The Definitive Guide to Mastering Greatswords in Elden Ring

Veteran Tarnished know that few armaments capture the perfect balance of speed, power and reach like the greatsword class. These large two-handed blades let warriors cleanly divide foes with their length yet retain nimble slashes unseen in colossal weapons. I‘ve rigorously tested Elden Ring‘s roster of 21 greatswords in countless life-or-death brawls, both PvE and PvP. Now I present my comprehensive guide so you too can discover these gems hiding in plain sight and master them on your own legendary journey.

What Makes Greatswords So Great?

Before ranking Elden Ring‘s premiere greatswords, let‘s cover why they make excellent additions to your arsenal, no matter your build:

Flexible Movesets – Unlike smaller straight swords with predictable light attacks, greatswords unlock multi-hit combos and wide slashes on light attacks. Their strong attacks and guard counters also utilize crushing overhead chops in addition to thrusting. This versatility pairs nicely with…

Balanced Speed & Power – While slower than one-handed blades, greatswords retain enough agility for reactive play. Compared to colossal weapons, their strikes deploy quicker, enabling more combo potential. They lack raw devastation but deliver substantial force to pressure enemies.

Excellent Range – Greatswords boast more reach than nearly any one-handed weapon, able to outspace spears with certain attacks. Careful positioning allows you to strike foes while avoiding their reprisal.

Infusion Potential – Most greatswords allow Ashes of War infusion, letting you align their damage type with your build. Fire, magic, lightning etc. can all be imbued via affinity changing.

Special Weapon Arts – Unique skills expand the moveset with war cries, stamping slashes, even projectile waves that offer tactical options. Charging these arts often enhances potency.

Now that you grasp greatswords‘ capabilities, let‘s delve into the finest examples across The Lands Between that will carry you to victory!

Top 5 Elden Ring Best Greatswords

I‘ve forged a veteran‘s intimacy with all of Elden Ring‘s 21 greatswords in PvE and PvP. Based on damage potency, scaling, weapon arts and other utility, these 5 topped the list as my greatsword elite.

Ordovis‘s Greatsword – Colossal crushing force from charged attacks make this my #1 pick. It breaks poise easily and scales hard with strength. The leaping weapon art adds jump attack options.

Dark Moon Greatsword – Magic warriors rejoice, this frosty blade fires glintstone crescents that hit from range. It packs a punch in melee too with excellent intelligence scaling.

Blasphemous Blade – Built in life steal weapon art helps offset its demanding stats. Fire damage strikes supplement already fearsome physical blows. Great for pyromancers.

Claymore – The iconic greatsword returns with an exceptionally balanced moveset that‘s easy to grasp for beginners and experts alike. Infusable to suit any build.

Banished Knight‘s Greatsword – Early game access when discovered in Stormveil. Has fantastic scalings all around and a wonderful sweeping strong attack for crowd control.

Below I elaborate on these five greatswords in terms of exact attributes, damage, scaling grades, skills and acquisition. I provide tailored recommendations on builds based on testing. Let‘s begin!

#1: Ordovis‘s Greatsword

This great colossus distills pure, simple aggression with each lumbering yet overwhelming swing. Charge these attacks, along with its namesake weapon art, to trigger unreasonable damage that stagger-locks both PvE bosses and PvP opponents with ease. For veterans who can bear its massive requirements, few greatswords compete with the terrifying cadence Ordovis‘s Greatsword injects into every exchange.

Don‘t let those intimidating stat investments deter you. At Somber +10 with heavy affinity, Ordovis‘s Greatsword accomplishes S-tier strength scaling, elevating its already mammoth 769 base physical damage. Combined with its 122 critical rating, no other greatsword competes for pure, crushing offense.

Its skill perfectly complements this domineering playstyle. Activate Ordovis‘s Vortex mid-combo to slam enemies with an arcing overhead leap. Charge this to create space and hyper armor during longer wind up that spell certain death for anything caught under the blade.

This greatsword sinks pure strength builds to outrageous levels of burst potential. I recommend the Hero armor set to mitigate its substantial equip load given heavier Endurance costs. Players should two-hand with minimum dexterity & faith to maximize mighty return on strength expenditures.

Veterans who can shoulder its requirements will discover by far Elden Ring‘s most terrifying greatsword. Nothing else I‘ve found delivers such raw, overwhelming power. For pure domination, claim Ordovis‘s Greatsword resting below Auriza Hero‘s Grave.

#2: Dark Moon Greatsword

Sorcerers rejoice, for I‘ve found no finer magical greatsword than fabled treasure of Lady Ranni herself. Granted to her followers, the Dark Moon Greatsword beautifully compliments any intelligence build with fluid crescent soul mass skills along with naturally imbued frost damage to its every icy slash. This elegant blade casts powerful glintstone magic and weaves flowing melee frost to render enemies brittle, helpless statues.

Intelligence reigns supreme here with massive 38 minimum and formidable magic scaling to empower its glacial magic strikes. Utilizing Carian Grandeur skills before approaching melee unsheathes the blade within an ethereal icy crescent moon, frosting enemies rapidly. Hold skill to manifest then launch the moon itself through foes for huge range frost spray.

Even with magic focused traits, the Dark Moon Greatsword retains versatile R1 and charged R2 movesets to adapt its elegant frost to both crowds and single targets. As a Somber stone weapon it cannot change affinity but naturally upgrades to S-rank intelligence scaling, bolstering already fearsome 230 magic damage at +10. For sorcerers, no finer greatsword exists to crystallize enemies than beloved Dark Moon gift.

#3: Blasphemous Blade

Some seek not virtue, but instead thirst for powers blasphemous. This forbidden weapon quenches such yearning, proffering scorching forbidden fire to any willing to grasp such profane potential. But be warned – even desires once noble may twist souls to unrecognizable extremity when granted. If your hunger exceeds piety, grasp this flaming edge and never release until the urge within is fully satiated.

Wielding this sword demands equal investment in strength, dexterity AND faith, limiting its wielders to hybrid classes like Confessors and Prophets. But weapons of such rare potency often mandate harsh requirements. Meeting these enables profane forbidden fire to ignite each slash with 110 additional flame damage even at base level.

Activating Taker‘s Flame weapon art initiates a hellish ritual only the most rising Confessors and Prophets can sustain – engulfing the surrounding area in seeking forbidden flames that leech precious life essence back to the wielder. Hold the skill to dramatically amplify the spell‘s magnitude and radius. This built-in health regeneration beautifully supplements melee regen talismans.

When fully reinforced to Somber +10, the sword accomplishes S-tier faith scaling to further empower its unholy fire sorceries. If willing to walk the heretical path, the Blasphemous Blade becomes a boon for battle clerics and fire monks who dare commune with darker powers.

#4: Claymore

What best greatsword discussion omits the legendary Claymore? Iconic since Demon Souls, this jack-of-all-trades greatsword stands ready to adapt into any smooth melee flow. For newcomers or veterans, its beautifully balanced moveset combines wide slashes, graceful thrusts and crushing overhead chops that excel both solo and versus crowds. Light enough to equip early, this eminent blade only grows mightier when infused with affinity fitting your build.

Vagabonds and Heroes need only minor investment to wield the versatile moveset immediately. Its unassuming D/D strength/dexterity scaling hides remarkable potential – quality, keen, heavy or cold ashes of war all lift the respective attributes to B or even S-tier at maximum upgrade. This flexibility lets Claymore slot easily into any build.

It inherits the iconic Stamp skill that enhances guard counters with a surging upward slash to break enemy stance. Careful timing on this skill compounds reliable damage between combos or defensive counters. Versus agile foes I lean entirely on two-handed light attack strings given their wide arcs and thrusting finishers. Claymore‘s balance perfectly dances between offenses in all situations.

In my extensive experience, no finer greatsword exists to transition into advanced combat systems. Mastery of the Claymore unlocks prowess uplifting any playstyle you eventually adopt. Its smooth adaptability cements this celebrated blade as mandatory for burgeoning swordsmen in Elden Ring.

#5: Banished Knight‘s Greatsword

I would be utterly remiss excluding the exceptional Banished Knight‘s Greatsword that carried me through much of Elden Ring‘s opening segments. Discovering this excellent weapon rested conveniently within the Stormveil armory let me dismantle invading guards with elegance. Excellent base power, sweeping strong attacks and a balanced Stamp skill all make the Banished Knight‘s sword formidable even at low upgrades.

Its 17 strength 9 dexterity demands suit Heroes & Vagabonds immediately, with Prisoners only requiring a few more points. Both physical and stance damage rapidly scale even at +3 smithing given dual B strength & dexterity scaling unlocked by Standard affinity. Further quality or keen ashes of war can target either even harder.

It shares the Stamp weapon art with enough speed to punish spammy dual wield builds. Careful timing lets the upwards slice counter strike chained light strings. The strong attack sweeps wide for crowd control and roll catching in PvP. Stability pierces blocks easily. I loved discovering this greatsword stocked early in Castle Stormveil as its versatility carried me through fiery clashes with invading duelists. It retains relevance even late game.

For newcomers or purists, Banished Knight‘s Greatsword stands tall as an accessible jack-of-all-trades weapon to carry your legacy through intense battles from start to finish. Give this dependable early find a permanent spot in your journeys.

Conquering Elden Ring With Greatswords

And there we have it – my picks for Elden Ring‘s elite greatsword class, backed by extensive testing versus all manner of foes! Remember to reinforce often at whetstones and employ ashes of war to align with your build. Consider off-handing a parrying dagger to safely punish overextensions. Most importantly, internalize both movement and skills to gracefully conquer any opposition on noble quests.

I hope my own trials have helped unearth devastating greatswords hiding in Elden Ring just waiting for new masters! May these blade‘sPeerless greatswords now serve to carry your legends higher. Fear no enemy, and let true greatness arise!