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Discover everything you need to know about the 8 best Great Swords in Avowed and what makes them the best and worst ones.
Avowed is a first-person RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, the game occurs in the Living Lands, where you uncover a secret mystery. Great Sword is a two-handed melee weapon that delivers high damage, strong stun potential, and solid blocking efficiency. These weapons consume more stamina per swing but excel in interrupting the enemy’s attacks. Equipping the best Great Sword is essential as your gameplay mostly depends on it. Upgrading these weapons is essential to enhance their combat effectiveness, making them more powerful. This weapon type allows you to stun enemies and deal heavy damage in melee-range battles. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best 8 Great Swords in Avowed along with their attributes and how to get them while exploring the world.
Top 8 Best Great Swords in Avowed Ranked
The Great Sword is the best weapon to choose when you’re low on Essence. They deliver high damage per hit. This allows the spellblades to eliminate enemies easily. The high damage is beneficial when encountering enemies up close. Great Swords scale with attributes like Might, which also enhances spell potency. Investing in Might maximize both physical attacks and magical abilities. However, Great Swords consume more stamina per swing, dealing massive damage. This weapon type is a compelling choice for builds like Spellblade due to its AoE capabilities.
The Great Sword has low stun and the Bleed Accumulation it causes is just that powerful. This weapon type has significant melee damage per hit and can block the incoming attack by using stamina. You’ll need to unlock the Bleeding Cuts passive in the Fighter skill tree before this applies, however. Bleed deals a lot of damage over time, just melting targets after a power attack. Moreover, you can stack elemental effects with grenades like fire and get multiple damage over time effects.
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 stands at the end of our ranked list because it deals the lowest damage and stun value in the game. This is your base Great Sword that you can use only in the early game. Upgrading the Common Great Sword allows you to get better swords. You can purchase it from Merchant Valtur who is located at Claviger’s Landing in Dawnshore. This sword is less effective initially, but you can pair it with the shield or use Fighter skills to deal solid damage. Consider this weapon as your basic temporary sword as you will get better swords as you progress. We place the Common Great Sword in the lower tier in our ranked list due to its weak damage and lack of unique buffs.
7) Fine Great Sword
- Physical Damage: 81
- Stun: 80
- Stamina Cost: 20
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Fine Great Sword is better than Common Sword and Less effective than Exceptional Sword because it offers moderate damage and utility. You can use this sword from early to mid-game. Pair the Fine Great Sword with the Fighter skills to make it more effective in the game. Upgrading the Common Great Sword allows you to get the Fine Great Sword. The materials required to upgrade the Fine Great Sword are Steel Chunk x6 and Hylea’s Talon x4. You can purchase it from Gwyneth in the Market District of Paradis, Dawnshore.
It can also be purchased from Merchant Stephan who is located at: Essence of War in Fior mes Iverno in Emerald Stair. This sword is far better than the Common Great Sword, deals decent stun, and is easy to obtain. Upgrading it to its full extent allows you to increase its physical damage and stun potential in combat. We place the Fine Great Sword below the Exceptional Great Sword and above the Common Great Sword due to its low base damage and minimal stun effect.
6) Exceptional Great Sword
- Physical Damage: 135
- Stun: 140
- Stamina Cost: 20
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Exceptional Great Sword is 6th in our ranked list because it offers substantial damage and stun capabilities in early to mid-game fights. Upgrading this weapon on a workbench allows you to increase its physical damage and stun attributes. The materials required to upgrade the Exceptional Great Sword are White Steel Chunk and Admeth’s Wyrt. Upgrading the Fine Great Sword allows you to acquire an exceptional Great Sword. You can purchase it from Merchant Stephan, who is located at: Essence of War in Fior mes Iverno in Emerald Stair.
This sword is also purchasable from Kampeki, who is located at: Leviathan Market, Thirdborn, Shatterscarp Region. This weapon is a solid choice for the players who seek decent stun and blocking efficiency. We recommend you to use this sword only in mid-game as you will find a better sword with additional attributes later in the game. The Exceptional Swords stands between Superb Great Sword and Find Great Sword due to its slower swing speed and lower damage potential.
5) Super Great Sword
- Physical Damage: 189
- Stun: 200
- Stamina Cost: 20
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Superb Great Sword stands on the 5th position because it deals heavy damage and stuns when fighting against powerful enemies. This is one of the best weapons to use in end-game combat, but not for high-level bosses. Upgrading the exceptional Great Sword allows you to gain the Super Great Sword. You can also purchase it from Kampeki who is located at: Leviathan Market, Thirdborn, Shatterscarp Region. This Great Sword can also be purchased from Forgemaster Dela who is located at: Main Hall, Solace Keep, Galawain’s Tusk Region.
It’s best to pair it with the Fighter skills that increase its physical damage along with the Stun capability. The more you upgrade, the better this weapon gets and the more effective in combat. The materials required to upgrade the Superb Great Sword are Living Iron Chunk x6 and Cave Coral x4. This weapon comes with good blocking, strong stun, and excellent damage. We place this weapon below the Horsecutter and above the Exceptional Sword due to its slow attack speed and high stamina consumption.
4) Horsecutter
- Physical Damage: 284
- Stun: 260
- Stamina Cost: 20
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Horsecutter is slightly less effective than Unmaker, but still, it deals additional damage with full combo attacks in combat. This damage-dealing weapon can eliminate any enemy coming in their path. Horsecutter comes with a Bleeding Slash passive ability that allows it to deal 10% bonus bleed damage. The base enchantment of this sword is Horsecutting Strokes which allows your full combo attack to deal high stun to the nearby foes. Pair the Horsecutter with the Fighter skills to make it more effective in tough encounters. You can acquire the Horsecutter from the Wavesculpt Hollow. This area is located in the Emerald Stair region, just south of Maxim’s Claim. Move south from the Fior mes Iverno to get to the Wavesculpt Hollow. Defeating all the enemies in the area allows you to bring the Horsecutter.
This sword is held by the skeletons that you can easily obtain. So, equip the best weapon and defeat the skeleton to claim the weapon. Horse Cutter is a great weapon for players who prefer damage-over-time effects and heavy melee combat. Its high stun potential and bleed damage over time capability make it the best sword you can use after Unmaker. You can use this Great Sword for crowd control, especially in fights with a cluster of enemies. However, this weapon requires a full combo for maximum stun and it lacks elemental damage. Horsecutter stands between the Unmaker and Superb Great Sword due to its offensive capability and lack of fire and frost damage.
3) Unmaker
- Physical Damage: 284
- Stun: 260
- Stamina Cost: 20
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
Unmaker is third in the line because it deals high damage and is specially designed for players who depend on power attacks. This is one of the best Great Swords in Avowed that players can equip while fighting high-level enemies and bosses. Bane of the eyeless is a unique passive ability for this weapon that allows your critical hit to stun nearby Maegfolc enemies. The base enchantment for the Unmaker is Fall Into the Ruin. This enchantment allows your power attacks to deal +15% bonus attack damage. Upgrade the Unmaker to make it more effective in combat, allowing you to increase its physical damage and stun effects.
Unmaker in Avowed is located underwater at the Broken Aqueduct, in The Garden. Move to the west from the Overlook Camp to get into the Broken Aqueduct. Move in a straight pathway when you see the trees. Dive on the right side of the lily pads in the lake. Deep under the water, you will find Unmaker embedded in a statue. This Great Sword has massive power attack bonuses that are excellent for aggressive melee playstyles. The AoE stun against Maegfolc provides you with a significant advantage while fighting specific enemies in tough encounters. This weapon is well-suited for players who don’t mind utilizing stamina to maximize damage. However, this weapon has a situational stun effect and you need to rely on power attacks. We place the Unmaker below the Hel’s Tongue due to its limitations and slightly lower offensive capabilities.
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 because it deals dual-elemental damage, allowing you to dominate the enemies. This Great Sword comes with a unique passive ability called Emotional. Use this passive to deal +10% bonus Fire Damage against enemies above 50% Maximum Health, Hits deal +10% bonus Frost Damage against enemies below 50% Maximum Health. The base enchantment of Hel’s Tongue is Soul Reaver which allows you to restore 10% of your maximum essence with the power attacks. This unique weapon offers support utility to your kit for getting back power skills. You can combine it with the fire and frost-based spells to make a perfect combo.
You can acquire Hel’s Tongue from the win Offerings Overlook in Shatterscarp. Ascend the nearby slope once you defeat the bounty target, Chieftain Grithin. You can also get several consumables in this area. This is an easy-to-acquire weapon in the game, making it perfect for players who are ready to jump into the late-game combats. Upgrading this weapon allows you to increase its physical damage and stun potential. The more you upgrade this weapon on the workbench, the more Hel’s Tongue becomes effective. Pair the Hel’s Tongue with the Fighter skills like Bleeding Cuts and Brawn to deal additional damage against difficult bosses. We place this weapon below The Philosopher’s Riddle due to its slightly less effective enchantments, lack of status effects, and combat effectiveness.
1) The Philosopher’s Riddle
- Physical Damage: 284
- Stun: 260
- Stamina Cost: 20
- Critical Hit Chance: 3%
The Philosopher’s Riddle is the best Great Sword in our ranked list because it deals the highest damage and stun effect on the enemy in late-game battles. This Great Sword is specially designed for melting the high-level bosses. This sword comes with the passive ability called Poison Lash that allows you to deal +10% bonus poison damage. Its base enchantment is Aggressive Debate which lets you gain +15% attack speed for 10 seconds after completing a full combo. The high stamina cost urges you to manage your energy wisely. Additionally, the primary enchantment, Aggressive Debate, can be upgraded on your Workbench in camp.
You’ll need to find the island of Castol’s Folly southeast of Paradis to get The Philosopher’s Riddle great sword in Avowed. Get to the top of the structure on the northwest side of the island. You will find the high-level enemies Castol’s Folly, so make sure you are well-equipped with the best gear. Use the health regeneration consumables and potions before heading out.
Location
You can find the other POI on Castol’s Folly, including a bounty mark and one of the pieces of the Woedica Totem. Travel to the island and fight and explore your way through to the western side. You need to climb up and find some platforms that will lead you over to the structure on the northwest side. Jump and climb until you get to the top. The Philosopher’s Riddle will be plain to see as soon as you reach the main stone platform. The sword is placed near some large mushrooms.
Upgrading The Philosopher’s Riddle allows you to increase its physical damage and stun value. This makes your weapon more effective, especially while fighting against high-level enemies. This Great Sword offers a high attack speed bonus and poison damage, making it suitable for poison build. The Philosopher’s Riddle fast attack speed makes it useful in fast-paced combat. Inflicting the poison damage on the enemies deals damage over time. However, this weapon lacks elemental effects, and two-handed means you cannot equip a shield with it. The highest damage potential and stun capability of this Great Sword make it the best sword in our ranked list.
FAQs about 8 Best Great Swords in Avowed Ranked
What is a Great Sword in Avowed?
Great Sword is a two-handed melee weapon that delivers high damage, strong stun potential, and solid blocking efficiency.
Which is the best Great Sword in Avowed?
The Philosopher’s Riddle is the best Great Sword in Avowed because it deals the highest damage and stun effect on the enemy in late-game battles. This sword comes with the passive ability called Poison Lash that allows you to deal +10% bonus poison damage.
Can you upgrade the Great Swords in Avowed?
Yes, you can upgrade the Great Swords in Avowed to increase the physical damage, stun, and enchantments.
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