How to Get the Black Knight Sword in Dark Souls 3
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How to Get the Black Knight Sword in Dark Souls 3
Black Knight Sword Tips
The Black Knight Sword sits in a sweet spot for Dark Souls 3 weapon design — strong enough to compete with top-tier late-game weapons, accessible enough to obtain through a short farming session in mid-game, and interesting enough mechanically (Perseverance hyper armor, demon damage bonus) to reward players who look beyond the most obvious weapon choices. Quality builds that invest evenly in Strength and Dexterity get maximum value from its dual scaling. The Untended Graves farming loop is one of the cleanest in the game — a single enemy, a nearby bonfire, and a 20% drop rate that resolves in minutes rather than hours. If you are a quality build player looking for a greatsword-tier weapon with solid reach and reliable mechanics, the Black Knight Sword is worth the brief farming investment.
FAQ
⚡ Quick Answer
How to Get the Black Knight Sword
The Black Knight Sword is a rare drop (20% chance) from Black Knight enemies wielding swords — found in the Untended Graves and the Grand Archives. The most reliable farming location is the Black Knight in the Untended Graves near the Champion Gundyr bonfire — reset and kill repeatedly until it drops.
1
Understand the drop mechanics. The Black Knight Sword drops from Black Knights wielding straight swords at a 20% base drop rate — not from Black Knights holding greatswords, greataxes, or glaives. Each Black Knight type drops its own weapon exclusively. The Covetous Gold Serpent Ring and Symbol of Avarice helmet both increase item discovery, significantly improving your odds per kill.
2
Best farming location — Untended Graves. The Untended Graves is a hidden area accessed through Oceiros’s arena in the Consumed King’s Garden. It contains a Black Knight wielding a straight sword near the entrance. This Black Knight is close to the Cemetery of Ash bonfire (the Untended Graves version) — killing him, resting at the bonfire, and repeating is the most efficient farm route in the game for this weapon.
3
Maximise item discovery before farming. Before starting your farm run, equip: Covetous Gold Serpent Ring (found in Irithyll Dungeon — +50 item discovery), Symbol of Avarice helmet (+100 item discovery — drops rarely from Mimics), and use a Rusted Coin consumable (+50 item discovery for 3 minutes). With all three active your item discovery reaches 300–400, raising the effective drop rate substantially above the base 20%.
4
The efficient farming loop. From the Cemetery of Ash bonfire (Untended Graves): sprint forward, turn right, kill the Black Knight with sword — it takes 3–5 hits with a strong weapon. Rest at the bonfire to reset the enemy. Repeat. The loop takes approximately 30–45 seconds per cycle. At 20% drop rate with boosted discovery, expect the sword in 5–15 attempts on average — usually within 10 minutes of focused farming.
5
Alternative location — Grand Archives Black Knights. The Grand Archives contains several Black Knights — some wielding straight swords. These are farther from bonfires than the Untended Graves knight, making the loop slower. Use the Untended Graves as the primary farm and Grand Archives as a backup if you are already exploring that area.
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One of the best Strength/Dexterity weapons in the game: the Black Knight Sword requires 18 Strength and 18 Dexterity and scales with both. At +5 (its maximum — it uses Twinkling Titanite) it achieves excellent AR with quality build investment. Its Perseverance Weapon Art provides hyper armor during attacks, making it excellent for trading hits against aggressive enemies and other players in PvP.
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Upgraded with Twinkling Titanite — plan accordingly: the Black Knight Sword uses Twinkling Titanite for upgrades (not regular Titanite). Each upgrade step requires 1–3 Twinkling Titanite. Stockpile Twinkling Titanite from Salamanders in Farron Keep and the Crystal Lizards near the Cleansing Chapel before upgrading — you need approximately 15 total to reach +5.
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20% drop rate is generous by Dark Souls standards: compared to most rare drops in Dark Souls 3 (some are 1–5%), 20% is relatively common. Without item discovery boosts, expect the sword in 3–8 kills statistically. With maximum item discovery (Symbol of Avarice + Gold Serpent Ring +3 + Rusted Coin) the effective rate approaches 50%+ — typically dropping within 5 kills consistently.
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Symbol of Avarice damages you over time: the Symbol of Avarice helmet drains ~10 HP per second while worn. During a farming loop this is manageable — kill the Black Knight quickly, rest at the bonfire (which restores HP), repeat. Keep a few Estus Flasks ready in case you die during the kill and need to recover HP before resting. Never wear it in a boss fight as the HP drain is significant over a long encounter.
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Deals bonus damage to demons: like all Black Knight weapons, the Black Knight Sword deals 20% bonus damage to demon-type enemies — including all Demon bosses. In Smouldering Lake and the Catacombs where demons are common, it is among the most effective weapon choices. The bonus damage applies to the Old Demon King — making this weapon and that boss fight a natural pair.
Where do you get the Black Knight Sword in Dark Souls 3?
The Black Knight Sword drops from Black Knights wielding straight swords at a 20% drop rate. The best farming location is the Black Knight near the Cemetery of Ash bonfire in the Untended Graves — accessible after defeating Oceiros in the Consumed King’s Garden. Kill the knight, rest at the bonfire to reset, and repeat with item discovery boosters equipped.
How do you increase item discovery in Dark Souls 3?
Equip the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring (+50 discovery, found in Irithyll Dungeon), Symbol of Avarice helmet (+100 discovery, rare drop from Mimics), and use Rusted Coin consumables (+50 discovery for 3 minutes). With all three active your item discovery approaches 300–400, significantly increasing drop rates for all enemies including the Black Knight Sword.
What stats do I need for the Black Knight Sword in Dark Souls 3?
The Black Knight Sword requires 18 Strength and 18 Dexterity to wield. It scales with both stats and performs best on quality builds investing evenly in Strength and Dexterity (40/40 for maximum AR). It is a Somber weapon (Twinkling Titanite upgrades) that maxes at +5 and cannot be infused or buffed with resins.
Is the Black Knight Sword good in Dark Souls 3?
Yes — the Black Knight Sword is one of the best greatsword-class weapons for quality builds. Its Perseverance Weapon Art provides hyper armor during attacks for trading hits in PvP and tough PvE encounters. It deals 20% bonus damage to demon-type enemies. At +5 with 40 Strength and 40 Dexterity it achieves competitive AR that handles all endgame content effectively.