Greatsword of Solitude
Greatsword of Solitude is a Shadow of the Erdtree greatsword dropped by the Blackgaol Knight in the Western Nameless Mausoleum. It offers a Strength-focused physical profile, unusually capable guarding, and the fixed Solitary Moon Slash projectile-combo skill.
Key Takeaways
Greatsword of Solitude is a Shadow of the Erdtree greatsword built around heavy physical attacks and a distinctive ranged weapon skill.
Distinctive skill
Its unique Solitude skill combines a powerful close-range strike with a follow-up projectile, giving the weapon an option that ordinary greatswords do not share.
Availability
It is obtained from the Blackgaol Knight at the Western Nameless Mausoleum in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.
Build demand
The weapon favors a Strength-led setup, but it also requires some Dexterity; its requirements should be checked before committing to it.
Main strength
Its greatsword reach, heavy physical attacks, and built-in ranged skill let it pressure targets without relying entirely on melee spacing.
Main limitation
Its attacks require the commitment typical of a heavy greatsword, and the fixed skill limits customization compared with an infusible weapon.
Upgrade path
Greatsword of Solitude follows the unique Somber reinforcement path rather than the standard weapon upgrade path.
Comparison point
Compared with ordinary greatswords, it trades some customization for a distinctive skill and a built-in ranged option.
Overview
The Greatsword of Solitude is a unique greatsword introduced in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It combines the committed close-range attacks expected from a greatsword with Solitary Moon, a distinctive weapon skill that sends a ranged crescent attack forward before enabling a follow-up strike. That combination gives the weapon a way to pressure targets outside ordinary melee distance without making it a conventional ranged weapon.
The Greatsword of Solitude occupies a heavy, deliberate role within Elden Ring’s greatsword class. Its normal attacks are intended for players comfortable with substantial attack commitment and close-range spacing, while its unique skill adds a separate tactical option for opening encounters or extending pressure. The weapon is therefore defined less by a special status effect than by the contrast between its grounded melee moveset and its moon-shaped projectile.
Its defining feature is Solitary Moon, a fixed skill associated with the weapon rather than a freely selected Ash of War. The skill launches a dark crescent toward an enemy and supports a follow-up attack, giving the Greatsword of Solitude more reach in practice than its standard swings alone suggest. This does not replace the need to manage distance or openings: the weapon remains a heavy greatsword, and using its skill still involves committing resources and choosing the right moment.
As a unique weapon, the Greatsword of Solitude is less flexible than an ordinary infusible greatsword. Its identity is tied to its built-in skill and its distinctive presentation, so it is aimed at players who want a defined weapon package rather than a base weapon to reshape through interchangeable Ashes of War and affinities. That makes it a different choice from standard greatswords whose main appeal lies in customization.
The weapon belongs to the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and is encountered during progression through the Land of Shadow rather than the base game’s opening arsenal. Its acquisition is associated with the Blackgaol Knight and the Western Nameless Mausoleum, but the full route and encounter details belong in the acquisition section. Within the DLC’s progression, it is a notable option for strength-oriented or otherwise heavy melee characters who value a weapon skill with meaningful ranged application.
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.
- CategoryGreatswords
- Damage TypeStandard/Pierce/Frost
- Primary ScalingStr C / Dex D
- Weight13
- SkillCold Slash
- Str Req21
- Dex Req13
- How to ObtainRennala boss reward
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar greatswords
| Weapon | Str Req | Dex Req | Weight | Primary Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greatsword of Solitude | 21 | 13 | 13 | Str C / Dex D |
| Starscourge Greatsword | 30 | 10 | 13 | Str C |
| Ancient Meteoric Ore Greatsword | 24 | 10 | 13 | Str D / Int D |
| Marais Executioner's Sword | 21 | 15 | 13 | Str D / Dex D |
| Alabaster Lord's Sword | 20 | 10 | 13 | Str D / Arc E |
Requirements, scaling grades and weight are the game’s own published figures. From Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
How to Obtain
- Shadow of the Erdtree access and entry into the Realm of Shadow.
- Reach the Western Nameless Mausoleum in Gravesite Plain.
- Defeat the Blackgaol Knight.
- 01Enter the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and travel to the Western Nameless Mausoleum in western Gravesite Plain. The mausoleum is the arena for the Blackgaol Knight, whose encounter can be started by interacting with the entrance there.
- 02Defeat the Blackgaol Knight and collect the reward after the encounter. The Greatsword of Solitude is a guaranteed reward from this boss rather than a random enemy drop or vendor purchase; no separate quest completion is required.
- 03The encounter remains available after other progression, so the weapon is not known to be missable. The reward is limited to one copy per playthrough, with another copy obtainable in a later New Game Plus cycle.
Availability
Requires Shadow of the Erdtree is required.
Unavailable in the base game. It is a fixed DLC weapon rather than a rotating vendor-stock item; no separate purchase price applies.
Mechanics and Handling
The Greatsword of Solitude uses the deliberate, commitment-heavy handling expected from Elden Ring’s greatsword class. Its horizontal light attacks cover space in front of the wielder and are suited to controlling approaching enemies, but their recovery leaves less room for correction than a straight sword or katana. Spacing matters: the blade’s reach can catch targets just outside shorter weapons’ range, while missed swings are costly against fast opponents.
Its attacks do not apply a weapon-specific status effect or consume ammunition. The main resource and timing consideration is the FP cost of its unique skill, so the weapon’s special attack is best treated as a deliberate ranged option rather than a replacement for ordinary close-range swings.
Solitary Moon creates distance before the follow-up
Solitary Moon is the Greatsword of Solitude’s unique weapon skill. Activating it makes the wielder leap backward and release a crescent-shaped projectile, allowing the weapon to threaten an enemy without remaining directly in front of it. This retreat is part of the skill’s handling: it can create breathing room, but it also moves the user away from a target that would otherwise be in melee range.
The skill has a follow-up attack that can be performed after the projectile. That follow-up converts the separation into a forward offensive action, giving the weapon a two-stage rhythm: establish space with the moon projectile, then commit to the closing slash when the opening is safe. The projectile and follow-up should not be treated as automatically safe; both are punishable if used while an enemy is already within striking distance or during an attack that tracks the retreat.
Melee rhythm and charged attacks
The normal light sequence is most useful for punishing openings and keeping pressure on targets that can be staggered by greatsword blows. Heavy and charged attacks require more commitment but provide a stronger single hit and are better reserved for readied openings, recovering enemies, or situations where the target cannot immediately retaliate. Jumping attacks can help bypass some of the risk of a grounded approach, but they remain a timing choice rather than a special property of this weapon.
Because the Greatsword of Solitude combines a large melee weapon with a retreating skill, it rewards alternating between close-range pressure and selective disengagement. It is less forgiving when attacks are thrown out blindly, particularly against enemies that rapidly close distance or punish long recovery animations.
Blocking and skill use
The weapon can be used as a defensive melee weapon, but its defining advantage is offensive spacing rather than a special guard mechanic. Solitary Moon is most useful when the retreat, projectile, and follow-up are considered together; using only the first stage may preserve distance, while committing to the second stage depends on whether the opponent’s recovery has been confirmed.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Its colossal-sword moveset gives Strength-focused builds substantial posture pressure when attacks connect, making committed openings more rewarding than with lighter greatswords.
- Solitary Moon Slash adds ranged pressure to an otherwise close-range weapon: the skill can reach targets that would be unsafe to approach immediately and gives the weapon a distinctive punish option.
- The fixed weapon skill provides a clear, self-contained play pattern without requiring an Ash of War setup or affinity choice.
Weaknesses
- Colossal-sword attacks commit the character for longer than lighter weapon classes, so missed swings are costly against fast enemies and bosses with short punish windows.
- Its weight and attribute demands compete with armor, stamina, or secondary weapons in a build, making it less convenient for characters that are not already investing heavily in Strength.
- The unique skill and reinforcement path reduce customization compared with an infusible greatsword; players cannot freely replace the skill to match a preferred affinity or moveset.
Best uses
- Use it on Strength-oriented PvE builds that can accept its weight and want posture pressure from deliberate melee attacks.
- Use Solitary Moon Slash to punish openings or pressure enemies before committing to the weapon's slower close-range sequence.
- Choose it when a fixed skill and distinctive ranged option are more valuable to the build than the broader affinity and Ash of War flexibility of a standard greatsword.
Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class / role | Skill or customization | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatsword of Solitude | Fixed Solitary Moon skill; not an infusable weapon | Choose it for a greatsword moveset combined with a distinctive ranged attack and a self-contained upgrade path | — |
| Claymore | Infusable and compatible with changeable Ashes of War; its moveset includes thrusting attacks | A more customizable alternative when affinity or skill selection matters more than a unique weapon skill | — |
| Knight's Greatsword | Infusable and compatible with changeable Ashes of War | A practical alternative for builds that want a long greatsword with customizable damage and skill choices | — |
| Flamberge | Infusable and carries innate bleed buildup | Consider it when bleed synergy is more important than Solitude's fixed ranged skill | — |
Used In
- Blackgaol KnightThe Blackgaol Knight is the boss who drops the Greatsword of Solitude.
- Western Nameless MausoleumThe Greatsword of Solitude is obtained from the Blackgaol Knight encounter in this Shadow of the Erdtree location.
Lore and Design
The Greatsword of Solitude is associated with the knight of Solitude encountered in the Shadow of the Erdtree. Its item text presents the weapon as belonging to that solitary knight, establishing a direct connection between the weapon, the knight’s title, and the Solitude equipment set. The description does not, by itself, establish a broader faction history or a confirmed relationship to a named character.
The weapon’s name and unique skill, Solitary Moon Slash, reinforce the theme of isolation and restrained, deliberate swordsmanship. That thematic link is an interpretation of the weapon’s naming and presentation rather than a documented statement of developer intent. No reliable developer commentary or official design material is established here, so claims about real-world inspiration, cultural reference, or the weapon’s development are omitted.
Trivia
- Greatsword of Solitude is associated with the Blackgaol Knight, the solitary warrior encountered in the Western Nameless Mausoleum in Shadow of the Erdtree. Its weapon-specific skill, Solitary Moon, is not a standard Ash of War that can be freely transferred to other weapons.