The weapons of assassins and backstab fishers across the lands, and the go-to choice if you need a fast, agile, and nimble weapon – when something like a rapier just won’t do it for you. While mainly not used as a primary weapon, daggers are often used as a surprise sidearm when the situation calls for it. Today we’ll be looking at the best knives to keep in your boot, and the best to use to stab your enemies backs with.
5. Dagger
Let me preface this by saying that most daggers are basically the same, with the only differences between them being a few changes in numbers. So getting things started, we’ve got the good ole classic Dagger. A dex-based weapon with decent (for a dagger) physical damage. In my opinion, the true potential of daggers comes out when you pair them with weapon buffs, or as a poison/bleed enabler. Such is the case with the normal dagger, since you can look at it as a polymorphic tool that you can shape to your liking, or just leave it as is for a quick secondary. How to get: Starting weapon of the Sorcerer and Explorer classes, treasure in Things Betwixt found behind the first fog gate on your left.
4. Retainer’s Short Sword
One of my favorite things about Dark Souls is finding weapons with clashing names and categories (swords that are daggers, spears that are halberds, the world is crazy!) Putting aside its peculiar name, the Retainer’s Short Sword is a decent option for dishing out some quick magic damage, and infusing it with magic further amplifies its great base innate damage. Other than that, it’s got a pretty terrible scaling – so I’d advise having a secondary weapon that actually benefits from your stats. Also watch out for its relatively low durability. How to get: Dropped by Retainers.
3. Umbral Dagger
Up next we’ve got the best candidate for all your critical-damage-dealing needs! If you are a dexterity build, the Umbral Dagger will outdo every other dagger in this list – but this is only when used for backstabbing and riposting after a parry. Avoid using it as your main weapon, though, since you’ll quite literally have to inflict a death by a thousand cuts to every single enemy you come across. How to get: Dropped by Fume Sorcerers.
2. Shadow Dagger
So far all our daggers have been dexterity based. But fear not muscle-bros, for the Shadow Dagger is here for you. Undoubtedly the number one choice for any strength or quality build, the shadow dagger has the highest attack rating compared to the rest of the competition. Other than that there’s not much to be said, if you’re rocking strength and need something fast to go with your greataxe, use this stabber. How to get: Dropped by Suspicious Shadows.
1. Mytha’s Bent Blade
Finally something interesting to talk about! While its damage might be lackluster, Mytha’s Bent Blade is the only weapon in the game that creates poison and toxic buildup, and thus the only weapon that “inflicts” toxic damage! It’s a very handy tool to have for many situations, and especially fun in PvP watching people panic when afflicted with two damage-over-time effects at once. Wearing the Crest of the Rat and the Sanctum Soldier Gauntlet will increase your poison damage. Leveling up your Dexterity and/or Adaptability also has a similar effect. Unfortunately, there aren’t any ways to increase the toxic damage. Sad snake noises. How to get: Trade Mytha, the Baneful Queen Soul to Straid of Olaphis.
