Dark Hand is a Weapon in Dark Souls 3.
Weapon that allows its wielder to evoke an art unique to Londor, the land of the Hollow. It is also said to be an ancient relic of a Primordial Serpent.
The Dark Hand mercilessly saps the essence of its victims, and can also double as a special shield. Cannot be used two-handed.
Skill: Lifedrain
Embrace the victim and steal their HP. Can only be used against humans.
Notes and Tips:
- Cannot be Infused, Buffed or Reinforced.
- Despite this, it can still be useful in PvE up to mid-game. It can be obtained as early as after defeating Vordt, and its base damage is very high and is split heavily towards one damage type (Dark). It also scales with the 4 main damage stats and has no requirements, allowing pretty much any build to use it as a substitute for a Deep- or Dark-infused weapon.
- Adding to this weapon's uniqueness, it is technically classified as a spell catalyst, despite not functioning as one.
- If equipped in right hand, it acts as a striking weapon with a fist-weapon moveset.
- The right handed light attack seems able to stun-lock PvP players in early-mid game indefinitely. Whether this works at higher levels would need further testing.
- Its strike property can also be useful for stun-locking the skeletons in the Catacombs of Carthus. This is especially useful for dexterity builds, which usually have a hard time finding decent weapons with strike damage properties early on in the game.
- While the weapon cannot be two-handed, it's weapon art can still be used when right-handed by using a weapon art shield in the left hand, or by having your left hand empty.
- Unlike the DS1 version, its weapon art cannot be parried what so ever.
- Can be used as a shield when equipped in left hand.
- Because it doesn't count as a shield, this weapon cannot be buffed with Magic Shield, making it a very bad shield due to the low stability. With 30 Endurance almost any weapon can get through your stamina bar with 2-3 hits.
- When using a weapon that can attack with the shield up, like a spear or rapier, the shield animation dissapears despite it still blocking damage.
- This item is missable in a playthrough if not purchased from Yuria of Londor.
- This weapon can do more damage with its skill if used behind someone, with the Dark Clutch Ring, was able to do 1267 damage, plus with the Blindfold Mask, Flynn's Ring and Lloyd's Sword Ring and it was able to do even more, with a high enough dark defence the damage will not show.
Location/Where to Find
- Sold by Yuria of Londor for 12,000 souls
Moveset and Videos:
(If your name is not on THIS list, please don't post videos.)
Table Key
| Requirement | Parameter Bonus | Attack Values | Damage Reduction % | Auxiliary Effects | Others |
 Strength |
Strength |
 Physical |
 Physical |
 Bleeding |
 Durability |
 Dexterity |
Dexterity |
 Magic |
 Magic |
 Poison |
|
 Intelligence |
Intelligence |
 Fire |
 Fire |
 Frost |
|
 Faith |
Faith |
 Lightning |
 Lightning |
 Curse |
|
 Dark |
 Dark |
||||
 Critical |
 Stability |
||||
 Spell Buff |
|||||
 Range |
Parameter Bonus: Strength, Dexterity,Magic, Fire, Lightning and Dark bonuses - The scaling multiplier applied to the [Attack: stat]. Scaling quality is from highest to lowest as follows: S/A/B/C/D/E.The higher the player's [Str, Dex, Mag, Fire, Light] stat, the higher the [Attack Bonus: Stat] is (found on the player status screen). The higher the scaling letter, the higher the percent multiplier applied to the [Attack: Stat].This resulting bonus damage is added to the base physical damage of the weapon and is shown in the equipment screen in blue numbers as a "+ X".
Durability: The weapon's HP, when the durability hits 0, the effectiveness of its attacks become weakened to the point of almost uselessness. When an items durability is low, a message will come up saying "Weapon At Risk!" at this point the weapon does not perform at it's best.
Weight: How much the item weights when equipped.
Stability: How well the player keeps stance after being hit
Attack Type: Defines what kind of swing set the weapon has: Regular(R), Thrust(T), Slash(Sl), Strike(St)
AnonymousReally wished this could parry for the ultimate cool factor.
- Anonymous
If you are in NG+ and wield them in separate hands, can one be used as a shield and the other as a fist, or do they work like other fist weapons.
- Anonymous
One of the more broken low level weapons in the game. The amount of twinks i run into using this at high wall of Lothric is too high. The damage is obscene for no investment from any player. If there was one weapon in the game that needed some requirements / nerf, its this one. Overall, its really unique and if you hit the weapon skill its really strong. Blocking with is for Physical damage is useless, but it can come in handy for any elemental damage. Like others have said, this Weapon will melt Dancer of the Boreal Valley at any level. Absurd and one of the more broken lower level weapons.
-Con
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Absolutely hate it when people write in the wiki like "I tested y and x z" Just write facts and try to keep this neat for the love of god. You are literally the reason I'd rather use wikia.
- Anonymous
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Coinvading at high wall and my co invader accidentally one shot me with this.
- Anonymous
You can reasonably kill dancer immediately after getting this
- Anonymous
It would be cool to have an enhaced, paired version when combined with a second dark hand in ng+. Would work almost the same as caestus, but the grab would change to maje yourself grow 1.5x your current size and lunge forward for a life-stealing bear hug with hyper armor. Idk, just having ideas to give ng+ some worth.
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The kiss of death. Love this weapon. Killed countless invaders and hosts with its weapon art, 40 int 40 faith build it hits for 1200 dmg.
- Anonymous
Opponent: enchants his greatshield with magic shield
This hand's weapon art: "he he he ha"
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I can't understand: does this weapon have active poise on WA?
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a real shame that such a cool weird weapon is so shitty for anything besides early game. but i guess its inevitable when you cant even reinforce it.
- Anonymous
This weapon helped my level 30 twink get the early dancer kill all the way to beyond the Demon Prince to pick up the Chloranthy ring +3. But I still got mostly wrecked in PvP in Crucifixion Woods.
- Anonymous
nerf this weapon i am shield user havel poise demigod of the poise but i get hit by some weird look handy boy that does like 2 dmg prob irl but it magic yes but no because not a a pickaxe so why does it dmg my rock armor
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Getting closer to "Git Gud" status. Took about 12 tries but managed to defeat the dancer at sl 16, just levering faith to defeat the dancer as knight class. Shield and sword ring, all the estus and bone shards up to the cathedral and the dark hand.
Now I have the sunlight straight sword to enjoy with my faith build as I level up.
- Anonymous
Very strong early game weapon. Currently doing a LKSS build but I've barely touched the thing, as I've had the Irithyll Straight Sword and then Dark Hand right after. Eventually the LKSS is going to be better and I've quietly upgraded it on the side, but until it outclasses the Dark Hand I'm not going to even look at it lol
- Anonymous
I think Emma starts sweating whenever she hears someone loading into the Vordt bonfire with a Dark Hand
- Anonymous
does about 200 damage to nameless king second phase. It was pretty pretty strong for how little stamina it used. granted it was right hand and I had a 100% block shield in left
- Anonymous
Use with crucifix mad King, do l2 r2, get perseverance glow, then go for dark hand life suck if the fool is still attacking.
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Item, that makes pure INT or FAITH builds playable in early/mid game. Hands down.
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why tf this thing got durabilty????
"ay my hand breaking dude gotta sprinkle some corn flakes on it real fast"
- Anonymous
If you listen closely with this thing out, you can hear a sort of squishy slurping sound constantly playing in the background. it took me forever to notice and figure out my dark hand was causing it
- Anonymous
If you wanna cosplay the desert sorceress build i recommend
Any whip/pyromancy flame/falchion-demon's scar and of course the dark Hand mainly because it's the most identical grab attack to the one they use in ds2
- Anonymous
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Who the fuxk saw this item being classified as a catalyst anywhere?
- Anonymous
I swear i see invaders using this weapon nonstop in the first two areas.
- Anonymous
I use it to farm the 3 ascended winged knights on the roof. The animation on backstabs is gold :)))
- Anonymous
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Dark Hand in DS1 was better imo. I wasn't using that grab (like really, imagine catching someone with it in PvP, for example) and I could parry. There is no parry with it in DS3, which is kinda sad. And going from 80% of protection to 65% it is a blow, too.
- Anonymous
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The darkwraith under lothric castle gave all those knights the good SUCC
- Anonymous
Who tf's idea was to make ugs users poise through the grab? Could've been an amazing punisher for them
- Anonymous
Imagine needing dlc armor and a broken weapon to win in pvp agaist lowies
This comment was made by the everyone else gang
- Anonymous
Lame ass twink weapon. Official weapon of no fun allowed online.
- Anonymous
Wish this thing had a unique fist moveset. Or that fists didn't have a goofy animation. Darkwraiths always looked a lot cooler when they used it smh my head
- Anonymous
Wear mimic chest hat and the WA will make it look like you are literally eating your opponents alive :D
- Anonymous
There is a huge damage difference for two different ways u can use its WA. Using it while in main hand does about 3 times more damage comparing to offhand WA option.
- Anonymous
Can you get 2 by buying one from yuria and killing her, get her ash to buy another one from shrine maid?
- Anonymous
its op for begining cuz i always get it before the decons cuz there is astora great sword the best dex sword
- Anonymous
Use this along with a weapon art shield to have easy access to the instant-npc-delete attack
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basicly this weapon is the easy mode that game journalists wanted
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Twinks all over the high wall... you'll be one of them, sooner or later
- Anonymous
Riposting Black Knights with this and Lifedraining NPC invaders has given me some renewed joy while playing. :3
- Anonymous
I wait at High Wall Lothric with my Dark infused Drakeblood Greatsword for Dark hand twink invaders or Dragonslayer axe invaders. I love it when they apply their gold pine resin and then proceed to get destroyed. The first swing that connects always stuns them with surprise when they realize I out damage their pussy weapon. My 2 hand hyper armor beast weapon will crush ANY twink hahaha.
When I first used it, I used it more as the shield than weapon, because I don’t like dark builds
- Anonymous
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One thing I think is unclear: the description says the weapon art works only on humans, does that mean hollow players can't be hit by it? And what about dragon form?
- Anonymous
This weapon is very divisive. Its almost a must for low level runs, its viable all the way to NG+3 at SL15 weapon +1. Its also a prime choice weapon for low level R1 mashing Blues, Reds and Purples. It has become the quintessential Toxic weapon between toxic players hands. Lets remember, its not the game mechanics that create toxicity, its solely based on players behavior. For anyone having problems against this weapon, use your reach. Concentrate on rolling and dodging at all costs, its REALLY REALLY easy to not get hit by that weapon. It will frustrate the Dark hand try-hard to the point where he changes weapon or starts making mistakes. Greatswords with their hyperarmor and reach are particularly efficient against the Dark hand, so are Halberds and spears if you can use them right.
- Anonymous
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Watch out for anyone who uses this in pvp. Its range is short but the damage it deals in the early game is really high.
- Anonymous
maybe this is worth using wirh a high poise build, with lothric spear
- Anonymous
i think the animation for the shield looks cool, is it the only "magic shield" from Dark Souls 3???
- Anonymous
a good weapon for early and mid game, though not exactly the best one
- Anonymous
The easiest way to beat twinks using this if they're bad is parry them precisely once. Multiple times I've only gotten a 40 damage riposte off (Yes I know you cheated in that +3 steel protection, sir) but they apparently just panic and black crystal tf out of there. That or they just get very confused about what to do next, to which you can just politely walk on by to the fog wall and send them away, because I got better things to be doing than spending 20 minutes trying to chip down cheated twink rings, armour and 7 maxed estus when I have like 4 on the high wall
- Anonymous
i see people asking why this weapon is not used very often, and the answer for your questions is: corvian greatknife +10, sharp gem infused at 40+ dexterity, and buffed with lightning blade or crystal magic weapon.... it deals 500+ AR, is faster and has longer range, and even though corvian greatknife is used even less, you gotta consider that there are also caestus and crow talons which easily deal 500+ AR as well, while dark hand barely reaches 300 AR if you level up a lot of dexterity, strenght, intelligence and faith
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
I was messing around with some items I don't usually use and I decided to use the dark hand I was planning playing as a tank so I was using Havel's armor and shield and the dark hand as my weapon then I went and did a couple of PVP matches and it worked really well you just walk up to them with your shield up and just sneak in a couple hits here in there and it worked every time
- Anonymous
I prefer using another weapon for twink builds since the range of the dark hand is bad but I only use this for clearing bosses since it cost less stamina to do attacks.
- Anonymous
Trying to play in first area co-op and got two-shotted by this damn thing. Need a nerf.
- Anonymous
the weapon art does more damage when used from the main hand
- Anonymous
A parry spammer invader with hornet ring killed me with dark hand few minutes ago at low level… Pretty annoying. But at least, he showed me the special animation of dark hand in this condition, it sucks your life, literally.
- Anonymous
londor plagiarized this weapon, IT WAS MADE IN NEW LONDO BY KAATHE! DON'T BELIEVE THIS MALEVOLENT LIES
- Anonymous
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More like r@pe hand if you ask me, because im sure as hell that the last 2 ppl i killed with it didn't consent to being touched by some yellow goblin and then Z U C C e d off.
- Anonymous
I've just finished Dark Hand only run, and had a lot of fun. It is killer for anything in the base game and Ashes dlc, the only trouble I've had is Midir and Gael, but not much. To anyone who wants to try this: Strength: 33 Dex: 32 Int:30 Faith: 30 Those are the soft caps. Dump everything else in health untill soft cap, endurance doesn't matter much since it's it very stamina friendly weapon.
- Anonymous
All these people complaining about twink builds while they probably run every level embered with 2+ phantoms by their side with with way of the blue equipped. It’s a game and if you get beat by an invader than git gud or quit out, or just play unembered until you get close to the boss, buncha sissies if you ask me.
- Anonymous
Whenever you cast warmth, the other players instantly think "running r1 and span r1 inside there". They never expect the hyper armor H.U.G.
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This is great for pyro builds early on for players who start with int/fth before maxing vigor so that way you can ditch a fire infusion for this. Later on once you get a dark or chaos infusion or maybe even an innate fire weapon you can just put this away.
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hard to do the WA unless youre in point blank range or someone runs into you with a running attack wich you can poise through if its nothing higher than a straitsword that is...
- Anonymous
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destroyed champion gundyr in 8 riposte using this bad boy with llyod's sword ring on my faith sl40 run. Pontiff only manage to survive 3 riposte since i pummel him a lot during the riposte recovery and clone summon.
- Anonymous
It really blows my mind that this weapon is so underrated.. I've rarely seen anyone using it (Past the high wall...) .. Yes it becomes less useful the further you progress but this weapon's true-damage property really makes it easy for you in the early stage of the game considering of course that you got it at around level 20- 25.. It destroys pretty much every early PVE enemy. Also if you're strugling against invaders in that early game this will destroy them too.. They usually dont expect to get hit by 380hp with 2 simple punches that cost very little stamina.. It might not be the ideal PVP weapon but if you get used to it it can really help you against invaders. On a final note. If you use this weapon to invade low levels on the high wall of lothric. You're absolute garbage and there's no value or credit to "winning" that fight for you whatsoever. Just makes you a *****.
- Anonymous
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can you parry then use WA? oh god , if you can actually do this , god bless the new characters being invaded by this in high wall , god bless you
- Anonymous
I do have to say it is a good weapon so far in my playthrough, (just beat crystal sage and made mince meat out of the boss fight) and I recommend it for people that are struggling. I haven't tried it in pvp nor do I plan it.
- Anonymous
I transposed the Vordt Great Hammer just to deal with this***** in a new char Charge the heavy attack and smash them in the ground. 400+ DMG with 25 STR (Two handed)
- Anonymous
I actually got this move off in a PvP match in Pontiff Sullivan, dude did a charged dagger attack, and the end of the dark hand animation actually gives you poise, so i poised the dudes charge attack and sucked him dry (no homo)
- Anonymous
If you use this to invade the lothric wall while wearing full lapp's armor just to gank freshly made new characters and then even have the audacity to point down as if you were the king of pvp, then you are trash.
- Anonymous
Dark hand twinks still a blight upon the undead settlement in 2k19?
this made mincemeat of the abyss watchers
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