You do not need an ascetic to get this to drop is SotfS

Good for the start of the game.

It does not deal magic damage.

Decent weapon for the start of the game.

i got it within ca 20 minutes, jesters mask, prisoners tatters and gold covetous serpent ring +1. had to join champion covenant but i got the sword plus gauntlets and leggins eventually.

im really upset neither this nor the silver knight sword returned in 3, such fun weapons

As awesome as the lightning damage is on these, I don't understand why the Heide knights themselves only do physical with their weapons. The descriptions don't mention the lightning effect either, unless that "special alloy" is tied to it like brass was in DS1 (where the Giant Sentinel's brass halberds also only deal lightning damage when used by the player).

I have farmed for 7 hours now and have 200000 soul memory... I dont believe this sword exists anymore

Why is it whenever I actually want to farm a weapon/item it takes a embarrassingly long time to get but when I’m just testing a build out at Heides I get this thing in a manner of minutes

Is it good against dragons?