Summary
Since theSoulslikegenre was established some 15 years ago, players have been drawn to these games not only for the blood-pumping and rewarding boss encounters, but also for the great itemization that makes exploration and combat even more exciting. With each passing year, players expect dozens of different weapons and armor sets from every new Soulslike. While some games fall short of these high expectations, others over-deliver in this regard.
Below are some ofthe most generous Soulslikes when it comes to weapon variety.From menacing boss weapons to strong starting gear that can carry players through the entire game, everyone will find something that suits their playstyle. Keep in mind that this list counts every weapon available in the base game and all of its additional content released so far.
The Surge 2was the third Soulslike forDeck13, building on the team’s experience with the originalLords of the Fallenand the firstTheSurge. This allowed the developer to significantly expand the sequel’s weapon roster, boasting more than 130 unique killing tools. Moreover, with the game’s unique futuristic setting not bound by fantasy tropes,each weapon feels even more specialto wield, with their unusual sound effects adding to the experience.
WhileThe Surge 2might not appeal to every Soulslike fan due to its distinct setting, it is a notable representative of the genre, featuring visceral combat and bosses unlike any others. The game also received several DLC packs that expanded its gear roster even further, includingThe Krakenexpansion which featured dozens of new items.
The originalDark Soulswas a significant advancement fromDemon’s Soulsfor FromSoftware, surpassing it in every regard, including build and weapon variety. Interestingly, some weapons that originally appeared inDemon’s Soulswere transferred to theDark Soulsseries with very few changes.
Released in 2011,Dark Soulsestablished itself as a pinnacle of the genre for many years. Its DLC,Artorias of the Abyss, introduced even more unique items and was later included inDark Souls: Prepare To Die Editionas well asDark Souls Remastered. With well over 100 weapons to test against numerous enemies, it remains one of the more generous titles in the genre when it comes to rewarding exploration.
TheNiohseries is one of the most highly acclaimed sSoulslikes not developed by FromSoftware, but there are notable differences in how itemization works in these games. Instead of a single unique named weapon that players can keep and upgrade throughout their playthrough,Niohis aloot-based game akin toDiablo, with enemies dropping valuable equipment pieces of varying rarities upon defeat.
This approach results in a vast number of weapons that players can wield in both games. The first entry alone features over 200 weapons for players to discover. Most weapons in each category have the same moves inNiohand differ only in appearance, damage, and other stats. However, given how many players are accustomed to such itemization across various games, this is likely one of the reasons Team Ninja’s titles are so successful.Niohreceived three DLCs:Dragon of the North,Defiant Honour, andBloodshed’s End, adding new weapon categories such as Tonfa and Odachi.
Lords of the Fallenboasts an impressive variety of weapons and armor, totaling over 200 unique armaments. Combined with the game’s rewarding exploration and intricately designed areas, it’s really fun to discover hidden secrets and hunt for every new piece of gear. Additionally, the design team at Hexworks put significant effort intocreating memorable optionsin every weapon category.
However, when compared to FromSoftware’s titles, the large number of weapons inLords of the Fallenmay feel a bit lackluster. This is because most weapons in the same category share identical movesets, differing only in appearance and raw stats. Nevertheless, there’s ample potential for tweaking builds and experimenting with different gear, which shouldn’t be overlooked by fans of the genre.
Despite being the final game in the trilogy,Dark Souls 3is shorter thanDark Souls 2and offers slightly fewer weapons. However, this is not a drawback, as the title is still extremely generous in rewarding players for careful exploration and tough victories. Over 200 different combat tools are available in the base game and its two sizable expansions:Ashes of AriandelandThe Ringed City.
Traditionally in FromSoftware’s games, players can expect many weapons inDark Souls 3to haveunique movesets and combo attacks, not to mention one-of-a-kind Weapon Skills on some armaments. With all that,Dark Souls 3is as replayable as fans could hope for.
Dark Souls 2is probably the biggest and most expansive game in the entireDark Soulstrilogy, offering the most hours of gameplay and the most weapons. While it is one of the most divisive entries among FromSoftware’s dedicated fanbase, the vastness of the builds and combat possibilities alone make it notable even today, with Hidetaka Miyazaki stating that the game “carried the rest of the series.”
In addition to the base game’s rich weapon roster,Dark Souls 2has received three sizable expansions —Crown of the Sunken King,Crown of the Old Iron King, andCrown of the Ivory King— each with additional items for players to find. Totaling about 250 unique armaments, the game’s Complete Edtion known asScholar of the First Sin,is a package few Soulslike competitors could ever hope to match.
Nioh 2took everything players loved about the original and doubled it. This is also true for the game’s rich weapon roster, which includes over 350 unique weapons of different rarities that players can take into battle. Again, this approach is different from any FromSoftware Soulslike but is familiar to players of other looters likeDiablo,Destiny 2, orBorderlands.
Nioh 2received three DLCs —The Tengu’s Disciple,Darkness in the Capital, andThe First Samurai— that further expand the game’s impressive mission list and add even more unique loot for players to find. The expansions introduced new weapon categories, including Splitstaves and Fist weapons,pushing combat possibilitieseven further.
Elden Ringis a game that needs no introduction today and is likely to be the peak of the Soulslike genre for many years to come. It is colossal in every regard: from the sheer world size to the variety of bosses and enemies, and most importantly, the itemization. The base game offers 308 weapons, and the recentShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion addsanother 103, totaling over 400 tools of destruction to test against its many bosses.
Beyond the incredible diversity in weapons and builds, many weapons of the same type inElden Ringhave different, even unique movesets, with special Weapon Skills that might be exclusive to just one weapon in the entire game. It’s easy to see why this title is so popular among players and why it requires more than one playthrough to experience everythingElden Ringhas to offer.
