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Elden Ring Iron Greatsword: Location and Stats
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Image: Bandai Namco Entertainment / FromSoftware
A plain, heavy greatsword that quietly out-damages most of its class. Which enemies drop it, the best place to farm it, and how to build around it.
The Elden Ring Iron Greatsword is a base-game greatsword that is not found in a chest: it is a rare drop from Misbegotten Warriors. It needs 18 Strength, scales mainly with Strength, accepts Ashes of War, and has better attack rating than most infusible greatswords. The easiest place to farm it is in Miquella's Haligtree.
Iron Greatsword at a glance
| Type | Greatsword |
| Source | Base game, enemy drop |
| Requirements | Strength 18, Dexterity 10 |
| Scaling | Strength C, Dexterity E |
| Weight | 12 |
| Default skill | Stamp (Upward Cut) |
| Ashes of War | Yes, infusible |
| Drop rate | About 4% at 100 Discovery |
Where to get the Iron Greatsword
It drops from specific Misbegotten Warriors:
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Leyndell, Royal Capital | Two Misbegotten Warriors on the ash-covered path toward the Forbidden Lands. They disappear after Crumbling Farum Azula. |
| Miquella's Haligtree | A Misbegotten Warrior north of the Haligtree Town Plaza Site of Grace. The best farming spot. |
How to farm it
The drop rate is low, about 4% at 100 Discovery, so expect several runs.
- Rest at the Haligtree Town Plaza grace.
- Head north and kill the Misbegotten Warrior.
- Return to the grace to respawn it and repeat.
To speed it up, raise Discovery:
- Silver Scarab talisman.
- Silver-Pickled Fowl Foot, which temporarily raises item discovery.
- Arcane, which adds to Discovery.
Why use it
- Strong base damage. It has favourable attack rating compared with other infusible greatswords, and is effectively a straight upgrade over the Bastard Sword.
- Infusible. Put a heavy, keen, fire or other affinity on it and any Ash of War that suits your build.
- Reasonable requirements. 18 Strength is easy to reach for any melee build.
Stamp (Upward Cut)
Its default skill is Stamp (Upward Cut): a stomp that gives you hyperarmour, followed by an upward swing. It is good for trading hits with enemies that would otherwise stagger you. Swap it for a different Ash of War if you prefer.
Building around it
- Pure Strength: heavy affinity. The Strength scaling improves a lot, and you ignore Dexterity.
- Quality (Strength and Dexterity): keep the standard affinity.
- Elemental: fire or lightning affinities if you want to cover enemies that resist physical damage.
Upgrade it with regular Smithing Stones, since it is not a somber weapon.
One odd detail
Unlike most greatswords, the Iron Greatsword has no visible sheath: it sits bare on your character's back.
For how Strength and other stats scale as you level, see how to level up.