Mastering Dark Souls 3‘s Quality Build for Domination
As a long-time Dark Souls 3 player with over 500 hours invested, I‘ve tested the full spectrum of builds. While many can shine in specific circumstances, one rises above the rest in consistent versatility – the quality build.
Balancing your offensive capability between Strength and Dexterity unlocks access to the widest variety of weapons in the game. You retain the flexibility to adapt your armament and tactics to tackle any enemy or environment.
In this advanced quality build guide, I‘ll share extensive insights from hundreds of hours perfecting my approach. My goal is to equip you with deep, practical knowledge to craft an unstoppable quality character.
What Defines A Quality Build?
Most build types focus on boosting a single offensive stat, whether Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith. While conferring potent damage, this limits the weapons you can equip effectively.
A quality build takes a more balanced approach – investing enough points in both Strength (STR) and Dexterity (DEX) to unlock excellent scaling across many weapons.
The community defines quality builds as having minimum stat requirements:
- Strength: 27+
- Dexterity: 40+
Meeting these STR/DEX breakpoints lets you take full advantage of Refined Infusions later on. This converts weapons to scale damage with both Strength and Dexterity – perfect for quality builds.
Let‘s examine the pros and cons of opting for a quality approach:
Pros
- Wields the widest variety of weapons effectively
- Retains flexibility to pivot tactics on demand
- Saves on upgrade materials by supporting multiple weapons
- Devastating critical attacks with high DEX
- Powerful consistent melee damage output
Cons
- Requires more stat investment than specialized builds
- Less raw damage than ultra-focused STR or DEX builds
- Relies heavily on melee combat
While requiring some dedication, building quality gives you an impressively well-rounded character capable of adapting to any battle with the right weapon and strategy.
Quality Building Blocks: Stats & Progression
Carefully planning your leveling progression is key to an efficient quality build. I‘ll outline my recommendations for point investment priorities while mapping out quality build benchmarks.
What Class Should You Start With?
While most classes can work, the Knight is best suited out the gate. Its starting stat distribution provides:
- Vigor: 12
- Attunement: 9
- Strength: 16
- Dexterity: 12
This grants a head start on raising both offensive stats for quality, saving you precious levels early on.
Other solid choices are Mercenary or Warrior. I‘ll focus this guide on starting as Knight due to the superior quality synergy.
Leveling Priorities & Damage Stats Targets
Here are the guidelines I follow when leveling quality builds:
- Rush Vigor to 20 first
- Bring Strength and Dexterity to the minimum quality levels (27 STR / 40 DEX)
- Continue increasing Vigor to 30-40
- Raise Endurance to 20-25+
- Add extra points to STR/DEX evenly up to 50
Vigor gives you crucial survivability early game to avoid frustrating deaths while your damage catches up.
Once you meet the minimum 27/40 quality thresholds, additional Vigor takes priority – expanding your health bar keeps you alive. I consider 30-40 Vigor the comfortable range before further STR/DEX gains.
Endurance dictates your maximum equip load affecting roll speed and stamina. 20 is a good starting target though you may opt for more or less based on your armor preferences. Highly mobile quality builds favor lighter sets.
Here is a reference table of standard quality match ups against soul level, including the key damage dealing stats:
| Soul Level | Vigor | Attunement | Endurance | Strength | Dexterity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 27 | 14 | 20 | 27 | 40 |
| 75 | 30 | 14 | 23 | 34 | 50 |
| 100 | 37 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 50 |
| 125+ | 44+ | 14+ | 30+ | 50 | 60+ |
Adjust your particular stats to your playstyle preferences. I tend to push Vigor as high as possible for tankiness while striving for maximum quality weapon damage through 50/50 STR/DEX.
Attunement can optionally rise slightly to enable some supplemental spell slots. I‘ll address spells later on.
Best Starting Gifts for Quality
Before formally embarking on your quest, you must select a starting gift. These provide minor advantages without dramatically shifting difficulty.
For quality builds, the Twin Dragon Greatshield is my top choice. Its extremely high fire and magic damage absorption helps offset your lower Vigor in early zones dominated by spell casters and fiery enemies like the High Wall of Lothric.
The Black Firebombs offer an acceptable offensive alternative, helping take down tricky enemies faster when you lack damage initially.
With starting class and gift sorted, let‘s transition to the bread and butter of quality builds – weapons and infusions.
Weapon Infusions Are Key For Quality Builds
One concept that can confuse new quality builders is infusions – enhancing weapons/armor with elements or attributes.
The infusion vital for quality build weapons is Refined – this modifies a standard weapon to scale damage with both Strength and Dexterity.
(See Refined infusion details in this community resource.
Without Refined infusion, most weapons only scale with one stat. Triggering quality weapons‘ combined STR/DEX scaling unlocks their full destructive potential.
Generally speaking, standard weapons work best for the Refined infusion. Special boss soul weapons already come packed with effects so avoid infusing those.
Let‘s examine some phenomenal quality weapon choices.
Best Weapons For Dark Souls 3 Quality
The true benefit of quality builds is getting to take advantage of an expansive arsenal. With high Strength and Dexterity access, you can equip and upgrade most weapon categories.
Based on my extensive testing, here are my top recommendations for PvE and PvP success:
Melee Quality Weapons
Straight Swords
- Lothric Knight Sword – Extremely versatile moveset, great DPS
- Broadsword – Higher base damage for critical attacks
- Longsword – Balanced quality sword good for beginners
Greatswords
- Claymore – Iconic mighty weapon with versatile moveset
- Hollowslayer Greatsword – Special sword deals huge damage to hollows
Curved Greatswords
- Old Wolf Curved Sword – Boosts attack power for short duration
- Carthus Curved Greatsword – Solid balance of speed and striking power
Thrusting Swords
- Estoc – Impressive one-handed moveset focused on thrust attacks
- Rapier – Very fast with razor-sharp critical damage potential
Axes
- Man Serpent Hatchet – Combination axe/hammer with anti-shield piercing
- Thrall Axe – Extremely quick axe ideal for aggressive players
Great Axes
- Black Knight Greataxe – Massive damage against demons and quality scaling
- Dragonslayer‘s Axe – Charged lightning attacks add supplementary ranged pressure
Hammers
- Mace – Quality build darling for percussive strikes; staggers foes
- Reinforced Club – Deceptively quick club with potential to inflict bleeding
And there are many more viable options. Quality builds grant the flexibility to experiment across categories.
Focus on Refined infusions for pure physical damage types. Some builds add enchantments through spells/resins but simplest is raw refinement.
Now let‘s look at rounding out your build with spells, rings, and other gear.
Supplement With Utility Spells & Items
While quality centers on weapon attacks, supplemental skills can provide an extra edge. These are my top support picks:
Pyromancy Spells
- Carthus Flame Arc – 90 sec fire damage buff to any Refined weapon
- Profaned Flame – Channeled AoE fire attack for groups
Sorceries
- Magic Weapon – Simple yet effective 60 sec magic buff spell
- Farron Flashsword – Useful ranged attack option if needed
Miracles
- Blessed Weapon – Gradual HP regen buff works nicely on quality
Consumables
- Gold Pine Resin – Imbues lightning damage for 60 seconds
- Green Blossom – Regenerates stamina; lets you attack longer
Rings
- Pontiff‘s Right Eye – Raises attack damage with successive hits
- Knight‘s Ring – Gives +5 Strength if needed to wield weapons
- Hunter‘s Ring – Grants +5 Dexterity
Nothing too fancy required! Mostly damage buffs or attributes that reward quality‘s aggressive melee style.
Armor – Stay Light With Quality
You‘ll want to prioritize lighter, lower absorption armors to retain fast roll speed and stamina regen:
- Thief Mask
- Assassin Set
- Cornyx‘s Set
- Firelink Set
The key is keeping equip load below 70% for best dodging.
For higher defenses in a quality set, I run:
- Lothric Knight Helm
- torso and gauntlets of your choice
- Lorian‘s Leggings
This balances protection, poise, and manageable weight.
Mastering Quality Builds – Tactics & Playstyle
While simple in theory, mastering quality builds requires some key tactical learnings:
Aggression Is Rewarded
The Pontiff‘s Right Eye ring and arterial weapons buff successive hits. Quality builds heavy, relentless offense through combos.
Use Charged Strong Attacks
2-hand your quality weapon for 50% bonus Strength, opening charged heavy attacks. Timing these after enemy swings creates explosion damage opportunities.
Carthus Flame Arc Destroys Bosses
Many late game bosses and creatures are weak to fire. Keep this pyromancy buff active for +80 fire damage on bosses like Dragonslayer Armor.
Co-op Struggles Initially
At the start of a fresh quality run, you may need to summon allies for difficult areas until your weapon upgrades and stats stabilize. This is expected early!
Concluding Thoughts On Quality Supremacy
And there you have it – everything you need to craft a formidable quality build. While requiring some patience initially, few playstyles reward you with equally flexible domination. Quality stands the test of time as one of Dark Souls‘ most versatile approaches.
What helps your quality runs? Which weapons stand out as your personal favorites? I‘d love to hear your thoughts and compare notes! If any area remains unclear, don‘t hesitate to reach out in the comments.
