8 Best Great Swords in Avowed Ranked

Unravel comprehensive details about the top eight swords from the game Avowed, highlighting their unique strengths and potential weaknesses that make them stand out as the best and least effective options.

Discovering the Top 8 Mighty Great Swords in Avowed: A Comprehensive Guide

In the realm of gaming, Obsidian Entertainment has crafted a captivating first-person RPG known as Avowed, published by Xbox Game Studios. This masterpiece is set within the Pillars of Eternity universe, specifically in the Living Lands, where you embark on an intriguing secret quest.

One essential tool for your journey is the Great Sword, a formidable two-handed melee weapon that delivers substantial damage, boasts a robust stun potential, and offers reliable blocking efficiency. While it consumes more stamina per swing, its ability to interrupt enemy attacks makes it an indispensable asset in combat. Mastering this weapon is crucial since your gameplay heavily relies on it.

Enhancing these weapons through upgrades is imperative as it significantly boosts their combat effectiveness and power. The Great Sword’s unique attribute lies in its ability to stun opponents during close-quarters battles and deal devastating blows. In this guide, we will delve into the top 8 Great Swords in Avowed, examining their attributes, acquiring them as you traverse the world, and providing insights on how best to wield each one.

Top 8 Best Great Swords in Avowed Ranked

When your Essence level is low, opt for the Mighty Blade as it deals significant damage with each strike. This makes it simple for spell-wielding combatants to vanquish foes swiftly. The high damage is particularly advantageous in close quarters against enemies. Great Swords amplify attributes such as Might, which not only strengthens physical attacks but also boosts the power of spells. Investing in Might enhances both physical and magical prowess. However, be aware that Great Swords consume more stamina per strike, inflicting devastating damage. Given its area-of-effect capabilities, this type of weapon is an attractive pick for a Spellblade build.

With The Great Sword, it’s stun is relatively weak but the bleeding effect it inflicts is quite potent. This weapon type excels in melee damage per strike and can ward off incoming attacks by consuming stamina. To take advantage of this bleeding effect, you must first unlock the Bleeding Cuts passive within the Fighter skill tree. Once activated, the bleeding effect steadily deals a substantial amount of damage over time, effectively wearing down targets after a powerful attack. Additionally, you can combine elemental effects with grenades such as fire, resulting in multiple damaging over time effects stacked together.

Below are the 8 best Great Swords in Avowed ranked from best to worst:

The Philosopher’s Riddle- The best Great Sword that deals the highest damage and stun effect on the enemy in late-game battles.
Hel’s Tongue- This damage-dealing sword deals dual-elemental damage, allowing you to dominate the enemies
Unmaker- AoE stun against Maegfolc provides you with a significant advantage while fighting specific enemies.
Horsecutter- It deals additional damage with full combo attacks in combat
Super Great Sword- An excellent damage-dealing sword with a parrying hook.
Exceptional Great Sword- A decent damage-dealing Great Sword best for mid-game fights.
Fine Great Sword- An upgraded version of the Common Great Sword with improved stats.
Common Great Sword- A basic Great Sword that is best to use for early-game encounters.

8) Common Great Sword

Physical Damage: 27
Stun: 20
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

The Common Great Sword, found at the bottom of our rankings, has the least damage output and stun power among all weapons in the game. It’s your starting sword, useful only during early stages of play. By upgrading this Common Great Sword, you can acquire more powerful swords. You can buy it from Merchant Valtur who resides at Claviger’s Landing in Dawnshore. Initially, the weapon may seem ineffective, but pairing it with a shield or utilizing Fighter skills can help dish out substantial damage. Think of this as your temporary placeholder sword; you’ll find better weapons as you advance. We rank the Common Great Sword lower due to its low damage output and lack of special buffs.

7) Fine Great Sword

Physical Damage: 81
Stun: 80
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

The Fine Quality Greatsword is superior to a Common Sword, but not as effective as an Exceptional Sword, given its moderate damage output and usefulness. This sword is suitable for use during the early to mid-game stages. To maximize its effectiveness in gameplay, combine it with Fighter skills. If you want to obtain the Fine Quality Greatsword, upgrade a Common Greatsword instead. The materials needed for this upgrade are six Steel Chunks and four Hylea’s Talons. You can acquire these items from Gwyneth who is located in the Market District of Paradis, Dawnshore.

This sword can be bought from Merchant Stephan, stationed at Essence of War in Fior mes Iverno on Emerald Stair. This sword outperforms the standard Common Great Sword, delivers a reasonable amount of stun, and is conveniently accessible. By upgrading it to its maximum level, you can enhance its physical damage output and stun capability during battles. In our ranking system, this Fine Great Sword falls between the Exceptional Great Sword and the Common Great Sword because of its lower base damage and limited stun impact.

6) Exceptional Great Sword

Physical Damage: 135
Stun: 140
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

The Exceptional Great Sword ranks 6th on our list due to its strong damage output and stun potential during early to mid-battles. Enhancing this weapon on a workbench boosts its physical damage and stun properties. To upgrade the Exceptional Great Sword, you’ll need White Steel Chunks and Admeth’s Wyrt. Upgrading the Fine Great Sword will earn you an exceptional Great Sword. You can buy it from Merchant Stephan, who is based at Essence of War in Fior mes Iverno within Emerald Stair.

This sword, known as the Exceptional Sword, can be bought from Kampeki, situated at Leviathan Market in Thirdborn, Shatterscarp Region. This weapon is an excellent option for players looking for good stun and blocking capabilities. We suggest using it during the mid-game phase since you’ll likely find a superior sword with extra attributes as you progress further. The Exceptional Sword ranks between Superb Great Sword and Fine Great Sword due to its slower swing speed and less damage output.

5) Super Great Sword

Physical Damage: 189
Stun: 200
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

The Superb Great Sword ranks fifth due to its ability to inflict significant damage and stun powerful adversaries in battle. It’s an excellent weapon for end-game encounters, but it’s not ideal against high-level bosses. By enhancing the exceptional Great Sword, you can upgrade it to the Super Great Sword. You have two options to acquire this weapon: visit Kampeki at Leviathan Market, Thirdborn, in the Shatterscarp Region, or head to Forgemaster Dela in the Main Hall of Solace Keep, Galawain’s Tusk Region.

For optimal results, combine it with Fighter abilities that boost its physical attack power and stun potential. As you enhance it, its performance in battle significantly improves. To upgrade the Superb Great Sword, you’ll need 6 Living Iron Chunks and 4 Cave Corals. This weapon excels at blocking, delivering strong stuns, and dealing high damage. It ranks below the Horsecutter but above the Exceptional Sword due to its slower attack speed and high stamina usage.

4) Horsecutter

Physical Damage: 284
Stun: 260
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

The Horsecutter, while not quite as potent as the Unmaker, still packs a punch in combat, especially with full combo attacks, dealing extra damage. This weapon is designed to obliterate any foe it encounters. The Horsecutter’s passive ability, Bleeding Slash, grants a 10% bonus bleed damage. In a fight, the Horsecutter’s base enchantment, Horsecutting Strokes, can inflict high stun on surrounding enemies with a full combo attack. For optimal performance in challenging situations, pair the Horsecutter with Fighter skills. You can find the Horsecutter within the Wavesculpt Hollow, situated in the Emerald Stair region, south of Maxim’s Claim. To reach it, travel south from Fior mes Iverno. Defeat all enemies in the area to claim the Horsecutter as your own.

The swords are wielded by skeletons that you can readily acquire. Therefore, arm yourself with the finest weapon and vanquish the skeleton to seize the sword. The Horse Cutter is an excellent choice for players who favor damage-over-time effects and intense melee combat. This weapon’s high stun potential and its ability to inflict bleed damage over time make it one of the best swords you can use after the Unmaker. You can utilize this Great Sword for crowd control, particularly during battles with numerous enemies. However, this weapon demands a full combo for maximum stun, and it lacks elemental damage. The Horsecutter is positioned between the Unmaker and Superb Great Sword due to its offensive capability and absence of fire and frost damage.

3) Unmaker

Physical Damage: 284
Stun: 260
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

The Unmaker ranks third due to its ability to inflict significant damage and catering particularly to players reliant on powerful strikes. It’s one of the top-tier Great Swords in Avowed, perfect for battling tough opponents and bosses. The Bane of the eyeless is a distinctive passive trait for this weapon, causing your critical hits to momentarily stun nearby Maegfolc foes. The Unmaker’s initial enchantment is Fall Into the Ruin, which boosts your power attacks by an additional 15% damage. Upgrading the Unmaker enhances its effectiveness in combat, enabling you to escalate its physical damage and stun effects.

As an ardent gamer, I’ve stumbled upon an impressive find in Avowed – the Unmaker. Nestled beneath the submerged ruins of the Broken Aqueduct, within the heart of The Garden, lies this formidable Great Sword. To reach it, journey westward from Overlook Camp, then follow a straight pathway where the trees stand tall. When you spot a lake with lily pads, dive to the right side and delve deep underwater. There, embedded in a statue, you’ll discover Unmaker.

This sword boasts hefty power attack bonuses that make it an ideal choice for players who relish aggressive melee playstyles. In battles against Maegfolc, its Area of Effect stun offers a decisive advantage during challenging encounters with specific enemies. However, note that this weapon’s stun effect is situational and relies heavily on power attacks.

Given its limitations and slightly lower offensive capabilities compared to other weapons like the Hel’s Tongue, I’d recommend Unmaker for those who are willing to invest stamina for maximum damage output. Yet, for players seeking a more versatile weapon, other options might be more suitable.

2) Hel’s Tongue

Physical Damage: 284
Stun: 260
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

Hel’s Tongue is the second-best Great Sword, as it inflicts damage from two elements, making it particularly effective against enemies. This sword boasts a special passive ability called Emotional, which increases Fire Damage by 10% against enemies with over half their maximum health, and Frost Damage by 10% against enemies with less than half their maximum health. The standard enchantment of Hel’s Tongue is Soul Reaver, enabling you to recover 10% of your maximum essence with powerful attacks. This versatile weapon adds support utility to your arsenal, helping you regain power skills. When paired with fire and frost spells, it forms a potent combination.

Obtain Hel’s Tongue at the Offerings Overlook in Shatterscarp following the defeat of Chieftain Grithin. After overcoming this bounty target, climb the nearby hill. In addition to Hel’s Tongue, you can find various consumables in this area. This weapon is easily obtainable within the game, making it an excellent choice for players ready to engage in late-game conflicts. By upgrading Hel’s Tongue on a workbench, you can boost its physical damage and stun potential. The more you upgrade this weapon, the more effective Hel’s Tongue becomes. Combine Hel’s Tongue with Fighter abilities like Bleeding Cuts and Brawn to inflict extra damage against challenging bosses. We’ve positioned this weapon slightly below The Philosopher’s Riddle due to its fewer enchantments, lack of status effects, and combat efficiency.

1) The Philosopher’s Riddle

Physical Damage: 284
Stun: 260
Stamina Cost: 20
Critical Hit Chance: 3%

Among our ranked swords, The Philosopher’s Riddle stands out as the top choice due to its ability to inflict the most damage and stun on enemies during late-game fights. This sword is meticulously crafted for taking down tough, high-level bosses. It boasts a passive skill called Poison Lash, which increases your poison damage by 10%. Its default enhancement, Aggressive Debate, grants you an additional 15% attack speed for 10 seconds after executing a full combo. However, its high stamina consumption requires strategic energy management. Lastly, the primary enchantment, Aggressive Debate, can be upgraded at your convenience on your Workbench in camp.

To obtain The Philosopher’s Riddle great sword in Avowed, you should first locate Castol’s Folly, an island situated southeast of Paradis. Once there, ascend the structure on the northwestern part of the island. Be aware that high-level enemies reside within Castol’s Folly, so ensure you are equipped with top-tier gear before venturing out. It’s also advisable to stock up on health regeneration items and potions prior to your journey. Good luck!

Location

On Castol’s Folly, you’ll come across additional Points of Interest such as a bounty marker and part of the Woedica Totem. Navigate to the island, battle and discover your way to the western region. After that, ascend and locate platforms which will guide you towards the northwest structure. Keep jumping and climbing until you reach the summit. Once atop the main stone platform, the Philosopher’s Riddle will become clear. The sword can be found near some oversized mushrooms.

Enhancing The Philosopher’s Enigma boosts its physical harm and stun power. This improvement significantly enhances your weapon’s effectiveness, particularly when confronting tough opponents. This Greatsword provides a significant attack speed bonus and toxic damage, which makes it an ideal fit for a poison-focused build. The swift attack speed of The Philosopher’s Enigma is beneficial in high-speed combat scenarios. Applying the toxic damage to enemies results in ongoing damage. However, this weapon lacks elemental effects, and being two-handed means you cannot wield a shield with it. The highest damage potential and stun capacity of this Greatsword place it atop our rankings as the top sword.

FAQs about 8 Best Great Swords in Avowed Ranked

What is a Great Sword in Avowed?

The Great Sword serves as a powerful two-handed melee weapon, offering significant damage output, impressive stun capabilities, and reliable block effectiveness.

Which is the best Great Sword in Avowed?

In late-game fights, The Philosopher’s Riddle stands out as the premier Great Sword in Avowed due to its capability of inflicting the greatest damage and stunning enemies, along with a potent stun effect. This exceptional sword boasts an additional passive ability, Poison Lash, which enhances your poison damage by an extra 10%.

Can you upgrade the Great Swords in Avowed?

Absolutely, you have the option to enhance the mighty swords in Avowed, which will boost their physical damage output, cause more stunning blows, and add powerful enchantments.

2025-03-01 23:21