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Skyrim - Greatswords


Skyrim Elven Greatsword.webp

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.
Statistic Lowest Highest
Damage 15 26
Weight 12 (Silver Greatsword) 28 (Madness Greatsword)
Value - 4647 (Umbra)
In the class 24 weapons

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 Skyrim Dragonbone Greatsword.webp 25 27 2725 25 damage, the strongest greatsword forgeable in the base game.
Chrysamere Skyrim Chrysamere.webp 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) Skyrim Shadowrend Greatsword.webp 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 Skyrim Ancient Nord Greatsword.webp 17 0.7 18 35 Enchantable 000236A5 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Balgruuf's Greatsword Skyrim Balgruuf's Greatsword.webp 17 0.7 17 200 Cannot be enchanted 000946FC 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing Two-Handed Yes Skyrim
Bloodskal Blade Skyrim Bloodskal Blade.webp 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 Skyrim Daedric Greatsword.webp 24 0.7 23 2500 Enchantable 000139B7 47+ Ebony Ingot Daedric Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Dragonbone Greatsword Skyrim Dragonbone Greatsword.webp 25 0.7 27 2725 Enchantable XX014FCC 47+ Dragon Bone Dragon Smithing Two-Handed - Dawnguard
Dwarven Greatsword Skyrim Dwarven Greatsword.webp 19 0.7 19 270 Enchantable 00013997 12+ Dwarven Metal Ingot Dwarven Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Ebony Greatsword Skyrim Ebony Greatsword.webp 22 0.7 22 1440 Enchantable 000139AF 36+ Ebony Ingot Ebony Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Ebony Blade Skyrim Ebony Blade.webp 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 Skyrim Elven Greatsword.webp 20 0.7 20 470 Enchantable 0001399F 19+ Refined Moonstone Elven Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Glass Greatsword Skyrim Glass Greatsword.webp 21 0.7 22 820 Enchantable 000139A7 27+ Refined Malachite Glass Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Honed Ancient Nord Greatsword Skyrim Honed Ancient Nord Greatsword.webp 20 0.7 21 63 Increases Fire Damage by 15% 0005BF13 1+ Steel Ingot Dwarven Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Iron Greatsword Skyrim Iron Greatsword.webp 15 0.7 16 50 Enchantable 0001359D 1+ Iron Ingot None Two-Handed - Skyrim
Nord Hero Greatsword Skyrim Nord Hero Greatsword.webp 20 0.7 16 250 Enchantable 000A3115 1+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Nordic Greatsword Skyrim Nordic Greatsword.webp 20 0.7 19 585 Enchantable XX01CDAF 26+ Quicksilver Ingot Advanced Armors Two-Handed - Dragonborn
Orcish Greatsword Skyrim Orcish Greatsword.webp 18 0.7 18 75 Enchantable 0001398F 7+ Orichalcum Ingot Orcish Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Silver Greatsword Skyrim Silver Greatsword.webp 17 0.7 12 160 20 points of extra damage to undead 0010C6FB 1+ Cannot be Upgraded None Two-Handed - Skyrim
Skyforge Steel Greatsword Skyrim Skyforge Steel Greatsword.webp 20 0.7 17 140 Enchantable 0009F25E 2+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Stalhrim Greatsword Skyrim Stalhrim Greatsword.webp 23 0.7 21 1970 Frost Enchants are 25% stronger XX01CDB6 35+ Stalhrim Ebony Smithing Two-Handed - Dragonborn
Steel Greatsword Skyrim Steel Greatsword.webp 17 0.7 17 90 Enchantable 00013987 2+ Steel Ingot Steel Smithing Two-Handed - Skyrim
Stormfang Skyrim Stormfang.webp 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 Skyrim Umbra.webp 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 Skyrim Ice Blade of the Monarch.webp 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 Skyrim Chrysamere.webp 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) Skyrim Shadowrend Greatsword.webp 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 Skyrim Dark Greatsword.webp 20 0.7 18 510 Enchantable XX000825 1+ Quicksilver Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed - Creation Club
Golden Greatsword Skyrim Golden Greatsword.webp 21 1 18 510 Enchantable XX000826 1+ Gold Ingot Daedric Smithing One-Handed - Creation Club


Two-Handed Weapon Categories





Subcategories

This category has the following 5 subcategories, out of 5 total.

Pages in category "Skyrim - Greatswords"

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