If you’ve spent any time in Caelid, you’ve seen it. You’ve probably died next to it. Tucked away in the back of a rotted carriage, surrounded by those terrifying, oversized "T-Rex" dogs, sits a slab of iron that looks way too heavy for a human to lift. This is the Elden Ring Berserk sword, officially known in-game as the Greatsword. It isn't just a weapon; it's a massive, rusted tribute to Kentaro Miura, the creator of the Berserk manga, who passed away before the game’s release.
Hidetaka Miyazaki, the mastermind behind FromSoftware, has never really hidden his obsession with Berserk. From the armor sets in Dark Souls to the literal "Beast of Darkness" vibes of Maliketh, the DNA of Guts—the Black Swordsman—is everywhere. But this specific colossal sword is the most direct nod. It looks almost identical to the Dragonslayer, the hunk of iron Guts uses to cleave demons in half.
Why people call it the Elden Ring Berserk sword instead of its real name
It’s actually kind of funny. The item is literally called "Greatsword," which is confusing because there is an entire category of weapons called greatswords. This weapon is a Colossal Sword. But nobody calls it the Greatsword. If you’re looking up build guides or watching streamers, it’s always "the Guts sword" or the Elden Ring Berserk sword.
The description even hints at its legendary status. It says it was used by a hero of exceptional strength to slay enemies in a way that defied the laws of physics. That's Guts. Plain and simple. It’s a piece of raw iron, barely forged, more of a club with a sharp edge than a refined blade. That’s exactly why people love it. There is something fundamentally satisfying about hitting a demigod with a metal surfboard and watching their poise bar absolutely shatter.
Getting the sword without losing your mind
Most players stumble upon it far too early. You’re riding Torrent through the red, hellish landscape of Caelid, everything is trying to kill you, and you see that caravan.
The Greatsword is located in the back of a black carriage on the road heading toward Caelid from Limgrave. It’s near the Rotview Balcony Site of Grace.
Here is the thing: those dogs are faster than you think. Honestly, the best way to get it early is a suicide run. Ride in on Torrent, jump onto the back of the carriage, loot the chest, and if you die, you die. You keep the sword. You need 31 Strength to even hold it properly with one hand, or roughly 21 Strength if you’re two-handing it. If you’re playing a Hero or Vagabond, you can basically use this thing before you even fight Margit if you put a few points into Strength.
The technical side of the slab
It’s heavy. 23.0 units heavy. That’s a lot of equip load.
You can't just slap this on and expect to roll around like a ninja unless you’ve pumped points into Endurance or you’re wearing the Great-Jar's Arsenal talisman. But the payoff is the scaling. When you upgrade this thing to +25 and put a "Heavy" affinity on it, the Strength scaling hits an A rank. It’s one of the most efficient weapons in the game for pure Strength builds because it has a massive reach and some of the highest stagger potential in the Lands Between.
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The move set that makes you feel like a manga protagonist
If you’ve never used a Colossal Sword in an Elden Ring playthrough, the speed might shock you. It’s slow. Like, really slow.
But it has a secret weapon: the crouch poke.
If you press the light attack button while crouching or immediately after a roll, your character thrusts the sword forward with incredible speed. In the early days of the game, this was actually "broken" in PvP because it came out so fast and had so much range. FromSoftware eventually nerfed the speed slightly, but it’s still the most reliable move in your kit.
The jumping heavy attack is the other bread and butter. You leap into the air, bring the entire weight of the Elden Ring Berserk sword down on a boss's head, and usually, after two or three of those, they’re down for a critical hit. It turns the game into a rhythm of finding that one opening and making it count for 2,000 damage.
Ash of War: Lion's Claw is the only choice
If you want the true Berserk experience, you have to find the Lion's Claw Ash of War. You get it from the Lion Guardian in Fort Gael, which is also in Caelid.
This move makes you perform a front-flip somersault and slam the sword down. It’s a direct reference to Artorias from Dark Souls, who was also inspired by Guts. When you put Lion's Claw on the Greatsword, you become nearly unstoppable during the animation. You get massive "hyper armor," meaning even if a boss hits you mid-flip, you won't get knocked out of the air. You just trade damage, and usually, you win that trade.
Why this weapon actually makes the game easier (and harder)
There is a misconception that big swords make the game easy mode. Sorta.
It makes trash mobs easy. Most knights and smaller enemies will get staggered by a single light attack. You can basically "stunlock" them to death. However, for fast bosses like Malenia or Maliketh, using the Elden Ring Berserk sword requires a lot of patience. You can't just mash buttons. If you swing at the wrong time, you’re stuck in a three-second recovery animation while the boss carves you up.
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It forces you to learn the boss's internal clock. You aren't looking for three hits; you’re looking for one.
Customizing your Guts build
If you really want to lean into the theme, you need the right fashion. Most people pair the Greatsword with the Night's Cavalry set (found in the Consecrated Snowfield) because it’s black, jagged, and looks exactly like the Berserker Armor.
- Talisman 1: Great-Jar's Arsenal (to carry the weight).
- Talisman 2: Claw Talisman (boosts those jumping attacks).
- Talisman 3: Shard of Alexander (makes Lion's Claw hit like a nuclear bomb).
- Talisman 4: Erdtree's Favor +2 (for HP and Stamina).
You basically ignore Dexterity. You ignore Intelligence. You put everything into Vigor, Endurance, and Strength. It’s a simple life, but it’s a fun one.
The community obsession with the Dragonslayer
Why does this one weapon have such a cult following?
It’s about the legacy. Kentaro Miura’s work influenced an entire generation of dark fantasy. When he passed away in 2021, the gaming community felt it deeply. Elden Ring was released less than a year later. For many players, carrying the Elden Ring Berserk sword wasn't just about the meta or the damage stats. It was a tribute.
You’ll often see messages on the ground near the carriage that say "praise the message" or "could this be a hero?" with people performing the "Dejection" or "Prayer" gestures. It’s a rare moment of genuine emotion in a game that usually tries to kill you every five minutes.
Dealing with the "weight" of the build
If you’re struggling with the Greatsword because it’s too slow, try two-handing it.
Seriously. Never use this sword with a shield. It’s a waste. When you two-hand a weapon in Elden Ring, your Strength is effectively multiplied by 1.5. This allows you to hit the "soft cap" for damage much earlier. Plus, the guard-boost on the Greatsword is actually decent. You can use the blade itself to block in a pinch, and the guard-counter (the heavy attack you perform after blocking) is devastatingly fast for a weapon of this size.
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Common mistakes to avoid:
- Not leveling Endurance: You’ll swing twice and be out of breath. You need at least 25–30 Endurance to make this build viable for long boss fights.
- Using the wrong affinity: Don't put "Quality" on it unless your Strength and Dexterity are both over 50. Keep it "Heavy" for the best results.
- Ignoring the reach: The Greatsword is longer than it looks. You can often hit bosses while standing just outside their "get away from me" attacks.
How to optimize for the late game
By the time you reach the Mountaintops of the Giants, the enemies have massive health pools. You might feel like the Greatsword is falling off. It isn't. You just need to leverage buffs.
Using the "Flame, Grant Me Strength" incantation (which only requires 15 Faith) gives you a 20% physical damage boost. Combine that with the "Golden Vow" Ash of War on a small dagger in your second slot, and your Elden Ring Berserk sword will be hitting for astronomical numbers even in New Game Plus.
Honestly, there are "better" weapons in terms of raw DPS (damage per second). Blasphemous Blade is technically more "broken" because it heals you. Rivers of Blood is faster. But nothing feels as visceral as the Greatsword. It’s a pure test of timing and positioning.
Moving forward with your Strength build
If you’re ready to commit to the path of the Black Swordsman, your next steps are simple. First, get to Caelid and grab the slab from the carriage near the Rotview Balcony. Don't worry about the dogs—just run. Once you have it, focus your level-ups exclusively on Vigor and Strength until Vigor is at 40 and Strength is at 31.
Head to Fort Gael to snag the Lion's Claw Ash of War. This will be your primary way of dealing with tough "Elite" enemies like Crucible Knights or Banished Knights. From there, your goal is to find Smithing Stones. The Greatsword uses standard Smithing Stones, not Somber ones, so you’ll need a lot of them (12 of each tier) to reach +25.
Search for the "Bell Bearings" in various mines across the map so you can eventually buy these stones infinitely from the Twin Maiden Husks in the Roundtable Hold. Once your weapon is at +15 or higher, you'll start to see the A-rank scaling kick in, and the game changes completely. You stop being the victim in the Lands Between and start being the one who does the clobbering.
For the true Guts experience, seek out the Night's Cavalry armor set later in the game. It’s the perfect aesthetic match for a warrior who refuses to die, no matter how many gods are thrown their way. Apply a Heavy infusion at any Site of Grace, and keep your carry weight at "Medium" to ensure you can still roll effectively.
The Greatsword remains a top-tier pick even after multiple balance patches because its fundamental mechanics—range, stagger, and raw power—are timeless. It’s a fitting tribute to a manga legend and a powerhouse in the hands of any player willing to master its heavy, rhythmic playstyle.