Elden Ring's DLC era has reshaped PvE expectations, revived PvP metas, and introduced new build experimentation across every weapon category. And yet, even with all the flashy incantations, status-dumping katanas, and hyper-aggressive bleed squads dominating the Lands Between Elden Ring Items, one class continues to stand at the top of the fun-versus-power ratio: the Greatsword.

Few builds capture that old-school Souls identity quite like two-handed greatswords. They have weight, they have reach, they have hyper armor, and-most importantly-they have the most satisfying trades in the entire game. In this DLC showcase, the focus falls squarely on a pure strength chassis, centered almost exclusively around greatsword variations and their Ashes of War potential. While other classes dance, bleed, leap, sprint-cancel, and pray, the greatsword user stands firm, plants their feet, and simply wins the trade.

Why Greatswords Still Reign

Greatswords remain a comfort pick in Elden Ring PvP, not because they are over-tuned, but because they offer every tool a duelist needs without gimmickry:

 Hyper armor on heavies to beat panic rollers

 Reliable hit confirms that lead into true combos

 Roll-catching potential that punishes hesitation

 Horizontal swings for crowd control

 Vertical thrusts for trades and burst punishes

With the DLC adding new arenas, tighter invasion spaces, and an uptick in duo and trio encounters, the greatsword user has never been more creatively equipped.

The Arsenal: Three Greatswords, One Ideology

Claymore-The Classic That Never Misses

Ask any long-time Souls veteran: if there is a "perfect" greatsword, it's the Claymore. It's not the flashiest, nor the longest, nor the heaviest-but it has no weaknesses. Its leaping heavies are notorious roll-catch tools, its thrust heavy gains bonus damage through Spear Talisman, and its moveset covers both duels and gank dismantling.

 Perfect trades with hyper armor

 Consistent roll-catches on R2s

 Excellent crouch-poke pressure in PvP

 Works exceptionally well two-handed

Its identity hasn't changed since Dark Souls 1, and that's exactly why players trust it. When katanas bleed you out, when naginatas stun-lock you, when curved swords jitter-spam you-Claymore simply trades, punishes, and ends the nonsense.

Banished Knight / Knight's Greatsword-Range vs. Raw Power

Two weapons, identical philosophy. The Banished Knight version edges ahead on strength scaling, while the Knight's variant trades a bit of raw power for extra reach. Both share one of the deadliest burst sequences in the category:

Jumping Light → Light = True Combo

If the first hit lands, the second is guaranteed, turning a single punish window into a health-bar-melting moment. Add DLC talismans, poise-trading armor, and the explosive Ash of War swap potential, and these swords become the backbone of strength dueling.

Greatsword of Solitude-The DLC Sleeper Monster

Aesthetically regal, mechanically vicious, this greatsword packs one thing the others don't: a true combo from its Ash of War. The projectile wave reaches farther than players expect, punishes heal attempts, and forces movement in tight corridors.

 Projectile pressure for catacombs and ruins

 Unexpected burst at medium-long range

 Perfect for gank dispersal before engaging

Where Claymore plays traditional and Banished Knight plays aggressive, Solitude plays deceptive. Its opener isn't just a hit; it conditions opponents to panic, dodge early, and lose spacing discipline.

Fashion, Poise, and Tank Identity

The armor aesthetic blends Knight heritage with modern DLC needs:

 Banished Knight Helm

 Banished Knight Chest (Altered)

 Bulgo Gauntlets

 Veteran's Greaves

Not only does it color-match perfectly, it matches the build's philosophy-trade to win, don't dodge to survive. With DLC talisman scaling and poise breakpoints moving upward, heavy armor isn't just fashion. It is function.

Talisman Loadouts & Conditional Swaps

Base configuration:

 Two-Handed Sword Talisman

 Erdtree's Favor +2

 Bulgo Talisman (Poise)

 Situational Slot

That last slot changes depending on weapon choice:

Weapon Swap Talisman

Claymore Spear Talisman (thrust buff)

Any damaging Ash of War Shard of Alexander

Facing bleed gank squads Bleed Resist Charm

This flexibility keeps greatsword play from being linear. Every sword serves a purpose, every talisman matches that purpose.The PvP Experience: Strength vs. The Gank Meta

Invasions shown across the DLC maps highlight the new meta reality: bleed duos, madness casters, and dual-katana execution squads are everywhere. And yet, greatswords remain calm amidst the chaos.

 Bleed squads? → Swap to bleed resist charm

 Dragon-breath gank tunnels? → Projectile punishes from Solitude

 Dual katanas roll-spam? → Claymore crouch-poke into R2

 Wizards turret-casting from ledges? → Wave punish into chase-trade

The strength player doesn't win by speed or reaction spam-they win by correctly timing trades.

Gank squads panic when their pressure doesn't instantly delete you. Wizards freeze when their lock-spam is punished by projectile greatsword hits. Bleed teams lose patience when their buildup doesn't instantly proc, forcing them into unsafe all-in swings.

Invasion Story Highlights

Though comedic, chaotic, and occasionally unfair, the duels tell the same story: greatswords punish arrogance.

 The wizard who refuses to reposition gets skewered.

 The bleed spammer learns too late that trading into hyper armor is suicide.

 The katana duo rolling off scaffolding to avoid trades ultimately leaves themselves open to long-range projectile catches.

Some encounters devolve into madness-teleport lag warriors, dragon breath spam, moonveil "honor" standoffs-but throughout them all, the build remains structurally sound. Greatswords don't need trickery to shine. They simply need space, timing, and poise thresholds.

Why This Build Feels Timeless

Elden Ring's DLC didn't just add content-it reignited the weapon identity conversation. In a patch cycle dominated by status effects and burst-mobility combos, the strength greatsword build feels like a refusal to abandon classic Souls fundamentals.

 Spacing matters.

 Timing matters.

 Trade discipline matters.

Greatswords are not training wheels, nor are they brute devices. They are reward systems for correct decision-making. When you win with one, it doesn't feel cheap-it feels learned.

Conclusion Elden Ring Items for sale

Whether you're pushing invasions in ruined Altus choke points, trading blows against lightning-soaked dragon arenas, or bullying mages who thought ledge camping made them immortal, greatswords remain one of Elden Ring's most rewarding build paths.

They are versatile enough to adapt, sturdy enough to survive, and elegant enough to feel crafted rather than meta-manufactured. The DLC brought new weapons, new phases, and new chaos, but strength greatswords remain the anchor of combat identity.