Is the Carian Greatsword Worth It? A Deep Dive into Elden Ring’s Magical Blade

Yes, the Carian Greatsword is absolutely worth it, especially for Intelligence-based builds in Elden Ring. Its unique skill provides excellent range and damage, making it a formidable weapon against various enemy types. It truly shines when weaving together melee combat and powerful sorceries, granting you a versatile and potent playstyle. However, its effectiveness depends heavily on your build and playstyle preferences, so let’s delve deeper.

Understanding the Carian Greatsword

The Carian Greatsword is a unique weapon in Elden Ring, obtained as a sorcery from Miriel, Pastor of Vows in the Church of Vows. It allows you to materialize a massive, magical greatsword and swing it in a wide arc, dealing significant Magic damage. This makes it an excellent choice for mages who want a reliable melee option or for hybrid builds that combine sorceries and weapon attacks.

The key to the Carian Greatsword’s effectiveness lies in its versatility and the ability to stagger enemies. As the article extract noted, it is particularly useful against agile foes like Black Knife Assassins, whose evasive maneuvers become ineffective against the greatsword’s sweeping arc. Furthermore, it’s a fantastic tool to open up opportunities for casting other spells.

Carian Greatsword vs. the Competition

Before committing to the Carian Greatsword, it’s crucial to understand how it stacks up against other similar options.

Carian Grandeur

Carian Grandeur is another spell that summons a magical greatsword, but unlike Carian Greatsword, it can be charged to increase its damage. While a fully charged Carian Grandeur deals considerable damage, the Carian Greatsword outperforms it if Grandeur is only charged once. The faster casting speed of Carian Grandeur makes it more accessible for some, but for sustained damage output, the regular Carian Greatsword often wins out.

It’s also worth noting that Carian Grandeur’s damage scales differently. The scaling of Carian Grandeur depends on your Intelligence stat, the upgrade level, and infusion affinity of your staff, not with the staff’s Attack Rating or Intelligence scaling value.

Adula’s Moonblade

Adula’s Moonblade is essentially the enhanced version of the Carian Greatsword. It deals both Magic and Cold damage, building up Frostbite, which can significantly hinder enemy movement and damage resistance. Furthermore, Adula’s Moonblade hits twice – once with the blade and again with a frost projectile, increasing its range and potential for staggering enemies. While it consumes more FP, the added utility and damage make it a compelling upgrade for those willing to invest in it.

Other Greatswords

Compared to traditional greatswords, the Carian Greatsword offers a different flavor. While physical greatswords might have higher raw damage or unique weapon arts, the Carian Greatsword brings Magic damage to the table and allows a mage build to be more versatile, while providing utility like staggering. For instance, weapons like the Blasphemous Blade or Sacred Relic Sword deal tremendous damage but require different stat investments.

Building Around the Carian Greatsword

To maximize the Carian Greatsword’s potential, consider the following build strategies:

• Intelligence Focus: Prioritize leveling your Intelligence stat to increase the spell’s damage.
• Mind Investment: Ensure you have enough FP to cast the spell repeatedly without running out of mana.
• Stamina Management: Be mindful of your Stamina, as swinging the greatsword can quickly deplete it.
• Staff Selection: Equip a staff that boosts sorcery damage, such as the Carian Regal Scepter, which is considered the best staff at high Intelligence levels. Remember, however, that while other spells with the Carian name exist, they are boosted by the Carian Glintstone Staff not the Carian Regal Scepter.
• Armor Choices: Consider the Carian Knight Armor for a balance between physical and magical defense, which is a great choice early on. However, be aware that statistically, the basic Knight set is almost identical to the Carian Knight set.

Situational Awareness

The Carian Greatsword isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Its effectiveness varies depending on the situation.

• Excellent Against: Fast-moving enemies, enemies weak to magic damage, and groups of weaker foes.
• Less Effective Against: Enemies resistant to magic damage, heavily armored opponents, and bosses with unpredictable attack patterns.

In situations where the Carian Greatsword isn’t ideal, consider swapping to other spells or weapons that better suit the encounter. As an example, melee-focused builds may want to consider using Ashes of War like Storm Blade, as it is excellent for strength builds, and allows for devastating ranged attacks at a low FP cost.

Ultimately, whether or not the Carian Greatsword is “worth it” depends on how well it fits into your overall build and playstyle. If you’re seeking a versatile melee option for your mage, a tool for staggering enemies, and an efficient weapon against specific enemy types, the Carian Greatsword is an excellent choice.

Learning more about the strategies used by other gamers is always useful. For example, consider investigating the resources offered by the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What stats does the Carian Greatsword scale with?

The Carian Greatsword spell scales primarily with your Intelligence (INT) stat. The higher your Intelligence, the more damage the spell will inflict. It’s worth upgrading your staff’s level and infusion affinity, as this also affects the damage of the spell.

2. Can I use the Carian Greatsword with a Katana?

You can’t directly use the Carian Greatsword with a Katana. The Carian Greatsword is a sorcery spell, not a weapon. However, you can equip the Ash of War – Carian Greatsword on many types of swords, including Katanas, to grant them the Carian Greatsword Skill.

3. Which staff is best for boosting Carian Greatsword damage?

The Carian Regal Scepter is generally considered the best staff for boosting sorceries at high levels of Intelligence. At lower levels of Intelligence, it may be better to use other staves. It also boosts Full Moon Sorceries. However, the Carian Greatsword is boosted by the Carian Glintstone Staff, so use that one.

4. How do I get the Carian Greatsword?

You can acquire the Carian Greatsword by purchasing the spell from Miriel, Pastor of Vows, located in the Church of Vows in East Liurnia. The spell costs 10,000 Runes.

5. Is the Carian Greatsword effective against all enemies?

No, the Carian Greatsword is not effective against all enemies. Enemies resistant to Magic damage or heavily armored foes may require different strategies or weapon choices.

6. Does charging the Carian Greatsword do more damage?

No, the Carian Greatsword is not charged. The Carian Grandeur is charged. The Carian Grandeur outperforms the Carian Greatsword if it is charged, but is typically harder to use because it charges more slowly.

7. How much Poise damage does the Carian Greatsword do?

The Carian Greatsword does 20 Poise damage on hit and 25 Poise damage when fully charged. It is the Carian Grandeur however that is charged, not the Carian Greatsword.

8. What are some alternatives to the Carian Greatsword?

Alternatives include Adula’s Moonblade, Carian Grandeur, and various physical greatswords like the Blasphemous Blade or Dark Moon Greatsword. The alternatives that deal Frost, Fire, or Holy damage should be used when enemies are weak to these elements.

9. Is the Carian Greatsword a good option for Strength builds?

No, the Carian Greatsword is not a good option for Strength builds. Its damage primarily scales with Intelligence, making it more suitable for mages or hybrid builds.

10. What armor set should I use with the Carian Greatsword?

The Carian Knight Armor is a good option because it provides a balance between physical and magical protection, complementing the Carian Greatsword’s magical nature. It’s a versatile choice for mage builds in the early game, as it provides great overall protection, especially against Holy and Magic.

11. Can the Carian Greatsword be infused with Ashes of War?

Yes, the Carian Greatsword spell cannot be infused with Ashes of War, but certain weapons equipped with the Ash of War – Carian Greatsword can have their affinity changed.

12. Is Adula’s Moonblade just a straight upgrade to the Carian Greatsword?

Adula’s Moonblade is generally considered an upgrade due to its added Cold damage and Frostbite buildup, as well as the frost projectile. It provides better utility overall, but consumes more FP.

13. Is the Carian Greatsword viable in the late game?

Yes, the Carian Greatsword remains viable in the late game, especially when paired with high Intelligence and a well-optimized build.

14. What are some of the best talismans to use with the Carian Greatsword?

Good talisman choices include those that boost sorcery damage (like the Magic Scorpion Charm), reduce FP consumption (like the Carian Filigreed Crest), or increase your Intelligence stat (like Marika’s Soreseal).

15. Does the Carian Greatsword work well in PvP?

The Carian Greatsword can be effective in PvP, but it requires careful timing and spacing. Its wide arc can catch opponents off guard, but skilled players may be able to dodge or parry it.