DS3 AR Calculator

An advanced tool to calculate weapon Attack Rating in Dark Souls 3 and optimize your character build for maximum damage.

Player Stats

Weapon Details

Total Attack Rating (AR)

…

Base Damage:

Scaling Bonus:

Attack Rating is Base Damage + (Base Damage * Scaling Modifier * Stat Bonus Percentage).

What is a DS3 AR Calculator?

A DS3 AR calculator is a tool used by players of the action RPG Dark Souls 3 to determine a weapon’s Attack Rating (AR). Attack Rating is the number that represents the total potential damage a weapon can inflict before enemy defenses and resistances are applied. It’s a crucial value for anyone looking to optimize their character build, as it combines a weapon’s inherent base damage with the bonus damage granted by your character’s stats through a mechanic called “scaling.”

Understanding and calculating your AR is fundamental to creating an effective build, whether you’re focusing on pure strength, nimble dexterity, or magical power. This calculator helps you make informed decisions about stat allocation and weapon choice without having to spend valuable in-game resources.

The DS3 AR Calculator Formula and Explanation

The formula for calculating Attack Rating in Dark Souls 3 can appear complex, but it breaks down into two main components: the weapon’s fixed base damage and the variable bonus damage from stat scaling.

The general formula is:

Total AR = Base AR + Bonus AR

Where Bonus AR is calculated for each relevant stat:

Bonus AR = (Base Damage * Scaling Grade Modifier) * Stat Bonus Modifier

Each part is explained below:

AR Formula Variables

Variable	Meaning	Unit / Type	Typical Range
Base AR	The weapon’s intrinsic damage at its current upgrade level.	Points	50 – 300+
Scaling Grade Modifier	A multiplier based on the weapon’s scaling letter (S, A, B, C, D, E).	Percentage	~20% (E) to 175%+ (S)
Stat Bonus Modifier	A percentage gained from your stat level, subject to soft caps.	Percentage	0% – 100%
Two-Handing	Holding a weapon with two hands multiplies your effective Strength.	Multiplier	1.5x (for Strength)

For more build ideas, you can check out our Dark Souls 3 Build Planner.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Quality Build with a Refined Longsword

A “quality” build invests equally in Strength and Dexterity. Let’s see how a common weapon performs.

• Inputs: Strength: 40, Dexterity: 40, Two-Handing: No
• Weapon: Refined Longsword +10 (Base AR: 202, Str Scaling: C, Dex Scaling: C)
• Calculation: The calculator would process the C-grade scaling for both 40 Strength and 40 Dexterity, which are at the primary “soft cap,” providing a significant bonus.
• Results: The Total AR would be high, showing a balanced contribution from both base damage and the dual scaling bonuses. This is a great example of why a DS3 AR calculator is vital for hybrid builds.

Example 2: Pure Strength Build with a Heavy Greatsword

This build focuses entirely on Strength, leveraging infusions that maximize its scaling.

• Inputs: Strength: 66, Dexterity: 12, Two-Handing: Yes
• Weapon: Heavy Greatsword +10 (Base AR: 322, Str Scaling: A)
• Calculation: With two-handing, the effective Strength becomes 99 (66 * 1.5). The ‘A’ scaling provides a massive bonus from this high Strength stat.
• Results: The Total AR will be extremely high, with the vast majority of it coming from the scaling bonus. This demonstrates the power of specialized builds. To see how this weapon stacks up, see our DS3 Weapon Tier List.

How to Use This DS3 AR Calculator

1. Enter Your Stats: Input your character’s current Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, and Faith levels in the “Player Stats” section.
2. Enter Weapon Details: In the “Weapon Details” section, input the weapon’s base physical damage. You can find this on the weapon’s stat screen in-game. Select the correct scaling letter (from E to S) for each stat the weapon uses.
3. Select Two-Handing: If you plan to use the weapon with two hands, set the “Two-Handing?” option to “Yes”. This is crucial for Strength builds.
4. Review the Results: The calculator will instantly update, showing you the Total Attack Rating, a breakdown of base vs. bonus damage, and a chart visualizing the damage sources.
5. Experiment: Change your stats or weapon scaling to see how it impacts your AR. This is the best way to plan your character’s progression and find the most powerful setup.

Key Factors That Affect Attack Rating

• Stat Levels: The primary driver of scaling damage. Pushing a stat to its “soft cap” (usually 40 for physical stats) yields the most efficient damage gains.
• Weapon Upgrades: Upgrading a weapon at the blacksmith increases its base damage and often improves its scaling grades. This is one of the most important ways to boost AR.
• Infusions: Using gems to infuse a weapon can drastically alter its scaling. A Heavy Gem boosts Strength scaling, a Sharp Gem boosts Dexterity, and a Refined Gem balances both. Understanding the Best DS3 Infusions is key.
• Two-Handing: As mentioned, this gives you a 50% bonus to your Strength stat, making it essential for most Strength-focused builds.
• Stat Soft Caps: The game provides diminishing returns after certain stat levels. For Strength and Dexterity, the first major soft cap is 40. A DS3 AR calculator helps visualize these returns.
• Weapon Choice: Different weapons have different base damages and scaling potentials, even within the same class. Always compare weapons before fully upgrading them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between physical AR and elemental AR?

Physical AR is damage from Strength and Dexterity scaling. Elemental AR comes from Intelligence (Magic/Dark) and Faith (Lightning/Dark). This calculator focuses on physical AR, which is the most common damage type.

Why is my damage in-game lower than the AR shown here?

Attack Rating is your *potential* damage. The actual damage you deal is reduced by enemy armor and damage absorption. The AR is a consistent metric for comparing weapon setups before defenses are factored in.

What is a “soft cap”?

A soft cap is a stat level after which you get fewer benefits per point invested. For example, leveling Strength from 39 to 40 might give you 3 AR, but leveling from 40 to 41 might only give 1 AR. Our Dark Souls 3 Stat Calculator can help plan around these caps.

Should I use a Raw, Fire, or Deep infusion early in the game?

Yes, these infusions remove stat scaling but provide high base damage. They are excellent for the early game when your stats are too low to provide a meaningful scaling bonus.

Does two-handing increase Dexterity scaling?

No, the two-handing bonus only applies to the Strength stat. It does not affect Dexterity, Intelligence, or Faith.

How important is Luck for a DS3 AR Calculator?

For most weapons, Luck is not a factor in AR. However, for weapons with a “Hollow” infusion and when the player is hollowed, Luck will contribute to the weapon’s AR. This is a more advanced mechanic not covered by this basic calculator.

Does this calculator account for rings like Lloyd’s Sword Ring?

No, this calculator determines your character’s and weapon’s intrinsic AR. Rings and other temporary buffs must be factored in separately as they apply a percentage bonus on top of your total AR.

Why choose a Refined infusion over Sharp or Heavy?

A Refined infusion is best for “quality” builds where Strength and Dexterity are leveled equally (e.g., 40/40). If you have high Dexterity and low Strength, Sharp is better. If you have high Strength and low Dexterity, Heavy is better.