Sunlight Spear or Firelink Greatsword?

[RapRobot]

Which one should I get on my first playthrough?

I have high Faith and I love throwing lightning bolts in DS1&2, but the damage output on the lower versions of this spell has been dissappointing so far in DS3...

On the other hand, the greatsword looks rad and I have always wanted to fight with the sword that pokes out of all the bonfires (Is it the same sword in all the bonfires, and like only the Chosen Undead can see it, or is there a separate sword in each bonfire?? I DON'T KNOW MAN, RED TEAM GO! RED TEAM GO!)

Is it worth getting the Sunlight Spear, like does it do decent damage in PvE or PvP or what?

[G-Man]

How much Faith have you?

Sunlight Spear needs 50 to be able to cast it. If you have the faith for it, I would get Sunlight Spear. If not, the Greatsword.

Both are a bit gimmicky, but if you're done the hard work of beating the game with an underpowered Faith build, I would think you'd enjoy the payoff off finally getting one of the good miracles.

Edit: Sunlight Spear needs 40 Faith. Not 50.

[Hekk]

Sword sucks, get miracle, if not to use it - at least for achievement.

[G-Man]

I don't play a Faith build, but I have seen Sunlight Spear oneshot people in PvP. So I think it does do enough damage to be worthwhile, much more than the other Lightning Spears.

[RapRobot]

Publicado originalmente por Hekk ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°):

Sword sucks, get miracle, if not to use it - at least for achievement.

I didn't even think of that, good point.

[Riker]

Publicado originalmente por Hekk ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°):

Sword sucks, get miracle, if not to use it - at least for achievement.

Firelink Sword is pretty good actually unless you're bad at using it ;)

[RapRobot]

Publicado originalmente por G-Man:

How much Faith have you?

Sunlight Spear needs 50 to be able to cast it. If you have the faith for it, I would get Sunlight Spear. If not, the Greatsword.

Both are a bit gimmicky, but if you're done the hard work of beating the game with an underpowered Faith build, I would think you'd enjoy the payoff off finally getting one of the good miracles.

OK I only have 40 Faith (and you're right, it hasn't really paid off so far to have so much investment in the stat) so I would need to invest even more to use it.

[Hekk]

Publicado originalmente por Riker:

Publicado originalmente por Hekk ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°):

Sword sucks, get miracle, if not to use it - at least for achievement.

Firelink Sword is pretty good actually unless you're bad at using it ;)

You mean a sword with medicore scaling, greatsword moveset, with some wonky selfbuff ability is good unless you are bad? That's the point for every weapon, but the fact is, even Hollowslayer is better, not to mention Claymore which can actually be buffed(with better buffs) and has better scalings.

[Riker]

Publicado originalmente por Hekk ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°):

Publicado originalmente por Riker:

Firelink Sword is pretty good actually unless you're bad at using it ;)

You mean a sword with medicore scaling, greatsword moveset, with some wonky selfbuff ability is good unless you are bad? That's the point for every weapon, but the fact is, even Hollowslayer is better, not to mention Claymore which can actually be buffed(with better buffs) and has better scalings.

Scaling and Moveset shouldnt factor into how objectively good a weapon is. Ive said this time and time again but a weapon is only as good as the person wielding it.
I hit rank 3 back in the red arena on Souls 2 with very few losses using the Puzzling Stone Sword. A weapon with A scaling in DEX that is more in line with D scaling and had below 400AR at the softcap. Its a weapon largely seen as being absolutely garbage by the PvP community, yet I showed it possible to win consistently with even a bad weapon

Same applies to Firelink GS. Sure, it may be seen as being a bad weapon but it can be amazing in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing ;)

As a polar opposite, I suck with katanas. Usually seen as being an "Easy mode" weapon for PvP, I just cant use them.

[Hekk]

Publicado originalmente por Riker:

Publicado originalmente por Hekk ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°):

You mean a sword with medicore scaling, greatsword moveset, with some wonky selfbuff ability is good unless you are bad? That's the point for every weapon, but the fact is, even Hollowslayer is better, not to mention Claymore which can actually be buffed(with better buffs) and has better scalings.

Scaling and Moveset shouldnt factor into how objectively good a weapon is. Ive said this time and time again but a weapon is only as good as the person wielding it.
I hit rank 3 back in the red arena on Souls 2 with very few losses using the Puzzling Stone Sword. A weapon with A scaling in DEX that is more in line with D scaling and had below 400AR at the softcap. Its a weapon largely seen as being absolutely garbage by the PvP community, yet I showed it possible to win consistently with even a bad weapon

Same applies to Firelink GS. Sure, it may be seen as being a bad weapon but it can be amazing in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing ;)

As a polar opposite, I suck with katanas. Usually seen as being an "Easy mode" weapon for PvP, I just cant use them.

Largely seen as garbage by PvP community? You mean the sword that's only good in PvP? I supose you meant PvE community :) And it actually has S scaling, can be buffed/resined and has very good poky moveset, and even some whip heavy attacks combined with ability to catch people after rolls/backstabs - yup, bad weapon.
Fireling GS has none of that, it's moveset doesn't bring anything special besides self-buff weapon skill. It also has split damage, but only scales for physical, and even for that, it doesn't scale well. If you really want some greatsword from boss soul; GS of Judgement from Pontiff's Soul or Wolf Knight GS from Abyssbros are better options. Wolf Knight has better weapon arts, and a better scaling without split damage, seems like it inflicts heavier poise damage and has some hyper armor frames in its attacks; while Judgement brings in INT scaling, can be selfbuffed too, can shoot fast projectiles and has a nice sheath! :p
There is also Wolnir's holy gs, if you like WoGin' all day, but besides that isn't amazing.

Firelink GS is just... disappointing.

[Riker]

Publicado originalmente por Hekk ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°):

Publicado originalmente por Riker:

Scaling and Moveset shouldnt factor into how objectively good a weapon is. Ive said this time and time again but a weapon is only as good as the person wielding it.
I hit rank 3 back in the red arena on Souls 2 with very few losses using the Puzzling Stone Sword. A weapon with A scaling in DEX that is more in line with D scaling and had below 400AR at the softcap. Its a weapon largely seen as being absolutely garbage by the PvP community, yet I showed it possible to win consistently with even a bad weapon

Same applies to Firelink GS. Sure, it may be seen as being a bad weapon but it can be amazing in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing ;)

As a polar opposite, I suck with katanas. Usually seen as being an "Easy mode" weapon for PvP, I just cant use them.

Largely seen as garbage by PvP community? You mean the sword that's only good in PvP? I supose you meant PvE community :) And it actually has S scaling, can be buffed/resined and has very good poky moveset, and even some whip heavy attacks combined with ability to catch people after rolls/backstabs - yup, bad weapon.
Fireling GS has none of that, it's moveset doesn't bring anything special besides self-buff weapon skill. It also has split damage, but only scales for physical, and even for that, it doesn't scale well. If you really want some greatsword from boss soul; GS of Judgement from Pontiff's Soul or Wolf Knight GS from Abyssbros are better options. Wolf Knight has better weapon arts, and a better scaling without split damage, seems like it inflicts heavier poise damage and has some hyper armor frames in its attacks; while Judgement brings in INT scaling, can be selfbuffed too, can shoot fast projectiles and has a nice sheath! :p
There is also Wolnir's holy gs, if you like WoGin' all day, but besides that isn't amazing.

Firelink GS is just... disappointing.

I meant to say S scaling. Its comparable to D though. Also, for PvP it was pretty garbage ;)
I never buffed or infused either, especially for PvP

[Washing Machine]

40faith for Sunlight Spear. I'm doing like 400-500dmg from a range with firstborn ring on, canvas +9. If you can hit it up close in melee range, its near 1k damage.

[Hekk]

Publicado originalmente por Riker:

I meant to say S scaling. Its comparable to D though. Also, for PvP it was pretty garbage ;)
I never buffed or infused either, especially for PvP

I never considered it garbage, damage wasn't great it's true but hell, the fact that 2handed strong attack was ALWAYS catching people midroll was amazing.

[Player Name]

Publicado originalmente por G-Man:

How much Faith have you?

Sunlight Spear needs 50 to be able to cast it. If you have the faith for it, I would get Sunlight Spear. If not, the Greatsword.

Both are a bit gimmicky, but if you're done the hard work of beating the game with an underpowered Faith build, I would think you'd enjoy the payoff off finally getting one of the good miracles.

I really regret choosing the sword

[Riker]

Publicado originalmente por Hekk ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°):

Publicado originalmente por Riker:

I meant to say S scaling. Its comparable to D though. Also, for PvP it was pretty garbage ;)
I never buffed or infused either, especially for PvP

I never considered it garbage, damage wasn't great it's true but hell, the fact that 2handed strong attack was ALWAYS catching people midroll was amazing.

I avoided poke attacks as much as possible :D

[RapRobot]

Publicado originalmente por Washing Machine:

40faith for Sunlight Spear. I'm doing like 400-500dmg from a range with firstborn ring on, canvas +9. If you can hit it up close in melee range, its near 1k damage.

Good to know! I'm going to stick to the plan and choose the Sunlight Spear over the greatsword. I can always scoop another soul in NG+ and get the sword eventually. Thanks all for the advice.