How Does Onyx Blade DS3 Compare To Other Greatswords?

The 'Onyx Blade' in 'Dark Souls 3' is one of those weapons that just oozes style and power, especially if you're into hybrid builds. This greatsword scales with both Intelligence and Faith, making it perfect for pyromancers or dark magic users. Its base moveset is similar to other greatswords, featuring horizontal slashes for crowd control and a strong vertical chop for single targets. The weapon art, 'Elfriede’s Blackflame,' is where it truly shines—it buffs the blade with dark fire, adding extra damage and a cool visual effect. One thing I love about the 'Onyx Blade' is its versatility. The R2 attacks have decent range, and the rolling R1 is quick enough to catch opponents off guard. The buff lasts a solid 45 seconds, so you can pre-buff before engaging. It’s also surprisingly lightweight for a greatsword, letting you stay mobile. Pair it with the 'Prisoner’s Chain' or 'Ring of Favor' for extra survivability. If you’re looking for a weapon that balances raw power and dark aesthetics, this is it.

As someone who's spent countless hours exploring every nook and cranny of 'Dark Souls 3', I can tell you the Onyx Blade is one of those hidden gems that’s totally worth the hunt. You'll find it in the 'Ashes of Ariandel' DLC, specifically in the Corvian Settlement. From the bonfire, head past the bridge where the giant wolf attacks, then drop down into the ruined buildings. There’s a tower with a ladder—climb it, and you’ll find a NPC named Vilhelm. Defeat him, and the Onyx Blade is yours. This weapon is a beast for dark builds, scaling with both intelligence and faith. Its weapon art buffs it with dark damage, making it perfect for pyromancers or dark spellcasters. The area itself is tricky, though, with those creepy Corvian knights lurking around. Pro tip: Bring a shield with high stability or learn to parry—Vilhelm hits hard but is manageable if you stay calm. The Onyx Blade’s sleek design and lore ties to the Sable Church of Londor make it a favorite among lore hunters too.

As someone who's spent countless hours experimenting with different weapons in 'Dark Souls 3', I can confidently say the 'Onyx Blade' is a hidden gem for Pyromancer builds. This greatsword scales primarily with Intelligence and Faith (both at C), making it ideal for hybrid casters. The base damage is respectable, but the true magic happens when you buff it—its Weapon Art, 'Queen's Darkflame,' adds a hefty 145 fire damage for 45 seconds. The scaling isn’t as aggressive as pure physical weapons, but the split damage (physical and dark) and the buff make it devastating in PvE and PvP if you build around it. One thing to note is that its scaling doesn’t improve much beyond 30 Int/Faith, so soft-capping at those stats is efficient. It’s also lightweight for a greatsword, allowing for more flexibility in armor choices. If you’re running a 30/30 Int/Faith build, this weapon outperforms many others in its class, especially against enemies weak to dark or fire. Just be mindful of foes with high dark resistance—it can feel a bit lackluster there.

As someone who's spent countless hours experimenting with 'Dark Souls 3' builds, I can confidently say the 'Onyx Blade' is one of the most versatile weapons for elemental infusion. While it already has innate dark damage, you can infuse it with other elements like fire or chaos to create a hybrid powerhouse. Fire infusion boosts its raw fire damage, making it deadly against enemies weak to flame, while chaos infusion adds fire scaling with intelligence and faith, perfect for pyro builds. The 'Onyx Blade' also shines with dark or deep infusions, further amplifying its dark damage. However, lightning or crystal infusions aren’t as effective since they don’t synergize well with its natural stats. If you’re running a dark or pyro build, this weapon is a dream. Pair it with the right rings and buffs, and you’ll melt through enemies like butter. Just remember, its true potential unlocks when you embrace its dark roots and complement it with fire or chaos for maximum devastation.

If you're gearing the Onyx Blade for duels in 'Dark Souls III', the first thing I tell myself is: pick the role you want it to play. The Onyx Blade can be a jukey, spacing-heavy sword or a heavy-hitting trade machine depending on how you upgrade and what stats you pump. Start by fully upgrading it to +10 at the blacksmith — that’s non-negotiable for PvP; all scaling bonuses and infusion effects are most useful at max upgrade. From there, match the infusion to your stat spread: Heavy if you’re stacking Strength, Sharp if you lean Dex, Refined if you’re splitting Strength/Dex, and elemental or deep infusions if you’re pairing with Faith/Int/hexes. Raw is only for weird low-stat builds and usually not PvP-friendly. Mechanics matter as much as the numbers. Aim your primary offensive stat to the softcap (around 40 for most builds) so the Onyx Blade actually converts that scaling into damage. Don’t skimp on Vigor and Endurance — you need HP and stamina to win trades. Consider boosting equip load so you can wear decent armor without fat-rolling; being able to tank a hit and retaliate with the weapon art or a strong R1 string makes a massive difference. And experiment with weapon buffs or temporary resins if your build supports them — they turn the Onyx Blade into a surprise threat against turtles. On the practical side, work on timing: the weapon art and R2s cover space and create openings, while R1 flurries and mixups punish rolls. Change your approach in each match: sometimes bait a roll and raw punish, other times play spacing and poke until you can commit. I spend a lot of practice time in 1v1 duels testing different infusions and swap a ring or two depending on whether I’m facing heavy armor or glass cannons — small adjustments go a long way. Try a few builds in casual duels, note what opponents struggle with, and lean into that; the Onyx Blade rewards patience and smart reads more than reckless swinging.

Oh man, the Onyx Blade question always gets me excited — I love tinkering with weapon combos. From my time testing weapons in Dark Souls 3, the short version is: most weapon buffs from sorceries and miracles will work on normal melee weapons, so you can cast things like Magic Weapon or Lightning Blade (or even Crystal Magic Weapon) to add elemental damage to a blade. That said, there are a few caveats that matter in practice. I usually check two things before I buff: whether the Onyx Blade already has an innate elemental or unique damage type, and whether I’ve infused it at the blacksmith. If the weapon is already elementally infused, some buffs may overwrite or interact strangely, so the resulting damage split can change and sometimes be less effective than you expect. Buffs consume FP and last a limited time, so for PvE I tend to buff before big fights; in PvP you’ll want to be careful because many buffs are visible and predictable. Personally, I love pairing a caster-friendly sword with a buff that complements my main stat — it feels rewarding to see the damage numbers pop differently based on the buff I chose.

Man, this one’s fun — the short version is that the Onyx Blade in 'Dark Souls III' is a boss-soul weapon, so you don’t just forge it at a normal blacksmith. You need the boss soul that corresponds to the Onyx Blade, then take that soul to the NPC who does transpositions in Firelink and trade it for the weapon. Practically speaking, here’s how I do it: hunt down the boss that drops the Onyx Blade’s soul (consult a wiki or boss guide if you don’t know which boss yet), kill or farm them until you get the soul item, then return to Firelink Shrine and talk to Ludleth — he handles transposition. Give him the boss soul and he’ll create the Onyx Blade for you. If you already consumed the boss soul as regular souls, you’ll need to get another copy (NG+, co-op runs, or farming the boss again). If you’re struggling to reach the boss: summon help, raise your weapon AR so you don’t take forever, and consider a summon or co-op farm run where someone else kills the boss and you pick up the loot. Also, if the Onyx Blade can drop as a direct weapon from enemies in some areas (sometimes weapons are world drops or guaranteed on later runs), check those spots too. Once you have it, upgrade with Titanite and consider infusions or stats that match its scaling — it tends to like a strength/quality focus depending on the exact weapon data. Happy hunting; it’s such a cool blade to swing around in invasions.

the Onyx Blade is a weapon that stands out for its unique blend of aesthetics and practicality. The weapon’s dark flame buff not only looks cool but adds significant fire damage, making it a solid choice for hybrid builds focusing on pyromancy. Its moveset is versatile, with a greatsword’s sweeping attacks that can catch multiple opponents in invasions. However, the Onyx Blade does have drawbacks. Its range is slightly shorter than other greatswords like the 'Claymore,' and the buff duration is limited, requiring careful timing. In high-level duels, experienced players can exploit its slower recovery frames. That said, if you enjoy a mix of spellcasting and melee, the Onyx Blade’s burst damage potential makes it a fun and viable option for both invasions and casual duels.