11-03-2025, 07:48 AM
Elden Ring has set a high bar for RPGs with its vast world, intricate lore, and deeply satisfying combat mechanics. Among the countless weapon types available, the Greatsword stands out as a fan favorite, especially for Strength builds. With its high damage potential and massive scaling with Strength, a well-crafted Greatsword build can be an absolute powerhouse in both PvE and PvP.
If you’ve chosen to wield one of these colossal blades, you’re likely looking to optimize your build for maximum damage and efficiency. This guide will break down the best Greatsword builds for Strength users, along with some tips on how to make the most out of this mighty weapon.
1. The Classic Strength Build – Pure Power
The Greatsword, much like other Strength weapons, thrives when you invest heavily into your Strength stat. With the right stats and gear, your character can deal massive damage in a single strike, cleaving through enemies and bosses alike with relative ease.
Core Stats for This Build:
Strength: Aim for at least 40-50 points in Strength for a well-rounded build. This ensures your Greatsword's full potential comes to life in terms of damage scaling. The higher your Strength, the more you’ll get out of your weapon.
Endurance: Equip your Greatsword and other heavy armor by boosting your Endurance to around 25-30. This allows for a decent carry weight and the ability to swing your weapon effectively without being overly encumbered.
Vigor: 30 Vigor is a solid target to ensure you can tank hits when you’re swinging your heavy sword around, but feel free to adjust depending on your playstyle.
Weapons and Gear:
Greatsword (or any other Strength-based Greatsword like the Ruins Greatsword): The Greatsword offers great scaling with Strength, and when fully upgraded, it’s a beast in terms of raw damage output. For an added bonus, you can consider weapons like the Ruins Greatsword for a unique moveset and extra poise-breaking power.
Armor: Go for medium to heavy armor to balance protection and mobility. The Bull-Goat Set provides unmatched poise, but you’ll sacrifice mobility, so be sure to consider what suits your style.
Talisman Choices: Equip talismans like the Radagon’s Scarseal to boost Strength, or Great-Jar’s Arsenal to increase your equip load, letting you wear heavier armor without sacrificing too much mobility.
Playstyle:
This build is all about getting in close and delivering devastating strikes. With a high Strength stat, your Greatsword will hit like a truck, especially if you focus on Charge Attacks. Combine this with a shield or medium weapon for extra defense when needed, and you’ll have the ideal strength-based warrior.
2. The Poise Tank – With Heavy Armor and Greatsword
If you’re more focused on tanking damage while dishing out heavy hits, this build is for you. Using poise to absorb enemy attacks and continuing your onslaught is incredibly effective with the Greatsword, especially against aggressive bosses and invaders in PvP.
Core Stats for This Build:
Strength: Keep Strength at a similar range as the classic build—around 40-50 points.
Endurance: This stat should be prioritized here, ideally between 30-40, so that you can wear heavy armor and keep swinging your Greatsword without getting staggered too easily.
Vigor: You’ll want your Vigor at 40 or higher. The higher Vigor combined with poise makes you nearly unstoppable in combat.
Weapons and Gear:
Greatsword (or Ruins Greatsword, which offers a unique heavy attack that can stagger enemies effectively).
Armor: The Bull-Goat Set or Exiled Set provides great poise, allowing you to stand strong against incoming attacks. The trade-off is a heavier weight, so it’s important to focus on maintaining good poise and endurance.
Talisman Choices: Equip Radagon's Scarseal to boost Strength or Clawmark Seal for better scaling if you're combining incantations with your physical build.
Playstyle:
The Poise Tank build allows you to remain aggressive even when facing overwhelming odds. When you use the Greatsword, you can simply keep attacking while your enemies struggle to stagger you. Perfect for those who love to stay in the heat of battle without worrying too much about defense.
3. The Greatsword + Incantations Hybrid Build
For players who want a bit more versatility without completely sacrificing the raw power of a Strength-based build, mixing in some Incantations can provide an excellent balance. Combining powerful melee strikes with supportive and offensive incantations can make you an extremely formidable foe.
Core Stats for This Build:
Strength: Around 40-50 points will still serve as your primary stat for damage.
Faith: Raise Faith to 25-30 points to access some of the more potent incantations. These can be used for healing, buffs, or offensive spells.
Mind: A smaller investment in Mind (around 15-20) allows you to cast a few offensive incantations, such as Flame, Grant Me Strength for added attack power or Black Flame for its high damage potential.
Weapons and Gear:
Greatsword: This remains your primary weapon. It scales exceptionally well with Strength.
**Incantation Seal (such as the Golden Sealing or Finger Seal): Choose a seal that works well with your Faith investment for casting spells in combat.
Armor: Stick with medium armor that doesn’t overly burden your stamina or mobility. You’ll likely want a good mix of defense and mobility to cast and swing your Greatsword with confidence.
Talisman Choices: The Radagon's Scarseal is a great pick for Strength, while Radagon's Scarseal also works well if you’re using incantations.
Playstyle:
This build excels at both ranged and close-quarters combat. You’ll want to alternate between powerful physical strikes and spells to keep your enemies on their toes. Incantations such as Flame, Grant Me Strength will complement your Greatsword's damage, while Golden Vow can boost your offensive capabilities.
4. Tips for Optimizing Your Greatsword Build
Buffing Up: Don’t forget to use buffs like Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength to maximize your Greatsword’s potential in battle.
Poise Breakers: The Greatsword has great poise-breaking potential with its heavy attacks, but if you encounter foes with high poise, consider using your charged R2 attacks to stagger them and create openings.
Endurance Management: Always be mindful of your stamina and equip load. With a Greatsword, every swing costs stamina, and you need to maintain enough stamina for a quick dodge or block when necessary.
Should You Buy Elden Ring Runes?
If you’re looking to supercharge your Greatsword build without spending hours farming for runes, you might wonder where to buy Elden Ring runes safely. While there are third-party websites that offer this service, always make sure you're purchasing from a reputable source to avoid scams or account bans.
Whether you're an aspiring knight or just someone who loves the sheer power of a massive sword, the Greatsword in Elden Ring offers an incredibly satisfying experience for Strength users. With a few well-chosen stat investments and some great gear, you can become an unstoppable force, capable of taking down some of the most formidable bosses and invaders the game has to offer.
If you’ve chosen to wield one of these colossal blades, you’re likely looking to optimize your build for maximum damage and efficiency. This guide will break down the best Greatsword builds for Strength users, along with some tips on how to make the most out of this mighty weapon.
1. The Classic Strength Build – Pure Power
The Greatsword, much like other Strength weapons, thrives when you invest heavily into your Strength stat. With the right stats and gear, your character can deal massive damage in a single strike, cleaving through enemies and bosses alike with relative ease.
Core Stats for This Build:
Strength: Aim for at least 40-50 points in Strength for a well-rounded build. This ensures your Greatsword's full potential comes to life in terms of damage scaling. The higher your Strength, the more you’ll get out of your weapon.
Endurance: Equip your Greatsword and other heavy armor by boosting your Endurance to around 25-30. This allows for a decent carry weight and the ability to swing your weapon effectively without being overly encumbered.
Vigor: 30 Vigor is a solid target to ensure you can tank hits when you’re swinging your heavy sword around, but feel free to adjust depending on your playstyle.
Weapons and Gear:
Greatsword (or any other Strength-based Greatsword like the Ruins Greatsword): The Greatsword offers great scaling with Strength, and when fully upgraded, it’s a beast in terms of raw damage output. For an added bonus, you can consider weapons like the Ruins Greatsword for a unique moveset and extra poise-breaking power.
Armor: Go for medium to heavy armor to balance protection and mobility. The Bull-Goat Set provides unmatched poise, but you’ll sacrifice mobility, so be sure to consider what suits your style.
Talisman Choices: Equip talismans like the Radagon’s Scarseal to boost Strength, or Great-Jar’s Arsenal to increase your equip load, letting you wear heavier armor without sacrificing too much mobility.
Playstyle:
This build is all about getting in close and delivering devastating strikes. With a high Strength stat, your Greatsword will hit like a truck, especially if you focus on Charge Attacks. Combine this with a shield or medium weapon for extra defense when needed, and you’ll have the ideal strength-based warrior.
2. The Poise Tank – With Heavy Armor and Greatsword
If you’re more focused on tanking damage while dishing out heavy hits, this build is for you. Using poise to absorb enemy attacks and continuing your onslaught is incredibly effective with the Greatsword, especially against aggressive bosses and invaders in PvP.
Core Stats for This Build:
Strength: Keep Strength at a similar range as the classic build—around 40-50 points.
Endurance: This stat should be prioritized here, ideally between 30-40, so that you can wear heavy armor and keep swinging your Greatsword without getting staggered too easily.
Vigor: You’ll want your Vigor at 40 or higher. The higher Vigor combined with poise makes you nearly unstoppable in combat.
Weapons and Gear:
Greatsword (or Ruins Greatsword, which offers a unique heavy attack that can stagger enemies effectively).
Armor: The Bull-Goat Set or Exiled Set provides great poise, allowing you to stand strong against incoming attacks. The trade-off is a heavier weight, so it’s important to focus on maintaining good poise and endurance.
Talisman Choices: Equip Radagon's Scarseal to boost Strength or Clawmark Seal for better scaling if you're combining incantations with your physical build.
Playstyle:
The Poise Tank build allows you to remain aggressive even when facing overwhelming odds. When you use the Greatsword, you can simply keep attacking while your enemies struggle to stagger you. Perfect for those who love to stay in the heat of battle without worrying too much about defense.
3. The Greatsword + Incantations Hybrid Build
For players who want a bit more versatility without completely sacrificing the raw power of a Strength-based build, mixing in some Incantations can provide an excellent balance. Combining powerful melee strikes with supportive and offensive incantations can make you an extremely formidable foe.
Core Stats for This Build:
Strength: Around 40-50 points will still serve as your primary stat for damage.
Faith: Raise Faith to 25-30 points to access some of the more potent incantations. These can be used for healing, buffs, or offensive spells.
Mind: A smaller investment in Mind (around 15-20) allows you to cast a few offensive incantations, such as Flame, Grant Me Strength for added attack power or Black Flame for its high damage potential.
Weapons and Gear:
Greatsword: This remains your primary weapon. It scales exceptionally well with Strength.
**Incantation Seal (such as the Golden Sealing or Finger Seal): Choose a seal that works well with your Faith investment for casting spells in combat.
Armor: Stick with medium armor that doesn’t overly burden your stamina or mobility. You’ll likely want a good mix of defense and mobility to cast and swing your Greatsword with confidence.
Talisman Choices: The Radagon's Scarseal is a great pick for Strength, while Radagon's Scarseal also works well if you’re using incantations.
Playstyle:
This build excels at both ranged and close-quarters combat. You’ll want to alternate between powerful physical strikes and spells to keep your enemies on their toes. Incantations such as Flame, Grant Me Strength will complement your Greatsword's damage, while Golden Vow can boost your offensive capabilities.
4. Tips for Optimizing Your Greatsword Build
Buffing Up: Don’t forget to use buffs like Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength to maximize your Greatsword’s potential in battle.
Poise Breakers: The Greatsword has great poise-breaking potential with its heavy attacks, but if you encounter foes with high poise, consider using your charged R2 attacks to stagger them and create openings.
Endurance Management: Always be mindful of your stamina and equip load. With a Greatsword, every swing costs stamina, and you need to maintain enough stamina for a quick dodge or block when necessary.
Should You Buy Elden Ring Runes?
If you’re looking to supercharge your Greatsword build without spending hours farming for runes, you might wonder where to buy Elden Ring runes safely. While there are third-party websites that offer this service, always make sure you're purchasing from a reputable source to avoid scams or account bans.
Whether you're an aspiring knight or just someone who loves the sheer power of a massive sword, the Greatsword in Elden Ring offers an incredibly satisfying experience for Strength users. With a few well-chosen stat investments and some great gear, you can become an unstoppable force, capable of taking down some of the most formidable bosses and invaders the game has to offer.