TL;DR
- The Greatsword offers 162 base physical damage with 31 Strength requirement
- Located in northwestern Caelid near Cathedral of Dragon Communion
- Requires strategic approach against giant zombie dog guardians
- Excels in Strength builds but benefits from weapon art replacement
- Early-game acquisition possible with proper preparation and tactics
The Elden Ring Greatsword stands as a powerful tribute to Kentaro Miura’s legendary Berserk manga series, offering players a formidable weapon that demands both skill and courage to obtain and master.
While Elden Ring presents an original narrative crafted by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin, it contains numerous cultural references that dedicated fans will immediately recognize. The Greatsword serves as one of the most prominent homages—a direct nod to Berserk’s iconic artwork—that becomes accessible by exploring the dangerous eastern lands of Caelid. More importantly, this colossal weapon delivers exceptional combat performance that perfectly complements heavy weapon-focused character builds. This comprehensive guide details everything you need to successfully locate and utilize this legendary armament.
With Elden Ring: The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion now available, players face even greater challenges. Our extensive guide collection provides essential assistance for navigating what many consider the game’s most demanding content. Visit our Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree guides hub to discover resources including the complete world map, top-tier weapon recommendations, boss defeat strategies, and much more.
The Greatsword rests in northwestern Caelid, positioned along the roadway that extends southward toward the Cathedral of Dragon Communion. The most straightforward route begins at the Smoldering Church site of grace, requiring you to simply travel eastward along the main path. For those who haven’t yet explored Caelid or northern Limgrave, accessing the Smoldering Church involves either journeying north from the Third Church of Marika or following the eastern road from Stormhill Shack across the bridge.
Greatsword location in Elden Ring
You’ll find the Greatsword within a deserted treasure cart positioned beside the roadway. The primary obstacle comes from two enormous zombie hounds protecting the location. During early and mid-game progression, these adversaries can quickly overpower unprepared players with their rapid, staggering bite attacks. We strongly advise engaging them using projectile weapons or mounted combat—or combining both approaches for maximum effectiveness. Eliminate both guardians, then approach the cart to claim your legendary weapon.
Common mistakes include underestimating the dogs’ aggression range and attempting melee combat without proper spacing. Advanced players recommend using the terrain to your advantage, luring them individually whenever possible.
For Strength-focused character builds, the Greatsword represents an exceptional choice. In its unupgraded state, the weapon delivers 162 physical attack power, ranking it among the most potent colossal swords available. Wielding it requires meeting 31 Strength and 12 Dexterity attribute thresholds.
We do not recommend petting the dogs.
Here’s how the Greatsword compares against other end-game options.
The Stamp weapon art, while serviceable, falls short of exceptional performance. Beyond being a commonly available skill, it requires significant setup time and precise execution to utilize effectively. Activating the skill demands pressing the appropriate button followed by executing a strong attack to complete the sequence. If you infrequently utilize weapon skills or simply desire an enormous sword that delivers crushing blows, this aspect becomes relatively insignificant.
Optimization tip: Consider replacing Stamp with Lion’s Claw or Giant Hunt for dramatically improved combat effectiveness against both standard enemies and bosses.
Mastering the Greatsword involves understanding its unique rhythm and attack patterns. The weapon’s slow swing speed requires precise timing, but rewards players with exceptional stance-breaking capability and hyper armor during attacks.
For PvP encounters, the Greatsword excels at trading blows and punishing aggressive opponents. Its crouching attack provides surprising speed while maintaining the weapon’s devastating impact.
Pairing the Greatsword with appropriate talismans like the Great-Jar’s Arsenal and Claw Talisman significantly enhances its performance. For character progression guidance, consult our comprehensive Class Selection Guide to ensure optimal stat distribution.
Weapon upgrade priority should focus on reaching at least +15 before major boss encounters, with Smithing Stone locations detailed in our Weapons Unlock Guide for efficient progression.
Action Checklist
- Reach Smoldering Church via Third Church of Marika or Stormhill Shack
- Travel eastward along main road to abandoned treasure cart
- Eliminate two giant zombie dogs using ranged or mounted tactics
- Collect Greatsword from cart and meet 31 Strength requirement
- Replace Stamp weapon art with Lion’s Claw for improved effectiveness
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Elden Ring Greatsword: How To Get The Guts Dragonslayer Sword From Berserk Complete guide to acquiring and mastering Elden Ring's iconic Berserk-inspired Greatsword with expert strategies
