Skills, formerly known as Battle Arts or Weapon Arts, are a gameplay mechanic in Dark Souls III.
Overview
Weapon skills allow the execution of powerful special moves with weapons and shields, and boost the damage output of spells at the cost of FP.
Weapons that belong to the same weapon-type variety, usually share the same skill. There are some exceptions, however, and some unique weapons may have a particular skill specific to them.
The original game included 74 skills. With the release of the first downloadable content, Ashes of Ariandel, 13 new skill were added for a total of 87 different skills.
Skills
| Skill | Description | Weapons |
|---|---|---|
| Awakening | "Violently flail oneself to trigger an awakening that temporarily boosts the strength of miracles, just as the good Father used the rose himself." | Rose of Ariandel |
| Blind Spot | "Use against shielded foes to break through their guard by attacking from the side." | Corvian Greatknife, Handmaid's Dagger |
| Bloodlust | "Stain blade with one's own blood to temporarily grant uncanny sharpness. For one driven by bloodlust, nothing deserves to remain standing." | Bloodlust |
| Breath Fire | "Spit a combustible fuel across the torch to breathe flame in a front-sweeping motion." | Follower Torch |
| Chain Spin | "Sweep foes in a large spinning motion and use strong attack to continue the motion until stamina is exhausted." | Winged Knight Halberd, Winged Knight Twinaxes |
| Chained Dance | "Execute relentless consecutive attacks while tracing a circle in a unique dance of deadly grace." | Painting Guardian's Curved Sword |
| Champion's Charge | "Hold spear at waist and charge at foe, and use momentum to transition into sweeping strong attack." | Gundyr's Halberd |
| Charge | "Hold sword at waist and charge at foe. Use strong attack while charging to extend the length of the charge." | Astora Greatsword, Drang Twinspears, Four-Pronged Plow, Greatlance, Halberd, Lothric Knight Long Spear, Pike, Rotten Ghru Spear, Saint Bident, Soldering Iron, Winged Spear |
| Combustion | "Creates a powerful flame in the wielder's hand. One of the most basic pyromancies, and for this very reason, the flame create is fierce. Works while equipped in either hand." | Pyromancy Flame, White Hair Talisman |
| Crescent Blade | "Assume a broad stance and fire off crescent moon blades." | Crescent Moon Sword |
| Dancer's Grace | "Unleash the fury of both blades in a dancing spin motion and use strong attack to continue the performance until stamina is exhausted." | Dancer's Enchanted Swords |
| Darkdrift | "Aim carefully, and pierce with a large forward lunge. The unseen blade penetrates straight through shields, for nothing can defend from Darkdrift." | Darkdrift |
| Darkmoon Arrow | "Infuse a readied arrow with Darkmoon essence, granting it magic damage and the ability to pierce shields." | Darkmoon Longbow |
| Demonic Flare | "Briefly cause flame within to flare, and smash it upon earth and foes." | Demon's Greataxe |
| Earthen Wrath | "Thrust weapon into earth with a prayer to trigger explosive tremors." | Earth Seeker |
| Elfriede's Blackflame | "Enwreath blade with blackflame, born of the similarly-hued flame that smolders within her." | Onyx Blade |
| Elfriede's Stance | "Conjure a magic bladed support scythe into the left hand while the great scythe remains in the right, a stance derived from Elfriede's former swordmanship. Use normal attack to leap forward and swing twice, or strong attack to coat the earth with running frost." | Friede's Great Scythe |
| Ember | "The fading flame momentarily illuminates and launches itself forward." | Firelink Greatsword |
| Falling Bolt | "Hold axe high in air to gather fierce lightning, and smash ground to whip the bolts to the ground."
"Hold swordspear high in the air to summon fierce lightning that descends upon distant foes." |
Dragonslayer Greataxe, Dragonslayer Swordspear |
| Feast Bell | "Hold up axe and wave to emit a solemn chime to temporarily make weapons lacerating, and to restore HP for each hit." | Eleonora |
| Flame Whip | "Temporarily coat the whip in fire, the self-same fire as that which consumed the Witch herself, it is said." | Witch's Locks |
| Flame Whirlwind | "Spin through opponents with abandon, flaming fists outstretched. Using a strong attack while spinning utilizes your momentum to slam the ground with both fists." | Demon's Fist |
| Flame of Lorian | "Lunge forward to transform smolder into flame, and follow with strong attack to launch flame across ground." | Lorian's Greatsword, Twin Princes' Greatsword |
| Frost | "Create a bone-chilling frost with each swing of the greatscythe that causes a temporary frost effect." | Pontiff Knight Great Scythe |
| Frost Blade | "Execute large spinning motion to imbue blade with frost, and follow through with a strong attack that slashes with a giant blade made of frost." | Pontiff Knight Curved Sword |
| Galvanize | "Temporarily boost stamina recovery speed by sheer force of will, which an old miner needed to get through the day." | Pickaxe, Warpick |
| Gentle Prayer | "Recovers HP for a period of time, albeit extremely slowly. Works while equipped in either hand." | Caitha's Chime, Cleric's Sacred Chime, Crystal Chime, Priest's Chime, Saint-tree Bellvine, Yorshka's Chime |
| Guiding Light | "The candle provides a temporary source of light which reveals additional guidance." | Cleric's Candlestick, Scholar's Candlestick |
| Hold | "Assume a holding stance to rapidly execute a lunging slash with normal attack, or a deflecting parry with strong attack." | Black Blade, Chaos Blade, Uchigatana, Washing Pole |
| Hurl Spear | "Emulate the practice of the Followers by throwing an illusory spear that assumes temporary form." | Follower Javelin |
| Impact | "Strike from the left to evade shields and deal a stinging blow that temporarily slows stamina recovery. The shackles of bondage lie deep in the hearts of all humankind." | Notched Whip, Spotted Whip, Whip |
| Kindled Charge | "Hold spear at waist and charge at foe, and use momentum to transition to a fiery strong attack." | Gargoyle Flame Spear |
| Kindled Flurry | "Anchor weapon in earth and use strong attack to launch successive volleys of fire form the tip of the hammer." | Gargoyle Flame Hammer |
| Leaping Slash | "Perform a forward leaping slash at the opponent's head. When successful, functions as a head shot, inflicting heavy damage." | Claw |
| Lifedrain | "Embrace the victim and steal their HP. Can only be used against humans." | Dark Hand |
| Lightning Charge | "Charge with spear at waist to enwreathe with lightning, then release bolts with final thrust." | Dragonslayer Spear |
| Lion Stance | "While in stance, use normal attack to thrust forward with shield up, and strong attack to execute a shield bash with a lion's roar." | Valorheart |
| Moan | "Offer a gentle prayer to the shield, causing the woman's face to give out a low moan and attract enemies." | Moaning Shield |
| Molten Perseverance | "Anchor weapon in earth to temporarily boost poise, and use strong attack to repeatedly stab earth to trigger molten explosions." | Old King's Great Hammer |
| Moonlight Vortex | "Draw sword back and thrust to unleash torrential moonlight." | Moonlight Greatsword |
| Morne's Rage | "Stick weapon into earth and emit a powerful shockwave. Also, similar to Perseverance, temporarily boosts poise and reduces damage received." | Morne's Great Hammer |
| Neck Swipe | "This attack aims for the scruff of a foe's neck, and when successful, functions as a head shot, inflicting heavy damage." | Great Corvian Scythe, Great Scythe |
| Oath of Sunlight | "Raise the sword aloft when praising the sun to boost attack and damage absorption for self and allies in vicinity. The warriors of sunlight are co-operators from an ancient age." | Sunlight Straight Sword |
| Onislayer | "Leap forward and slash mercilessly with both blades, cutting open foes." | Onikiri and Ubadachi |
| Pacify | "With a prayer and an offering of this spear, temporarily wear down enemy FP with each strike." | Yorshka's Spear |
| Parry | "Deflect an attack when timed properly and follow up with a critical hit. Works while equipped in either hand." | Farron Greatsword, Parrying Dagger |
| Parting Flame | "Release store of death echoes to gain a modest dose of Estus." | Pyromancer's Parting Flame |
| Perseverance | "Raise sword in the name of the First Lord to temporarily boost poise. Damage reduced while activated." | Black Knight Sword, Blacksmith Hammer, Dragon Tooth, Great Mace, Mace, Morning Star, Red Hilted Halberd, Smough's Great Hammer, Vordt's Great Hammer |
| Pharis Triple-shot | "Swiftly nocks three arrows with finesse after drawing the bow, firing them simultaneously." | Black Bow of Pharis |
| Pierce Earth | "Fire a greatarrow with a burst of strength and a prayer that violently shakes its target and explodes on impact." | Millwood Greatbow |
| Poison Spores | "Expel noxious spores from the formless, parasitical things that inhabit the staff." | Storyteller's Staff |
| Profane Flame | "Temporarily summon the Profaned Flame. Lunge forward and use strong attack to enshroud blade in flame." | Profaned Greatsword |
| Prying Wedge | "A chain attack that wedges below foes and swings upward, breaking their guard. Strong attack can be used to follow up the onslaught with a fatal blow." | Follower Sabre |
| Puncture | "Pull the arrow further back for a more powerful shot that can also pierce shields." | Dragonrider Bow, Longbow |
| Puncturing Arrow | "Masterfully fires off a great arrow that pierces through all enemies in its path, inflicting damage." | Dragonslayer Greatbow, Onislayer Greatbow |
| Punitive Flame | "Punish foes with a flame that blankets the ground." | Immolation Tinder |
| Quake | "Burrow hammer head into the ground with a great slam, and use strong attack to upheave earth, creating a shockwave that rumbles like a mighty warcry." | Quakestone Hammer |
| Quickstep | "Instantly step behind or around the side of foes. Especially effective when locked on to target." | Bandit's Knife, Brigand Twindaggers, Dagger, Harpe, Manikin Claws, Rotten Ghru Dagger, Thrall Axe |
| Quill Dart | "Simultaneously throw temporarily substantial illusions of the four thin-edged blades wielded in the left hand." | Crow Quills |
| Rapid Fire | "Swiftly nocks arrows with finesse after drawing the bow, allowing for consecutive shots." | Composite Bow, Short Bow |
| Raptor Flurry | "Spread right and left talons like a broad set of wings and launch into a tornado of consecutive attacks." | Crow Talons |
| Ricard's Lunge and Press | "Assume a quick stance, lunge forward, and execute a stunning chain attack. Sustain offensive with strong attack." | Ricard's Rapier |
| Sacred Lothric Light | "Assume stance to imbue sword with sacred light, and use strong attack to release light together with a great thrust of the sword." | Lothric's Holy Sword, Twin Princes' Greatsword |
| Sharpen | "Sharpening the blade increases HP restored with each successful hit." | Butcher Knife, Great Machete |
| Shield Bash | "Without lowering your guard, strike the enemy with the shield to knock them back or stagger them. Works while equipped in either hand." | Black Iron Greatshield, Cathedral Knight Greatshield, Dragonslayer Greatshield, Ghru Rotshield, Greatshield of Glory, Knight of the Deep, Lothric Knight Greatshield, Pierce Shield, Plank Shield, Porcine Shield, Stone Greatshield, Twin Dragon Greatshield, Yhorm's Greatshield |
| Shield Splitter | "Aim carefully, and attack in a large forward lunge to pierce through enemy shields and inflict damage directly." | Arstor's Spear, Estoc, Irithyll Rapier, Mail Breaker, Spear |
| Shield Strike | "Use shield to attack enemies. Works while equipped in either hand." | Spiked Shield |
| Spell Parry | "Repel an attack at the right time to follow up with a critical hit. Works while equipped in either hand. Also deflects spells." | Golden Wing Crest Shield, Sacred Bloom Shield |
| Spin Bash | "Bash foes with a large spinning motion, utilizing momentum to transition into a overhand strong attack smash." | Drang Hammers, Great Wooden Hammer, Spiked Mace |
| Spin Slash | "Slice into foes with a large spinning motion, and continue spinning to transition into strong attack." | Carthus Curved Greatsword, Carthus Curved Sword, Carthus Shotel, Exile Greatsword, Falchion, Gotthard Twinswords, Murakumo, Rotten Ghru Curved Sword, Scimitar, Sellsword Twinblades, Shotel, Warden Twinblades |
| Spin Sweep | "Sweep foes in a large spinning motion, and utilize momentum to transition into an overhanded strong attack smash." | Black Knight Glaive, Glaive, Lucerne, Partizan |
| Stance | "While in stance, use normal attacks to break a foe's guard from below, and strong attack to slash upwards with a forward lunge." | Anri's Straight Sword, Astora Straight Sword, Barbed Straight Sword, Broadsword, Broken Straight Sword, Claymore, Crystal Sage's Rapier, Drakeblood Greatsword, Flamberge, Hollowslayer Greatsword, Irithyll Straight Sword, Long Sword, Lothric Knight Sword, Morion Blade, Rapier, Shortsword |
| Stance of Judgment | "Assume stance to unleash dark magic. Use normal attack for a lunging thrust, and strong attack to emit side-sweeping wave." | Greatsword of Judgment |
| Steady Chant | "Boost the strength of sorceries for a very short period." | Archdeacon's Great Staff, Court Sorcerer's Staff, Golden Ritual Spear, Heretic's Staff, Heysel Pick, Izalith Staff, Man-grub's Staff, Mendicant's Staff, Sage's Crystal Staff, Sorcerer's Staff, Witchtree Branch |
| Stomp | "Use one's weight to lunge forward with a low stance and increased poise, and follow with a crushing strong attack." | Bastard Sword, Black Knight Greatsword, Cathedral Knight Greatsword, Dark Sword, Executioner's Greatsword, Fume Ultra Greatsword, Greatsword, Lothric Knight Greatsword, Zweihander |
| Stone Flesh | "Raise the shield in silent prayer, turning the user's body into a solid mass of stone." | Havel's Greatshield |
| Storm King | "Assume stance to imbue sword with storm. Most effective when facing giants." | Storm Ruler |
| Tackle | "Lunge into a shoulder tackle, pushing back enemies to create distance." | Arbalest, Avelyn, Heavy Crossbow, Knight's Crossbow, Light Crossbow, Sniper Crossbow |
| Tornado | "Imbue blade with the wrath of storm in a spinning motion, and follow with a string attack to bear that wrath upon foes." | Storm Curved Sword |
| Unfaltering Prayer | "Temporarily increase poise while casting miracles, preventing enemy attacks from interrupting prayer. Works while equipped in either hand." | Canvas Talisman, Saint's Talisman, Sunless Talisman, Sunlight Talisman, Talisman |
| Unleash Dragon | "Thrust the spear to unleash the strength of dragons, similar to an ancient dragon weapon, only with its power tragically faded." | Tailbone Short Sword, Tailbone Spear |
| Warcry | "Let out a spirited warcry that temporarily boosts attack, and enables a special consecutive strong attack." | Battle Axe, Black Knight Greataxe, Brigand Axe, Club, Crescent Axe, Dragonslayer's Axe, Great Club, Greataxe, Hand Axe, Large Club, Man Serpent Hatchet, Reinforced Club, Yhorm's Great Machete |
| Weapon Skill | "Equipping this shield in the left hand allows one to perform the Skill of the right hand weapon." | Ancient Dragon Greatshield, Black Knight Shield, Curse Ward Greatshield, Eastern Iron Shield, Pontiff Knight Shield, Shield of Want, Silver Eagle Kite Shield, Spider Shield, Stone Parma, Wargod Wooden Shield, Warrior's Round Shield, Wolf Knight's Greatshield |
| Wheel of Fate | "Thrust out the wheel and give it a good spin, shredding enemies with the outer lining of spikes." | Bonewheel Shield |
| Wolf Leap | "Slice into foes with a large spinning motion, then leap out of harms way and follow with a strong attack." | Old Wolf Curved Sword |
| Wolf Sword | "While in stance, use normal attack for a low spinning slash, or strong attack to leap forward in a vertically-slashing somersault." | Wolf Knight's Greatsword |
| Wrath of the Gods | "Thrust weapon into earth to emit powerful shockwave. The wrath of those swallowed by the Abyss is a thing to be wary of indeed." | Wolnir's Holy Sword |