Dragon Greatclaw
Dragon Greatclaw is a unique colossal weapon dropped with Dragonclaw Shield by the Draconic Tree Sentinel outside Leyndell. It deals physical and lightning damage through enormous claw-shaped strikes, but its fixed Endure skill limits customization.
Key Takeaways
Dragon Greatclaw is a lightning-infused colossal weapon with a fixed skill and a demanding Strength requirement. Its value depends on whether the build benefits from heavy melee attacks and split physical/lightning damage.
Lightning-infused colossal weapon
Dragon Greatclaw combines colossal-weapon attacks with innate lightning damage, giving it a different damage profile from purely physical alternatives.
Fixed weapon skill
Its skill is Endure, so the weapon does not offer the usual Ash of War customization or affinity selection available to many standard weapons.
High Strength commitment
The weapon requires a substantial Strength investment, making it a poor fit for characters that cannot meet its requirements without weakening their broader build.
Draconic Tree Sentinel reward
Dragon Greatclaw is obtained by defeating the Draconic Tree Sentinel at the approach to Leyndell, rather than through a vendor or ordinary enemy drop.
Reliable physical pressure, conditional matchup value
Its large weapon class supports committed, high-impact attacks, while the split physical/lightning profile can make its results more matchup-dependent than a comparable weapon with one primary damage type.
Somber reinforcement path
Dragon Greatclaw uses the unique-weapon reinforcement path and is upgraded with Somber Smithing Stones rather than the standard weapon material route.
Compared with flexible colossal weapons
Its lightning damage and fixed Endure skill distinguish it from infusible colossal weapons that can change Ashes of War, affinities and damage specialization.
Overview
Dragon Greatclaw is a unique Colossal Weapon in Elden Ring, built around heavy melee attacks and a fixed lightning weapon skill. It is a late-game remembrance reward rather than a standard weapon found through ordinary exploration.
Dragon Greatclaw occupies the slow, high-commitment end of Elden Ring’s melee roster. Its Colossal Weapon classification gives it a deliberate moveset and substantial attack commitment, so its role is based on choosing attack windows rather than maintaining constant pressure. The weapon’s identity is further separated from ordinary colossal weapons by its lightning-oriented skill and its fixed, unique upgrade path.
The defining feature is Lightning Bolt, the weapon skill associated with Dragon Greatclaw. It brings a lightning effect into a close-range weapon whose normal attacks remain grounded in heavy physical melee. This gives the weapon a distinct split between its standard swings and its skill use: the former reward spacing and timing, while the latter provides the weapon’s most recognizable connection to dragon-themed lightning.
Dragon Greatclaw is obtained through the late-game remembrance system, specifically through the remembrance associated with Dragonlord Placidusax. That placement makes it a progression reward for a character who has reached one of the game’s final optional encounters, rather than an early or broadly available choice. Its importance is therefore tied to its unique skill and theme more than to general accessibility.
As a fixed unique weapon, Dragon Greatclaw differs from infusible colossal weapons because its identity is not reshaped through freely chosen Ashes of War or affinities. It is also a different kind of choice from the remembrance weapon Dragon King’s Cragblade: both are late-game rewards with storm-related themes, but Dragon Greatclaw keeps the slower colossal-weapon role instead of serving as a heavy thrusting sword. The weapon belongs to Elden Ring’s base-game arsenal, not Shadow of the Erdtree.
Statistics
Elden Ring publishes no 0–100 stat bars, so this page lists the verified requirements, scaling and handling figures instead. Taken from the project's verified weapons database, not from generated text.
- CategoryColossal Weapons
- Damage TypeStandard
- Primary ScalingStr C
- Weight20
- SkillDragon Greatclaw Skill
- Str Req50
- Dex Req15
- How to ObtainFound near dragon enemies, Shadow of the Erdtree
- DLCShadow of the Erdtree
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar colossal weapons
| Weapon | Str Req | Dex Req | Weight | Primary Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Greatclaw | 50 | 15 | 20 | Str C |
| Devonia's Hammer | 40 | 15 | 19 | Str C / Fai D |
| Anvil Hammer | 60 | 10 | 21 | Str D |
| Golem Fist | 60 | 10 | 22 | Str C |
| Gazing Finger | 50 | 15 | 18 | Str C |
Requirements, scaling grades and weight are the game’s own published figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Reach Altus Plateau and access the Capital Outskirts in the base game; no DLC, vendor purchase, quest, or NG+ requirement applies.
- The reward is tied to the Draconic Tree Sentinel encounter and is normally available once per playthrough. It is not missable before the boss is defeated.
- 01Travel to the Capital Outskirts in Altus Plateau and approach the Draconic Tree Sentinel guarding the main approach to Leyndell, Royal Capital. The boss is a field encounter rather than a quest or vendor source.
- 02Defeat the Draconic Tree Sentinel. Dragon Greatclaw is a guaranteed reward from this boss, alongside the Dragonclaw Shield; it is awarded once when the encounter is completed.
Mechanics and Handling
Dragon Greatclaw is a slow, committed colossal weapon whose attacks combine physical force with lightning damage. Its large claw shape gives the normal attacks broad melee coverage, but the weapon is most effective when its user accepts deliberate attack timing rather than trying to match the speed of lighter weapon classes. The attack commitment makes spacing and choosing a safe opening important against mobile enemies.
Colossal claw moveset
The regular moveset uses wide claw swings suited to catching targets near the weapon’s front and sides. Its attacks are deliberate enough that repeatedly attacking through an enemy’s turn is risky; short openings, jump attacks, and attacks made after a stagger are safer opportunities than trading continuously. Two-handing changes the handling and attribute calculation in the normal way for colossal weapons, but it does not replace the weapon’s slow attack commitment with a faster moveset.
The weapon’s reach is useful for controlling space around the player, although its broad swings do not make it a substitute for precise targeting in narrow terrain. Its heavy attack is best treated as a committed punish rather than a quick interruption. Dragon Greatclaw has no firearm-style reload or ammunition behaviour, and its mechanical identity is not built around an innate status buildup.
Endure and trading windows
Dragon Greatclaw’s fixed weapon skill is Endure. Activating it places the user in a braced stance for a short period, reducing incoming damage and making the stance difficult to interrupt. The skill does not itself provide a ranged attack or a new damage type; its purpose is to create a brief window in which the player can withstand an incoming hit and complete a follow-up action.
Endure is most useful when the player has already identified a predictable attack or a narrow trade window. Using it indiscriminately can waste FP and still leave the user committed to a poor position, particularly against multi-hit attacks or effects that remain active after the initial impact. The skill therefore supports controlled aggression rather than removing the need to avoid attacks.
Lightning damage and handling limits
Lightning is part of Dragon Greatclaw’s normal damage profile, so its attacks are not purely physical. This does not mean every target will react identically: enemy defenses and the attack’s contact point still affect the result. The weapon’s fixed skill and unique reinforcement path also make it less flexible than an infusible colossal weapon, since its core handling and skill identity cannot be freely rebuilt around another Ash of War.
There is no separate weapon durability routine or special resource loop to manage during ordinary attacks. The practical constraints are stamina, FP for Endure, recovery time, and the need to remain close enough for a committed melee swing to connect.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Its innate lightning damage gives physical-focused attacks an additional damage type, which can be useful when a target resists one component more than the other.
- As a colossal weapon, its attacks can apply substantial stance pressure when used during a boss opening or after a successful dodge.
- Endure provides temporary increased poise and damage reduction, allowing a deliberate trade or helping the wielder complete a committed attack under pressure.
- Its fixed design gives it a clear role without requiring an affinity or Ash of War setup. This also preserves its lightning-focused identity.
Weaknesses
- Colossal-weapon attacks commit the user to relatively slow animations, making missed swings costly against mobile enemies or short punish windows.
- Its weight and attribute demands compete with armor, talismans, and other equipment choices, so it is less convenient for lightly equipped or low-Strength builds.
- The fixed skill and innate damage prevent the weapon from being reshaped around another affinity, status plan, or preferred Ash of War.
- Endure improves its trading option but does not remove the risk of poor spacing; using it without a clear opening can still leave the wielder vulnerable after the effect ends.
Best uses
- PvE encounters with readable attack windows, where the wielder can use colossal-weapon hits to pressure stance and Endure to complete a committed exchange.
- Physical-oriented builds that want lightning damage without dedicating their weapon slot to an interchangeable affinity setup.
- Close-range fights where the weapon's slow attacks can be aimed at a recovering enemy rather than used as repeated neutral pokes.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class and role | Damage profile | Skill and customization | Best distinction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Greatclaw | Physical and lightning damage | Endure; fixed unique weapon with no affinity or Ash of War changes | Combines colossal-weapon reach and power with innate lightning damage | — |
| Giant-Crusher | Physical damage | Customizable Ash of War and affinity | More flexible for physical-strength setups that do not need innate elemental damage | — |
| Fallingstar Beast Jaw | Physical and magic damage | Gravity Bolt; fixed unique weapon | Offers a ranged weapon skill and gravity-focused utility instead of lightning damage | — |
| Prelate's Inferno Crozier | Physical and fire damage | Prelate's Charge; customizable Ash of War and affinity | A fire-damage alternative with greater skill and affinity flexibility | — |
Used In
- Draconic Tree SentinelThe Draconic Tree Sentinel guarding the approach to Leyndell drops Dragon Greatclaw when defeated. This is the Capital Outskirts encounter, not the later Draconic Tree Sentinel in Crumbling Farum Azula.
- Capital OutskirtsThe Dragon Greatclaw is obtained from the Draconic Tree Sentinel encounter at this location, on the route toward Leyndell, Royal Capital.
- Dragonclaw ShieldA related reward from the same Capital Outskirts Draconic Tree Sentinel encounter.
Lore and Design
Dragon Greatclaw is directly associated with the Draconic Tree Sentinel, the mounted guardian encountered outside Leyndell, Royal Capital. Its item lore frames the weapon as a great hammer incorporating an ancient dragon’s claw, while its lightning damage reinforces the connection between the Sentinel and dragon-derived power. The weapon’s shape and effects therefore support its role as the armament of a capital guardian rather than establishing a separate named wielder or faction history. No documented developer commentary is established here about its real-world inspiration, design process, or cultural source.
Trivia
- The Dragon Greatclaw is a weapon associated with the Draconic Tree Sentinel rather than a Dragon Communion armament. Its name and description connect it to an ancient dragon’s claw, while its weapon skill is the general defensive skill Endure rather than a dragon-themed attack.
- Despite its claw-derived name, the weapon is classified as a colossal weapon and is not a paired claw weapon. This distinction affects how it is handled and equipped, separating it from Elden Ring’s claw-type weapons.