Greatsword Build

Playstyle role

Greatsword is the slow, heavy melee family. Its identity is a large hit area, strong interrupts, and reliable floor damage — you trade speed for reach and stagger.

It stays melee but hits a wide arc, so positioning matters more than pinpoint aiming. Community builds recommend substantial attack-speed investment for Greatsword; treat any specific percentage as a player-reported comfort point, not an official breakpoint.

Core combat loop

Commit to heavy swings during safe windows, use the wide arc and interrupts to control space, and reposition during the long recovery before the next swing.

• Wait for a confirmed opening before committing — recovery is long.
• Use a wide swing to cover a cluster and interrupt several foes at once.
• Invest in attack speed early so swings feel responsive.
• Reposition during recovery; do not stand in the swing's endlag.

Who this build suits

Players who like deliberate timing and big, committed hits. If you prefer one well-placed swing over a flurry of small ones, Greatsword fits.

It is a mid-difficulty weapon by community assessment: the plan is readable, but each swing is a commitment, so greed is punished.

Strengths and weaknesses

Room combat

Position so a single wide swing catches the whole pack. Bait enemies into a line or cluster, then commit one swing to interrupt and damage all of them at once.

After the swing, use the recovery to reposition, not to greed a second hit you cannot confirm.

Boss combat

Trade only on windows you have confirmed. Greatsword's interrupts are valuable against boss adds and certain telegraphs — use wide swings during stagger phases where the arc and floor damage compound.

Against mobile bosses, accept one swing per opening rather than trying to chain; recovery into a boss attack is the classic Greatsword death.

Related entry points

Once your commit-and-reposition loop is stable, continue with the next decision.

• Weapons Guide — compare Greatsword's reach and commitment against other melee.
• Boss Guide — confirm windows before committing heavy swings.
• Progression Guide — sequence attack-speed and damage priorities.
• Builds Hub — survey the other weapon builds.