In the lands between, size and strength matter. When going up against towering bosses and lethal enemies, you need a weapon that can stand up to the challenge. That‘s where colossal swords come in.
As a colossal sword wielder in Elden Ring, I‘ve tested all 12 colossal blades in the game extensively. In this guide, I‘ll share my top picks for the best colossal swords that deliver devastating damage. I‘ll compare stats, scaling, weapon skills, and more to help you pick the ultimate giant sword for crushing foes in the Lands Between.
What Are Colossal Swords?
Colossal swords are a new weapon type introduced in Elden Ring that replaces the Ultra Greatsword category of previous Soulsborne titles. These massive swords are the largest weapon type in Elden Ring, requiring tremendous strength to wield effectively.
Compared to standard greatswords, colossal swords:
- Deal more damage per swing
- Have longer reach
- Are slower and have higher recovery times
- Weigh more, demanding massive Endurance investment
- Require much higher Strength to wield
Their increased weight and recovery times make them risky to use. But in the right hands, colossal swords reward patience and timing with nuking strikes that shred enemy HP bars.
Next, let‘s overview my top 5 picks for the best colossal swords in Elden Ring.
My Top 5 Picks for Best Colossal Swords
After extensive testing, these are my recommendations for the strongest colossal swords that offer the best performance:
- Greatsword – Top pick overall for physical damage
- Grafted Blade Greatsword – Extremely high damage when upgraded
- Godslayer‘s Greatsword – Unique weapon skill shreds bosses
- Royal Greatsword – Solid choice with special physical skill
- Starscourge Greatsword – Interesting gravity skill, split physical/magic damage
Below, you‘ll find detailed overviews of each sword covering locations, stats, scaling, skills, and ideal builds. Let‘s get started!
Greatsword
The Greatsword should be no surprise taking first place. It‘s a clear homage to the iconic Dragonslayer wielded by Guts in Berserk. And just like its inspiration, the Greatsword hits with the force of a runaway carriage.
Where to Find It:
- Dropped rarely by swordsmen in Limgrave tunnels
- Chest in northern Limgrave Tower
Stats:
- Damage: 164 Physical
- Critical Damage: 100
- Guard Boost: 56
Scaling:
- Strength: C
- Dexterity: E
- Requires: 31 Strength / 12 Dexterity
With B-rank strength scaling when upgraded, the Greatsword is ideal for Strength builds. Its standard attack combo hits twice for high poise damage, or you can charge the heavy attack for a crushing overhead smash.
While basic in design, the Greatsword‘s mighty swings will flatten enemies and rip through boss HP. And you can customize it further with Ashes of War like Royal Knight‘s Resolve for even more insane damage. Overall, it‘s the #1 choice for pure physical devastation.
Grafted Blade Greatsword
The creepy amalgamation of swords grafted together as one makes the Grafted Blade Greatsword one of the most unique-looking colossal weapons. Fortunately, its performance matches its ornate design.
Where to Find It:
- Dropped by Leonine Misbegotten boss in Castle Morne
Stats:
- Damage: 162 Physical
- Critical Damage: 100
- Guard Boost: 53
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: E
- Requires: 40 Strength / 14 Dexterity
With S-rank strength scaling when fully upgraded, the Grafted Blade is tied for the highest strength scaling colossal sword. It has a versatile moveset with both vertical chops and wide horizontal slashes for catching rolls.
Its unique skill, "Oath of Vengeance", temporarily boosts attack power and defense. Use it to overwhelm even the mightiest foes. The only downside is high upgrade materials required, but the payoff is extreme damage that carves through enemies.
Godslayer‘s Greatsword
This svelte greatsword wielded by Godskin enemies also brings unique flair. When activated, the black flame blade ignites to roast foes and even inflict potent DoT (damage-over-time) burns.
Where to Find:
- Defeat the Godskin Apostle boss in Divine Tower of Limgrave
Stats:
- Damage: 119 Physical / 77 Magic
- Critical Damage: 100
- Guard Boost: 45
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
- Faith: D
- Requires: 20 Strength / 22 Dexterity / 22 Faith
Its even three-way split scaling makes the Godslayer‘s Greatsword highly versatile for Quality builds. With fire damage and black flame magic working in tandem, the Godslayer brings excellent utility against enemies weak to those damage types.
And by using the unique "Black Flame Tornado" skill, you can annihilate grouped up enemies or rip bosses to shreds. It‘s a flashy sword that offers great flexibility.
Royal Greatsword
This regal colossal sword demands respect with its elegant design gilded in gold and blue cloth. Appropriately, it also brings unique flair with its Ashes of War skill.
Where to Find It:
- Defeat the dragon Blaidd in Siofra River
Stats:
- Damage: 112 Physical / 13 Magic
- Critical Damage: 100
- Guard Boost: 52
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: E
- Intelligence: D
- Requires: 26 Strength / 18 Dexterity / 22 Intelligence
While weaker in raw power than alternatives, the Royal Greatsword makes up for it with the devastating Ashes of War skill called "Wolf‘s Assault". Use it mid-combo to launch yourself upwards and slam the sword down hard, creating an AoE blast on impact.
It can catch opponents off guard in PvP while also blasting apart PvE mobs. With balanced stats and its mobility skill, the Royal Greatsword adapts well to different situations.
Starscourge Greatsword
The legendary twin greatswords of General Starscourge Radahn himself, the Starscourge Greatsword evokes sheer awe in its presence. And wielding the combined colossal swords makes you feel nearly invincible.
Where to Find It:
- Automatically obtained by defeating Starscourge Radahn
Stats:
- Damage: 129 Physical / 83 Magic
- Critical Damage: 100
- Guard Boost: 52
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
- Intelligence: E
- Requires: 38 Strength / 12 Dexterity / 15 Intelligence
When activated, the "Starcaller Cry" weapon skill summons a black hole vortex that launches enemies helplessly into the air then crashes them down. It utterly devastates foes through raw force, and can sometimes one-shot standard enemies.
With mid-tier stat requirements and special magic damage, Starscourge adapts reasonably well to both Strength and battle mage builds. Just beware its hefty equip load.
Wielding the iconic swords of Starscourge himself evokes a real sense of power. And the weapon skill creates some of the most glorious overkill animations against weak foes.
What Builds Work Best With Colossal Swords?
The extreme weight and strength requirements of colossal swords make them best suited for specialized builds. Here are tips for maximizing their potential:
Pure Strength Builds
Leveling Strength dramatically boosts colossal swords‘ attack power. Combine abilities like Royal Knight‘s Resolve to compound ludicrous damage. Colossal swords pair perfectly with defensive incantations to balance their slow speed.
Battle Mage Builds
Some colossal swords like Starscourge also scale well off magic stats like Intelligence. Battle mages can use ranged sorceries like Glintstone Pebble to set up openings to slam wounded foes.
Quality Builds
Quality builds with equal Dexterity & Strength gain good mileage from colossal swords like Godslayer. You still need major Strength investments but get more scaling and attack combos.
No matter the build, colossal swords demand heavy Endurance and the strongest armor to balance their glacial pace. Poise also helps avoid interrupts.
Conclusion
And those are my expert picks for the top 5 best colossal swords in Elden Ring. All of these colossal behemoths can crush enemies through sheer hyper-armor and intimidating reach. But each brings slightly different twists from standard attacks to unique Ashes of War.
I recommend the straightforward might of the Greatsword or extreme damage of Grafted Blade for most players. But don‘t be afraid to experiment with colossal sword movesets to find one that clicks with your instincts.
Just be wary of their sluggishness and make sure to wear the best poise armor you can wield. Stay tuned for more Elden Ring weapon rankings. Thanks for reading!
