Elden Ring: The Best Greatswords and How to Use Them

Elden Ring is an open world action role playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game features a vast, interconnected world known as the Lands Between, Players can freely explore the world and collect materials, items, and Elden Ring Runes to improve their combat effectiveness and gain a better gaming experience when participating in battles.This world is filled with various environments, including forests, mountains, swamps, and castles, all seamlessly connected and accessible through exploration. The open world design allows players to encounter a wide range of enemies, NPCs, and secrets, offering a rich and immersive experience.

Elden Ring offers a vast selection of weapons to suit different playstyles, but few are as versatile and powerful as Greatswords. These weapons strike a perfect balance between speed, damage, and poise, making them a favorite for both PvE and PvP combat. Whether you're looking to stagger enemies with heavy blows or unleash devastating Ashes of War, Greatswords are a top-tier choice for many Tarnished. In this guide, we'll break down the best Greatswords in Elden Ring, their advantages, and how to wield them effectively.

Why Choose Greatswords

Greatswords occupy the middle ground between Colossal Weapons and smaller swords. They offer impressive damage output while maintaining a reasonable attack speed, making them ideal for Strength, Dexterity, or hybrid builds. Their wide swings allow you to hit multiple enemies at once, and many come with powerful Ashes of War that further enhance their effectiveness.

Pros:

Good balance of speed and power

High poise damage, capable of staggering foes

Excellent moveset with strong rolling and jumping attacks

Can be infused with various Ashes of War

Cons:

Slower than straight swords and katanas

Can be outpaced by faster weapon classes in PvP

Requires decent Endurance to wield effectively

Best Greatswords in Elden Ring

Let's take a look at some of the best Greatswords, their strengths, and how to maximize their potential.

1. Blasphemous Blade

Scaling: Strength (D), Dexterity (D), Faith (C)

Unique Skill: Taker's Flames – Restores HP while dealing fire damage

The Blasphemous Blade is one of the most powerful weapons in Elden Ring, especially for Strength-Faith builds. Its Taker's Flames skill sends a wave of fire in front of you while healing on hit, making it incredibly effective for both offense and survivability. This Greatsword is perfect for players who want high damage with sustainability.

2. Dark Moon Greatsword

Scaling: Strength (D), Dexterity (D), Intelligence (C)

Unique Skill: Moonlight Greatsword – Enhances magic attacks and deals frost damage

The Dark Moon Greatsword is an iconic weapon in FromSoftware games and an excellent choice for Intelligence builds. Its weapon skill coats the blade in frost magic, increasing damage and adding a ranged projectile to heavy attacks. This Greatsword is a must-have for sorcery users who want a melee option.

3. Ordovis's Greatsword

Scaling: Strength (C), Faith (D)

Unique Skill: Ordovis's Vortex – A spinning, golden attack that deals holy damage

This weapon is ideal for Strength-Faith hybrid builds. Ordovis's Vortex is a powerful Ash of War that delivers a spinning holy attack, perfect for dealing AoE damage. While it doesn't have the healing benefits of the Blasphemous Blade, it still offers high raw damage and excellent Faith scaling.

4. Claymore

Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (D)

Infusability: Can be infused with Ashes of War

The Claymore is a classic Greatsword that remains one of the most reliable weapons in the game. It has a fantastic moveset with thrusting attacks for better reach. Since it can be infused with various Ashes of War, it's incredibly flexible for different builds.

5. Knight's Greatsword

Scaling: Strength (C), Dexterity (D)

Infusability: Can be infused with Ashes of War

This is one of the highest-damaging standard Greatswords in the game. Its simple but effective moveset makes it an excellent choice for Strength or Quality builds. The ability to infuse it with different Ashes of War adds to its versatility.

6. Flame Art or Sacred Greatsword

For Faith builds, applying Flame Art or Sacred affinity to a Greatsword allows you to scale with Faith while maintaining solid melee damage. Pairing this with Flaming Strike or Sacred Blade Ashes of War enhances its effectiveness.

How to Use Greatswords Effectively

Greatswords excel when used with proper strategy. Here's how to maximize their potential:

1. Master the Moveset

Greatswords have a well-rounded moveset, including:

R1 attacks: Good for general swings

R2 attacks: Slower but deal high poise damage

Jumping attacks: Excellent for stagger potential

Rolling attacks: Useful for catching enemies off-guard

Learning when to use each attack can make a big difference in both PvE and PvP.

2. Take Advantage of Ashes of War

One of the biggest advantages of Greatswords is their ability to use Ashes of War. Some of the best choices include:

Lion's Claw – A flipping attack that boosts poise

Flaming Strike – Adds fire damage and a flaming slash

Sacred Blade – Enhances damage with holy energy

Flaming Slash – Deals fire damage and buffs your weapon

Choose an Ash of War that complements your build for maximum damage.

3. Invest in Poise and Endurance

Since Greatswords are slower than lighter weapons, investing in Endurance and wearing medium-heavy armor can help you trade hits effectively. High poise allows you to complete your attacks without being easily interrupted.

4. Use Jumping and Charged Attacks

Jumping heavy attacks are one of the best ways to break enemy poise, making them great for PvE boss fights and PvP duels. Charged R2 attacks can also stagger enemies, setting them up for follow-up damage.

5. Adapt to PvP Combat

In PvP, Greatswords can be countered by faster weapons. To be effective:

Use rolling attacks to avoid predictable swings

Time charged attacks when an enemy commits to an attack

Mix up light and heavy attacks to keep opponents guessing

Pair with a medium shield for extra defense

Final Thoughts

Greatswords are among the most balanced and powerful weapon classes in Elden Ring, offering high damage, versatility, and satisfying movesets. Whether you prefer a Strength-heavy playstyle, a Faith-infused holy blade, or an Intelligence-scaling magic sword, there's a Greatsword to match your build. With the right strategy, Ashes of War, and positioning, Greatswords can turn you into a formidable force in the Lands Between.

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