There is no single best greatsword for every Elden Ring build. The right pick depends on your stats, whether you want to deal physical or elemental damage, what weapon skill you need, and whether you are playing PvE or PvP. This guide treats “all 21” as the base-game Greatsword weapon class—not the expanded roster that includes Shadow of the Erdtree weapons—and explains how to rank those weapons without presenting a preference as a universal verdict.
What “all 21 greatswords” means
This ranking’s scope is the base game’s Greatsword weapon class. It does not include weapons added by Shadow of the Erdtree. That distinction matters: a player-made PvE list published on September 2, 2024, ranks 24 entries and includes Greatsword of Solitude, Greatsword of Damnation, and Lizard Greatsword. That is a different roster and a creator’s opinion, not an authoritative universal tier list. See the example 24-entry ranking.
The number in “21 greatswords” refers to an item count, not a claim that all 21 are equally strong or suited to the same character. Because the available evidence does not establish an exhaustive, current named roster or verified item-by-item statistics, this guide does not invent a numbered list or assign unsupported weapon-specific ranks.
How to decide which greatsword is best for you
Start with your character and the fights you need to handle. A weapon’s displayed attack rating alone is not enough: requirements, scaling, damage type, status buildup, moveset, skill, acquisition timing, and upgrade flexibility all affect how useful it is in practice.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition contains the Elden Ring Base Game + Shadow of the Erdtree Expansion + Additional Content (including Torrent Skins, New Armors, and More...)
- MASSIVE OPEN WORLD
- DEEP, CUSTOMIZABLE COMBAT
- NEW STARTING CLASSES
- NEW PLAYER-FRIENDLY ENHANCEMENTS
- Build fit: Check the weapon’s attributes and scaling against your current and planned stats. A weapon that asks for investment outside your build may underperform a better-matched option.
- Moveset and skill: Consider whether the attacks and weapon skill suit your preferred spacing and openings. The most useful skill is the one you can land safely and consistently.
- Damage profile: Compare physical and any elemental damage, as well as status effects where applicable, against the enemies you expect to face.
- Handling: Reach, attack speed, recovery, and the demands of wielding the weapon can matter as much as a headline damage number.
- Availability: A powerful option is less useful if you cannot acquire it until late in your route. Consider how soon you can obtain and upgrade it.
- Upgrade flexibility: Check whether the weapon can use Ashes of War or different affinities before building around a particular skill or damage type.
PvE or PvP? Set the ranking’s priorities first
This article frames “best” as a PvE decision framework rather than a definitive PvP tier list. In PvE, a strong choice should fit the character while helping with the enemies and bosses the player actually faces. PvP has different priorities, including how attacks perform against other players; a PvE ordering should not be treated as a PvP verdict.
There is no single order that serves every build. For a useful personal shortlist, first eliminate weapons whose requirements or damage profile conflict with your character, then compare the remaining options by skill, moveset, availability, and upgrade flexibility. Label a choice “best for” a build or progression stage only when those details have been verified.
Rank #2
- ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition
What the official balance notes establish—and what they do not
Bandai Namco’s official App Ver. 1.06 and Regulation Ver. 1.06 notes, published August 9, 2022, say the Greatsword, Curved Greatsword, and Great Hammer classes received reduced rolling recovery after certain attacks, faster strong and charged attacks, and faster guard counters. The notes specify exceptions involving mounted, dual-wield, and jump attacks where applicable. Read the official version 1.06 patch notes.
These are historical class-level changes, not proof of how every greatsword performs now. The official page points to a later 1.17 release; version 1.06 alone cannot establish current balance or a present-day weapon ranking.
Rank #3
- A New Fantasy World – Journey through the Lands Between, a new fantasy world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki, creator of the influential Dark Souls video game series, and George R. R. Martin, author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Unravel the mysteries of the Elden Ring’s power. Encounter adversaries with profound backgrounds, characters with their own unique motivations for helping or hindering your progress, and fearsome creatures
- World Exploration in the Lands Between – Elden Ring features vast fantastical landscapes and shadowy, complex dungeons that are connected seamlessly. Traverse the breathtaking world on foot or on horseback, alone or online with other players, and fully immerse yourself in the grassy plains, suffocating swamps, spiraling mountains, foreboding castles and other sites of grandeur on a scale never seen before in a FromSoftware title
- Genre-Defining Gameplay – Create your character in FromSoftware’s refined action-RPG and define your playstyle by experimenting with a wide variety of weapons, magical abilities, and skills found throughout the world. Charge into battle, pick off enemies one-by-one using stealth, or even call upon allies for aid. Many options are at your disposal as you decide how to approach exploration and combat
Why this guide does not claim a numbered 1–21 ranking
A credible item-by-item ranking needs a verified roster and current information for each weapon: category, requirements, acquisition, skill, damage profile, and upgrade options. Those details are not established here. Giving every weapon a place anyway would create false precision, especially when “best” changes with build and game mode. Use the criteria above to compare the weapons available to your character, and treat any creator ranking as one set of preferences rather than a universal answer.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
![Elden Ring - Standard Edition [PlayStation 5] (German Version)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ye3mnByQL._SL160_.jpg)
- Jetzt ELDEN RING vorbestellen und Zugang zu Folgendem erhalten: Digitales Adventure Guide und Bonusgeste “Der Ring”
- Reisen Sie durch das Zwischenland – eine neue Fantasywelt aus der Feder von Hidetaka Miyazaki, dem Schöpfer der einflussreichen DARK SOULS-Videospielreihe, und George R. R. Martin, dem Autor der Fantasy-Bestsellerreihe „A Song of Ice and Fire“ (Das Lied von Eis und Feuer)
- ELDEN RING lockt mit gigantischen Fantasy-Landschaften und düsteren, komplexen Dungeons, die nahtlos ineinander übergehen
- Ein kostenloses Upgrade auf die PlayStation 5-Version wird für Spieler verfügbar sein, die ELDEN RING für die PlayStation 4 kaufen, und SmartDelivery wird auf der Xbox One und der Xbox Series X|S unterstützt
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
