You’ve seen it. That slab of rusted iron that looks more like a bridge girder than a blade. Most people call it the "Guts Sword" because, well, it’s a dead ringer for the Dragonslayer from Berserk. But in the world of the Lands Between, it’s just the Greatsword.
Despite the name, it's actually a Colossal Sword. Using a heavy greatsword elden ring setup is basically a rite of passage for Strength purists. It’s huge. It’s heavy. It’s glorious. Honestly, if you aren't pancaking a Banished Knight with a jumping heavy attack at least once per session, are you even playing the game?
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But here’s the thing: most players just slap on the Heavy affinity and think they’re done. They miss the nuances that turn this hunk of iron from a slow, clunky liability into a surgical tool of absolute destruction.
Where the Hell Do You Find It?
If you’re starting a fresh run in 2026, you probably want this thing yesterday. You don't have to wait. You can get it within ten minutes of stepping out into Limgrave if you have the nerves for it.
Basically, you need to ride your horse, Torrent, straight into the nightmare fuel known as Caelid. Follow the main road northeast from the Rotview Balcony. You’ll see a carriage—one of those big black hearses—surrounded by those monstrous, oversized dogs with the T-rex heads.
Don't fight them. Seriously. Just ride up to the back of the carriage, hop off, loot the chest, and get out of there. The heavy greatsword elden ring requirements are 31 Strength and 12 Dexterity. If you two-hand it, you only actually need 21 Strength to meet the requirement.
That’s the beauty of it. You can use it almost immediately.
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Why Heavy Affinity is the Only Choice
Look, you can make this sword Magic. You can make it Cold. You can even make it Bleed. But if you want to see those "A" and "S" scaling letters that make Strength builds drool, you go Heavy.
When you apply the Heavy affinity using an Ash of War, you’re telling the game to ignore your Dexterity and put all that scaling weight onto your Strength. By the time you hit +25, a heavy greatsword elden ring build is hitting like a literal freight train.
The Hidden Stat: Physical Block
One thing nobody talks about is that this sword is basically a shield. It has an 84% physical damage negation. If you’re two-handing it and you find yourself in a corner, just hold the block button. You’ll take a tiny bit of chip damage, but you’ll stay standing.
Pair this with the Curved Sword Talisman, and your guard counters will start deleting health bars. It’s a very safe way to play a supposedly "risky" slow weapon.
The Best Ashes of War (Beyond Lion’s Claw)
Everyone uses Lion’s Claw. We get it. It’s amazing. You do a front flip, you smash the ground, and you have infinite poise during the animation. It’s the "I win" button for most bosses.
But if you want to actually get good at the heavy greatsword elden ring playstyle, you need variety.
- Giant Hunt: This is the ultimate "get out of my face" move. It has a massive upward thrust that launches humanoid enemies—even NPC invaders—into the air. It’s hilarious and effective.
- Cragblade: If you want to lean into the "Iron Lump" fantasy, this is it. You coat your sword in rocks. It increases your physical damage and, more importantly, your stance break potential. You’ll be hearing that clink of a staggered boss every three or four hits.
- Savage Lion's Claw: For those who have the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, this is the upgraded version. It allows for a follow-up slam. More damage, more style.
Stats and Breakpoints
Don't just dump everything into Strength. You’ll die.
You need Vigor. 60 Vigor is the gold standard for late-game Elden Ring. If you have 40 Vigor, you’re going to get one-shot by Malenia or any of the DLC bosses like Messmer.
Endurance is your second most important stat. This sword weighs 23 units. That is massive. To wear decent armor (like the Solitude set or the Bull-Goat set) and still be able to medium roll, you’re going to need at least 30 to 40 Endurance.
Then there’s the Strength cap.
- 54 Strength: This is the "soft" sweet spot. When you two-hand the weapon, your Strength is effectively multiplied by 1.5, which puts you at 81.
- 80 Strength: If you plan on one-handing the sword with a shield, this is where you stop.
The PvP Reality Check
Using a heavy greatsword elden ring in PvP is a game of psychology. You are slow. Your opponent knows you are slow. If you just swing wildly, you will get parried or backstabbed.
The "Crouch Poke" used to be the meta. It’s still good, but people expect it now. The real secret is the rolling R1 (light attack). It’s a fast horizontal swipe that catches people trying to roll around you.
Also, try the Royal Knight's Resolve Ash of War. It buffs your next hit by about 60%. If you land a jumping heavy attack with that active, the fight is usually over. One hit. That’s all you need.
Essential Gear for the Build
You can't just carry the sword; you need the right jewelry.
- Great-Jar's Arsenal: You need this for the equip load. Period.
- Shard of Alexander: Boosts your Ash of War damage. Essential for Lion's Claw or Giant Hunt.
- Claw Talisman: If you like jumping attacks (and you should), this is a 15% damage boost.
- Two-Handed Sword Talisman: Added in the DLC, this specifically buffs the damage of weapons when two-handed. It’s a must-have.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re ready to master the heavy greatsword elden ring, start by grabbing the weapon in Caelid. Level your Strength to 31 and your Vigor to 30 as your first priority. Head to Fort Gael in Caelid to kill the Lion Guardian and get the Lion's Claw Ash of War.
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Once you have that setup, go to the Weeping Peninsula and find the Green Turtle Talisman in Summonwater Village. Your stamina is your lifeblood with a weapon this heavy; you need it to recover fast. From there, it's just a matter of timing. Learn to wait for the opening, then drop the hammer. Or, in this case, the giant hunk of iron.