User:LaChoseNouvelle/Ad placement test Greatswords split | Dark Souls 3

Greatswords are a high damage, long reach weapon class. Plan to put a decent amount of points into Strength if you plan to use these weapons. They have various weapon Skills ranging from Stomp to Stance to unique Skills.

In terms of damage output per stamina expended, Greatswords are easily the best value weapon category, and they are a good choice for PvE builds as a result. Things to keep in mind when using these in PvP:

1. They have less range compared to Spears/Halberds, Greataxes, and Ultra Greatswords.
2. The startup to their attacks is markedly slower compared to Straight Swords, Axes, and other smaller weapons.
3. Despite the visual being a thrusting attack, the weapon art heavy deals standard damage (slash for the Flamberge) unless the Greatsword has a thrusting neutral heavy.

Highest base attack Greatswords in Dark Souls 3

The 7 greatswords in this group have the highest base physical attack in the class, 138 to 173. Base attack is only a starting point: the columns below list the stat requirements, parameter bonuses, weight and skill for each one, and the infusion and upgrade paths on the individual weapon pages will change these numbers considerably. Begins with Claymore, Bastard Sword, Hollowslayer Greatsword.

Name & Icon	Attack Power Damage Reduction (%)							Requirements Param Bonus				Durability / Weight - Attack Type - Skill
													Skill	Acquired From
Claymore	138 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 35	-	16 D	13 D	0 -	0 -	75 9.0	- (17/20) Stance	In High Wall of Lothric. Beneath the living dragon. Dropped by enemies wielding it in Irithyll
Bastard Sword	138 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 35	-	16 D	10 D	0 -	0 -	75 8.0	12 (-/15) Stomp	Sold by Greirat of the Undead Settlement
Hollowslayer Greatsword	145 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 35	-	14 D	18 C	0 -	0 -	70 8.5	- (17/20) Stance	Soul Transposition using Soul of the Rotted Greatwood for 1,000 Souls
Black Knight Sword	173 55	0 40	0 40	0 35	0 40	100 40	-	20 D	18 D	0 -	0 -	100 10.0	10 (-/-) Perseverance	Looted at Smouldering Lake
Flamberge	158 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 35	33	15 D	14 D	0 -	0 -	100 8.5	- (17/20) Stance	Dropped by the thieves wielding the sword at Undead Settlement
Wolnir's Holy Sword	151 45	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 45	100 30	-	13 D	13 E	0 -	13 D	70 7.5	30( -/ -) Wrath of the Gods	Soul Transposition using Soul of High Lord Wolnir
Gael's Greatsword	147 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 40	-	19 C	13 D	0 -	0 -	50 9.0	8(17/17) Blade of Peril	Obtained via Soul Transposition from the Soul of Slave Knight Gael

Mid-range Greatswords in Dark Souls 3

The 4 greatswords in this group sit at 118 to 131 base physical attack, between the highest and lowest in the class. Check the requirement and parameter bonus columns alongside the raw damage — a weapon that scales well with the stats a build already invests in can outperform one with a higher base. Begins with Executioner's Greatsword, Wolf Knight's Greatsword, Firelink Greatsword.

Name & Icon	Attack Power Damage Reduction (%)							Requirements Param Bonus				Durability / Weight - Attack Type - Skill
													Skill	Acquired From
Executioner's Greatsword	131 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 40	-	19 C	13 E	0 -	0 -	85 9.0	12 (-/-) Stomp	Looted at Cathedral of the Deep
Wolf Knight's Greatsword	126 55	0 40	0 35	0 35	0 40	100 40	-	24 C	18 D	0 -	0 -	95 11.5	-(19/23) Wolf Sword	Soul Transposition using Soul of the Blood of the Wolf
Firelink Greatsword	119 55	0 35	80 40	0 30	0 35	100 40	-	20 D	10 D	10 -	10 -	105 9.0	25(-/-) Ember (Skill)	Soul Transposition using Soul of the Lords
Twin Princes' Greatsword	118 55	0 35	73 30	0 30	0 35	100 40	-	22 D	14 D	0 D	0 D	95 9.5	22 / 22 Sacred Light and Flame	Trading Lothric's Holy Sword and Lorian's Greatsword at Ludleth of Courland

Lowest base attack Greatswords in Dark Souls 3

The 5 greatswords in this group have the lowest base physical attack in the class, 69 to 110. A lower base does not make a weapon weaker in practice — moveset, weight, skill and scaling all matter, and several weapons in this range become competitive once infused or upgraded. The columns below give the full picture. Begins with Greatsword of Judgment, Moonlight Greatsword, Storm Ruler.

Name & Icon	Attack Power Damage Reduction (%)							Requirements Param Bonus				Durability / Weight - Attack Type - Skill
													Skill	Acquired From
Greatsword of Judgment	101 50	67 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 40	-	17 D	15 D	12 D	- -	85 9.0	Stance of Judgment	Soul Transposition using Soul of Pontiff Sulyvahn
Moonlight Greatsword	69 55	130 60	0 35	0 35	0 40	100 40	-	16 E	11 -	26 C	0 -	75 10.5	18(-/-) Moonlight Vortex	Soul Transposition using Soul of Consumed Oceiros
Storm Ruler	110 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	0 35	100 35	-	0 D	0 D	0 -	0 -	10 8.0	-(20/20) Storm King	Found in the boss room for Yhorm the Giant/ Completing Siegward of Catarina's questline
Drakeblood Greatsword	83 50	65 35	0 30	65 30	0 35	100 35	-	18 D	16 D	0 -	0 -	75 6.0	- (17/20) Stance	Dropped by knight NPC in Archdragon Peak.
Onyx Blade	80 50	0 35	0 30	0 30	115 35	100 35	-	14 E	12 E	15 D	15 D	75 9.0	19 (-/-) Elfriede's Blackflame	Ashes of Ariandel DLC: Dropped by Sir Vilhelm