Curved swords are a favorite weapon type for many who enjoy Dark Souls 2 as they most often have quick attacks, versatile movesets, and great scaling. A few can even be used in a power stance when wielded together for unique and deadly combination attacks.
There are 10 curved swords in the game and while many are awesome and viable, they vary in usability depending on one's build and playthrough goals. Most players have found that the ornately bent blades which are the best in combat are those with the ideal mix of range, damage potential, and unique effects.
10 Eleum Loyce
Despite being the last of the curved swords that the Bearer of the Curse will likely encounter since it can only be acquired after giving 50 Loyce Souls (farmed from the charred Loyce knights) to Alsanna in the Crown of the Ivory King DLC.
Eleum Loyce, named after the beautiful frozen city, does the least amount of damage out of all the curved swords in the game and does not even have a great effect to compensate for this. At the max Regular upgrade level of +5 for this unique weapon, it gains a mediocre 165 physical attack. The S-tier scaling with Dexterity helps it out in the damage department, though not enough to be on par with the other curved swords. Its effect, which allows players to heal allies by hitting them with strong attacks, is interesting but ultimately useless as it requires placing one's focus on hitting friends instead of foes.
9 Melu Scimitar
The design of the blade and crossguard are intricate and decadent, to say the least, however, the stats of the Melu Scimitar don't quite live up to its appearance.
It has sufficient potential for damage as it reaches 250 physical attack at the +10 Regular upgrade, though its minimal D-tier scaling in Strength and C-tier in Dexterity make it unsuitable after the middle portion of the game.
8 Manikin Sabre
Dropped by the manikin enemies at the Earthen Peak, this kopis-like saber packs a decent punch in each of its slashes, despite less than ideal range. It deals out nice damage though the lack of reach and the moderate scaling prevent it from being truly awesome.
At the +10 Regular upgrade, the Manikin Sabre obtains 245 physical attack alongside D-tier scaling with Strength and B-tier with Dexterity.
7 Monastery Scimitar
Players who have played the first Dark Souls should find this curved sword quite familiar, as it is basically identical to the Painting Guardian Sword. Like its predecessor, the Monastery Scimitar possesses fast slashes, decent damage, and excellent scaling, however, its short reach means that its wielder will need to get within dagger-range to even make contact with the foe.
When fully upgraded to the Regular +10 level, this short curved sword attains 190 physical attack as well as abysmal E-tier scaling in Strength but an awesome S-tier in Dexterity.
6 Shotel
As the most extremely curved sword in the game, the Shotel can appropriately get around shield-hugging adversaries. Strong attacks with this weapon will pierce through shields for decent damage, however, this is not as effective as simply kicking a foe to break their guard and following up with a riposte.
Since it has nice stats after being fully upgraded to the +10 Regular level, the Shotel can be pretty useful thanks to its 200 physical attack, E-tier scaling in Strength, and A-tier scaling in Dexterity.
5 Scimitar
The Scimitar is given to the Swordsman starting class, making it possibly the first curved sword that players will acquire in the game. As with many of the starting weapons, it can carry the Bearer of the Curse through most of the game due to its easy-to-learn moveset, great base damage, and high-tier scaling.
When fully upgraded to +10 on the Regular path, the Scimitar obtains 220 physical attack with E-tier scaling in Strength and A-tier in Dexterity.
4 Falchion
Many consider the Falchion to be a better version of the Scimitar for its higher health-damage potential as well as the greater poise damage that it inflicts. The moveset is similar, though a bit slower, making it clear that this sword trade's a bit of speed for more power.
In the end, it can be more useful than its slimmer counterpart, for, at the highest upgrade level (+10 Regular), the Falchion reaches 240 physical attack and also gets E-tier scaling with Strength as well as A-tier with Dexterity.
3 Red Rust Scimitar
Despite its corroded appearance, the Red Rust Scimitar is one of the most powerful curved swords that one can acquire in Dark Souls 2. As opposed to most others in this weapon class, this red blade scales better with the Strength stat and comes with greater base damage.
When one fully upgrades it to the highest level of +5 Regular, the Red Rust Scimitar achieves 270 physical attack in addition to C-tier scaling in Strength and E-tier in Dexterity. Although it does not have the best boosts from stats, it can be wielded alongside many other weapons to power stance them for some of the best combos in the game.
2 Spider Fang
Acquired from trading the Soul of the Duke's Dear Freja with Weaponsmith Ornifex, this boss weapon deals moderate damage but compensates for this average statistic by having rapid attack speed along with an exceptionally useful unique effect that makes it desirable for any Dexterity build.
After it is maxed out to the +5 Regular upgrade, the Spider Fang reaches 210 physical attack, E-tier scaling in Strength, and A-tier in Dexterity. These stats and the fast moveset pair very well with the special effect of the strong attack, which launches sticky webs at foes that can slow them down, preventing them from escaping.
1 Warped Sword
Due to this weapon doing everything correctly for a curved sword, there is no doubt that the Warped sword is the best armament in this weapon class. At the maximum upgrade level of +5 Regular, it receives a great 250 physical attack in combination with E-tier scaling in Strength and A-tier scaling in Dexterity.
However, what makes it stand out the most are its very high counter attack damage (130, whereas most weapons have 100) and high poise damage for a curved sword which lets the Warped Sword grant the wielder victories in almost every damage-trade. Furthermore, it can be used with other curved swords to power stance them with greater lethality than average.