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How to get the Ruins Greatsword in Elden Ring

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Pure undiluted Strength build: just swinging around a massive piece of rubble.

ruins greatsword
(Image credit: FromSoftware)

Elden Ring's Ruins Greatsword is one of ten so-called legendary armaments and an excellent mid to late-game Elden Ring weapon for a Strength build. If you've gotten tired of swinging around Elden Ring's Grafted Blade Greatsword, the Ruins Greatsword might be just right for you.

Elden Ring Ruins Greatsword Location: Talking to Jerren at Redmane Keep

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ruins greatsword map location
(Image credit: FromSoftware)

The first step to acquiring the Ruins Greatsword is defeating Starscourge Radahn, one of the most challenging Elden Ring bosses of the mid game. Once you've bested him, return to Redmane Castle and speak to Witch-Hunter Jerren (the organizer of the Radahn Festival who looks like Slave Knight Gael) in the church above and behind Redmane Plaza. Exhaust his dialogue (he will later become involved in Sorceress Sellen's Quest) and reload the area.

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facing misbegotten warrior
(Image credit: FromSoftware)

You will find that the plaza is now blocked by a boss gate. You'll have to defeat a dual boss of the Misbegotten Warrior (with the same moveset as the Leonine Misbegotten at Castle Morne) and another sword and shield-wielding Crucible Knight.

It takes a minute for the knight to spawn in after the Misbegotten, so your best bet is to overwhelm the Misbegotten with DPS and eliminate it before the Knight can interfere. The Ruins Greatsword will automatically be given to you upon victory.

Elden Ring Ruins Greatsword Stats and Moveset

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ruins greatsword stats
(Image credit: FromSoftware)

The Ruins Greatsword has the standard Colossal Sword moveset with wide, sweeping arcs for its light attacks and forward hammer strikes for heavy. The Ruins Greatsword's Ashes of War, "Wave of Destruction," is a highly damaging close range gravity magic strike with a short wind-up. The Ruins Greatsword's stat requirements are as follows:

  • Strength: You'll need a beastly 50 points invested to one-hand the Ruins Greatsword, with a slightly less obscene 34 points to two-hand it. The Ruins Greatsword starts with B scaling in Strength, improving to A scaling at higher enhancement levels and S scaling at +10. Better start hitting that Elden Gym.
  • Intelligence: You will need 16 Int to wield the Ruins Greatsword, and curiously it also has a low but not insignificant D scaling in Int.
  • Endurance: This sword is heavy, and will require a large amount of Endurance to perform its full combo or wear heavier armor with it. 
Elden Ring guide: Elden Ring bosses: Elden Ring dungeons: Elden Ring golden seedsElden Ring map fragments:Elden Ring co-op:

Elden Ring guide: Conquer the Lands Between
Elden Ring bosses: How to beat them
Elden Ring dungeons: How to defeat them
Elden Ring golden seeds: Upgrade your flasks
Elden Ring map fragments: Reveal the world
Elden Ring co-op: How to squad up online

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Ted Litchfield
Associate Editor

Ted has been thinking about PC games and bothering anyone who would listen with his thoughts on them ever since he booted up his sister's copy of Neverwinter Nights on the family computer. He is obsessed with all things CRPG and CRPG-adjacent, but has also covered esports, modding, and rare game collecting. When he's not playing or writing about games, you can find Ted lifting weights on his back porch.