Best weapon for a power build?

[alstl]

I started with a wretch class. Now at 42 strength and I've been leveling up a Claymore sword to 14 because I like the lion's claw move. Reading the forums I realize that simply isn't going to get it done against highest level opponents.

I'm curious what people think the best greatsword would be to level up. I'd like to get some advice before I start using somber smithing stones so I use them on the right weapon.

I currently have a knight's greatsword and a banished knight's greatsword but I know there are better options. Also have the axe of Godrick but I don't have enough dexterity to equip it.

Second question - can I apply a lion's claw ash of war to a special weapon?

Thanks for any replies. A previous thread I started was very helpful getting me headed in the right direction.

[Kurnauskis uwu]

onkelschmerz a écrit :

Rogue a écrit :

Greatsword. That's its only name and it's a colossal sword, then you customized it to whatever with ash of your choosing. Its Std+25 form has 401 Physical, STR B DEX D... Or Heavy+25 349 STR A.

FYI, forums are full of nonsense. If you are familiar with the moveset, you can rock with it. Claymore, whips , whatever.

Too slow sadly and no thrusting attack. Heavy weapons in ER kinda trash. Which is very sad.

Learn to crouch attack

[Haruspex]

Any weapon as long as your power stancing.

[Merlin]

alstl a écrit :

I started with a wretch class. Now at 42 strength and I've been leveling up a Claymore sword to 14 because I like the lion's claw move. Reading the forums I realize that simply isn't going to get it done against highest level opponents.

I'm curious what people think the best greatsword would be to level up. I'd like to get some advice before I start using somber smithing stones so I use them on the right weapon.

I currently have a knight's greatsword and a banished knight's greatsword but I know there are better options. Also have the axe of Godrick but I don't have enough dexterity to equip it.

Second question - can I apply a lion's claw ash of war to a special weapon?

Thanks for any replies. A previous thread I started was very helpful getting me headed in the right direction.

I am using the Gargoyles Halberd scaling at S with +20 smithing stones. I use heavy war cry ash of war or barbaric roar, dual wielding with an Ancient Dragon Halberd is actually very strong and fun.

[OnlyPugs.com]

All these people saying strength/colossal weapons aren't viable engame are very confused. If you want to argue that strength weapons are weaker than dex and caster alternatives then perhaps there are some valid points to be made but to say they are not viable means you either don't know what viable means or it was a playstyle you did not enjoy/were not good enough at. Don't conflate something being weaker with something not being viable.

Your windows to attack are a lot smaller with big weapons but on the flipside your stagger potential is much higher. You also get access to greatshields. High guard boost greatshields or greatshields with barrier WA are pretty good and can trivialise a lot of content if you like the block counter playstyle. You can also just two hand or dual wield and go to town on enemies with jump attacks and charged attacks.

In terms of weapon choices there are honestly a lot. Ruins greatsword and greatsword (its actual name) are both really good colossals. great stars is a very good option if you want something smaller than a colossal. It has innate bleed and an innate ability that heals you on attacks (1%of your total health per hit I think even if you hit shields). Great stars and Great sword can also have their WA changed although I can't remember if lions claw can go on them but their WA can be changed. Claymore, Knight greatsword and BK greatsword are all viable. They vary in reach but typically the longer the reach the less damage and can have their WA changed. You can even power stance (dual wield) them if you have the endurance to do so. Pair them with a greatshield, that's good to. Many of the halberds are good to. Golden Halberd is good if you meet the faith requirements (can't change its WA). Nightriders glaive is also very good when you make it Heavy with a WA. The point is that there are many good and viable weapons if you take the time to make them good and be good with them.

My final tips (which you might already be aware of this info)
If you are going to be exclusively two handing then don't go over 66 strength. You get 50% of your strength added when two handing so two handing at 66 gets you to 99 slowing you to put those points elsewhere. If you are going to be single handing it then you might consider getting to 80 strength as that is the final soft cap for strength.

Take advantage of beast incantations. They have pretty low faith requirements and when used with the beast claw talisman they (and any other incantation cast for that matter) will scale with your strength. Some are really useful like the heal over time, beast claw and boulder toss. Going slight higher in faith (like 25) will give you access to other useful spells like golden vow, stronger heals and flame of frenzy but going that high in faith is a bit of an investment and ultimately it is up to you.

You get like 15 re-specs per play-through so don't be afraid of mistakes or just wanting to change things up.

Lastly, please level vigour. Like please. 40 is the first soft cap and 60 is the last soft cap. In the early-mid game most of your damage will come from just upgrading your weapon. My advice is to get to your weapon requirements then rush vigour to 40. After that place some points where you feel they are needed (if they are needed anywhere) like endurance or faith and then rush yo 60 vigour. After that start dumping in to your damage stat (strength in this case) and anywhere else points are needed like mind, faith or endurance

An honourable mention is that strength/int can also work and there are plenty of weapons and armour sets to support that play-style but I personally think faith is more fun. Faith gives you access to lighting spells an WA, Fire spells and WA, Holy spells and WA as well as dragon spells which have a breath for most elements including rot and frost. Int gives you access to magic and frost but is still very strong none the less.

[Julymorning]

< blank > a écrit :

Sniper players = Useless a écrit :

Any weapon as long as your power stancing.

what is powerstance?

Dual wielding

[OnlyPugs.com]

< blank > a écrit :

Sniper players = Useless a écrit :

Any weapon as long as your power stancing.

what is powerstance?

when you equip a weapon of the same class in each hand you are then powerstancing. Pressing the LB will trigger a unique set of dual wielding attacks

[Yuri]

https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Giant-Crusher

You can one shot lots of things, but it leaves you open to lots of punish, it's S scaling in Strength with a heavy infusion i believe, the only problem for me is that it blocks my view, but that's a camera thing, not a weapon problem

[Týr'el]

Well OP, other players said it all.

[alstl]

Thanks for replies but I'm still where I was when I started. Colossal weapons are either no good or perfectly fine.

What the alternative? I'd like to know before I start using up my high level smithing stones and somber smithing stones.

[Karnarax]

alstl a écrit :

What the alternative? I'd like to know before I start using up my high level smithing stones and somber smithing stones.

Up to you man. Get some weapons check their move sets. And decide. A lot of people told you the good options here.

If you reallo want to use a Greatsword - use Claymore. Amazing movest both 2h and 1h. And it's pretty fast. Looks amazing too. Claymore +25 will do just fine endgame.

Or you can use my advide and get Nightrider's Glaive. Good moveset, nice reach, S scaling from STR with Heavy infusion.

[OnlyPugs.com]

alstl a écrit :

Thanks for replies but I'm still where I was when I started. Colossal weapons are either no good or perfectly fine.

What the alternative? I'd like to know before I start using up my high level smithing stones and somber smithing stones.

The point is that anything works. If you are enjoying the claymore then stay with the claymore. It's not all of a sudden going to stop being viable. Somber upgrades are really easy to come by so be liberal when using them. You will also eventually get bell bearings that will give you access to smithing stones up until +24 and sombers until +9.

If you are looking for specific "op" weapons then my advice is ruins great sword and prelate hammer for colossal weapons. Great stars for a hammer that is similar in size to the claymore (even share a similar move set I think). For the greatswords class of weapons specifically just stay with the claymore. Later on you get access to the Blasphemous Blade and the Sacred Relic Sword which imo are the best in the greatsword class. They will require some points in faith to use though.