Can The Ds3 Onyx Blade Be Buffed With Sorceries Or Miracles?

Man, I've been messing around with the Onyx Blade in 'Dark Souls 3' for ages and I can say straight up: it’s totally playable on either build, but it rewards different styles. If you lean into Strength you'll feel the weight and raw stagger — it likes to make enemies wobble and it hits like a truck when you two-hand or stack buffs. I usually pump enough Strength to meet its requirements, slap on a Heavy or Refined infusion if the weapon allows it, and pair it with a ring or two that boost physical damage. That gives you big hits and reliable poise damage in most PvE fights. On the flip side, if you're a Dex fan, you can still make the Onyx Blade work, but it forces a more surgical approach. A Sharp or Refined infusion (again, only if the weapon is infusable) plus Dex investment turns it into something with faster follow-ups and better scaling with dexterity—less raw blunt force, more swift punishing combos and riposte setups. I like to mix in quickstep/roll punishes and weapon arts that lengthen reach. In PvP it’s a mixed bag: Strength builds tend to win trades, Dex builds win at spacing. Personally, I experiment with both and end up favoring Strength for invasions and Dex for duel-focused, mobile playstyles — try both and see which fits how you enjoy skirmishes.

Honestly, the 'Onyx Blade' in 'Dark Souls 3' always felt like one of those weapons that sits a little outside the usual sword archetypes — it’s a hybrid weapon with physical plus dark damage and it rewards investment into the right stats rather than raw upgrade numbers. From what I’ve seen playing and poking at item screens, the base attack at +0 is middling for a unique sword: it has moderate physical AR with a secondary dark component that makes it good for bypassing some resistance checks. The important part is the scaling: it starts with low scaling in Strength and Intelligence (usually Ds or Cs at +0) and grows significantly as you upgrade the blade. By mid-upgrade (+5 or so) those Ds/Cs often jump to C/B, and at max (+10) you typically see B or even A in the primary scaling stat, with the dark split staying consistent. I like to think of it as a quality/intelligence hybrid — it doesn’t compete with dedicated pure-strength greatswords for raw physical damage, nor with full-sorcery catalysts for casting, but with a roughly even spread between physical and dark it becomes deadly for Faith/Int builds or quality builds that want a dark edge. Infusions and Ashen Estus choices can tilt it more toward magic or physical playstyles. For exact numerical ARs, the game’s item screen shows the detailed breakdown and the scaling letters; in practice I check the actual AR after applying my stat levels and upgrades to judge whether it hits damage soft caps for my build. If you want, I can walk you through the math on how the scaling letters translate into extra AR for a specific Strength/Intelligence spread.

Okay, let me gush for a minute — the Onyx Blade in 'Dark Souls III' feels like a weapon that sits between two personalities. It isn't twitchy like a straight sword nor lumbering like an ultra greatsword; it swings with deliberate intent. When I use it, I notice its horizontal arcs have a nicer reach and a weight that makes each hit feel meaningful, so it punishes sloppy spacing from opponents who expect a light-sword rhythm. Mechanically, the moveset plays out as a hybrid: you get solid R1 strings that aren't super-fast but chain smoothly, and the R2s tend to be chunkier, often trading well because of that reach. Its rolling and backstep R1s catch people trying to poke at close range; I often bait a roll and then follow up with a horizontal R1 to clip their recovery. Compared to a straight sword, you give up some speed but gain more satisfying range and poise pressure; compared to a greatsword, you keep more agility while still landing heavier hits. Beyond pure moves, the weapon art is the secret sauce — it adds zoning or an extra hit that changes how you approach fights. In casual duels I mix a few swings with weapon-art feints to keep folks guessing, and in PvE it shreds enemies that cluster because the arcs connect well. If you like a sword that rewards thoughtful spacing and timing rather than pure button-mashing, the Onyx Blade is a really fun middle ground.

Upgrading the 'Onyx Blade' in 'Dark Souls 3' is a bit different from standard weapons because it requires special materials. You'll need Titanite Scales instead of regular Titanite, as it’s a boss weapon. To start, take it to Andre the Blacksmith at Firelink Shrine. He can upgrade it to +5, but you’ll need 2 Titanite Scales for each upgrade level. The final upgrade to +5 will require a Titanite Slab. The 'Onyx Blade' is dropped by Vilhelm in the Ashes of Ariandel DLC, so make sure you’ve defeated him to obtain it. This weapon has innate dark damage and scales with both Intelligence and Faith, making it perfect for pyromancers or dark spellcasters. Its weapon art, 'Elfriede’s Blackflame,' buffs the blade with extra dark damage, so upgrading it maximizes its potential for hybrid builds. If you’re running a dark-infused build, this is one of the best greatswords in the game.

I can confidently say the 'Onyx Blade' stands out for its unique blend of magic and physical damage. Unlike traditional greatswords like the 'Claymore' or 'Black Knight Sword', the 'Onyx Blade' scales with both Intelligence and Faith, making it a powerhouse for hybrid builds. Its weapon art, 'Elfriede’s Blackflame', buffs the blade with dark damage, adding a layer of versatility that most greatswords lack. What really sets it apart is its range and moveset. The 'Onyx Blade' has a deceptive reach, often catching opponents off guard in PvP. While it may not hit as hard as the 'Fume Ultra Greatsword' in pure physical damage, the dark damage buff more than compensates, especially against enemies weak to magic. It’s also lighter than many ultra greatswords, allowing for better mobility. For spellswords or dark builds, it’s easily one of the top choices.

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.

Honestly, if you’re swinging the 'Onyx Blade' in 'Dark Souls 3', the infusion choice really comes down to what kind of sword-and-sorcery mixtape you want to play. The blade already plays in that hybrid neighborhood (it likes Strength and Intelligence vibes), so the simplest and often best route is to leave it uninfused if you’re building an INT/STR hybrid — you keep its native damage split and weapon art scaling intact, which is great for spellsword setups and for leveraging both physical and dark-ish damage. I’ve run into enemies where that mixed damage just chewed right through resistances in a way a pure physical buff didn’t. If you’re committing to a pure physical route, the rules of thumb from my dozens of invasions apply: go Heavy for a straight Strength-focused powerhouse, Refined if you want a Quality-style balance between Strength and Dexterity, and Sharp if you’re leaning hard on Dexterity. For an INT-only swing (less common but fun), Crystal or Magic-style infusions will boost magic scaling at the cost of base physical — useful if you’re stacking Intelligence and actively casting. Just remember infusions change your weapon art’s scaling behavior if you apply an Ash of War, so test on a boss or a summon to see feel and numbers. Personally I usually leave it stock for PvE spellsword shenanigans or toss on Heavy for a brutish STR build; both have their moment. Try a quick respec in the arena to see which feels better for your playstyle — sometimes the subjective swing speed and poise breaks win over raw AR for me.

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 in 'Dark Souls 3' is one of those intriguing weapons that really stands out, doesn’t it? I find the aesthetics of this blade breathtaking; its dark, gothic design just screams mystery. Now, to dive into the gameplay mechanics: yes, you can absolutely upgrade the Onyx Blade! It benefits from regular upgrades at the blacksmith, which means you can enhance its base damage and scalability as you progress through the game. Light infusion is also an option, so if you're going for a faith build, you can infuse it with something that gives you a nice balance between scaling and damage. This weapon has that unique slicing capability combined with a fantastic weapon art that lets you unleash some serious dark damage, especially against enemies sensitive to that type of elemental attack. I’ve always preferred weapons that create a certain playstyle, and the Onyx Blade totally changes the dynamics of engaging enemies. You not only have the visceral thrill of the attacks but also the strategic element of choosing when to mix your moves with spells. Whether you're taking on tough bosses or just having fun with PvP, infusing the Onyx Blade to suit your character build makes it feel like you have an arsenal at your fingertips! So, upgrade it, infuse it, and let it serve your dark ambitions!