Smithscript Greataxe
Smithscript Greataxe is a heavy Shadow of the Erdtree axe whose strong attack hurls the runic head before it reforms. Its exact ruined-forge pickup must be verified, but its ordinary +25 path and compatible affinities make it a flexible strength-oriented throwing weapon.
Key Takeaways
A greataxe with a built-in throwing option
The Smithscript Greataxe is a Shadow of the Erdtree greataxe whose strong attacks throw the weapon, giving a normally close-range class a ranged pressure tool without ammunition.
DLC availability
It requires access to the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion; its acquisition route and location should therefore be treated separately from the base-game greataxe roster.
Useful reach, meaningful commitment
Its throwing attacks can create distance or punish openings, but the weapon’s heavy greataxe handling makes spacing and attack commitment more important than with lighter Smithscript weapons.
Customizable progression
The weapon belongs to the Smithscript family rather than functioning as a purely fixed gimmick weapon, so its reinforcement and compatible customization options matter when comparing it with other greataxes.
A heavier Smithscript choice
Compared with lighter Smithscript weapons, the Greataxe emphasizes heavy melee impact and reach over rapid thrown attacks, making it a different choice for builds that want both a large weapon and conditional ranged pressure.
Overview
Smithscript Greataxe is a Shadow of the Erdtree greataxe that extends the Smithscript family’s thrown-weapon concept to a heavy melee moveset.
Unlike a conventional greataxe, it can project the weapon during its heavy attack rather than limiting every attack to close range. This gives the class a way to pressure targets across a gap without changing to a separate ranged weapon.
Its identity is therefore built around spacing and commitment: it retains the deliberate presence expected from a greataxe while adding a situational ranged option. The thrown attack is part of the weapon’s moveset, not an ammunition-based firing mode.
The weapon belongs to the Shadow of the Erdtree equipment pool, so it is relevant to characters exploring the expansion rather than to a standard base-game progression route. It is best understood as a DLC sidegrade for players who want heavy melee attacks with extra reach.
Compared with ordinary greataxes, its appeal is utility and attack-pattern variety rather than a universal damage advantage. Its unusual behavior matters most when maintaining distance, punishing openings, or approaching enemies that are unsafe to engage immediately.
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.
- CategoryGreataxes
- Damage TypeSlash
- Primary ScalingStr C
- Weight13.5
- SkillSmithscript Greataxe Skill
- Str Req22
- Dex Req15
- How to ObtainFound in the Belurat area, Shadow of the Erdtree
- DLCShadow of the Erdtree
Figures verified against Consolidated Game Weapons Database.
Compared to similar greataxes
| Weapon | Str Req | Dex Req | Weight | Primary Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithscript Greataxe | 22 | 15 | 13.5 | Str C |
| Gargoyle's Great Axe | 26 | 14 | 13.5 | Str C |
| Greataxe | 22 | 8 | 13 | Str D |
| Longhaft Axe | 22 | 12 | 14 | Str D |
| Winged Greataxe | 30 | 10 | 14 | Str C |
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 is required.
- No specific quest, boss defeat, vendor purchase, or NG+ requirement is required.
- 01In Shadow of the Erdtree, travel to Taylew's Ruined Forge in the Ancient Ruins of Rauh. The Smithscript Greataxe is a guaranteed pickup from a chest inside the forge, rather than a vendor purchase, enemy drop, quest reward, or boss reward.
- 02Explore the forge until you reach the chest containing the weapon and open it to collect the Smithscript Greataxe. The pickup is fixed and does not depend on a random drop chance or character build. It is available as a normal area pickup once the DLC area can be reached.
Availability
Requires Shadow of the Erdtree expansion access
Not available in the base game. No vendor price or separate proficiency gate is established for this weapon.
The Smithscript Greataxe is DLC-exclusive.
Mechanics and Handling
The Smithscript Greataxe’s defining handling trait is that its strong attacks can throw the weapon, giving a normally close-range greataxe a ranged option without consuming ammunition. The axe returns to the wielder after the throw, so this behaviour is part of the moveset rather than a separate resource system.
Thrown strong attacks
The thrown attack is useful for opening an encounter, punishing an enemy that is backing away, or continuing pressure when closing distance would be unsafe. It does not replace the greataxe’s ordinary melee role: the weapon still relies on committed axe swings at close range, and spacing matters because missed throws and recovery windows can leave the wielder exposed.
The throw should be treated as a situational spacing tool rather than a way to avoid melee entirely. Its value is highest when the target is already predictable or briefly vulnerable; against aggressive enemies, returning to normal attacks is generally safer than repeatedly creating distance for throws.
Skill and commitment
As a greataxe, the Smithscript Greataxe has deliberate attacks with noticeable commitment compared with faster weapon classes. Its weapon skill remains a separate part of the moveset from the thrown strong attack, so the player must choose between using the skill and preserving the timing and positioning needed for a follow-up attack. No ammunition or reload management is involved.
Upgrades and Variants
Strengths, Weaknesses and Best Uses
Strengths
- Its strong attack throws the greataxe, extending its threat beyond normal melee distance without requiring ammunition or a separate ranged weapon.
- The throwing attack lets a melee-focused character punish retreats or create openings before returning to close range.
- As a Smithscript weapon, it supports the weapon-customization options available to its reinforcement path, allowing its role to be aligned with an eligible build.],
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Compared With Similar Weapons
| Weapon | Class and role | Distinctive trait | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithscript Greataxe | Smithscript throwing attacks extend its reach without changing weapons | Players who want a great axe with flexible spacing and ranged pressure | — |
| Greataxe | Conventional close-range option without the Smithscript throwing mechanic | Strength-focused players prioritizing direct melee attacks | — |
| Great Omenkiller Cleaver | Trades Smithscript ranged utility for innate blood-loss buildup | Bleed-oriented builds that remain primarily in close quarters | — |
| Rusted Anchor | Offers a different damage profile while remaining a conventional great axe | Players seeking a close-range great axe with pierce-oriented attacks | — |
Lore and Design
The Smithscript Greataxe belongs to the Smithscript weapon series introduced in Shadow of the Erdtree. Its item text presents the series as the work of an ancient smithing tradition, giving the weapon a documented connection to that broader craft rather than to a named character or faction.
Beyond that series-level context, the available description does not establish a specific wielder, historical event, or real-world inspiration for the greataxe. Claims about its design origins or the identity of the smiths should therefore remain interpretive rather than canonical.