Greatswords have a special place in all Souls veterans’ hearts. The main reason why most players choose a Greatsword build is that they are reliable in all situations. Moreover, these weapons give you the upper hand in every fight due to their high range, powerful attacks, and ability to break through any armor.
However, Greatswords in Elden Ring would feel a little different if it’s your first FromSoftware Inc game. The developers ensure that you are never too powerful for your foes to make it a balanced experience. So, getting the most powerful Greatsword early on in the game isn’t really an option.
What you can do is obtain the most suitable weapon according to your level and use it with your skills. The Banished Knights Greatsword in Elden Ring is one of the finest early weapons that you can get right after the First Step Site of Grace. This article provides all details about the Banished Knights Greatsword location and why you should choose it above others for a Greatsword build.
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Why Choose the Banished Knights Greatsword
The Banished Knights Greatsword in Elden Ring is an early-game weapon. So, there is no point in comparing it with Legendary weapons like the Dark Moon Greatsword. However, you can’t acquire those weapons till you are past the mid-game region. So, what to do if you just started playing Elden Ring with a Greatsword build in your mind?
Frankly, you only have two options to choose from at this point in the game. Either you can go for the Bastards Greatsword, or you can obtain the Banished Knights Greatsword. Both swords are almost identical in their stats and requirements, apart from a few minor differences. However, most players choose the second option as it comes for free.
If you want to use the Bastard Blade, you can purchase it for 3,000 Runes from the Nomadic merchants near the Castle Morne Rampart Site of Grace, Weeping Peninsula. However, you don’t start with any money, and saving up the amount can take a while. So, your best bet is to go for the Banished Knights Greatsword that you can get by slaying any Banished Knight wielding the weapon.
By definition, it is a finely crafted Greatsword intricately engraved with an ancient motif. The sword is given to the Knights who were forced to exile for various reasons. It is a powerful sword that you can use as your primary early-game weapon till you find a better substitute.
Banished Knights Greatsword Location
The Banished Knights Greatsword in Elden Ring isn’t a Legendary weapon. So, your chances of finding one are really high if you know where to look for it. Here are a few locations where you can find one or multiple Banished Knights. Beware, they are fierce fighters, desperate to protect what little they have. Moreover, they don’t fear death and leave no weaknesses in their physique.
Maybe that’s the reason why they are still called Knights even in exile. So, make sure that you are well-prepared for the battle, or else the Knights could eat you like cotton candy. Once you have enough skills, armor, and level to face a Knight, you can go to any of the locations discussed below to get your new primary Greatsword:
- The best location to farm for the Banished Knights Greatsword is the Stormveil Castle. You can face your opponents in different regions of the area:
- One Banished Knight guards the dark room above the wine cellar in the Castle. However, you must enter through the side entrance suggested by Gostoc, the Gatekeeper, to reach this area.
- Another Banished Knight patrols near the Rampart Site of Grace. Rest at the site and proceed to the room below to find the Knight.
- Lastly, multiple Knights guard different sections of the Stormveil Castle’s rooftop. You can access the rooftop by proceeding from the courtyard. However, it isn’t a prescribed option as you don’t have the capacity to fight multiple Banished Knights at once at this stage. Still, if you really want to test your limits, you can try this option.
- The second guaranteed area with a few Banished Knights is the Cathedral of Dragon Communion in Caelid. There are two Knights near this location, but both are far away from each other. So, don’t worry, you won’t have to fight them at once.
- One of the Knights stands near the cliffs in the western part. If you look to the left of the cathedral, you can easily spot the cliff.
- The other Knight patrols the outskirts of the cathedral. Start at the Site of Grace and explore around to face your opponent.
- The third place where you can find an even fiercer version of the Knights is Castle Sol. It is an important location in the game that you can reach from the Mountaintop of the Giants. Start at the Stargazer’s Ruins and head north until you reach a bridge; the Castle is right across. To find the easiest Spectral variant of the Banished Knight, head to the Church of the Eclipse Site of Grace. Come prepared for the battle or sneak behind quietly to stab him from the back.
- Last but not least, you can find several Spectral variants of the Banished Knights in Crumbling Farum Azula. Most of the dual-wield the Greatswords and have fire breath abilities. You can easily find a few Banished Knights that patrol near the Dragon Temple area.
Banished Knights Greatsword Stats
Requirements:
- Strength: 17
- Dexterity: 9
Scaling:
- Strength: D
- Dexterity: D
Ability:
- Stamp (Upward Cut)
The Banished Knights Greatsword in Elden Ring isn’t counted among the most powerful swords in the game. However, it is a great early-game weapon that you can use to defeat a few early bosses. Moreover, it is a better option than the Bastards Blade as it comes for free and offers the same benefits. However, you must fulfill a few requirements to wield this armament in the first place.
Firstly, you must have at least 17 levels of Strength. It wouldn’t be a problem as you already chose a brute force character if you had a Greatsword build in your mind. Still, if you want to combine the weapon with a magic build, I suggest that you start focusing on the side quests. Secondly, you must have at least 9 levels of Dexterity to wield this sword. Again, it won’t be a major issue as almost all characters have at least 10 Dexterity before they face a Banished Knight.
The Banished Knights Greatsword scales primarily with Strength and Dexterity. Moreover, it is mostly used by Strength-oriented players who mainly focus on force, vigor, and stamina. So, you will notice the changes in your attacks after every upgrade.
Still, I suggest that you distribute your character points in other traits as well so that you have what it takes to wield a better option. Lastly, you can enchant the Banished Knights Greatsword with all Ashes of War and upgrade it with smithing stones. So, feel free to experiment with the sword till something hits the spot.
FAQs
How to get the Banished Knights Greatsword?
The Banished Knights Greatsword in Elden Ring is considered a common weapon in Elden Ring. You can easily acquire it by slaying a Banished Knight wielding the sword. However, they are fierce warriors, and defeating them with a lower weapon can be challenging for some players. So, I suggest that you prepare for the battle by polishing your skills and collecting powerful gear.
What is the best location to farm the Banished Knights Greatsword?
Farming the Banished Knights Greatsword means that you want to dual-wield the weapon or sell it for some Runes. In any case, the Stormveil Castle is the perfect place to find up to four Banished Knights. One of them guards the dark room above the wine cellar. However, you can only reach this location by following the directions of Gostoc, the Gatekeeper. Similarly, you can encounter a few Knights on the Castle’s rooftop.
Banished Knights Greatsword vs. the Bastard Blade, which is better?
The Banished Knights Greatsword and the Bastard Blade are both early-game weapons. Moreover, their physical damage, wielding requirements, scaling, and special traits are almost identical. However, the Banished Knights Greatsword is a better option as the only way to get a Bastard Blade is by spending 3,000 Runes at the Nomadic Merchant. On the contrary, you can get a Banished Knights Greatsword by slaying any Banished Knight wielding the sword.
Conclusion
The Banished Knights Greatsword in Elden Ring is one of the best early-game weapons for a Greatsword build. You can use it to disarm the weaklings and beat the early bosses in Elden Ring. Moreover, the weapon scales with Strength and Dexterity and can be equipped with any Ashes of War.
Lastly, it is a better option than the Bastards Blade, as you can get it for free. So, what is the Banished Knights Greatsword location in Elden Ring? This article covers all the known facts on this topic and much more.
