Skyrim - Greatswords

Greatswords are the fast end of two-handed, up to 26 damage across 24 weapons, and they carry Deep Wounds, which is the two-handed version of the sword crit perk. Where the class earns its place is reach and swing arc: a greatsword covers more ground per swing than anything else, which matters against groups long before Sweep unlocks.

Combat

Where it wins

• Fastest of the three two-handed classes, so the damage per second is closest to a one-hander's while the damage per hit is roughly double.
• Deep Wounds gives a 10, 15 or 20 per cent chance of critical damage, and like Bladesman it works against armourless and bloodless enemies where Skullcrusher and Limbsplitter do not.
• The widest horizontal arc in the game, which is what makes Sweep at 70 Two-Handed worth reaching.
• The class holds Umbra and Chrysamere, two of the four most valuable weapons in the game.

Where it loses

• Lowest damage of the two-handed classes. The class tops out at 26 where warhammers reach 29.
• Deep Wounds is calculated from base damage, so like Bladesman its value shrinks as smithing and enchanting raise your total.
• No armour penetration, so a greatsword has no answer to a heavily armoured target beyond raw damage.
• Two-handed means no shield and no off-hand spell, and the class does not hit hard enough to obviously repay that.

Builds

A greatsword build is the two-handed build that still wants to move.

• Barbarian to 5 first, the flat two-handed multiplier.
• Champion's Stance at 20 next, because 25 per cent off power attack stamina is what lets a two-hander power attack repeatedly.
• Sweep at 70 is the class payoff: sideways power attacks hit everything nearby, and the greatsword arc is the widest.
• Where the next chunk of damage comes from: Devastating Blow at 50, which adds 25 per cent to standing power attacks and can decapitate.

Best Greatswords

Weapon	Image	Damage	Weight	Value	Why Take It
Madness Greatsword	File:Skyrim Madness Greatsword.webp	26	28	3100	26 damage and the class ceiling, from the Saints & Seducers Creation.
Dragonbone Greatsword		25	27	2725	25 damage, the strongest greatsword forgeable in the base game.
Chrysamere		25	20	3288	25 damage, and its enchantment works while equipped rather than on a hit: 15 per cent fire resistance and 10 per cent spell absorption.
Shadowrend (Greatsword)		25	23	2500	Highest in class at 25 damage.
Amber Greatsword	File:Skyrim Amber Greatsword.webp	25	22	2925	Highest in class at 25 damage.

Notes

• Deep Wounds gives greatswords a 10, 15 or 20 per cent chance of critical damage at 30, 60 and 90 Two-Handed.
• Sweep, at 70 Two-Handed, makes sideways power attacks hit every nearby target, and the greatsword's arc gets the most out of it.
• Great Critical Charge at 50 lets you power attack while sprinting for double critical damage.
• Warmaster at 100 gives backwards power attacks a 25 per cent chance to paralyse, which applies to every two-handed class.

All Greatswords

Name	Image	Damage	Speed	Weight	Value	Enchantment	Item ID	Level	Upgrade Material	Crafting Perk	Skill	Unique	DLC
Ancient Nord Greatsword		17	0.7	18	35	Enchantable	000236A5	1+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Balgruuf's Greatsword		17	0.7	17	200	Cannot be enchanted	000946FC	1+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	Yes	Skyrim
Bloodskal Blade		21	0.7	16	500	Releases energy blast with power attacks that deals 30 damage	XX01A578	1+	Silver Ingot	Cannot be Upgraded	Two-Handed	Yes	Dragonborn
Daedric Greatsword		24	0.7	23	2500	Enchantable	000139B7	47+	Ebony Ingot	Daedric Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Dragonbone Greatsword		25	0.7	27	2725	Enchantable	XX014FCC	47+	Dragon Bone	Dragon Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Dawnguard
Dwarven Greatsword		19	0.7	19	270	Enchantable	00013997	12+	Dwarven Metal Ingot	Dwarven Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Ebony Greatsword		22	0.7	22	1440	Enchantable	000139AF	36+	Ebony Ingot	Ebony Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Ebony Blade		11	0.7	10	2000	Absorbs Health from base 10 to max 30, upgraded by killing friendly NPCs	000EA29C	36+	Cannot be Upgraded	None	Two-Handed	Yes	Skyrim
Elven Greatsword		20	0.7	20	470	Enchantable	0001399F	19+	Refined Moonstone	Elven Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Glass Greatsword		21	0.7	22	820	Enchantable	000139A7	27+	Refined Malachite	Glass Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Honed Ancient Nord Greatsword		20	0.7	21	63	Increases Fire Damage by 15%	0005BF13	1+	Steel Ingot	Dwarven Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Iron Greatsword		15	0.7	16	50	Enchantable	0001359D	1+	Iron Ingot	None	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Nord Hero Greatsword		20	0.7	16	250	Enchantable	000A3115	1+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Nordic Greatsword		20	0.7	19	585	Enchantable	XX01CDAF	26+	Quicksilver Ingot	Advanced Armors	Two-Handed	-	Dragonborn
Orcish Greatsword		18	0.7	18	75	Enchantable	0001398F	7+	Orichalcum Ingot	Orcish Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Silver Greatsword		17	0.7	12	160	20 points of extra damage to undead	0010C6FB	1+	Cannot be Upgraded	None	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Skyforge Steel Greatsword		20	0.7	17	140	Enchantable	0009F25E	2+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Stalhrim Greatsword		23	0.7	21	1970	Frost Enchants are 25% stronger	XX01CDB6	35+	Stalhrim	Ebony Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Dragonborn
Steel Greatsword		17	0.7	17	90	Enchantable	00013987	2+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	-	Skyrim
Stormfang		17	0.7	17	1175	Target takes 30 points of shock damage, and half as much Magicka damage	XX026B0B	1+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	Yes	Dragonborn
Umbra		24	0.7	23	4647	If target dies within 20 seconds, fills a soul gem. Absorb 25 points of health. Absorb 25 points of stamina	XX000D62	1+	Ebony Ingot	Daedric Smithing	Two-Handed	Yes	Creation Club
Ice Blade of the Monarch		17	1	17	1360	Target takes 30 points of frost damage to Health and Stamina	FEXXX815	1+	Steel Ingot	Steel Smithing	Two-Handed	Yes	Creation Club
Chrysamere		25	0.7	20	3288	When equipped grants 15% resist fire, 10% absorb magic, slow health regen during combat	FEXXXD63	1+	Ebony Ingot, Ruby	Ebony Smithing	Two-Handed	Yes	Creation Club
Shadowrend (Greatsword)		25	0.7	23	2500	Target is 15% weaker to magic for 30 seconds	FEXXXD63	1+	Ebony Ingot	Daedric Smithing	Two-Handed	Yes	Creation Club
Madness Greatsword	File:Skyrim Madness Greatsword.webp	26	0.7	28	3100	Enchantable	XX000BE7	1+	Madness Ingot	Quest	One-Handed	-	Creation Club
Amber Greatsword	File:Skyrim Amber Greatsword.webp	25	0.7	22	2925	Enchantable	XX000BDE	1+	Amber Ingot	Quest	One-Handed	-	Creation Club
Dark Greatsword		20	0.7	18	510	Enchantable	XX000825	1+	Quicksilver Ingot	Daedric Smithing	One-Handed	-	Creation Club
Golden Greatsword		21	1	18	510	Enchantable	XX000826	1+	Gold Ingot	Daedric Smithing	One-Handed	-	Creation Club

Two-Handed Weapon Categories