The Iaito is a katana in Dark Souls.
In-Game Description
- Katana forged in an Eastern land. The Katana is drawn from the scabbard at lightning speed, using an Iaijutsu technique.
- Iaijutsu allows the wielder to charge forward to swiftly cut down distant foes.
Availability[]
The Iaito is found early in Blighttown from the entrance of the Depths, on a corpse lying on the roof of one of the wooden structures. It requires a running jump to reach.
Characteristics[]
- Iaito is similar to the Uchigatana in terms of practical damage, and picking one over the other would depend on the user's preference in moveset. Notable differences are that the Iaito has a higher Dexterity requirement and slightly lower base damage compared with Uchigatana.
- The Iaito possesses the Bleed auxiliary effect. Its buildup is 33 per strike, and once inflicted, does 30% of the enemy's total HP.
Notes[]
- The Iaito has somewhat low durability, similar to other katanas, so Repair Powder can be a useful item. Alternatively, the Repair sorcery serves this purpose as well.
Moveset[]
| Attack | Description |
|---|---|
| One-handed Weak Attack |
Brisk, vertical slashes. |
| One-handed Strong Attack |
Player steps forward while pulling out the Iaito from its sheath and slashing forward horizontally. Relatively fast with good reach. |
| Two-handed Weak Attack |
Brisk, vertical slashes. |
| Two-handed Strong Attack |
Player rushes forward while pulling out the Iaito from its sheath and slashing forward horizontally. Relatively fast with good reach and can be used to dead angle. |
| Jump Attack | Jumps forward and plunges the Iaito into the ground; tiny hitbox but good damage. |
| Running Attack | Running, thrust-like stab. Good reach, but small hitbox. |
| Rolling Attack | Swings the Iaito horizontally. |
| Kick | Standard kick. |
| Left-handed Weak Attack |
Brisk, vertical slashes. |
| Left-handed Strong Attack |
Standard parry. |
Upgrades[]
Requires: Standard Iaito, Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Standard Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Iaito | 88 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +1 (Titanite Shard ×1) | 96 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +2 (Titanite Shard ×1) | 105 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +3 (Titanite Shard ×2) | 114 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +4 (Titanite Shard ×2) | 123 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +5 (Titanite Shard ×3) | 132 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +6 (L. Titanite Shard ×1) | 140 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +7 (L. Titanite Shard ×1) | 149 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +8 (L. Titanite Shard ×2) | 158 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +9 (L. Titanite Shard ×2) | 167 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +10 (L. Titanite Shard ×3) | 176 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +11 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 184 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +12 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 193 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +13 (Titanite Chunk ×2) | 202 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +14 (Titanite Chunk ×3) | 211 | – | – | – | – | A | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Iaito +15 (Titanite Slab ×1) | 220 | – | – | – | – | A | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
Requires: Standard Iaito +5, Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Raw Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Raw Iaito (Large Titanite Shard ×1) | 151 | – | – | – | – | C | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Raw Iaito +1 (Large Titanite Shard ×1) | 161 | – | – | – | – | C | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Raw Iaito +2 (Large Titanite Shard ×1) | 171 | – | – | – | – | C | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Raw Iaito +3 (Large Titanite Shard ×2) | 181 | – | – | – | – | C | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Raw Iaito +4 (Large Titanite Shard ×2) | 191 | – | – | – | – | C | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Raw Iaito +5 (Large Titanite Shard ×3) | 202 | – | – | – | – | C | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
Requires: Standard Iaito +10, Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Crystal Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
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| Crystal Iaito (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 193 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Crystal Iaito +1 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 202 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Crystal Iaito +2 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 211 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Crystal Iaito +3 (Titanite Chunk ×2) | 220 | – | – | – | – | B | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Crystal Iaito +4 (Titanite Chunk ×3) | 228 | – | – | – | – | A | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Crystal Iaito +5 (Titanite Slab ×1) | 237 | – | – | – | – | A | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
Requires: Standard Iaito +5, Green Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Magic Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Magic Iaito (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 99 | 108 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +1 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 105 | 115 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +2 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 112 | 122 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +3 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 118 | 129 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +4 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 125 | 135 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +5 (Green Titanite Shard ×3) | 132 | 144 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +6 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 138 | 151 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +7 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 145 | 158 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +8 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×2) | 151 | 165 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +9 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×3) | 158 | 172 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Magic Iaito +10 (Blue Titanite Slab ×1) | 165 | 180 | – | – | – | D | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
Requires: Magic Iaito +5, Blue Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Enchanted Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
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| Enchanted Iaito (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 132 | 140 | – | – | – | E | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Enchanted Iaito +1 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 137 | 144 | – | – | – | E | C | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Enchanted Iaito +2 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×1) | 142 | 148 | – | – | – | E | B | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Enchanted Iaito +3 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×2) | 147 | 152 | – | – | – | E | B | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Enchanted Iaito +4 (Blue Titanite Chunk ×3) | 153 | 156 | – | – | – | E | B | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Enchanted Iaito +5 (Blue Titanite Slab ×1) | 158 | 162 | – | – | – | E | A | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
Requires: Standard Iaito +5, Green Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Divine Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Divine Iaito (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 88 | 109 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +1 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 94 | 116 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +2 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 100 | 124 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +3 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 106 | 131 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +4 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 112 | 138 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +5 (Green Titanite Shard ×3) | 118 | 146 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +6 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 123 | 153 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +7 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 129 | 160 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +8 (White Titanite Chunk ×2) | 135 | 167 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +9 (White Titanite Chunk ×3) | 141 | 175 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Divine Iaito +10 (White Titanite Slab ×1) | 147 | 182 | – | – | – | D | – | C | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
Requires: Divine Iaito +5, White Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Occult Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Occult Iaito (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 120 | 132 | – | – | – | D | – | B | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Occult Iaito +1 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 127 | 138 | – | – | – | D | – | B | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Occult Iaito +2 (White Titanite Chunk ×1) | 134 | 145 | – | – | – | D | – | B | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Occult Iaito +3 (White Titanite Chunk ×2) | 141 | 151 | – | – | – | D | – | B | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Occult Iaito +4 (White Titanite Chunk ×3) | 148 | 158 | – | – | – | D | – | B | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
| Occult Iaito +5 (White Titanite Slab ×1) | 156 | 165 | – | – | – | D | – | B | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30 |
Requires: Standard Iaito +5, Green Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Fire Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Fire Iaito (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 114 | – | 114 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30.0 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +1 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 123 | – | 123 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30.3 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +2 (Green Titanite Shard ×1) | 132 | – | 132 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30.6 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +3 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 140 | – | 140 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30.9 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +4 (Green Titanite Shard ×2) | 149 | – | 149 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 31.2 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +5 (Green Titanite Shard ×3) | 158 | – | 158 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 31.5 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +6 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 168 | – | 168 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 31.8 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +7 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 179 | – | 179 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 32.1 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +8 (Red Titanite Chunk ×2) | 190 | – | 190 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 32.4 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +9 (Red Titanite Chunk ×3) | 200 | – | 200 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 32.7 | 30 |
| Fire Iaito +10 (Red Titanite Slab ×1) | 211 | – | 211 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 33.0 | 30 |
Requires: Fire Iaito +5, Red Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Chaos Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Chaos Iaito (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 138 | – | 160 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30.0 | 30 |
| Chaos Iaito +1 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 146 | – | 169 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30.6 | 30 |
| Chaos Iaito +2 (Red Titanite Chunk ×1) | 154 | – | 178 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 31.2 | 30 |
| Chaos Iaito +3 (Red Titanite Chunk ×2) | 161 | – | 186 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 31.8 | 30 |
| Chaos Iaito +4 (Red Titanite Chunk ×3) | 169 | – | 195 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 32.4 | 30 |
| Chaos Iaito +5 (Red Titanite Slab ×1) | 177 | – | 204 | – | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 33.0 | 30 |
Requires: Standard Iaito +10, Titanite and 200 souls per upgrade.
 Lightning Variation |
Attack Values | Parameter Bonus | Damage Reduction | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Lightning Iaito (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 158 | – | – | 158 | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 30.0 |
| Lightning Iaito +1 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 170 | – | – | 170 | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 32.4 |
| Lightning Iaito +2 (Titanite Chunk ×1) | 183 | – | – | 183 | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 34.8 |
| Lightning Iaito +3 (Titanite Chunk ×2) | 195 | – | – | 195 | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 37.2 |
| Lightning Iaito +4 (Titanite Chunk ×3) | 207 | – | – | 207 | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 39.6 |
| Lightning Iaito +5 (Titanite Slab ×1) | 220 | – | – | 220 | – | – | – | – | 45 | 10 | 30 | 42.0 |
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 |
- | 85% | - | - |
| Raw +5 |
- | 64% | - | - |
| Crystal +5 |
- | 85% | - | - |
| Magic +10 |
- | 23% | 61% | - |
| Enchanted +5 |
- | 16% | 60% | - |
| Divine +10 |
- | 32% | - | 61% |
| Occult +5 |
- | 30% | - | 71% |
| 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 | |||
Trivia[]
- In Japan, an Iaito is a "mock" sword, designed for practice rather than combat, making it odd that the game's Iaito inflicts bleeding.
- In Japanese, the Iaito is '居合い刀'. '居合い' is the art of drawing and cutting in one motion and '刀' is sword (katana). The mock sword '居合刀' would more commonly be pronounced 'Iaigatana'.
- The Iaito's moveset is inspired by the "Iaido", a martial art centered around drawing the sword as an attack, similar to the weapon's strong attack.
- Upon closer inspection of the blade, the Iaito, unlike the Uchigatana, has a bo-hi or a fuller (blood groove), which makes the blade lighter and more suited for swift techniques.
Gallery[]
| Katanas |
|---|
| Chaos Blade • Iaito • Uchigatana • Washing Pole |