Why, oh why do you keep coming back to Lordran? Is it the sense of purpose in an endless maze of hopelessness and abyss? Or perhaps you only feel the rush of life amongst the dregs of fallen kingdoms? Whichever the reason, we won't judge you for wanting more power and flame. There is no more familiar home and haven for those indoctrinated into the masochistic embrace of Souls-like games than the original Dark Souls.

And power you shall have. Because as a veteran Chosen Undead, you'll not settle for candlelight when you can grasp the whole firestorm. Nothing makes subsequent runs in Dark Souls more exciting than being able to unleash vengeance upon those adversaries that oppressed you during your neophyte days. So reclaim that flame once more using these powerful, thematic, and occasionally hilarious builds.

Updated May 31st, 2022, by Sid Natividad: Now that Dark Souls' multiplayer servers are reportedly going back online, it might be time to prepare once more to invade or be invaded, kill or be killed. Because unlike in Elden Ring, Dark Souls builds are permanent. The game is pretty much complete, with the likelihood being no new balance changes.

It wouldn't be right to just ignore the other top performers in the Dark Souls build meta. Some players' creations are just too diabolical or too fun to exclude. So, in the spirit of build variety and more dynamic multiplayer or co-op (or whatever game mode you prefer), we've added even more top Dark Souls builds.

13 MLG Sorcerer

mlg sorcerer dark souls

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 38
  • Attunement - 19
  • Endurance - 25
  • Strength - 16
  • Dexterity - 40
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 44
  • Faith - 9
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Moonlight Greatsword (Weapon)
  • Balder Side Sword (Weapon)
  • Tin Crystallization Catalyst (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Crown of the Dark Sun (Helmet)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Bellowing Dragoncrest Ring (Ring)
  • Crystal Magic Weapon (Spell)
  • Crystal Soul Spear (Spell)
  • Homing Crystal Soulmass (Spell)

MLG stands for Moonlight Greatsword (not Major League Gaming, by the way). But beyond that, this is a pure sorcery build. You'll mostly rely on the spells, before buffing up your weapons with Crystal Magic Weapon to push back anyone who gets close using the MLG or Balder Sword.

12 Faith Build

sunlight blade held towards the sky in Dark Souls

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 44
  • Attunement - 23
  • Endurance - 35
  • Strength - 16
  • Dexterity - 14
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 9
  • Faith - 50
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Divine Claymore (Weapon)
  • Balder Side Sword (Weapon)
  • Darkmoon Talisman (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Heater Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Wolf Ring (Ring)
  • Crown of the Dark Sun (Helmet)
  • Great Lightning Spear (Spell)
  • Emit Force (Spell)
  • Sunlight Blade (Spell)
  • Wrath of the Gods (Spell)
  • Replenishment (Spell)
  • Great Magic Barrier (Spell)

This build plays out similarly to the sorcery build above, except you hurl miracles at the enemies instead of sorceries. Great Lightning Spear is the main damage source. If anyone comes close, use Emit Force or buff your weapon with Sunlight Blade and make their flesh grossly incandescent.

11 Pure Pyro Build

Dark-Souls-3 pyromancer

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 50
  • Attunement - 28
  • Endurance - 36
  • Strength - 13
  • Dexterity - 45
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 10
  • Faith - 9
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Queelag's Furysword (Weapon)
  • Pyromancy Flame (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Heater Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Crown of the Dark Sun (Helmet)
  • Dark Wood Grain Ring (Ring)
  • Bellowing Dragon Crest Ring (Ring)
  • Great Chaos Fireball (Spell)
  • Power Within (Spell)
  • Great Combustion (Spell)
  • Fire Tempest (Spell)
  • Fire Whip (Spell)
  • Poison Mist (Spell)

For something more spectacularly hotter, but also more offense-focused, this Pyromancer build shouldn't disappoint. If the target is far, use the Chaos Fireball. If they get near, burn them with everything you got. If they're still not dead, skewer them with Queelag's burning sword and turn them into a kebab.

10 Dex Bleed

dark souls bleed build

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 50
  • Attunement - 12
  • Endurance - 50
  • Strength - 16
  • Dexterity - 45
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 9
  • Faith - 9
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Lifehunt Scythe (Weapon)
  • Gold Tracer (Weapon)
  • Bloodshield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Pyromancy Flame (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Gauntlet of Thorns (Gauntlet)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Havel Ring (Ring)
  • Black Flame (Spell)

Oh no, Dexterity? Well, it's a Bleed build, so you can excuse that. In any case, it's not as annoying or as tedious as Dark Souls 3's Bleed build, where you have to keep reapplying the Bleed infusion on the weapon. The Scythe does that for you already. All you have to do is keep landing those attacks to build up the bleed stacks. The target will eventually drop.

9 Quality Build

dark souls quality build

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 41
  • Attunement - 12
  • Endurance - 40
  • Strength - 40
  • Dexterity - 40
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 9
  • Faith - 9
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Halberd (Weapon)
  • Gold Tracer (Weapon)
  • Tower Kite Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Pyromancy Flame (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Wolf Ring (Ring)
  • Great Chaos Fireball (Spell)
  • Fire Tempest (Spell)

'Quality' is Dark Souls jargon for a healthy combination of the Strength and Dexterity stats. This opens up many opportunities for both weapons and armor, so armor choice is really up to you — and you can even opt for the Zweihander instead of the Halberd. Playstyle is standard; learn to dodge and poke enemies. The damage is reliable enough to carry you through most duels and fights. Pyromancy spells are great as panic buttons.

8 Kirk Knight of Thorns

dark souls kirk

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 45
  • Attunement - 16
  • Endurance - 40
  • Strength - 27
  • Dexterity - 45
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 9
  • Faith - 9
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Barbed Straight Sword (Weapon)
  • Spiked Shield (Off-Hand Weapon)
  • Pyromancer Flame (Off-Hand Weapon)
  • Full Thorns Armor Set
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Havel Ring (Ring)
  • Great Chaos Fireball (Spell)
  • Fire Tempest (Spell)

The beauty in cosplay builds that work both in PvE and PvP is that you get to look stylish — compared to the average player in late-game mode who has min-maxed their armor and looks like a fantasy character trope. This is by far one of the most intimidating builds here. On top of that shock factor, the Kirk build also has potential for a Bleed setup.

7 Knight Artorias

dark souls artorias

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 43
  • Attunement - 12
  • Endurance - 42
  • Strength - 31
  • Dexterity - 27
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 18
  • Faith - 18
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Abyss Greatsword (Weapon)
  • Cleansing Greatshield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Pyromancy Flame (Weapon)
  • Full Artorias Armor Set
  • Wolf Ring (Ring)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Power Within (Spell)
  • Black Flame (Spell)

Another cosplay build that will surely put fear into the hearts and minds of your enemies is the legendary Corrupted Knight Artorias. With this one, you'll also have to play offensively, since it doesn't have as many tricks as the spellcaster builds or Bleed builds. The things it does have going for it are staggering capability and good damage. Black Flame is a backup that many PvP players won't expect from something like this.

6 Slow-Walk Build

giant set dark souls

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 60
  • Attunement - 8
  • Endurance - 30
  • Strength - 50
  • Dexterity - 25
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 9
  • Faith - 9
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Stone Greatsword (Weapon)
  • Dragonslayer Spear (Weapon)
  • Havel's Greatshield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Black Knight Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Giant set (Armor)
  • Bloodbite Ring (Ring)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Wrath of the Gods, Darkmoon Blade, Sunlight Blade (Spell)

The Slow-Walk build, courtesy of player JerpDoesGames, is the very antithesis of the current and most popular meta in Dark Souls PvP. Instead of all the flipping ninja Havel moms and dads, this one is content with moving slow. Poise is still great due to the giant set, and trading blows is one of the most effective tactics here.

5 Ayriak's Quality Pyromancer

Dark-Souls-Laurentius-Pyromancer-Cropped

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 45
  • Attunement - 16
  • Endurance - 40
  • Strength - 32
  • Dexterity - 40
  • Resistance - 12
  • Intelligence - 10
  • Faith - 8
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Black Knight Halberd (Weapon)
  • Caduceus Round Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Ascended Flame (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Thief Mask (Helm)
  • Hollow Thief's Leather Armor (Body Armor)
  • Knight Gauntlets (Hands)
  • Hollow Soldier Waistcloth (Legs)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Wolf Ring (Ring)
  • Great Fireball, Fire Tempest, Fire Surge, Great Combustion (Spell)

For a Pyromancer that can still do a bit of everything— including fighting in melee range, then this build from player Ayriak does the job well. As always, you'll have to pelt and pepper your enemies with fire spells from a distance, and then skewer them with the halberd once they get close. It can catch some PvP players by surprise, especially if they think you're a helpless pyromancer in melee.

4 Crestfallen Warrior

Crestfallen Warrior build in dark souls

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 45
  • Attunement - 8
  • Endurance - 40
  • Strength - 40
  • Dexterity - 40
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 9
  • Faith - 9
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Longsword (Weapon)
  • Heater Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Chain Armor (Body)
  • Leather Gauntlet (Hands)
  • Chain Leggings (Legs)
  • Wolf Ring (Ring)
  • Ring of Favor and Protection (Ring)

Everyone knows by now that the Longsword is a powerful meta weapon in Dark Souls. The best thing about this weapon is that it still allows cosplay builds like this to function properly. This time around, you're the Crestfallen Warrior, and you're getting tired of just sitting around in the Firelink Shrine. So, you might as well collect some Humanity or kill some gods.

3 Bonewheel Skelly

bonewheel build dark souls

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 37
  • Attunement - 8
  • Endurance - 89
  • Strength - 30
  • Dexterity - 9
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 8
  • Faith - 10
  • Soul Level - 120

Required items & spells:

  • Bonewheel Shield (Weapon)
  • Bonewheel Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Mask of the Child (Head)
  • Thorn set (Every other armor)
  • Havel's Ring (Ring)
  • Cloranthy Ring (Ring)

This one's more of a joke build, but it still works surprisingly well in multiplayer. It's a cosplay of those wretched Bonewheel Skeleton enemies in the Catacombs. The dual Bonewheel Shields can prove enough as weapons, and you can just keep attacking and dodging lightly thanks to the monstrous Stamina allowance. At the very least, you'll strike some fear into the hearts of PvP enemies.

2 Oroboro's Falchion Build

oroboro's falchion build in dark souls

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 50
  • Attunement - 16
  • Endurance - 40
  • Strength - 12
  • Dexterity - 40
  • Resistance - 11
  • Intelligence - 8
  • Faith - 30
  • Soul Level - 125

Required items & spells:

  • Falchion (Weapon)
  • Grass Crest Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Talisman (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Elite Knight Helm (Head)
  • Elite Knight Armor (Body)
  • Havel's Gauntlets (Hands)
  • Wanderer Boots (Legs)
  • Havel's Ring (Ring)
  • Ring of Favor and Protection (Ring)
  • Darkmoon Blade, Wrath of the Gods, Sunlight Blade (Spells)

From Oroboro himself comes this notorious build that is as close to being a hate-mail magnet as the Giant Dad build. You'll simply need to cast either Darkmoon Blade or Sunlight Blade on a Falchion, and just spam two-handed attacks. Wrath of the Gods is there so you can deal with multiple enemies. It also works well in PvE, thanks to the fast attack speed.

1 Giant Dad

giant dad in dark souls

Required stats:

  • Vitality - 48
  • Attunement - 12
  • Endurance - 66
  • Strength - 16
  • Dexterity - 10 (But don't tell anyone you leveled that up)
  • Resistance - N/A
  • Intelligence - N/A
  • Faith - N/A
  • Soul Level - 99 Bandit

Required items & spells:

  • Chaos Zweihander (Weapon)
  • Grass Crest Shield (Off-hand Weapon)
  • Pyromancy Flame (Weapon)
  • Mask of the Father (Helmet)
  • Giant Armor Set (Minus the helmet)
  • Havel Ring (Ring)
  • Ring of Favor & Protection (Ring)
  • Black Flame (Spell)

Speaking of legends in the Dark Souls mythos, none can match the notoriety and esteem of the fan-created Giant Dad character. It's a build so cheesy and efficient that it shoved its way into the game's fan canon as an extra character. The idea is simple: abuse the Zweihander's staggering ability to stun-lock enemies in PvP; they usually go down in three to four swings. Be prepared for some toxic post-PvP mail, but just tell them that's how it is and that you're an in-game boss — because the legend never dies.

NEXT: Dark Souls: Things You Never Knew About Gwyndolin