How to Get the Estoc in Dark Souls 3
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How to Get the Estoc in Dark Souls 3
Why the Estoc Is Excellent
The Estoc occupies a unique niche in Dark Souls 3 — the longest-reach thrusting sword that can be obtained as early as character creation via the Assassin class. Its range advantage over straight swords combined with the pierce damage type makes it a consistent performer in both PvE (where pierce bypasses shield defenses) and PvP (where spacing and long-range pokes dominate neutral play). If you want a weapon that rewards precise footwork and spacing over brute force aggression, the Estoc is among the most rewarding thrusting swords in the game at any level. A Sharp +10 Estoc at 40 Dexterity remains competitive through all endgame content.
FAQ
⚡ Quick Answer
How to Get the Estoc
The Estoc is the starting weapon of the Assassin class — choose Assassin at character creation to begin with it. Alternatively, it is sold by the Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine for 3,000 souls after giving her the Assassin’s Ashes found in the Road of Sacrifices.
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Method 1 — Start as Assassin. The simplest route is to choose the Assassin starting class during character creation — it begins the game with the Estoc equipped as its default weapon alongside a Small Shield and Spook sorcery. If you want the Estoc immediately without any effort, Assassin is the class to pick. It also starts with 14 Dexterity — ideal for an Estoc-focused build.
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Method 2 — Find the Assassin’s Ashes in the Road of Sacrifices. The Assassin’s Ashes are a key item found in the Road of Sacrifices — the swampy area after the Undead Settlement. Explore the Road of Sacrifices thoroughly, looking for a corpse near the Crucifixion Woods area holding the ashes. The exact location is in the ruins near the halfway bonfire.
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Give the Assassin’s Ashes to the Shrine Handmaid. Return to Firelink Shrine and speak with the Shrine Handmaid — the old woman sitting near the entrance. Select «Give her the ashes» and hand over the Assassin’s Ashes. This permanently unlocks new items in her shop including the Estoc for 3,000 souls.
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Purchase the Estoc from the Shrine Handmaid. After giving her the ashes, buy the Estoc for 3,000 souls from her shop. It requires 10 Strength and 12 Dexterity to wield — met by virtually every starting class without additional levelling. The Shrine Handmaid’s shop is permanently available for all subsequent purchases.
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Upgrade with standard Titanite. The Estoc uses regular Titanite upgrades — Titanite Shards and Large Shards found throughout the game. Push it to +4 or +5 as soon as possible using shards from the High Wall and Undead Settlement. A Sharp-infused Estoc at +10 with 40 Dexterity is one of the strongest thrusting swords in the game.
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Longest reach thrusting sword: the Estoc has the longest range of any thrusting sword in Dark Souls 3 — exceeding straight swords in reach while maintaining the thrust damage type. Its range advantage is particularly valuable in PvP where spacing and poking are fundamental. Its two-handed R1 is a fast, long-range poke with excellent hitbox coverage.
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Sharp infusion for maximum Dex damage: apply the Sharp Gem (found in Farron Keep) to the Estoc for S scaling in Dexterity at +10. At 40 Dexterity a Sharp +10 Estoc achieves excellent AR and deals pierce damage — effective against heavily armoured enemies who resist slash damage. Pair with the Pontiff’s Right Eye ring for consecutive hit bonuses.
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Shield-and-Estoc is a classic PvP setup: thrusting swords can attack while a shield is raised — right-clicking while two-handing uses the thrust moveset, but one-handing with a shield lets you poke past an opponent’s guard. Pair with a high-stability shield like the Lothric Knight Shield for a defensive-aggressive playstyle excellent in invasions.
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Stance Ash of War for guard breaking: the Estoc’s built-in Ash of War — Stance — performs a forward lunge followed by an upward slash. The lunge guard-breaks shields in PvP and the follow-up deals heavy damage. In PvE it staggers most standard enemies in one use, making it excellent for dealing with shield-bearing enemies like Lothric Knights.
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Low stat requirements for every class: requiring only 10 Strength and 12 Dexterity, the Estoc is wieldable by every starting class in the game from day one — even the Knight can use it at base stats. This makes it accessible as an off-hand option or backup weapon regardless of your primary build focus.
Where do you get the Estoc in Dark Souls 3?
The Estoc is the starting weapon of the Assassin class — choose Assassin at character creation to begin with it. It can also be purchased from the Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine for 3,000 souls after giving her the Assassin’s Ashes found in the Road of Sacrifices.
What are the Assassin’s Ashes and where are they?
The Assassin’s Ashes are a key item found on a corpse in the Road of Sacrifices — the swampy area following the Undead Settlement. Giving them to the Shrine Handmaid at Firelink Shrine unlocks several items in her shop including the Estoc, Spook sorcery, and other Assassin-associated items for purchase.
Is the Estoc good in Dark Souls 3?
Yes — the Estoc is excellent, particularly for Dexterity builds and PvP. It has the longest reach of any thrusting sword, deals pierce damage effective against shielded enemies, and achieves S Dexterity scaling with Sharp infusion at +10. Its shield-while-attacking capability and long-range poke make it one of the strongest PvP weapons in its category.
What stats do I need for the Estoc in Dark Souls 3?
The Estoc requires 10 Strength and 12 Dexterity — the lowest stat requirements of any thrusting sword and met by virtually every starting class without levelling. For maximum damage invest in Dexterity to 40 and apply Sharp infusion. It scales primarily with Dexterity and becomes one of the strongest thrusting swords in the game at high Dex investment.