Unlocking the Ruins Greatsword in Elden Ring: A Guide

The Ruins Greatsword is one of the top weapons for Strength builds in Elden Ring, featuring an impressive weapon art that enhances its power. Additionally, it’s one of the nine legendary armaments needed to earn the Legendary Armaments trophy or achievement.

While there are many Strength weapons available, if you’re seeking a massive greatsword early in the game, the Ruins Greatsword is a fantastic choice. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simplest way to acquire this powerful weapon. If you’re focusing on a Strength build, be sure to get your hands on this sword as soon as possible.

Where to Find the Ruins Greatsword

To obtain the Ruins Greatsword, you must defeat the Misbegotten Warrior and the Crucible Knight bosses located in the Redmane Castle Plaza. This castle is a legacy dungeon situated in the southeastern region of Caelid.

To challenge the Misbegotten Warrior and Crucible Knight, you need to access the Redmane Castle Plaza before the Radahn festival begins. If you’ve already started the festival, you can still engage these enemies by speaking with Jared after defeating Radahn.

Once you’ve prepared for the fight, leave the plaza, rest at any Site of Grace, and return. You’ll encounter a yellow fog wall that signifies the boss arena. Taking on this duo can be quite challenging early in the game. Focus on defeating the Misbegotten Warrior quickly before the Crucible Knight joins the battle; this strategy will make obtaining the Ruins Greatsword much easier.

Stats of the Ruins Greatsword

The Ruins Greatsword is a Strength weapon that requires 50 Strength and 16 Intelligence to wield. At its base level, it inflicts 124 Physical damage and 37 Magic damage.

This colossal sword scales well with Strength (B to S) and Intelligence (E to D), and it can be upgraded to +10 using Somber Smithing Stones.

The unique skill of the Ruins Greatsword is Wave of Destruction (25 FP), which allows you to slam the sword into the ground, dealing gravitational damage to opponents. Note that this weapon cannot be infused with Ashes of War, nor can it be greased.

With a weight of 23, this massive sword can be cumbersome when combined with heavy armor.

Is the Ruins Greatsword Effective?

The Ruins Greatsword is an excellent weapon for those focused on Strength. When paired with 80 Strength and 18 Intelligence, it can deliver over 900 damage per hit. If you are building around the Ruins Greatsword, it’s advisable to invest in Vigor and Endurance alongside Strength.

When it comes to talismans, we recommend the following:

• Erdtree Favor +2
• Claw Talisman (for dual-wield builds)
• Dragoncrest Greatshield
• Great Jar’s Arsenal

Compared to other Greatswords such as the Starscourge Greatsword or Blasphemous Blade, we suggest sticking with the Ruins Greatsword due to its superior Strength scaling, making it a devastating choice, especially in dual-wielding scenarios.