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Across every installment of Dark Souls, greatswords are one of the most popular weapon families – with DS1 being no different.
They’re reliable, straight-forward, and deal a ton of damage. And many can be infused to fit any build you want!
But nothing in the world of Dark Souls is straightforward – especially DS1.
Be it because of scalings, special abilities, base damage, or a whole host of other factors, some greatswords are just simply worse than others…
So let’s take a look at them all, shall we?
13. Crystal Greatsword
Kicking us off is the crystal greatsword, and whoo boy is this thing the definition of niche.
Available early/mid game, this weapon has decently low requirements and deals a good bit of damage for how early you get it, but…
It cannot be repaired, cannot be upgraded, and cannot be infused. What you see is what you get, period.
Outside of very specific circumstances, this greatsword will be outshined by any other choice.
How to get: Sold by Domhnall, first met in the depths.
12. Greatsword of Artorias (Cursed)
Not to be confused with the other GoA, this cursed variant may boast decent base damage and good scalings. But do not be fooled!
With C-scaling in every combat stat, you would need to invest evenly in every one of them to get any decent results from this weapon.
And worse still are its incredibly fiddly requirements of 24/18/18/18 strength/dex/int/faith, making even using this thing a pain.
Outside of its extremely situational passive of being able to damage ghosts, this weapon should 100% be avoided.
How to get: Ascension with the soul of Sif.
11. Greatsword of Artorias
The other GoA, this non-cursed version is only slightly better than its utter let-down of a counterpart.
It has lower base damage overall, but split between physical and magic, which could prove useful against some foes.
And its heightened scalings of C/C/B/B make it more viable for super end-game builds, though the same issue of having to invest in every stat still applies.
And on the subject of same issues, this weapon’s requirements are even more annoying at 24/18/20/20!
Both of these greatswords are honestly just a headache, and require so many levels to be effective.
How to get: Ascension with the soul of Sif.
10. Great Lord Greatsword
It does feel weird putting this end-game weapon so low down, but it’s packed with flaws.
While it may have huge base damage, it’s let down by its rock-bottom D/D scalings – which, considering how high-leveled you’ll be when you can get it, seems a bit odd.
Stranger still are the base requirements of 20/10 strength/dex – redundantly low for a weapon so late-game you’ll need to be in NG+ for it.
It feels a bit confused, and late to the party.
By the time you can get it you’ll already have a weapon you prefer, and it doesn’t offer much to entice you.
How to get: Ascension with the soul of Gwyn.
9. Bastard Sword
The bastard sword is actually a powerhouse that’s tragically caught in sibling rivalry, being outdone by its bigger brother the claymore.
While it sports higher base damage at +15 and decent scalings on infusions, it lacks the sheer versatility in its moveset, and has shorter range to boot.
Its fast swing speed is extremely strong in early-game PvE, however! But it is found later than the claymore, so rarely has a chance to shine…
How to get: Purchased from blacksmith Andre.
8. Stone Greatsword
I have a bit of a soft spot for this weapon, as it’s genuinely strong and interesting, but there are a few caveats.
Firstly, it wants 40 strength. Which is a very tall order.
But its high base damage, decent scalings, and good chunk of innate magic damage makes up for it… somewhat.
But the really interesting part comes with its unique 2-handed R2, which spends 200 durability to cast the ‘gravity’ effect on nearby foes, similar to the stone knights themselves!
This effect is straight-up annoying to deal with, so don’t expect to be making any friends in PvP.
How to get: Very rare drop from great stone knights.
7. Abyss Greatsword
As the third and final Artorias-themed greatsword, the abyss is undeniably the strongest of the pack.
This is largely thanks to it ditching those pesky int/faith scalings, opting for just C/C in strength and dex.
Its base damage may seem pretty average at first glance, but it actually scales with humanity– maxing out at 10 humanities granting a huge +80 AR!
Its cool moveset and overall uniqueness does have a few strings attached, however, namely in its requirements of 22/18/18/18.
Yep, they just had to keep with the theme of annoying stat requirements…
How to get: Ascension with the soul of Artorias.
6. Obsidian Greatsword
The obsidian greatsword is an interesting entry, and one of those weapons that are often overlooked.
Right off the bat, its most interesting feature is its insane base damage, reaching a whopping 480 at +5… and it can be buffed!
But it has no scalings, meaning your stats will not affect it at all.
The other interesting part is its unique 2-handed R2 which creates a huge AoE of black flames around you!
This fire attack deal huge damage and can even stagger bosses!
It’s weird, sure. But definitely worth looking into, if you can get it…
How to get: Cut off Kalameet’s tail (good luck…)
5. Flamberge
The flamberge is one of the only greatswords that works very well for dex builds – hitting B-scaling at +15.
On top of this, its good base damage is bolstered further with its high auxiliary bleed, adding free DPS if procc’ed!
Its high stagger and knockback makes filling those bars pretty easy, too. And you’ll likely get at least one bleed in every extended fight!
There are next to no downsides to it, and if you’re looking for a heavier option for your dex builds it should be seriously considered.
How to get: Sold by Shiva, or rarely dropped by serpent mages.
4. Man-Serpent Greatsword
The man-serpent is the primo strength greatsword, achieving a beautiful A-scaling at +15.
It’s an extremely common choice for both PvE and PvP, so chances are you’ve seen it about and have witnessed first-hand what an absolute monster it is.
Its straight-forward moveset boasts huge damage that reaches insane numbers on a pure strength build, capable of making mincemeat of most opponents.
If you’re going strength, it should be on your radar.
How to get: Very rare drop from man serpents.
3. Moonlight Greatsword
The moonlight greatsword is a Soulsborne staple, and DS1 might be one of its strongest incarnations.
Dealing pure magic damage that is pushed sky-high by the S-scaling in intelligence, the MGS is likely the best dedicated intelligence weapon in the entire game!
And how can we overlook its jaw-dropping moveset that fires exploding magical blades at enemies?
But be cautious – its durability drains fast, and it’s really hard to get with a spellcaster character!
How to get: Cut off Seath’s middle tail.
2. Black Knight Sword
The black knight greatsword is easily one of the most popular and sought-after weapons for the early-game.
Although getting it during an early stage comes down to pure luck!
In fact, some players will completely restart their entire run if the knight in the undead burg doesn’t drop it.
So what makes it so good?
Huge base damage, fast swing speed, and a passive of dealing 20% more damage against demons!
Its moveset is even better when two-handed, which just further adds to its early-game power, as you don’t even need to meet the strength requirement to use it to its full effect.
How to get: Dropped by black knights wielding it.
1. Claymore
As the king of versatility, the claymore is hands-down the best greatsword in the game.
With a moveset fit and ready for any scenario, environment, or situation, this weapon is one of the most reliable in all of DS1.
And to make things even better, its base damage is great and its C/C scalings make it a perfect choice for quality builds.
And its high scalings on infusions allow it to even slot into pure and hybrid builds!
With how early in the game you can get it, the claymore will comfortably take you through the whole game. And you’ll appreciate it every step of the way.
How to get: Looted from a body on the bridge guarded by the red hellkite wyvern.
A game animator by trade, Tom’s insight into the game development world gives him a strong appreciation for the art form that is video games. Kicking off at the age of 3 with Spyro: Year of the Dragon on the PS1, Tom’s tastes in games has hardened over the 19 years he’s spent playing them. He now lives for the challenge that titles such as Monster Hunter, Dark Souls, Dead Cells, and many more offer him. Enjoying nothing more than a session of number-crunching game data and another platinum trophy on his PlayStation account, Tom is dedicated to leaving no stone unturned in even the most brutal of gaming content.
