TL;DR
- Blasphemous Blade offers unparalleled sustain with health regeneration on hit
- Darkmoon Greatsword excels for intelligence builds with powerful magic projectiles
- Banished Knight Greatsword provides reliable early-to-mid game performance
- Each weapon requires specific stat investments and acquisition strategies
- Mastering greatsword timing and spacing is crucial for success
Navigating Elden Ring’s vast arsenal reveals greatswords as particularly versatile weapons that balance power with manageable speed. Unlike faster blades that sacrifice impact or heavier colossal weapons that demand extreme stat investment, greatswords deliver substantial damage while maintaining reasonable swing speeds. This weapon class shines for players who appreciate methodical combat and strategic positioning.
Strategic Positioning Advantage: Greatswords excel at controlling space and breaking enemy stances. Their extended reach allows you to maintain safe distances while delivering punishing blows that can interrupt enemy attacks. Mastering the timing between swings becomes crucial, as mistimed attacks leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.
Many newcomers underestimate the importance of spacing with these weapons. Proper distance management enables you to capitalize on your range advantage while minimizing exposure to enemy strikes. Learning to roll-cancel attacks and understanding hyper armor frames will significantly improve your effectiveness.

Stat Requirements: 22 Strength, 15 Dexterity, and 21 Faith
Acquiring the Blasphemous Blade demands conquering one of Elden Ring’s most challenging optional encounters. You’ll need to defeat Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, located within the treacherous Volcano Manor region. This boss battle presents unique mechanics that require specific preparation.
The weapon’s signature ability, Taker’s Flame, distinguishes it as arguably the best sustain tool available. This weapon art consumes 30 FP to unleash a devastating fiery wave that not only inflicts significant fire damage but also provides exceptional survivability benefits. Each successful hit restores 10% of your maximum health plus an additional 150 HP, making extended engagements substantially more manageable.
Advanced Build Synergy: Pair this greatsword with the Fire Scorpion Charm and Shard of Alexander to amplify Taker’s Flame’s damage output. For maximum sustainability, combine it with the Taker’s Cameo talisman for additional health regeneration. The weapon’s scaling favors Faith investment, making it ideal for hybrid strength/faith builds that can also utilize offensive incantations.
Common Mistake: Players often spam Taker’s Flame without managing FP properly. Since this ability consumes substantial resources, ensure you have adequate Mind investment or FP regeneration tools like the Cerulean Amber Medallion.

Stat Requirements: 16 Strength, 11 Dexterity, 38 Intelligence
Continuing FromSoftware’s longstanding tradition, the Darkmoon Greatsword returns as Elden Ring’s premier intelligence-scaling greatsword. Obtaining this legendary weapon requires completing Ranni’s extensive questline, beginning with defeating Royal Knight Loretta at Caria Manor and progressing through multiple complex steps.
Quest Efficiency Tips: Streamline the acquisition process by preparing key items in advance. Ensure you’ve obtained the Fingerslayer Blade from Nokron and defeated Astel, Naturalborn of the Void. Allocate approximately 3-4 hours for the full quest completion if following an optimized route.
The Darkmoon Greatsword’s weapon art, Moonlight Greatsword, projects frost-infused magical waves that deal substantial magic damage and build up frostbite. This dual-damage approach proves exceptionally effective against enemies resistant to physical attacks.
Optimization Strategy: Maximize this weapon’s potential by pairing it with the Godfrey Icon for charged skill damage and the Magic Scorpion Charm for enhanced magic attack power. The Snow Witch Hat further amplifies frostbite buildup, creating devastating combo potential against bosses and tough enemies.

Stat Requirements: 17 Strength, 9 Dexterity
For players seeking a reliable early-game option, the Banished Knight Greatsword stands out as an exceptional choice. This weapon drops exclusively from Banished Knights who wield it, primarily found in Stormveil Castle and Cathedral of Dragon Communion.
Optimal Farming Locations: The most efficient farming spot is the Church of Dragon Communion in Caelid, where a Banished Knight patrols outside. Alternatively, the Stormveil Castle ramparts host multiple knights with higher drop rates but increased difficulty.
This greatsword’s balanced scaling and move-set make it one of the most versatile starter weapons available. It maintains relevance well into mid-game, especially when infused with quality or heavy affinities to match your build progression.
Progression Planning: While this weapon serves excellently for strength-focused builds initially, consider your long-term weapon strategy. Many players utilize it until acquiring specialized late-game options or until they respec using a Larval Tear around level 60-80.
Common Mistake: New players often abandon this weapon too early. Its scaling remains competitive with proper upgrades, and the familiar move-set provides consistency as you learn advanced combat mechanics.

Mastering greatswords extends beyond simple stat requirements and acquisition. Advanced techniques separate competent users from true masters of these formidable weapons.
Stance Breaking Mastery: Greatswords excel at staggering enemies, including formidable bosses. Time your charged heavy attacks to connect just as enemies finish their attack animations for maximum effectiveness.
Weapon Art Combinations: Experiment with pairing different greatswords with complementary ashes of war. For example, combining the Banished Knight Greatsword with Lion’s Claw creates an incredibly powerful stance-breaking combination.
PvP Applications: In player versus player combat, greatswords benefit from roll-catching techniques and hyper armor trading. Learn to delay your attacks slightly to catch opponents during their roll recovery frames.
Understanding these advanced mechanics will significantly enhance your performance regardless of which greatsword you choose. The weapon’s effectiveness ultimately depends more on player skill and understanding of game mechanics than raw statistical superiority.
Action Checklist
- Assess your current build and stat distribution to determine which greatsword aligns with your progression
- Farm Banished Knight Greatsword early from Church of Dragon Communion if starting strength build
- Begin Ranni’s questline after reaching Liurnia to work toward Darkmoon Greatsword
- Prepare fire resistance gear and Serpent-Hunter weapon before attempting Rykard for Blasphemous Blade
- Practice greatsword spacing and timing against regular enemies before major boss encounters
No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » 10 Best Greatsword in Elden Ring Master Elden Ring's top greatswords with expert strategies, build optimization, and acquisition tips
