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This is a guide on the best Great Swords in Avowed. Read on to see the best Great Swords you can use in a Fighter or Spellblade build, including a tier list ranking all Great Swords in the game.
| Related Great Sword Guides | |
|---|---|
| Best Great Swords | List of All Great Swords |
 S Tier |
 The Philosopher’s Riddle
|
 Hel’s Tongue
|
|---|---|---|
 A Tier |
 Unmaker
|
 Horsecutter
|
 B Tier |
 Great Sword
|
- |
For Two-Handed Weapons, Great Swords excel at quick swings, and the Philosopher's Riddle with its increased attack speed maximizes this. This can be found in Dawnshore quite early on, so you must upgrade it in in order for it to be viable until the end game.
For pure damage output, it is the top choice. While the Horsecutter offers a powerful full combo and stun, the Philosopher's Riddle's superior attack speed is more valuable. It also inflicts Poison damage, providing a small damage boost, especially useful against bosses with high HP.
The Hel's Tongue Great Sword can be found later in Shatterscarp. It offers the most support utility to your kit for its Essence restoring power kills. This, combined with its unique Fire and Frost attacks, is the perfect Great Sword for Spellblade builds.
| Wand | How to Get and Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Great Sword
|
How to Get: Can be obtained all over Dawnshore. In Dawnshore, you can stick to a Common Great Sword. Steadily upgrade it with Iron and Paradisan Ladders. |
| 2 |
 Great Sword
|
How to Get: Upgrade your Great Sword or purchase it from the Premium Protection merchant Gweneth, in Paradis. Before you explore the eastern half of Dawnshore, you'll want to have at least 1 Fine Quality weapon. Once you get a Fine Great Sword, look for the Philosopher's Riddle next. ▶︎ How to Upgrade Weapons |
| 3 |
 The Philosopher’s Riddle The Philosopher’s Riddle Aggressive Debate: A Full Combo Attack gives you +15% Attack Speed for 10 seconds
Poison Lash: Hits deal +10% bonus Poison Damage |
How to Get: Found in Castol's Folly, southeast corner of Dawnshore. Once you have access to Eastern Dawnshore, find this Great Sword and it can serve you well until the end. Stick with it and upgrade whenever possible to maximize its power. |
| 4 |
 The Philosopher’s Riddle The Philosopher’s Riddle Aggressive Debate: A Full Combo Attack gives you +15% Attack Speed for 10 seconds
Poison Lash: Hits deal +10% bonus Poison Damage |
How to Get: Upgrade your Fine Philosopher's Riddle at the Workbench. Break down unused weapons and armor, to craft Steel Chunks. There is plenty of Hylea's Talon in Emerald Stair, and you can buy Awakened Adra from the merchants in Fior. |
| 5 |
 Hel’s Tongue Hel’s Tongue Soul Reaver: Power Attack kills restore 10% of your Maximum Essence
Emotional: Hits deal +10% bonus Fire Damage against enemies above 50% Maximum Health, Hits deal +10% bonus Frost damage against enemies below 50% Maximum Health |
How to Get: Found in Shatterscarp, in Twin Towerings Overlook. If you want to switch out to a Great Sword better suited for Spellblades, use this instead when you reach Shatterscarp. |
| 6 |
 The Philosopher’s Riddle The Philosopher’s Riddle Aggressive Debate: A Full Combo Attack gives you +15% Attack Speed for 10 seconds
Poison Lash: Hits deal +10% bonus Poison Damage |
How to Get: Upgrade it via the Workbench Explore the latter regions of Emerald Stair and all of Shatterscarp thoroughly to maximize your materials. Gather resources, break down unused gear, and upgrade materials to reach Superb and beyond. ▶︎ How to Break Down Items |
| 7 |
The Philosopher’s Riddle The Philosopher’s Riddle Aggressive Debate: A Full Combo Attack gives you +15% Attack Speed for 10 seconds
Poison Lash: Hits deal +10% bonus Poison Damage |
How to Get: Upgrade it via the Workbench. When you reach Galawain's Tusks, collect the 6 Adra Ban needed to upgrade this weapon to Legendary. Get it to Legendary +3 by the time you reach the Garden. |
| * |
Unmaker Unmaker Fall Into Ruin: Power Attacks deal +15% bonus Attack Damage
Bane of the Eyeless: Critical Hits Stun nearby Maegfolc |
How to Get: Can be found late in the Garden. While the Philosopher's Riddle is still our main choice, if you want to wield an almost fully-upgraded endgame Great Sword, the Unmaker is a solid alternative. Since you're near the end, it's worth maxing out its upgrades. It proves especially useful against the numerous endgame Maegfolc. |
Best Great Swords
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