Best Greatswords in Elden Ring: Tier list & locations

Greatswords are easily among the best weapons in Elden Ring. They’re ideal for STR/FAI builds and can melt through health bars when paired with the right gear. With this in mind, here are the best Greatswords in Elden Ring, including our tier list ranking all Greatswords in the game.

Greatswords have traditionally been a formidable weapon class in FromSoftware titles and Elden Ring is no exception. The RPG is packed with a strong variety of these swords and it’s pretty simple to create a build tailored around them. They offer powerful attacks but not at the cost of speed, although you’ll find them to be heavier than straight swords, katanas, and other sub-classes.

If you’re planning a build capable of melting through the strongest of foes or want to make quick work of bosses like Godfrey and Malenia, here are the best Greatswords in Elden Ring, including our tier list ranking all of them.

Elden Ring: Best Greatsword tier list

Here’s our tier list ranking all the Greatswords in Elden Ring, with S-tier reserved for the best of the lot while D-tier weapons just aren’t worth your time:

Tier	Weapon
S	Dark Moon Greatsword, Claymore, Knight’s Greatsword, Banished Knight’s Greatsword
A	Blasphemous Blade, Ordovis’s Greatsword, Golden Order Greatsword, Inseperable Greatsword, Sacred Relic Greatsword
B	Death’s Poker, Helphen’s Steeple, Marais Executioner’s Sword, Gargoyle’s Blackblade
C	Gargoyle’s Greatsword, Lordsworn Greatsword, Bastard Sword, Iron Greatsword, Forked Greatsword
D	Sword of Milos, Flamberge, Alabaster Lord’s Greatsword

Our rankings take into account multiple factors including their Ashes of War, unique attacks, base stats, and scaling potential. While the weapons have been ranked with PvE in mind, the high-tier options fare pretty well in PvP as well.

Best Greatswords in Elden Ring

With the tier list out of the way, here are some of the best Greatswords you can find in Elden Ring:

Dark Moon Greatsword

• Base attack stats: Physical 82, Magic 98, Critical 100
• Stat requirements: STR 16, DEX 11, INT 38

The Dark Moon Greatsword holds mythical significance in the Lands Between and it ranks high when compared to other Greatswords in Elden Ring. The weapon has an icy exterior and causes frost build-up on enemies. It comes with the Moonlight Greatsword weapon skill which sees the Tarnished hold the sword aloft, letting it bask in the light of the moon and temporarily buff its damage.

The weapon does lack a bit of range but you can always use Socereries to complement it for a STR/INT focused build. You can get the weapon near the end of Ranni’s quest line at The Cathedral of Manus Celes.

Banished Knight’s Greatsword

• Base attack stats: Physical 142, Critical 100
• Stat requirements: STR 17, DEX 9

The Banished Knight’s Greatsword in Elden Ring is best known for its unique moveset that allows for some creative mixups. It scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity but it’s best to go with a pure STR build. You can freely change its Ashes of War to optimize its special attack to your preference.

Beyond all that, the weapon simply feels good to wield. The R1/RB attacks come out pretty quickly and it’s always satisfying to land a full combo using it. For the full experience, we recommend pairing it with the Banished Knight armor set.

The Greatsword is dropped only by Banished Knight enemies, so you can head to the Dragon Communion Cathedral in Caelid to farm it.

Claymore

• Base attack stats: Physical 141, Critical 100
• Stat requirements: STR 16, DEX 13

Claymore is another solid Greatsword in Elden Ring that benefits from a unique moveset. In this case, the weapon shines due to unique thrusting attacks which offer plenty of reach and allow you to poke enemies from a distance. It also comes with the Lion’s Claw weapon skill, which sees your character deliver a swift overhead smash. If timed correctly, the skill can come in handy during boss encounters.

You can get the Claymore at Castle Morne in the Weeping Peninsula region, located in the southeastern part of the map. 

Knight’s Greatsword

• Base attack stats: Physical 141, Critical 110
• Stat requirements: STR 16, DEX 12

Excellent base damage, a quick R1/RB attack chain, and incredible range make Knight’s Greatsword one of the weapons to wield in Elden Ring. The weapon mainly scales with Strength and Dexterity, although a pure STR build gets the most of the sword. You can also swap out its Ashes of War for something like Bloodhound’s Step or Eruption and the weapon will stay potent regardless of affinity.

The Knight’s Greatsword is dropped by knight archetype enemies and can be farmed at locations like Leyndell and Black Knife Catacombs.

Sacred Relic Sword

• Base attack stats: Physical 118, Holy 76, Critical 110
• Stat requirements: STR 14, DEX 24, FAI 22

Lastly, we have the Sacred Relic Sword, the weapon wielded by Elden Ring’s final boss. Befitting of its owner, the weapon is blessed with grace and dishes out Holy damage. Its main draw is the unique Wave of Gold skill which unleashes a wide projectile that sweeps through the area and can only be evaded by a well-timed roll. The weapon can also boast of having the most range in the entire class, making it one of the best Greatswords in Elden Ring.

Sacred Relic Sword scales with Strength, Faith, and Dexterity, although your build should be centered around FAI to maximize its Holy damage. To get it, beat the Elden Beast and trade its Remembrance with Enia at Roundtable Hold.

Those were our picks for the best Greatsword in Elden Ring. For more on the game, check out our other guides:

Where to find Castle Sol in Elden Ring | Where to find Somber Smithing Stone 7 in Elden Ring | All Elden Ring achievements & trophies | Elden Ring progression: Best route & recommended levels | Who is Vyke in Elden Ring? | How to get Zweihander in Elden Ring & best builds | Is Elden Ring harder than other soulsborne games?