Elden Ring Strength Weapon Tier List: Best Colossal Weapons
Welcome, Tarnished, to the land of the Lands Between, where the ground shakes not just from the footsteps of giants, but from the sheer heft of the weapons we choose to wield. For those of us who believe that subtlety is overrated and that every problem can be solved with a single, earth-shattering slam, the Colossal Weapon category is our sacred creed. These are not mere swords; they are declarations of intent. This guide is your dedicated companion to navigating the world of these behemoth arms. We'll rank the best Colossal Weapons for Strength builds, breaking down why they earn their spots and how you can use them to turn demigods into dust.
Before we dive into the rankings, let's establish the criteria. A weapon's placement isn't just about its raw Attack Rating (AR). We're considering Moveset, Speed (relatively speaking!), Unique Skills, Stat Scalability, and overall versatility. A weapon that's fantastic for PvE might struggle in PvP, and vice-versa, so we'll note those distinctions.
S-Tier: The Pinnacle of Power
These are the legends, the game-changers. Obtaining them might require a specific journey, but the payoff is unparalleled.
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Greatsword (The "Guts" Greatsword): It’s almost a rite of passage. Found in Caelid, this slab of iron is a direct nod to Berserk, and it lives up to its legacy. Why is it S-Tier? Its beauty is in its brutal simplicity. It boasts one of the highest pure physical AR potentials in the entire Colossal Weapon class when fully upgraded and infused with a Heavy affinity. Its moveset is the gold standard for colossal swords—wide, sweeping horizontal swings that are surprisingly effective for crowd control, and heavy pokes that can break enemy stances with ease. For any Strength build looking for a reliable, devastating, and customizable workhorse, the Greatsword is arguably the best Colossal Sword in Elden Ring for pure, unadulterated power. It has no flashy magic, just the promise of overwhelming force.
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Giant-Crusher: If the Greatsword is a precise demolition tool, the Giant-Crusher is the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs. This hammer has the single highest Strength scaling and physical damage potential of any weapon in the game, bar none. Found in the capital, it is the definitive choice for the pure Strength enthusiast who wants to see the biggest numbers. Its moveset is vertical and more focused, making it trickier against groups, but against a single target, especially one vulnerable to posture breaks, nothing is more terrifying. When you charge its heavy attack and land it, you don't just hit the enemy; you redefine their entire existence. It is, without question, the ultimate Strength scaling Colossal Weapon for maximizing per-hit damage.
A-Tier: Exceptional and Unique
These weapons are incredibly powerful and often offer unique effects that can define entire builds. They sit just below S-Tier due to more specific requirements or slight trade-offs.
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Prelate's Inferno Crozier: This fiery great hammer is a fantastic alternative to the Giant-Crusher. While its pure AR might be slightly lower, it makes up for it with a more versatile moveset that includes a useful charge attack. Its true strength, however, lies in its unique Ash of War, Prelate's Charge. This allows you to bulldoze forward, spraying flames and staggering almost anything in your path. It’s phenomenal for applying status effects like Bleed or Frost if you infuse it accordingly, making it one of the best Colossal Weapons for Strength and status hybrid builds.
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Ruins Greatsword: This is a weapon for the Strength/Intelligence hybrid, the Battlemage who loves to bonk. Don't let the Int requirement fool you; its damage still heavily favors Strength. Its unique skill, Wave of Destruction, is arguably one of the best Colossal Weapon skills in Elden Ring. It unleashes a massive, long-range shockwave that deals immense poise damage and can clear entire rooms. It consumes a lot of FP, but the payoff is often a win button in both PvE and PvP. Its unique heavy attacks also release smaller shockwaves, giving it unexpected ranged utility.
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Starscourge Greatsword: The legacy of General Radahn himself. This is technically a paired Colossal Sword, meaning you power-stance them by default when two-handing. Its unique skill, Starcaller Cry, pulls enemies into a vortex before a massive explosion—incredibly useful for controlling mobs and dealing huge damage. It scales well with Strength and Intelligence and is a cornerstone of any Radahn-themed build. It falls slightly short of the pure, raw damage of the S-Tiers, but its unique utility and awesome skill secure its A-Tier status.
B-Tier: Solid and Reliable
These are powerful weapons that will carry you through the game without issue. They might lack the world-ending potential of the higher tiers or have more noticeable drawbacks.
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Troll's Hammer: A classic great hammer with solid Strength scaling and a built-in fire damage bonus. It's a reliable and strong choice that can be found relatively early. Its default Ash of War, Troll's Roar, is a decent AoE tool that buffs your next attack. It’s a great weapon, but it's ultimately outshone by the Giant-Crusher in pure damage and the Prelate's Crozier in versatility.
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Zweihander: The veteran's choice. Available from the very beginning at the Isolated Merchant, the Zweihander is the lightest Colossal Sword, requiring less investment in Endurance. Its key advantage is its moveset, which features a fantastic heavy attack poke that can be used with a shield. This makes it an excellent choice for a more defensive, poke-and-run playstyle, especially in PvP. While its damage won't reach the heights of the Greatsword, its low weight and unique moveset make it a top-tier choice for specific builds and a fantastic early game Colossal Weapon for Strength builds.
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Godslayer's Greatsword: A fascinating and often misunderstood weapon. This Colossal Sword scales primarily with Faith and Dexterity, which puts it outside the pure Strength meta, but it's too notable to ignore. It's the fastest-swinging Colossal Sword, and its unique skill, The Queen's Black Flame, is a multi-hit tornado that deals damage based on the enemy's max HP. For a Dex/Faith build, this is an S-Tier weapon. For a pure Strength build, it's not suitable, but it deserves an honorable mention for its unique place in the category.
C-Tier: Niche Situations
These weapons are not bad, but they are outclassed in most scenarios. They might have a cool gimmick that works in specific situations.
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Watchdog's Greatsword: A strange, stone Colossal Sword that can be farmed from certain Watchdog enemies. It has a unique moveset and can be infused with Ashes of War, but its stat requirements are spread out, and its damage is generally lower than more focused options. It's a fun weapon for fashion or novelty, but not a top-tier choice for optimization.
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Golem's Halberd: This is a colossal weapon with halberd moves, giving it longer reach. It can be powerful, but its drop rate is notoriously low, making it a chore to obtain. For the effort required, you are better off with more readily available and equally powerful options.
Choosing Your Titan-Slaying Partner
So, which one is for you?
- For the Pure Strength Purist: Your journey begins with the Greatsword for its balance and ends with the Giant-Crusher for its absolute peak damage.
- For the Hybrid Caster: Embrace the Ruins Greatsword for Strength/Int or the Starscourge Greatsword for a similar, more utility-focused package.
- For the Status Effect Brawler: The Prelate's Inferno Crozier is your best friend, perfect for applying Bleed or Frost while retaining monstrous physical power.
- For the Agile Big Weapon User: The Zweihander offers a unique, faster playstyle that rewards precision over pure unga-bunga.
Ultimately, the best Strength build Colossal Weapon is the one that feels best in your hands and suits your playstyle. Every weapon on this list is capable of conquering the Lands Between. It's about finding the giant piece of metal that speaks to your inner Tarnished and swinging it with conviction. Now go forth, and let the world tremble.
