Great Sword Elden Ring Location And Best Early Options

Choosing a massive blade early in Elden Ring can drastically shape your playstyle by providing heavy poise damage and massive physical impact. Players looking for iconic colossal weaponry often seek out powerful options that can be acquired without fighting late-game bosses. Understanding where to locate these weapons and evaluating early-game alternatives ensures a smooth start to your journey through the Lands Between.

Finding the Iconic Greatsword in Caelid

The legendary colossal weapon known simply as the Greatsword is located in the rot-infested region of Caelid. Players can acquire it relatively early by traveling along the main road leading into Dragonbarrow. It rests inside a chest in the back of a abandoned hearse guarded by giant monstrous dogs near the Caelem Ruins Site of Grace.

To obtain the weapon without getting drawn into a dangerous fight, approach the carriage stealthily or sprint past the surrounding enemies on Torrent. Quickly open the chest, grab the weapon, and retreat to safety. Mastering this quick retrieval strategy allows Strength-focused builds to secure an endgame-tier weapon within the first few hours of play.

Top Early Game Greatsword Alternatives

If you prefer standard Greatswords over Colossal Swords, Limgrave offers several outstanding options with lower stat requirements. The Lordsworn's Greatsword is one of the easiest blades to acquire, found inside a treasure chest at the Gatefront Ruins camp. It features an increased critical hit bonus, making it exceptionally effective for players who rely on guard counters and stance breaks.

Another excellent option for early exploration is the Claymore, located inside Castle Morne on the Weeping Peninsula. Found within a chest near a mound of burning corpses in the courtyard, this versatile weapon boasts a unique thrusting heavy attack. Its move set provides excellent reach and narrow-corridor efficiency compared to wider sweeping blades.

Stat Requirements and Attribute Allocation

Wielding colossal weapons effectively requires substantial investment in physical attributes early in your playthrough. The iconic Greatsword requires 31 Strength and 12 Dexterity, though two-handling the weapon reduces the effective Strength requirement to 21. Allocating points into Endurance is equally crucial to manage heavy equipment load and stamina consumption during combat.

For players using standard Greatswords like the Claymore or Lordsworn's Greatsword, the attribute threshold is much more forgiving. These options generally require around 16 Strength and 10 to 13 Dexterity, allowing players to invest more points into Vigor early on. Balancing your defensive stats alongside your weapon requirements creates a far more resilient character build.

Optimizing Ashes of War and Affinity Scaling

Customizing your chosen blade with Ashes of War greatly enhances its combat capabilities against tough bosses. Skills like Lion's Claw or Stamp (Upward Cut) complement heavy weapons by offering high poise resistance and devastating posture damage. Applying the Heavy affinity further optimizes damage output by maximizing Strength scaling as your character levels up.

Additionally, applying temporary weapon greases or elemental affinities can help bypass specific enemy resistances throughout Limgrave and Liurnia. Upgrading your weapon consistently at Smithing Tables and with Master Hewg ensures your damage output keeps pace with escalating challenges. Strategic weapon maintenance ultimately turns these early-game blades into formidable tools for victory.