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Best Greatswords in Elden RingHere are the best Greatswords in Elden Ring
Here are the best Greatswords in Elden Ring
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/FromSoftware
Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/FromSoftware
Looking for the best Greatswords in Elden Ring?Greatswords are primarilyStrengthorDexterity-based weapons inElden Ring, capable of inflicting huge amounts of damage. Some Greatswords also scale with eitherFaith,IntelligenceorArcaneand in doing so, are equipped with powerful Weapon Skills.
Below we’ve gathered a list of the best Greatswords in Elden Ring based on physical damage, Weapon Skills and how obtainable they are for both early and late-game playthroughs.
Whether you are into new game plus or are picking up Elden Ring for the first time before theShadow Of The ErdtreeDLC release, we have you covered with a comprehensive list below.
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Claymore
When looking for a relatively early-game Greatsword option in Elden Ring, either theClaymoreorBastard Swordis a great choice. Both swords have incredibly similar movement patterns and damage output. The Claymore just takes the edge for the slightly improved speed and marginally longer range via its thrust attack.
Although the Bastard Sword can get up to an A-grade in Heavy scaling vs the Claymore’s B grade, the Claymore is moderately more forgiving if you miss a hit and additionally comes with theLion’s ClawWeapon Skill. This skill is one of thebest Ashes Of Warin Elden Ring forStrength buildsand is otherwise only available much further into the game, via the Lion Guardian in Fort Gael, Caelid.
This Skill allows the Tarnished to perform a somersault with a large downward strike as they land. This Skill is particularly useful for thestance damageit can inflict on foes (up to 33 with Greatswords). However, it should be noted that both the Claymore and Bastard Swordcan be infusedwith Ashes of War if you prefer something else.
For additionalTalismans, we like to keep a Claymore build relatively simple and easy to obtain. Try theViridian Amber Medallionfor an increase to maximum Stamina, or theGreen Turtle Talismanfor better Stamina recovery.
How to get the Claymore
Blasphemous Blade
The Blasphemous Blade harnesses the Fire attacks of Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/FromSoftware
TheBlasphemous Bladehas featured in many of our Elden Ring guides, including thebest weaponsand thebest Faith weaponsroundup along with an additionalBlasphemous Blade buildguide where we detailed how to get the most out of the sword.
In short, this Greatsword is fantastic. Mostly due to its Weapon Skill, theTaker’s Flames, in which players raise the sword above them and bring it down in a swipe that emits flames. The flames dealFire damageandheal the Tarnishedup to 10% of their max HP pool +150.
How to get the Blasphemous Blade
Sword of Milos
You cannot obtain both the Sword of Milos and Dung Eater ending in one Elden Ring playthrough. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/FromSoftware
TheSword of Milosis perhaps one of the edgiest looking Elden Ring weapons, formed from a giant’s backbone with the ability to saw through flesh. This is one of the few Greatswords that can cause passiveBloodloss build-up(up to 55) and rewards enemy kills withFP restoration(5 FP per kill). This is a nice little boost, especially when paired with an Intelligence or Faith caster build.
How to get the Sword of Milos
To get the Sword of Milos, you need toKill the Dung Eaterandavoid completing his sidequest. You’ll need to trigger his questline and complete enough steps to meet him underneath the Capital, but if you complete the steps beyond this point you can miss out on the sword. We have a full rundown of theDung Eater questto help you through it. You need to kill him at either theSubterranean Shunning-Groundswhen you first meet his physical form or whilst he is inNPC Invader formin the Capital Outskirts, Outer Moat.
Be warned though, killing the Dung Eater early will lock you out of one of the possibleElden Ring endings, a rather bleak one at that.
Sacred Relic Sword
The Elden Beast is the final boss of Elden Ring. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/FromSoftware
If you’re looking for a Greatsword that also deals Holy damage, theSacred Relic Swordhas an extremely powerful Weapon Skill. This Skill is called theWave of Goldand is somewhat similar to the Gold Breaker skill on Marika’s Hammer.
The Wave of Gold Skill allows players to charge the sword with Holy energy, then release it in a wave that travels some distance. This Skill costs 42 FP to perform but is great for crowd control. So much so, that it had to be nerfed slightly for PvP in the1.09 Patch, reducing the damage of the Skill the further it travels away from the caster. Despite this, it remains a formidable weapon, especially within the main game.
The downside of this weapon is that you can only obtain it right at the very end of Elden Ring. For this reason, it is suited to a new game plus playthrough or as a possible weapon of choice for the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. As the Weapon Skill scales solely with Faith, we recommend using theTwo Fingers HeirloomTalisman, as this will give you a plus 5 to Faith.
How to get the Sacred Relic Sword
As alluded to above, the Sacred Relic Sword is only available afterdefeating the Elden Beastboss. Afterwards, trade the Elden Remembrance with Enia at the Roundtable Hold. See our tips and tricks guide to theElden Beast boss fightfor additional info on this its strengths and weaknesses.
Dark Moon Greatsword
The Dark Moon Greatsword is a good option for inflicting Frost build-up on enemies. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/FromSoftware
Long-timeDark Soulsfans will recognise theDark Moon Greatswordas a close relative to the franchise-favourite Moonlight Greatsword. This weapon has earned a spot in our best weapons list and now, our best Greatswords list.
As a perfect choice for any Strength/Intelligence hybrid builds, the Dark Moon Greatsword excels in delivering physical damage, magic damage andFrostbite build-upto enemies (up to 55). It is a unique weapon and as such,cannot be infusedwith Ashes Of War.
The good news is that its Weapon Skill, aptly namedMoonlight Greatswordis both powerful and essentially charges the weapon up with 15 added frost damage and 65 magic attack power on top of its base values. When performing the Skill, the Tarnished raises the sword, charges it, and releases a magic projectile with a heavy attack. This then continues with every heavy attack for the duration (60 seconds).
The Moonlight Greatsword skill costs 32 FP to perform, projectiles can cause22 stance damage(or 35 if the heavy attack is charged prior) and the stamina consumption for both charged and standard heavy attacks was reduced via theElden Ring 1.07 patch.
How to get the Dark Moon Greatsword
Obtaining the Dark Moon Greatsword requires following Ranni’s questline through to completion. This is a hefty challenge with over 20 steps and includes taking on bosses likeStarscourge RadahnandAstel, Naturalborn of the Void. Luckily, we have a full walkthrough ofRanni’s questlineto help you complete all steps, obtain the Dark Moon Greatsword and obtain one of the slightly more cheerful Elden Ring endings.
That rounds off our guide to the best Greatswords in Elden Ring and where to get them. For more Elden Ringtips and trickssee ourbest classes,best armor,mods,buildsorboss locationsguides.
