Revision - greatswords - Crimson Desert Wiki

Overview

Greatswords are massive two-handed melee weapons in Crimson Desert that embody the "big damage" archetype. Ranked S-tier by the community, they deliver the most visually impactful strikes in the game, with each swing generating shockwaves that affect the surrounding environment. Grass bends and scatters, dirt erupts from the ground, and enemies stagger backward from the sheer force of each blow. Both Kliff and Damiane can wield greatswords, though their movesets differ significantly.

Greatsword weapon combat in Crimson Desert

Combat Style

Greatsword combat is built around slow, concentrated strikes that hit singular targets with extreme force or sweep through lines of enemies ahead of the player. The weapon's massive blade creates wide hitboxes that make it difficult for enemies to avoid.

Two-handed weapon combat with a greatsword cleaving through enemies

Aspect	Details
Light attacks	: horizontal slashes that cleave through enemy formations with a wide arc. Faster than heavy attacks but still slower than one-handed weapons.
Heavy attacks	: overhead slams and lunging thrusts that can stagger most regular enemies in two hits. Long wind-up but devastating payoff.
Guard counter	: successfully timing a block or dodge triggers a powerful riposte dealing significantly more damage than a standard attack. This is the bread-and-butter move for skilled greatsword users.
Combo chains	: greatswords have multi-hit combo strings that build momentum. Later hits in the chain deal more stagger damage and have wider arcs than openers.

The greatsword's environmental reactions are notable. Each strike visibly displaces the surroundings, reinforcing the sense of weight. This is not purely cosmetic: the impact physics interact with the game's destruction system, meaning greatsword strikes can break certain environmental objects and knock enemies into terrain for bonus damage.

Kliff vs. Damiane Movesets

Character	Style	Key Differences
Kliff	Methodical, crowd-focused	Broader horizontal sweeps suited for managing groups. Slower recovery between combos but stronger stagger per hit.
Damiane	Aggressive, counter-focused	Faster attack strings with devastating counter techniques. Less stagger per individual hit but higher DPS during sustained combos.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Aspect	Detail
Damage per Hit	Highest among all melee weapon types. Each swing deals significantly more than a one-handed sword or dagger.
Stagger	Very high. Two heavy hits stagger most regular enemies; bosses require sustained pressure.
Area of Effect	Wide horizontal arcs hit multiple enemies in front of the player. Covers a similar area to greataxes but with less wind-up.
Attack Speed	Slow. Greatsword attacks have the longest startup frames of any melee weapon type.
Movement Speed	Reduced while weapon is drawn. Sprinting is slower and dodge distance is shorter compared to lighter weapons.
Vulnerability	Long recovery animations leave the player open after heavy combos. Fast bosses can punish missed swings.
Stamina Cost	High. Each swing drains more stamina than lighter weapons. Stamina management is critical.

Greatsword and longsword reference

Absolute Justice Greatsword weapon icon from Crimson Desert

The following selected reference lists greatswords and longswords at unrefined +0. It is not a complete weapon census. Attack Speed and Critical Hit Chance are shown as bonus levels above the baseline. Weapons can be further improved through refinement at the Blacksmith.

Weapon	Attack	Special Bonus	Maximum Abyss Core Slots	How to Obtain
Rhett's Longsword	15	Critical Rate Lv.1	5	Purchase from Rhett's Equipment Shop in central Hernand. One of the earliest greatswords available. It can also be crafted with 7 Iron Ore and 3 Copper Ore after learning Two-Handed Weapons of the World, Vol. I; the item record lists Lederson and Tranan as sellers.
Balton Longsword	16	None	5	Purchase from a merchant at the Goldleaf Trading Post southeast of Hernand, or find in the open world. A documented crafting route uses 7 Iron Ore and 3 Copper Ore after learning Two-Handed Weapons of the World, Vol. I.
Thalwynd Longsword	14	Critical Rate Lv.2	5	Found in Thalwynd region. Check weapon chests in dungeons and ruins. It can also be crafted with 10 Iron Ore and 3 Copper Ore after learning Two-Handed Weapons of the World, Vol. II.
Absolute Justice Greatsword	17	None	5	Damiane's starting greatsword, equipped by default when her gameplay begins in Chapter 3. The older table listed quest rewards or high-level vendors without a verified specific route; those are not prerequisites for this early acquisition.

Note: Greataxes, warhammers, and halberds share the two-handed weapon category but have distinct movesets. The table above includes only weapons classified as greatswords or longswords. Additional greatswords may be discovered through ongoing community exploration.

Related Two-Handed Weapons

For players who enjoy the two-handed playstyle but want different characteristics, the following weapon types are in the same category:

Weapon	Attack	Special Bonus	Type
Horseshoe-Blade Greataxe	16	None	Greataxe
Fan-Blade Greataxe	13	Attack Speed Lv.1	Greataxe
Bonepit Warhammer	16	None	Warhammer
Sydmon Spear	18	None	Spear

Refinement and Upgrades

All greatswords can be refined at the Blacksmith. Refinement increases the weapon's Attack stat. Additional Abyss Core slots are added through the Witch's Create Socket service, rather than assumed to appear automatically from refinement. Each refinement level requires specific materials: ores for metal-based greatswords, or timber for wooden-handled variants. Refinement can push a weapon's Attack well above its base value, so even early-game greatswords like Rhett's Longsword remain viable if fully upgraded.

Abyss Cores

The four weapons listed here have a five-slot maximum. Add sockets through the Witch's Create Socket service; the maximum is separate from how many sockets an acquired copy already has. Inserting Abyss Cores adds bonus effects such as increased damage, life steal, stagger bonuses, or elemental effects. The core loadout allows significant customization: a stagger-focused build with stagger cores turns every hit into a crowd-control tool, while a damage-focused build with raw attack cores maximizes single-target DPS.

Recommended Builds

Build	Greatsword	Abyss Cores	Strategy
Stagger Tank	Absolute Justice (Damiane; 17 ATK at +0)	5x Stagger Cores	Focus on heavy attacks to lock down enemies. Pair with shield swap for defense.
Critical Sweeper	Thalwynd Longsword (14 ATK, Crit Lv.2 at +0)	3x Crit Cores + 2x Attack Cores	Capitalize on the built-in crit bonus for burst damage across groups.
Early Game All-Rounder	Rhett's Longsword (15 ATK, Crit Lv.1 at +0)	Mixed utility cores	The built-in critical-rate bonus supports a critical build. Good for learning the weapon type.

Tips

The primary trade-off is vulnerability during wind-up animations. Committing to a heavy swing at the wrong time can leave you open to devastating counterattacks, especially against fast bosses.
Use the guard counter as your primary damage source in boss fights. It deals more damage than a regular heavy attack and has a shorter recovery window.
Greatswords are excellent for clearing groups of enemies in the open world but can struggle against fast one-on-one opponents. Consider carrying a secondary weapon for agile enemies.
Invest in Stamina upgrades early. Greatsword combos are stamina-hungry, and running out mid-swing is a death sentence against bosses.
The greatsword covers a similar area to the greataxe but has less wind-up on attacks and is faster overall, making it the more versatile choice for most players.

Revision 18