Black Blade is a Weapon in Dark Souls 3.
A short katana wielded by the swordsman and distinguished guest of High Lord Wolnir. This shiny black blade is thick, but shorter than the typical katana.
The swordsman was a master of a rare technique, traces of which can be observed in this weapon's strong attack.
Skill: Hold
Assume a holding stance to rapidly execute a lunging slash with a normal attack, or a deflecting parry with a strong attack.
- Can be Buffed and Infused.
- Reinforced with Titanite.
- The shortest katana in the game, but has the highest base damage out of all katanas.
The Darkdrift follows close behind.
- Has unique heavy attack moveset.
- One-handed heavy attacks are a horizontal slash followed by a regular thrust.
- 2H it uses two downwards vertical slashes, the first one holding the tip of the blade.
- The Black Blade is the only Katana that can "pancake" (knockdown) an opponent.
Exact pancake circumstances require testing:
- Hold --> R1
- Two handed R2
- ???
- Despite being the shortest katana, it's moveset compensates the effective range.
- Both 1H heavy attacks feature a significant forward step not found in other katanas.
- Rolling 1H heavy attacks can deal significant counter damage with proper spacing.
- The unique 2H heavy attack lacks forward-step, but is convenient for roll-catching.
- It's R1 combo into roll-catching WA heavy attack can deal over 800 damage.
- At 40/40 Dex/Luck, a hollow infused Black Blade has an AR of 423/440 1H/2H.
- This weapon resembles the Berserker Blade from Dark Souls 2.
- The weapon is possibly named after a cancelled PS3 title with the same name, also developed by FromSoftware.
- The Black Blade was described as "thick, but shorter than the typical katana." One can argue that this is because the blade unlike the other katanas competes with its base damage (AR) against other more longer blades even with its lack of range. The Black Blade's exceptionally high base damage and innate scaling make it one of the few Katanas that excels on a "Quality" build (40 STR / 40 DEX) utilizing a Refined Infusion.
- Black Blade, when infused with a Dark Gem, often results in some of the highest AR among katanas due to its base stats.
Location/Where to Find Black Blade in DS 3
Black Blade Lore, Notes and Tips in DS 3
- Like many items found in the Catacombs of Carthus. The Black Blade has an affinity to work well with Dark/Bleed items as many items found in the Catacombs or are related to Carthus are often associated with these two forces. It could be possible due to High Lord Wolnir affinity to necromancy when they used
- The Black Blade's placement inside a Mimic in the Smouldering Lake in the Catacombs of Carthus implies a dark end for the previous owner. Given High Lord Wolnir's history of conquering and grinding other lords crowns to dust, the fact that his "distinguished guest's" prized weapon is locked inside a trapped chest deep beneath his catacombs suggests the guest was ultimately betrayed, imprisoned, or devoured by Wolnir's design.
After all, the Catacombs is host to many of the victims of the High Lord. Like the people of Carthus themselves and the main reason for the construction of the catacombs is to host the victims of Wolnir's Oppression. Thus it being there is a good enough reason to believe the dark fate of the owner of the Black Blade.
Moveset and Videos for Black Blade in Dark Souls 3:
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Black Blade Upgrade Table
Overview table for all upgrades at max level. Click on the tabs to see individual upgrade paths.
|
|
Attack ValuesBonus
|
Parameter Bonus
|
Auxiliary Effects
|
Damage Reduction (%)
|
| Name
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Regular +10
|
244
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
30
|
50
|
30
|
25
|
25
|
30
|
| Heavy +10
|
225
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
30
|
50
|
30
|
25
|
25
|
30
|
| Sharp +10
|
225
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
E
|
A
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
30
|
50
|
30
|
25
|
25
|
30
|
| Refined +10
|
219
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
C
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
30
|
50
|
30
|
25
|
25
|
30
|
| Raw +10
|
306
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
30
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
| Crystal +10
|
149
|
149
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
D
|
A
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
34
|
47.5
|
33
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
| Simple +10
|
126
|
132
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
C
|
B
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
34
|
47.5
|
33
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
| Fire +10
|
207
|
-
|
207
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
33
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
30
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
| Chaos +10
|
126
|
-
|
132
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
33
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
27.5
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
| Lightning +10
|
149
|
-
|
-
|
149
|
-
|
D
|
D
|
-
|
A
|
-
|
-
|
34
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
27.5
|
28.5
|
| Blessed +10
|
149
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
C
|
-
|
B
|
-
|
-
|
34
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
| Deep +10
|
207
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
207
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
34
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
36
|
| Dark +10
|
126
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
132
|
D
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
34
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
33
|
| Blood +10
|
189
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
42
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
| Poison +10
|
189
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
39
|
-
|
35
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
Hollow +10
 ??  ??
|
231
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
D
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
34
|
47.5
|
28.5
|
23.7
|
23.7
|
28.5
|
Table Key
| Requirement
|
Parameter Bonus
|
Attack Values
|
Damage Reduction %
|
Auxiliary Effects
|
Others
|
 Strength
|
Strength
|
 Physical
|
 Physical
|
 Bleeding
|
 Durability
|
 Dexterity
|
Dexterity
|
 Magic
|
 Magic
|
 Poison
|
 Weight
|
 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)
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)
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)
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)
?? 
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