Elden Ring, the sprawling epic from FromSoftware, is renowned for its challenging gameplay, captivating lore, and of course, its impressive arsenal of weapons. Among these, the colossal swords stand out, not just for their damage potential, but also for their sheer size and imposing presence. But which of these behemoths claims the title of the “biggest” in the Lands Between? The answer isn’t as straightforward as simply measuring length; several factors contribute to the perception of size and overall impact.
Defining “Biggest”: More Than Just Length
When we talk about the biggest sword, we need to consider several factors. Length is definitely a key element, but weight, blade width, and even the character’s animations when wielding the weapon play a role in the overall impression of size. A long, thin sword might technically be longer than a shorter, broader one, but the latter could feel and appear much more substantial. The visual impact on the player’s character and the enemies they face is also crucial.
Weight And Stat Requirements
The weight of a colossal sword often dictates its power and the stat requirements needed to wield it effectively. Heavier swords typically require higher Strength and Endurance stats, reflecting the immense physical power needed to swing them. These heavy weapons often stagger enemies more easily and deal greater poise damage, making them formidable choices for players who favor a strength-based build.
Weapon Art And Special Attacks
Each colossal sword boasts a unique weapon art, further enhancing its individuality and impact. These special attacks often involve powerful swings, ground slams, or other visually impressive maneuvers that amplify the sense of size and power. The effectiveness of these weapon arts is tied to the sword’s stats and scaling, making them a crucial factor in choosing the right colossal sword for your playstyle.
The Contenders: Examining Elden Ring’s Colossal Swords
Several colossal swords vie for the title of “biggest” in Elden Ring. Each has unique characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. Let’s delve into the most prominent contenders and analyze their size, weight, and overall impact.
Greatsword: The Classic Colossus
The Greatsword is often the first colossal sword that players encounter. Its straightforward design and relatively low stat requirements make it accessible early in the game. While not the absolute largest in terms of raw length, its broad blade and considerable weight contribute to a satisfying sense of impact. Its weapon art, Stamp (Upward Cut), provides a powerful attack that can stagger even heavily armored enemies.
Ruins Greatsword: A Gravity-Defying Weapon
The Ruins Greatsword stands out with its unique design and gravity-based weapon art, Wave of Destruction. This special attack unleashes a powerful shockwave that deals significant damage and can knock down opponents. While its length is comparable to the Greatsword, the Ruins Greatsword feels significantly larger due to its visual design and the scale of its weapon art.
Starscourge Greatsword: Radahn’s Legacy
The Starscourge Greatsword, obtained by defeating Starscourge Radahn, is a pair of colossal swords wielded simultaneously. While individually they might not be the largest, the fact that the player wields two of them contributes to an overwhelming sense of size and power. Its weapon art, Starcaller Cry, pulls enemies towards the player before unleashing a devastating series of attacks.
Royal Greatsword: A Tale Of Moonlight
The Royal Greatsword is a weapon steeped in lore, associated with Ranni the Witch. Its weapon art, Waves of Darkness, unleashes a series of ethereal waves that deal magic damage. Its length is notable, and its unique design further enhances its visual impact. It’s often considered one of the more elegant colossal swords.
Godslayer’s Greatsword: Black Flame Power
The Godslayer’s Greatsword is a unique colossal sword imbued with black flame. Its weapon art, The Queen’s Black Flame, deals fire damage and inflicts the Black Flame effect, which drains a portion of the enemy’s health over time. While not the longest, its distinctive design and potent weapon art make it a popular choice.
Ghiza’s Wheel: A Macabre Grinder
Ghiza’s Wheel stands out due to its unique design. It is essentially a giant wheel studded with blades. Its weapon art, Spinning Wheel, causes the wheel to spin rapidly, dealing continuous damage and inflicting bleed buildup. Its unique appearance contributes to the overall feeling of size and brutality.
Troll Knight’s Sword: A Frosty Giant
The Troll Knight’s Sword is a colossal sword dropped by Troll Knights. It’s known for its ice buildup and decent physical damage. The weapon art, Troll’s Roar, increases attack power and adds frost buildup to attacks. It is longer than the Greatsword, contributing to its overall size.
Watchdog’s Greatsword: Stone-Cold Killer
The Watchdog’s Greatsword is a stone colossal sword. It offers solid physical damage and benefits from Strength scaling. Its weapon art, Wild Strikes, allows for a series of rapid attacks. While not as visually imposing as some other colossal swords, its sheer mass makes it feel substantial.
Great Club: A Different Kind Of “Sword”
While technically a colossal weapon classified as a great club, the Great Club often finds itself compared to colossal swords due to its size and strength-based playstyle. It boasts high damage output and excellent poise damage. Its weapon art, Braggart’s Roar, increases attack power and boosts poise. Although not a sword in the traditional sense, it certainly fits the “biggest weapon” category for many players.
Duelist’s Greataxe: Another Axe In The Fray
Similar to the Great Club, the Duelist’s Greataxe is also a colossal weapon. It can inflict bleed buildup on enemies. Its weapon art, Endure, provides temporary invincibility. This axe isn’t a sword, but its size and impact give it consideration alongside the colossal blades.
Prelate’s Inferno Crozier: A Fiery Hammer
The Prelate’s Inferno Crozier is yet another entry which isn’t a sword. However, its size and strength-focus deserves a mention. The hammer weapon art, Prelate’s Charge, allows you to charge while spewing flames.
The Verdict: Deciding The True Champion
So, which colossal sword truly reigns supreme as the “biggest” in Elden Ring? The answer, as is often the case in Elden Ring, is subjective and depends on your criteria.
If we’re strictly talking about length, the Troll Knight’s Sword likely takes the crown. However, sheer length isn’t everything. The Starscourge Greatsword, while technically two separate swords, offers an unmatched sense of scale and power due to the fact that you wield two colossal weapons simultaneously. The Ruins Greatsword also makes a strong case with its visually striking design and gravity-defying weapon art.
Ultimately, the “biggest” sword is the one that feels the most impactful and satisfying to you. Experiment with different colossal swords, consider your playstyle, and find the weapon that truly embodies the spirit of a colossal champion. The best “biggest” sword is the one that helps you conquer the Lands Between.
The game focuses a lot on player choice so there is no universally correct answer. However, the discussion and exploration into the game’s weapons is a fun journey for any Elden Ring player. Remember to experiment with different builds and ashes of war to tailor these massive weapons to your individual play style. Strength builds will always be a viable option to use these weapons.
What Criteria Determine The “biggest” Sword In Elden Ring?
The “biggest” sword in Elden Ring can be interpreted in a couple of ways. First, it can refer to the sword with the longest physical length, measured from the tip of the blade to the end of the hilt. Second, it can refer to the sword that requires the highest stat requirements to wield effectively, implying its sheer size and weight necessitates immense strength and skill. Most discussions, however, focus on the visual and practical length of the sword in-game.
While raw damage output contributes to a sword’s overall power, size in this context primarily addresses the sword’s physical dimensions and the visual impact it has on the player character and the environment. This focuses on the awe-inspiring feeling of wielding an enormous weapon and how it affects gameplay through its reach and attack patterns. A sword can be “big” even if other weapons deal more damage per hit.
Which Sword Is Widely Considered The Largest In Elden Ring?
The Ruins Greatsword is commonly considered the largest sword in Elden Ring. Its imposing size is immediately apparent when equipped, dwarfing the Tarnished and leaving a lasting impression. Its unique weapon skill, Wave of Destruction, further amplifies its presence, sending out a devastating arc of energy that adds to its overall intimidating nature.
The Ruins Greatsword is not only massive in terms of length, but its weight and required stats (Strength 50, Intelligence 16) also contribute to its feeling of being a colossal weapon. While other swords might have comparable damage output, the Ruins Greatsword’s sheer size and the visual spectacle it creates during combat cement its place as one of the largest and most memorable weapons in the game.
What Are The Primary Advantages Of Using A Large Sword In Elden Ring?
The primary advantage of using a large sword in Elden Ring is its exceptional range. The extended reach allows players to strike enemies from a safe distance, keeping them out of melee range and minimizing the risk of taking damage. This advantage is particularly useful against slower enemies or those with predictable attack patterns.
Another significant benefit of large swords is their impressive poise damage. Poise, which affects an enemy’s ability to be staggered or interrupted, is easily broken by the heavy attacks of large swords. This allows players to consistently interrupt enemy attacks, creating openings for further damage and controlling the flow of combat.
Are There Any Disadvantages To Wielding A Colossal Sword Like The Ruins Greatsword?
Yes, wielding a colossal sword like the Ruins Greatsword comes with significant drawbacks. The most notable disadvantage is its slow attack speed. The heavy weight and size of the weapon mean attacks take longer to execute, leaving the player vulnerable to counterattacks during the animation wind-up and recovery.
Furthermore, colossal swords typically consume a large amount of stamina with each swing. This limits the number of attacks a player can perform consecutively and can lead to exhaustion if stamina management is not carefully considered. Players need to invest heavily in Endurance to mitigate this issue.
What Stats Are Most Important For Building A Character Around A Colossal Sword?
The most crucial stat for building a character around a colossal sword is Strength. These weapons require a high Strength attribute to wield effectively and benefit greatly from Strength scaling, increasing their attack power with each level. Reaching the minimum Strength requirement is essential, and further investment maximizes damage output.
Endurance is the second most important stat. Colossal swords consume significant stamina with each swing, so a high Endurance stat is necessary to maintain consistent attacks and avoid becoming exhausted in the middle of combat. Vitality is also useful, as the player will likely be trading blows and needs to withstand more damage.
How Does The Zweihander Compare In Size To Other Colossal Swords?
While often considered a “greatsword,” the Zweihander is surprisingly large and can be considered on the smaller end of the “colossal sword” spectrum due to its length and stance. It offers a good balance between size, weight, and swing speed, making it a more accessible option than some of the truly massive weapons.
Compared to the Ruins Greatsword, for example, the Zweihander is noticeably shorter and lighter, requiring significantly less Strength to wield. It trades some of the sheer visual impact and stagger potential for quicker attacks and lower stamina consumption, making it a versatile choice for players who want a large weapon without the extreme drawbacks.
Where Can I Find The Ruins Greatsword In Elden Ring?
The Ruins Greatsword is obtained by defeating the Misbegotten Warrior and Crucible Knight boss duo in Redmane Castle Plaza, located in the Caelid region. This boss fight is part of the Radahn Festival event, so you may need to progress through other questlines to trigger the festival and access the fight.
Specifically, ensure you have visited Altus Plateau, either by using the Grand Lift of Dectus or traversing the Ruin-Strewn Precipice. This typically triggers the festival event at Redmane Castle, allowing you to challenge the boss duo and claim the Ruins Greatsword as your reward.