Skills, also known as Weapon Arts, are special moves for Weapons and Magic in Dark Souls 3. They are a new feature that allows the player to use special attacks with existing Weapons or boost the damage of Spells. They vary from weapon to weapon, and can have effects such as higher damage or self-buffs.
Activating Skills
Press the L2/LT button to use the unique skill associated with the weapon you have in your left hand or are wielding with both hands. Assorted skills are available, each with their own capabilities.
Using skills consumes Focus Points (FP), which is shown in the blue gauge on your HUD, between the red HP gauge and the green Stamina gauge. FP is not required to use certain Skills, however, using a skill without sufficient FP will not yield the enhanced properties it provides. For example, the Longsword can still perform the special guard-break attack, but they will have the same damage as regular R1/RB attacks, and will not be able to break through shields as easily as it normally does. It is also important to keep in mind that using such a Weapon Art without the required minimum FP will result in the attack using significantly more stamina.
When Dual Wielding, a right and a second left handed weapon, the weapon you are two handing will be activated for it's skill when you press L2/LT. It does not matter which hand the weapon is originally assigned to, R1/RB functions remain the same. Mix and match weapons with different skills and chain them together for a more adept dual wielding build.
Skills List
Awakening
Violently flail oneself to trigger an awakening that temporarily boosts the strength of miracles, just as the good Father used the rose himself...
Blade of Peril
Slam the greatsword to the ground while leaping, then follow with normal attack for a large spinning slash, or strong attack to back-step and jump foward in an overhead slam.
Blind Spot
Use against shielded foes to break through their guard by attacking from the side.
Corvian Greatknife
Handmaid's Dagger
Bloodlust (Skill)
Stain blade with one's own blood to temporarily grant uncanny sharpness.
Bloodlust
Breathe Fire
Spit a combustible fuel across the torch to breathe flame in a front-sweeping motion.
Call to Stone
Spin to lure stones to the steel hammer, and use strong attack to transition into an earth slam that shatters the stones in a shockwave.
Chain Spin
Sweep foes in a wide spinning motion and use strong attack to continue the motion until stamina is exhausted.
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.
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.
Gundyr's Halberd
Chant from the Depths
Briefly boosts the strength of dark sorceries. Works with staff equipped in left or right hand.
Charge
Hold weapon at waist and charge at foe. Only, it is important to have good footing.
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.
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.
Crescent Moon Sword
Crystal Blade
Release magic for the aquamarine crystals, creating a fleeting blue crystal blade, lengthy enough to swing as a straight 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.
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.
Basically this is Shield Splitter under a different name.
Darkdrift
Darkmoon Arrow
Infuse a readied arrow with Darkmoon essence, granting it magic damage and the ability to pierce shields.
Darkmoon Longbow
Demonic Flare
Briefly cause flame within to flare, and smash it upon earth and foes.
Demon's Greataxe
Dragon Breath
Use of this skill makes the shield sweep foes with a frontal exhalation of dragon breath.
Dragon Roar
Use of this skill makes the shield send surrounding foes flying with a dragon roar.
Earthen Wrath
Thrust weapon into earth with a prayer to trigger explosive tremors.
Elfriede's Stance
Conjure a magic bladed support scythe into the left hand while the great scythe remains in the right. Use normal attack to leap forward and swing twice, or strong attack to coat the earth with running frost.
Elfriede's Blackflame
Enwreath blade with blackflame, born of the similarly-hued flame that smolders within her.
Ember (Firelink Greatsword)
The fading flame momentarily illuminates and launches itself forward.
Firelink Greatsword
Ember (Ringed Knight Straight Sword)
Stand ready with the timeworn blade that reignites a short-lived flame. From this stance transition to normal or strong attack.
Ember (Ringed Knight Spear)
Thrust the timeworn spear that reignites a short-lived flame, whose dull aftermath will carry on.
Ember (Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords)
Cross the twin timeworn greatswords to reignite a short-lived flame. A lightning-quick upward heave slices the very air, and transitions into normal or strong attacks.
Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords
Falling Bolt (Dragonslayer Greataxe)
Hold weapon high in air to gather fierce lightning, and smash ground to whip the bolts to the ground.
Dragonslayer Greataxe
Falling Bolt (Dragonslayer Swordspear)
Hold weapon high to summon lightning upon one's foe.
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.
Eleonora
Feasting Branch
Use souls to weave a sharp branch to fillet prey. Can be used repeatedly.
Flame of Lorian
Lunge forward to transform smolder into flame, and follow with strong attack to launch flame across ground.
Lorian's Greatsword
Flame Whip
Unleash a very powerful combo that deals fire damage.
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.
Demon's Fist
Frost
Create a bone-chilling frost with each swing of the greatscythe that causes a temporary frost effect.
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.
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.
Warpick
Pickaxe
Gentle Prayer
Recovers HP for a period of time, albeit extremely slowly. Works while equipped in either hand.
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.
Scholar's Candlestick
Cleric's Candlestick
Hold
Assume a stance from which to execute a lunging slash or a deflecting parry
Uchigatana
Washing Pole
Chaos Blade
Black Blade
Hold (Frayed Blade)
Assume a holding stance in which a normal attack sends a shockwave along the earth, and a strong attack commences a series of slashes.
Frayed Blade
Hurl Spear
Emulate the practice of the Followers by throwing an illusory spear that assumes temporary form.
Follower Javelin
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.
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.
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.
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.
Claw
Lifedrain
Embrace the victim and steal their HP. Can only be used against humans.
Dark Hand
Lightning Charge
Charge with spear at waist to enwreathe with lightning, then release bolts with final thrust.
Dragonslayer Spear
Lion Stance
While in stance, use normal attack to thrust forward with shield up, and strong attack to execute a shield bash with a lion's roar.
Valorheart
Lockout
Get a stalwart defense, and shield bash, or strong attack for a heave that holds shields to block nearly all damage.
Lothric War Banner (Skill)
Wave the flagpole high in the air, summoning an ethereal war banner that invigorates the attack of those who gather under it.
Mad King's Folly
Slam malformed corpse into the ground to briefly awaken it, then fillet with strong attack to trigger a roar, a blessing, or vexation.
Moan
Offer a gentle prayer to the shield, causing the woman's face to give out a low moan and attract enemies.
Moaning Shield
Molten Perseverance
Anchor weapon in earth to temporarily boost poise, and use strong atack to repeatedly stab earth to trigger molten explosions.
Old King's Great Hammer
Moonlight Vortex
Draw sword back and thrust to unleash torrential moonlight.
Moonlight Greatsword
Morne's Rage
Stick weapon into earth and emit a powerful shockwave. Temporarily boosts poise and reduces damage received.
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.
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.
Sunlight Straight Sword
Onislayer
Leap forward and slash mercilessly with both blades, cutting open foes.
Pacify
With a prayer and an offering of this spear, temporarily wear down enemy FP.
Yorshka's Spear
Parry (weapons)
Deflect an attack when timed properly and follow up with a critical hit. Works while equipped in either hand.
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
Parting Flame
Release store of death echoes to gain a modest dose of Estus.
Perseverance
Cross arms in front of body to temporarily boost poise. Damage reduced while activated.
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.
Black Bow of Pharis
Pierce Earth
Fire a greatarrow with a burst of strength and a prayer that violently shakes its target and explodes on impact.
Millwood Greatbow
Poison Spores
Expel noxious spores from the formless, parasitical things that inhabit the staff.
Storyteller's Staff
Pray for Favor
Works with chime equipped in left or right hand. Heal HP very slowly for a duration of time. Affects caster and those in vicinity.
Profaned Flame
Temporarily summon the Profaned Flame. Lunge forward and use strong attack to enshroud blade in flame.
Profaned Greatsword
Prying Wedge
A chain attack that wedges below foes and swings upward, breaking their guard. Strong attack can be used to follow up the onslaught with a fatal blow.
Puncture
Pull the arrow even further back for a more powerful shot that can also pierce shields.
Longbow
Dragonrider Bow
Puncturing Arrow
Masterfully fires off a great arrow that pierces through all enemies in its path, infllicting damage.
Dragonslayer Greatbow
Punitive Flame
Punish foes with a flame that blankets the ground.
Immolation Tinder
Quake
Burrow hammer head into the ground with a great slam, and use strong attack to upheave earth, creating a shockwave that rumbles like a mighty warcry.
Quickstep
Instantly step behind or around the side of foes. Especially effective when locked on to target.
Thrall Axe
Manikin Claws
Dagger
Bandit's Knife
Rotten Ghru Dagger
Brigand Twindaggers
Quill Dart
Simultaneously throw temporarily substantial illusions of the four thin-edged blades wielded in the left hand.
Repeat Fire
Assume stance to activate repeat firing mechanism, and repeat fire with normal and strong attacks.
Ricard's Lunge and Press
Assume a quick stance, lunge forward, and execute a stunning chain attack. Sustain offensive with a strong attack.
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.
Composite Bow
Short Bow
Raptor Flurry
Spread right and left talons like a broad set of wings and launch into a tornado of consecutive attacks.
Sacred Light and Flame
While in stance, use normal attack to cast Sacred Lothric Light, and strong attack to cast Flame of Lorian.
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.
Sever
Hold the giant blade with both hands and slash repeatedly at foe's feet.
Sharpen
Scrape the blade to sharpen (damage buff for Machete) or regain health with each hit (Butcher Knife)
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. 
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.
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.
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.
Golden Wing Crest Shield
Sacred Bloom Shield
Spin Bash (Drang)
Drang Hammers
Spin Bash
Spiked Mace
Great Wooden Hammer
Spin Slash (Gothard)
Slice into foes with a large spinning motion, and follow with a strong attack for a spinning vertical-slash.
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.
Partizan
Lucerne
Glaive
Black Knight Glaive
Stance (Sword)
While in stance, use normal attack to break a foe's guard from below, and strong attack to slash upwards with a forward lunge.
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 Judgment
Assume stance to unleash dark magic. Use normal attack for a lunging thrust, and strong attack to emit side-sweepoing wave.
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.
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.
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.
Storm Ruler
Steady Chant
Boost the strength of sorceries for a very short period. Works while equipped in either hand.
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.
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.
Storm Curved Sword
Unfaltering Prayer
Temporarily increase poise while casting miracles, preventing enemy attacks from interrupting prayer. Works while equipped in either hand.
Talisman
Saint's Talisman
Sunlight Talisman
White Hair Talisman
Sunless Talisman
Canvas 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.
Tailbone Short Sword
Tailbone Spear
Unseen Arrow
Arrows shot by large pulls of the bow are enchanted with a golden spell that turns them nearly invisible.
War Cry
Let out a spirited warcry that temporarily boosts attack, and enables a special consecutive strong attack.
Hand Axe
Battle Axe
Brigand Axe
Dragonslayer's Axe
Millwood Battle 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.
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.
Bonewheel Shield
Wind Wheel
Spin weapon vigorously above head and sweep foes, and transition with normal or strong attack for continued spin attacks, which whip up wind and gain momentum, strengthening subsequent attacks.
Wolf Leap
Slice into foes with a larg spinning motion, then leap out of harm's way and follow with a strong attack.
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.
Wolf Sword
Wrath of the Gods (Skill)
Thrust weapon into earth to emit powerful shockwave.
Wolnir's Holy Sword
AnonymousHello DS3 player, I am come to you for a little favour, and I will carry this message to everywhere in DS3 community.
There is a glitch that allows you to summon white sign mad phantom in Gael’s Arena (Credit to Dashingsaint), if you keep Shira alived while she invade you (you can escape her simply sprint out her aggro range), you won’t trigger gael boss cutscene, and then you could put down you purple summon white sign or summon other white purple.
Thus, a new fight club is founded, an arena in a long lost dessert under the sunset sky which sprinkle with fainted galaxy.
If you’re watching this, kindly please help me share this and invite any ds3 enthusiast you known to this new fight club, your little effort would be much appreciated.
SL25+2, SL40+4, SL60+6, SL72+8, SL90+10, SL125 Meta, SL 351++, all SL range are acceptable.
Welcome to the Gael’s Sunset Arena, the most beautiful map in the entire series, the last arena at the End of World.
I will await you there, in the End of the World, and we shall fight eternal, shiny and incandescence.
LONG MAY THE DARK SOULS COMMUNITY LIVE
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Spamming Weapons Art will not make you a "skilled" player.
Say hi to Friede's Great Scythe, Splitleaf Greatsword, Farron Greatsword and Ringed Knight Paired Greatswords :)
- Anonymous
Weapon arts are literally useless in this game for PvE. They are slower than a regular light attack, and most of the time the extra damage is pointless because you could have already done the same with 2 normal hits in the same time.
For PvP weapon arts are cancer stunlock tools.
The only place in the entire game where weapon arts really matter is Yhorm boss fight with Storm Ruler.
- Anonymous
white hair talisman is labelled in both unfalterig prayer and combustion but its real skill is combustion
- Anonymous
The only skill you need is the R1 from pkcs to win every fight
- Anonymous
missing some DLC skills; Call to Stone (ledo's great hammer) Elfriede's Blackflame (onyx blade) and Awakening (rose of ariendel)
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Where are the buff weapons that was the only thing i was here for.
- Anonymous
>Press the L2/LT What in the *****ing ***** is L2? LT? What the fuuuuuck?????
- Anonymous
For those weird fellas out there that use Mouse and Keyboard (like me), Shift + Right Click (by default) is the button for WA's. The problem with that is that you can't use all of the weapon arts, since if you attack (left click), you'll always do the "strong attack" version (R2) because you're pressing shift. Simply remap your WA button to the Left Alt key and you'll be able to do both.
- Anonymous
what about the none weapon art for the crossbow where you do a shoulder bash
- Anonymous
Dexterity weapon arts are as***** as Gwyndolin and Solaire spending a night together in dark Anor Londo
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
So apparently clicking "Skills" on the Elder Scrolls Online Wiki brings you here, wtf Fextralife
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Just so you know, you're missing the crystal sage's rapier! Thanks for the work you put into this wiki!
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
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- Anonymous
white hair talisman isnt with Unfaltering Prayer, otherwise the force glitch would be OP, using Fire Surge and Crystal Soul Spear
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
its sad how poorly they made this guide, they should get their***** together if they want to be a reliable wiki
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Spin bash from the great wooden hammer isn't listed here at this time.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
where is Dragonslayer axe(small one)where is Dragonslayer axe(small one)where is Dragonslayer axe(small one)
- Anonymous
What is this first line? it's total BS. Imo DS3 is way harder than its predecessors. Plus this is a totally out of place line and should be removed.
- Anonymous
I've noticed that Thrust Damage absorption decreases drastically (in my case, 19.328 to -4.874) near the end of some Skill animations. Any ideas as to why?
- Anonymous
I don't know if anyone else has tried this, but in my experience, if you dual-wield any two weapons that are not paired, then the left-hand weapon blocks when you use L1/LB, and uses light attack when you use L2/LB.I've tried this with everything from daggers and broken straight swords to Smough's Hammer, so I think it applies to everything but I may be wrong.I think this go-around From has tried to reduce the amount of options and unpredictability gained from wielding two weapons with varied movesets, like people were doing with Santier's and Yorgh's in DS2.I feel as though this should be reflected in the article so people can see it when they look for it.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Missing Spin Bash, which is unique to the Spiked Mace (drops from Evangelist)
- Anonymous
How can I use these skills on PC? I mean what keys on keyboard do the same as for example L2/LT?
- Anonymous
It is not mentioned but stomp also increases your defense by roughly 2.5x. It also doesn't change the poise value in the stats menu, so I theorize that it grants super armor insteadRequires further testing, but going into the stats menu while the buff is active it seems like this is so.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
they call it a wiki for a reason and if this isn't in a trailer...or even if it is percent confirmed and you shouldn't get your hopes up for it
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Why does the community refer to them as "weapon arts" when I haven't found a single instance of it being called that in game? The weapons just say "Weapon Skill:" and I haven't seen it referred to anywhere else
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