Greatsword | Dark Souls Wiki

I think I might be part of a minority here but as an enjoyer giant swords I think I prefer the later renditions, it kinda suffers the same thing as the Zweihander for me though to a slightly lesser extent where it feels like a greatsword but not an ultra greatsword. It just doesn't have that weighty vibe that I love so much from this weapon class.
Mind you the Greatsword has never really been the main weapon of my playthroughs its usually one I can switch out to as ole reliable or if I need just a lil more reach.
I should however say I am not a PvP player and I'm not really the min/max type its all about the vibes and this Greatsword unfortunately falls a little short and light of the earth shattering umph that makes me feel I could challenge god, or at least whack his toe pretty good.

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"•Best used without lockoff"
How am I supposed to interpret this?

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Got damn I forgot how clean this thing looks. I totally prefer this over the massive design from ds2, ds3 and ER

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If you use this with leo ring and power within you’ll hit upwards of 1500 damage per heavy attack.

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We needed this in future games. That giant one was good too,but this one could be a variation

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golden age berk

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i like the thing in PvP. basically same deal as the zwei, its a strong backstab stick. the r1s are punishable but useful r1->kick is a safe bet if the player trys to toggle. r1 turn around is good people trying to roll backstab. however the 2h rolling r1 is very very strong, same with the zwei. but if you condition someone into getting used to the rolling r1s a 2h rolling r2 is crazy. if they try to roll it catches. its a very fun weapon

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Try guts

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I kind of prefer this design to the later versions. Not that the later ones are bad, I just wish there was something more like this too.

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It just feels like a Zweihander that requires 4 more strength. I tested it next to the Zwei for few hours each and got the same results. Also it got the RE5 Chris workout between DS1&2.

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Favorite ugs, the poke with the Leo ring is an absolute nuke, the poke has less wind up and is easier to pull off than the bkugs, and the poke gives the moveset allot more variety imo than the zwei R2s, great poise damage and overall great moveset, very similar to the claymore moveset but bigger and more stance breaky, not sure why you don't see this more when the zwei is everywhere,

Also worth noting that using this at base stat reqs with fire or lit infusion is a great way to go as the damage is great this way with not too hefty of a stat req leaving you more for the high level of endurance that will help this thing truly shine

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It's kinda sad how rarely seen this thing is compared to the Zweihander, especially when it's not really particularly worse because although it's a little heavier with slightly higher stat requirements, it's got a poke heavy attack that can't pancake enemies but can take advantage of the Leo Ring for very high counter damage and still staggers most enemies easily and has long reach, and it's just as fast and it can still pancake enemies with its running attacks and jump attacks, it has surprisingly decent guard stats which is useful for 2-handing and for grass crest shield users, it's kinda sad it's so overshadowed by the Zweihander despite being a very good sidegrade to it (or upgrade depending on the player)

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Back when it was reasonably sized.

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Hey, that sword looks great

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Anyone know how much strength and dexterity is needed to wield this thing one handed without stumbling

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That thing was too big to be called a sword.
Too big, too thick, too heavy, and too rough, it was more like a large hunk of iron.

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Looks more like a big glaidus than the Guts's pre-Dragonslayer sword.

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Ahh, the times when this beast actually looked like the Berk 'word.

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Weird how it's just called flat "Greatsword", kinda confusing since it's an Ultra-greatsword, couldn't it have been called "Black Iron Greatsword" or something more unique like that? Just to spare people the confusion

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It's funny how much weight this thing gained in the later games compared to Ds1, went from being the second-lightest Ultra Greatsword, and one of the thinnest ones with an emphasis on thrust attacks, to being a comically huge and wide sharpened 8ft long lump of metal that could hardly even be called a sword that just smashes things into tomato paste by virtue of it's sheer weight and GIRTH

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Good weapon, alternative to zweitards.

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toaster strudel machine

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This is actually my favourite weapon in the game. I know people love the claymore/zwei, but the two-handed R2 chunky poke is lovely. You still get the pancake slam from the jump attack. Rolling poke is nice to have, too. With all the thrusts you can also pair it with Leo Ring.

I also think the greatsword looks better here than in later games, where it grew to absurd sizes.

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identical to Zweihander in damage stats and scaling, slightly higher requirements and 2 extra weight, along with a later point of acquisition. However I personally consider it better for the heavy attack, which is the main difference between the two. The straight thrust with different damage typing is better than the overhead slam in certain situations. The Zwi's pancaking overhead is certainly useful, but the stagger and counter damage from the Greatsword's thrust is fantastic and the ability to jump pancake means this option is slightly more versatile. If you're using mainly r1s, the zweihander will be the better choice for the lower weight, but the heavy thrusts make this a worthwhile alternative for those who prefer using that style of attack.

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you must have GUTS to wield this sword

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I like the fact that an ultra greatsword is called "Greatsword"

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Greatsword VS Zweihander? Thinking of using an ultra greatsword and the other three take a while to obtain.

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How to self-destruct in PVP, STEP ONE: One hand this lightning and Chaos Zwei. Step 2: watch casuals cry.

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Time for guts

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Don't get me wrong, this thing's amazing, but I mainly carry it around as a toothpick.

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Just like the author here I adore this weapon. Made the switch from zwei and never went back.

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The person that wrote this article must've reeeeeeeallly liked this weapon

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Delicious.

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Nice weapon to upgrade to Lightning + 5 at Anor londo With Black Iron Build

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I don't know what you guys think but I prefer Black Iron build with +10 Flame Greatsword and Grass shield than Giant dad build. My stat is 32 strength 20 dex ( So I can use Dragonslayer Greatbow and Black Knight Halbert ) , 33 endurence, 10 attunement and what left is vitality

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I killed more backstabbing **** kickers with this than the plague. Listen, no one with any sense will just let a zwei pancake them. But they will think someone who offers their back is easy prey until they find out it’s free aimed and they’re stunlocked to death - either because they don’t know toggle escape or they’re just shocked to get caught out like that. And the thrust. This thing with a Leo ring just rinses a Manus. And if you catch someone with it in pvp - very rare- they are ****ed.

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As a big beefy too-heavy-to-carry-around sword enjoyer, I must say that I do in fact enjoy the Greatsword. And yes, I do in fact use the full Tarkus set 99% of the time. And yes, I do in fact fat roll as well.

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berserk souls

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Didn't like it at first.. now one of my favorites ultras in all 3 for various reasons... You can't go wrong with a weapon simply called GS.. Ds3s is best though, actually lives up to it's simple name stating it's "the great sword"

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Man I wish it would be this slim in DS3. I just wanna be Tarkus in it so bad. DS1 superior.

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Just a worse zwei tbh

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Gets thicker in other games

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The perfect choice for every adventurer with an inferiority complex or a much too small thing in his pants.

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Whomever wrote this article has an unhealthy obsession with the word "surprisingly".

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Pretty comparable to the Zweihander. Unfortunately, the higher strength requirement makes it generally less applicable than the Zwei.

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is this longer than the zweihander?

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This or Zweihander? Going for a high poise/high damage build. Planning on some Black Iron/Havel armor and a greatshield. But I’m stuck between these weapons.

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Put the great sword in the right hand and a parry dagger in the left. You can easily kill people in two or three hits. It might not have the range of the zweihander. But if you be a little more careful that’s not a big problem. And of course it’s good for catching backstab fishers which is THE meta.

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This sword is really good if you’re being teamed up on. It’s also amazing for catching backstab fishers. 10/10 would recommend.

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Everybody mentioning Berserk but not the fact that this thing is actually a giant roman gladius

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Used my only remaining Slab to make it +15 and never looked back. Running 2-handed 90% of the time. Love the thrusting moveset. Once you start pommeling foes into the ground and single-sweeping through packs of enemies its hard to go back to lesser tools. But where this particular sword really shines - are long reaching powerful thrusts. This will outright stagger and kill larger foes in 2-3 solid hits. It takes some practice to time your thrusts right. Target locked side-roll + quick thrust move is devastating in PvE. Only time had to switch was on Gwyn, the weapon is way too slow for him. Stabbed him to death with my trusty Halberd on a first try though.

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What a great sword!

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Put your glasses on, nothing will be wrong!

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I love doing a tarkus build in ds1 and ds3, it’s fun to play and the black iron set looks so good. Playing it in ds3 and I love it. Ds1 you need 36 end to mid roll with full tarkus’s and black iron great shield and great sword. Only difficulty in the run is getting the great sword early from the undead parish, however you can ditch it and wait till sens Fort (or glitch to get there early) and buy it and upgrade it to lightning in anor londo. This build is super op, and lasts the whole game. If you want this method works if you wanna use zweihander, maybe tarkus has a kid with a zwei. Idk but I love that build for pve

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Just got this from the Berenike Knight up top Sens.

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I have play with this weapon in DS2 and DS3 but as I'm replaying the first one I'm a bit surprised by how small it is.

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Slightly better than the zweihander, surprised I don't see it as much in the remaster. Same swing speed and virtually the same moveset, but with slightly more range for slightly more stamina and weight.

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Honestly, the fact that this weapon, called the Greatsword, is classified as an Ultra Greatsword when there is actually a weapon type called Greatsword makes me irrationally upset

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That thing was too big to be called a sword. Too big, too thick, too heavy, and too rough, it was more like a large hunk of iron.

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Divine Greatsword+5 == Easy Mode Catacombs

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You only need 19 strength to two hand the weapon

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I never found a better punisher for backstab fishers in DS. With this weapon if you master free aim, you WANT to show your back to them - only to flip around and stunlock them to death pronto. It will kill most of them in short order if they don't toggle escape. If they do toggle escape - well, they still got lit up - in your black iron armor and grass crest shield, you will have to be unpredictable and you'll have more margin for error. Just stay out of parry range and be unpredictable. Leo ring will one shot folks if you roll stab with a counter. A warpick was my preferred swap out if someone got too close - again, with the leo ring, the thrust damage is evil.

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She was surprised.

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I don't like the weapon but I do want to do a Guts cosplay

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Drops from tower knight before Gargoyles too

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Very nice weapon. My favourite UGS :)

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This, Black knight Armor, Metal Pig head and Avelyn combined, crafts the true guts. If only it were bigger, and then we could have the true resemblance of the size of the GODLY DRAGONSLAYER.

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Berserk reference on point

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Too bad they changed it appearence in Ds2 and 3. This sword looks so great in DS1.

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This thing can rock your socks off in pvp. People don't use it much these days if they ever did and that free aimed two handed swipe will wreck a backstab fisher's***** fast.

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greatsword+lightning=win

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