- For the Dark Souls II variant, see Caestus (Dark Souls II).
- For the Dark Souls III variant, see Caestus (Dark Souls III).
The Caestus is a gauntlet in Dark Souls.
In-Game Description
- The weapon augments one's bare hands with thick, studded leather.
- The Caestus has a short reach, but quickly cools down. Amount of damage inflicted is dependent on its wearer's strength.
Availability[]
Caestuses are sold by Andre of Astora for 200 souls.
Characteristics[]
- The caestus deals very low damage and has a short reach, in exchange for a relatively fast attack speed.
- Although it deals less damage than the Claw, it can be obtained much earlier.
- Due to its size, wearing concealing clothing or using certain effects can 'mask' the fact the player is wielding the Caestus. With a Ring of Fog in PvP, the player would look like they are bare-handed and friendly until they get a backstab or riposte. In PvE, the Caestus does deal enough damage to give the player a chance of survival against weak or humanoid enemies like Hollows, but against tougher enemies a better weapon would be required.
Moveset[]
| Attack | Description |
|---|---|
| One-handed Weak Attack |
Right hook followed by backhand. Some starting lag. Additional inputs have greatly reduced starting lag. |
| One-handed Strong Attack |
Stronger straight punch followed by uppercut. Some starting lag. |
| Two-handed Weak Attack |
Cannot be two-handed. |
| Two-handed Strong Attack |
Cannot be two-handed. |
| Jump Attack | Jumps forward and buries fist into the ground. |
| Running Attack | Running backhand. |
| Rolling Attack | Uppercut backhand. |
| Kick | Knee strike. Functionally identical to the kick. |
| Left-handed Weak Attack |
Quick jab. |
| Left-handed Strong Attack |
Standard parry. |
Upgrades[]
Requires: Standard Caestus, Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Standard Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Caestus | 66 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +1 (Titanite Shard ×1) | 72 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +2 (Titanite Shard ×1) | 79 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +3 (Titanite Shard ×2) | 85 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +4 (Titanite Shard ×2) | 92 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +5 (Titanite Shard ×3) | 99 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +6 (L. Titanite Shard ×1) | 105 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +7 (L. Titanite Shard ×1) | 112 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +8 (L. Titanite Shard ×2) | 118 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +9 (L. Titanite Shard ×2) | 125 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +10 (L. Titanite Shard ×3) | 132 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +11 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 138 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +12 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 145 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +13 (Titanite Chunk ×2) | 151 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +14 (Titanite Chunk ×3) | 158 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Caestus +15 (Titanite Slab ×1) | 165 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
Requires: Standard Caestus +5, Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Raw Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Raw Caestus (Large Titanite Shard ×1) | 114 | – | – | – | D | D | – | – |
| Raw Caestus +1 (Large Titanite Shard ×1) | 121 | – | – | – | D | D | – | – |
| Raw Caestus +2 (Large Titanite Shard ×1) | 129 | – | – | – | D | D | – | – |
| Raw Caestus +3 (Large Titanite Shard ×2) | 136 | – | – | – | D | D | – | – |
| Raw Caestus +4 (Large Titanite Shard ×2) | 144 | – | – | – | D | D | – | – |
| Raw Caestus +5 (Large Titanite Shard ×3) | 152 | – | – | – | D | D | – | – |
Requires: Standard Caestus +10, Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Crystal Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Crystal Caestus (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 145 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Crystal Caestus +1 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 151 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Crystal Caestus +2 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 158 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Crystal Caestus +3 (Titanite Chunk ×2) | 165 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Crystal Caestus +4 (Titanite Chunk ×3) | 171 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
| Crystal Caestus +5 (Titanite Slab ×1) | 178 | – | – | – | C | C | – | – |
Requires: Standard Caestus +5, Green Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Magic Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Magic Caestus (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 75 | 81 | – | – | E | E | C | – |
| Magic Caestus +1 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 80 | 86 | – | – | E | E | C | – |
| Magic Caestus +2 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 85 | 91 | – | – | E | E | C | – |
| Magic Caestus +3 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 90 | 97 | – | – | E | E | C | – |
| Magic Caestus +4 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 95 | 102 | – | – | E | E | C | – |
| Magic Caestus +5 (Green Titanite Shard ×3) | 100 | 108 | – | – | E | E | C | – |
| Magic Caestus +6 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 104 | 113 | – | – | E | E | B | – |
| Magic Caestus +7 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 110 | 118 | – | – | E | E | B | – |
| Magic Caestus +8 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×2) | 115 | 124 | – | – | E | E | B | – |
| Magic Caestus +9 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×3) | 120 | 129 | – | – | E | E | B | – |
| Magic Caestus +10 (Blue Titanite Slab ×1) | 125 | 135 | – | – | E | E | B | – |
Requires: Magic Caestus +5, Blue Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Enchanted Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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|
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| Enchanted Caestus (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 100 | 106 | – | – | E | E | B | – |
| Enchanted Caestus +1 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 104 | 109 | – | – | E | E | B | – |
| Enchanted Caestus +2 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 108 | 112 | – | – | E | E | A | – |
| Enchanted Caestus +3 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×2) | 112 | 115 | – | – | E | E | A | – |
| Enchanted Caestus +4 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×3) | 116 | 118 | – | – | E | E | A | – |
| Enchanted Caestus +5 (Blue Titanite Slab ×1) | 120 | 122 | – | – | E | E | A | – |
Requires: Standard Caestus +5, Green Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Divine Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Divine Caestus (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 67 | 82 | – | – | D | D | – | C |
| Divine Caestus +1 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 72 | 88 | – | – | D | D | – | C |
| Divine Caestus +2 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 76 | 93 | – | – | D | D | – | C |
| Divine Caestus +3 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 81 | 99 | – | – | D | D | – | C |
| Divine Caestus +4 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 85 | 104 | – | – | D | D | – | C |
| Divine Caestus +5 (Green Titanite Shard ×3) | 90 | 110 | – | – | D | D | – | C |
| Divine Caestus +6 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 94 | 115 | – | – | D | D | – | B |
| Divine Caestus +7 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 99 | 121 | – | – | D | D | – | B |
| Divine Caestus +8 (White Titanite Chunk ×2) | 103 | 126 | – | – | D | D | – | B |
| Divine Caestus +9 (White Titanite Chunk ×3) | 108 | 132 | – | – | D | D | – | B |
| Divine Caestus +10 (White Titanite Slab ×1) | 112 | 137 | – | – | D | D | – | B |
Requires: Divine Caestus +5, White Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Occult Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Occult Caestus (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 80 | 100 | – | – | E | E | – | B |
| Occult Caestus +1 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 95 | 104 | – | – | E | E | – | B |
| Occult Caestus +2 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 100 | 110 | – | – | E | E | – | B |
| Occult Caestus +3 (White Titanite Chunk ×2) | 106 | 115 | – | – | E | E | – | B |
| Occult Caestus +4 (White Titanite Chunk ×3) | 111 | 120 | – | – | D | D | – | A |
| Occult Caestus +5 (White Titanite Slab ×1) | 117 | 125 | – | – | D | D | – | A |
Requires: Standard Caestus +5, Green Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Fire Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fire Caestus (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 85 | – | 85 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +1 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 92 | – | 92 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +2 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 99 | – | 99 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +3 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 105 | – | 105 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +4 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 112 | – | 112 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +5 (Green Titanite Shard ×3) | 118 | – | 118 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +6 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 126 | – | 126 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +7 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 134 | – | 134 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +8 (Red Titanite Chunk ×2) | 142 | – | 142 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +9 (Red Titanite Chunk ×3) | 150 | – | 150 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fire Caestus +10 (Red Titanite Slab ×1) | 158 | – | 158 | – | – | – | – | – |
Requires: Fire Caestus +5, Red Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Chaos Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chaos Caestus (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 102 | – | 118 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chaos Caestus +1 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 108 | – | 125 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chaos Caestus +2 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 114 | – | 132 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chaos Caestus +3 (Red Titanite Chunk ×2) | 119 | – | 138 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chaos Caestus +4 (Red Titanite Chunk ×3) | 125 | – | 145 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Chaos Caestus +5 (Red Titanite Slab ×1) | 131 | – | 151 | – | – | – | – | – |
Requires: Standard Caestus +10, Titanite and 100 souls per upgrade.
 Lightning Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lightning Caestus (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 118 | – | – | 118 | – | – | – | – |
| Lightning Caestus +1 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 128 | – | – | 128 | – | – | – | – |
| Lightning Caestus +2 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 137 | – | – | 137 | – | – | – | – |
| Lightning Caestus +3 (Titanite Chunk ×2) | 146 | – | – | 146 | – | – | – | – |
| Lightning Caestus +4 (Titanite Chunk ×3) | 155 | – | – | 155 | – | – | – | – |
| Lightning Caestus +5 (Titanite Slab ×1) | 165 | – | – | 165 | – | – | – | – |
Scaling Percentage Values[]
The following chart lists the scaling percentages when this weapon is fully upgraded. Be advised that:
- Scaling letters are not an accurate indicator of how a weapon scales, players should look at the percentage scaling of a weapon.
- Magic and Enchanted upgrade paths reduce Physical Damage while adding Magic Damage, splitting damage between two types. Strength and Dexterity scaling is drastically reduced while adding Intelligence scaling.
- Divine and Occult upgrade paths reduce Physical Damage while adding Magic Damage, splitting damage between two types. Strength and Dexterity scaling is drastically reduced while adding Faith scaling. Divine adds Divine Auxiliary and Occult adds Occult Auxiliary secondary damage types.
- Fire, Chaos, and Lightning upgrade paths remove all stat scaling and splits damage between two types. Chaos path adds Humanity Scaling.
- Raw upgrade path caps at Weapon Level 10 while drastically reducing physical damage scaling and adding slightly more base damage.
- Crystal upgrade path dramatically increases the base damage of weapons while rendering them unable to be repaired.
- For PvE purposes all weapons will be better on the Standard Upgrade path to +15. This is because the Split Damage of elementally infused weapons is not added together. The values are reduced separately when going through enemy defenses leading to less damage in practice due to the values of each damage type being smaller.
- To learn more about how damage is calculated visit the Damage Calculation page.
| Upgrade Path | Strength  |
Dexterity  |
Intelligence  |
Faith  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard +15 |
51% | 51% | - | - |
| Raw +5 |
38% | 38% | - | - |
| Crystal +5 |
51% | 51% | - | - |
| Magic +10 |
14% | 14% | 73% | - |
| Enchanted +5 |
10% | 10% | 72% | - |
| Divine +10 |
20% | 20% | - | 73% |
| Occult +5 |
18% | 18% | - | 86% |
| Fire +10 |
All stat scaling bonuses removed, Fire Damage added | |||
| Chaos +5 |
All stat scaling bonuses removed, Fire Damage added, scales off held Humanity up to 10 | |||
| Lightning +5 |
All stat scaling bonuses removed, Lightning Damage added | |||
Gallery[]
| Gauntlets |
|---|
| Caestus • Claw • Dark Hand • Dragon Bone Fist • Fists |