If you’ve ever played a Souls game, you already know the Greatsword is legendary. In Elden Ring, the DLC pushes it even further—arguably making it one of the strongest PvP and invasion weapons in the game, especially for players looking to maximize efficiency and even buy Elden Ring Runes to speed up progression. This guide breaks down everything: build setup, ashes of war, talismans, and real PvP strategies so you can dominate invasions and outnumbered fights.

Why the Greatsword is S-Tier in Elden Ring DLC

The Greatsword thrives because of one key addition: crouch attacks.

Core Strengths:

· Crouch poke (pierce damage)

→ Forces panic rolls

→ Easy roll-catches

→ Wins trades due to high damage + counter bonus

· Heavy attack (R2)

→ Wide horizontal swing

→ Hits multiple enemies in ganks

→ Perfect for tight areas and invasions

· Hyper armor trading

→ You will take hits—but you’ll hit harder

In short: this weapon turns every fight into a pressure + punish game, especially against multiple opponents.

Core Playstyle

This build is all about:

· Forcing mistakes

· Roll-catching

· Winning trades

Your Game Plan:

1. Apply pressure with crouch pokes 

2. Punish rolls with delayed heavies 

3. Use Ashes of War to secure kills 

4. Control space in tight environments 

Best Ashes of War (Key Combos)

1. Storm Stomp (BEST OVERALL)

· Combo: Storm Stomp → Heavy Attack (R2)

· Massive burst damage

· One of the strongest punish tools in the game

Especially deadly in tight areas like caves or catacombs where enemies can’t escape sideways.

2. Chilling Mist (Roll Catch King)

· Applies Frostbite quickly 

· Crouch attack → roll → mist = guaranteed pressure

· Excellent vs aggressive players

3. Giant Hunt (Anti-AoE / Anti-Spam)

· Launches enemies into the air

· Great vs:

o Spell spam

o AoE users

· Can tank through attacks and punish hard

4. Waves of Darkness (Anti-Gank Tool)

· Huge AoE knockback

· Great when surrounded

· Forces space instantly

Stats (Optimized Strength Build)

Keep it simple and effective:

· Strength: 54 

o Optimal for two-handing scaling 

· Vigor: High (50–60) 

o You will trade damage

· Endurance: High 

o Needed for:

 Heavy weapon

 Poise armor

 Stamina for chaining attacks

Armor & Poise

This build requires poise.

Why?

· You’re trading hits constantly

· You need to not get staggered mid-swing 

Use heavy armor sets that let you:

· Tank hits

· Finish your attacks

· Win trades consistently

Best Talismans

Core Setup:

· Two-Handed Sword Talisman

→ Mandatory (huge damage boost)

· Erdtree’s Favor +2

→ More HP, stamina, equip load

· Bull-Goat’s Talisman

→ Increased poise (essential for trading)

Flex Slot (Depends on Ash of War):

· Storm Stomp Build

→ Retaliatory Crossed Tree (boosts crouch attacks)

· Damage Ashes (Chilling Mist / Giant Hunt)

→ Shard of Alexander (boosts skill damage)

Advanced PvP Tips (From Real Invasions)

1. Use Terrain to Your Advantage

· Tight spaces = Greatsword heaven

· Enemies can’t dodge sideways → free hits

2. Master Roll Catch Timing

· Delay your heavy attacks slightly

· Catch panic rolls consistently

3. Punish Over-Aggression

· Players rushing you = free Storm Stomp combo

· Especially effective vs gank squads

4. Control Multi-Enemy Fights

· Use wide swings to hit multiple targets

· Force enemies into each other’s hitboxes

5. Abuse Status Pressure

· Chilling Mist makes dodging harder

· Frostbite = burst damage + panic

6. Target Priority Matters

· Kill:

o Mages first (high pressure)

o Low HP phantoms

· Avoid getting surrounded

Best Situations for This Build

This build excels in:

· Catacombs (tight corridors)

· Indoor dungeons

· Elevation-heavy zones

· Narrow bridges / choke points

Struggles slightly in:

· Open fields with lots of space

· Against coordinated ranged teams

Strengths vs Weaknesses

Strengths

· Insane burst damage

· Strong roll-catching

· Excellent vs multiple enemies

· High poise trading

Weaknesses

· Slow attack speed

· Vulnerable to ranged spam

· Requires stamina management

· Needs good timing (not beginner-friendly)

Final Thoughts

The Greatsword build in Elden Ring DLC is:

· Simple to build

· Hard to master

· Devastating in the right hands

It rewards:

· Patience

· Timing

· Positioning

If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward combat where every swing matters, this is one of the most satisfying builds you can run. For players looking to accelerate their progress or gear up faster, exploring options like Elden Ring Items for sale can be helpful, and platforms such as MMOEXP are often recommended within the community for their reliability and wide selection.