark/Intelligence build, the Onyx Blade stands as one of the prime intelligence scaling weapons for this purpose.

Wielding the Onyx Blade effectively requires 14 strength, 12 dexterity, 15 intelligence, and 15 faith. It features limited upgradability, solely relying on Twinkling Titanite for reinforcement, and is not open to infusions or buffs, except for its weapon art.

Within the greatsword class, it excels in terms of range and can unleash a formidable assault with its weapon art, “Elfriede’s Blackflame.” When activated, this art imbues the Onyx Blade with Blackflame, adding an extra 145 flat fire damage. The buff remains active for 45 seconds, so timing is crucial.

Location: Dropped by Sir Vilhelm in the Painted World of Ariandel.

Dancer’s Enchanted Swords

Best Dual-Wielding INT Weapon.

Dancer’s Enchanted Swords Stats Table.

In both PvP and PvE, these dual-wielding swords excel in terms of DPS (Damage per second), arguably positioning themselves as one of the premier intelligence scaling weapons.

To wield the Dancer’s Enchanted Swords effectively, you need 12 strength, 20 dexterity, 9 intelligence, and 9 faith. These swords possess a natural scaling of D in all four attributes, and regrettably, these scalings cannot be enhanced as the weapon is impervious to buffs and infusions.

They can be reinforced with Titanite Scales, and at +5 reinforcement, they deliver 144 physical damage, along with 114 damage in both magic and fire, rendering them highly effective against enemies weak to either or both elements.

Notably, their weapon art, “Dancer’s Grace,” enables you to unleash both blades in a spinning motion and execute a strong attack to extend the combo as long as your stamina allows.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of Soul of the Dancer at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine.

Onikiri And Ubadachi

Best Versatile Weapon.

Onkikir & Ubadachi Stats Table.

These unique swords stand out as one of the rare weapons in the game capable of achieving substantial scaling with intelligence, solidifying their place among the best Int weapons.

To effectively wield the Onikiri and Ubadachi, a strength of 13 and dexterity of 25 is required. They possess a natural scaling of D in strength and C in dexterity. Furthermore, they can be infused, buffed, and reinforced with regular Titanite.

What sets these swords apart is their intelligence scaling, with an S scaling achievable through a Crystal infusion (via Crystal Gem) and an A scaling in intelligence with a Simple infusion (via Simple Gem), Chaos infusion (via Chaos Gem), and Dark infusion (via Dark Gem).

These versatile options make them a favorite for intelligence-based builds. Their weapon art, “Onislayer,” is notably flashy, with your character leaping forward to deliver merciless slashes with both blades, making it a formidable choice for various encounters.

Location: Dropped by Black Hand Kamui at the top floor of the Grand Archives. Found among the 3 hostile NPCs at the top of the Grand Archives, on the staircase that leads to the Twin Princes.

Cleric’s Candlestick

Best Catalyst Hybrid Weapon For Sorcerers.

Cleric’s Candlestick Stats Table.

This duality positions the Cleric’s Candlestick as one of the superior melee-catalyst hybrid weapons recommended for sorcerers. With a relatively modest requirement, it necessitates 8 strength, 12 dexterity, and 12 faith to wield effectively.

The Cleric’s Candlestick features a D scaling in both strength and dexterity, accompanied by a C scaling in intelligence. These scalings can be further enhanced through reinforcement, and notably, it is the only boss soul weapon that can be reinforced with titanite.

At +10 reinforcement, it achieves a substantial A scaling in intelligence while delivering 115 physical and 126 magic damage. It’s essential to bear in mind that the Cleric’s Candlestick cannot be infused or buffed.

Its weapon art, “Guiding Light,” is a noteworthy feature. With this art, your character ignites the candlestick, akin to a Torch or Follower’s Torch, providing a source of light, which can be particularly helpful in dark areas or for exploration.

Location: Acquired by Soul Transposition of Soul of the Deacons of the Deep at Ludleth of Courtland in Firelink Shrine.

Why Others Were Not Chosen?

• Mail Breaker: This starting weapon for the Sorcerer class has decent INT scaling early on, but its low base damage and short range hold it back later in the game.
• Sorcerer’s Staff: This staff offers good INT scaling for spells but lacks any physical damage, making it purely a spellcasting tool.
• Deep Battle Axe: Scales with both INT and Faith, offering decent damage, however, its moveset is slow and its scaling falls off later in the game.

What Would I Recommend?

In creating this guide, I’ve aimed to provide a comprehensive resource for Dark Souls 3 players looking to create an intelligence-focused character. My goal was to give you a detailed overview of each weapon’s requirements, scaling, and unique properties, helping them make informed decisions.

It was a grueling task of going to the different enemies and trying out different weapons and even testing them on a few bosses (although these were in NG+ so make of that what you will).

Regardless, it was a test of my patience with some of these weapons since I am a more aggressive player by nature so some were much more suited to my playstyle hence their justification for being on this list.

Whether you’re an experienced sorcerer or a newcomer to the world of Dark Souls, I hope this guide was helpful to you in your quest to conquer the game with a powerful intelligence build.

Up Next:

• Dark Souls 3 Best Strength Builds.
• BEST Dark Souls 3 Infusions.
• Best Spears In Dark Souls 3.