Elden Ring Great Katana Build - Savage Slasher Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)
Jun. 22, 2024Elden Ring Great Katana Build – Savage Slasher Guide (Shadow of the Erdtree Build)
In thisElden RingGreat Katanabuild guide, I’ll be showcasing mySavage Slashersetup. This is one of ourElden Ring Shadow of the ErdtreeDLC builds, and it centers around theGreat Katana, one of the new weapons, and the newAsh of WarcalledSavage Lion’s Claw.Great Katanasranked highly in our poll, so I chose to begin with this one. You can acquire this weapon within two minutes of starting the DLC, which is fantastic, and theAsh of WarI’m using is also obtainable within the same timeframe. This means you can assemble this build, including the armor set I’m using, very quickly – find them both on theElden Ring Map.
In this Elden Ring Build Guide, I’ll be showing you my Great Katana build. This is a Shadow of the Erdtree build that takes place after level 150. If you’ve been looking for a build that does explosive damage then you might want to check this build-out.
We have over 110Elden Ring builds. Each one is meticulously crafted to offer unique playstyles, strategies, and experiences, ensuring there’s something for every adventurer in the Lands Between. Whether you seek the raw power of heavy weapons, the finesse of spellcasting, or the versatility of hybrid builds, our collection has you covered. Explore the depths of the game’s mechanics and unleash your full potential with our diverse array of builds.
First, let’s take a look at theGreat Katana. This new weapon class was introduced withShadow of the Erdtree. You can find it lying on a corpse in a pool of water near a sleeping dragon, about a two-minute ride from the very firstSite of Grace. Just pick it up, and you’ll have it immediately.
This weapon requires a bit of strength and dexterity to use and features a move set that is a mix between a curved sword and aKatana. It’s much longer than aKatanaand has slightly more stance damage. What I really appreciate about it is the weapon’s reach, particularly its jump attack, which I find myself using frequently. The running R1 poke and follow-up poke are excellent, and the running R2 horizontal slash can hit multiple enemies at once. This move set offers a lot of versatility and reach, and it also has a native bleed status effect build-up, which is fantastic.
The default weapon skill for theGreat KatanaisOverhead Stance. By holding the L2 button on your controller, you hold your sword over your head. Pressing R1 executes a lunge forward slash, and pressing R2 performs a triple slash. This should remind you of Ichimonji fromSekiroif you’ve played that game. It has decent reach and pulls you forward well, though it doesn’t have much stance damage. However, it’s excellent for status effect build-up if your weapon has good status effects.
I’ve provided two options: you can useOverhead Stanceif you like it, as it’s unique toGreat Katanasand isn’t found in other weapon classes. Alternatively, you can useSavage Lion’s Claw, which offers more utility and versatility across different weapon types and is a betterAsh of Waroverall.
Savage Lion’s Clawis essentially an upgraded version ofLion’s Claw. It allows you to perform a somersault and hit the enemy, then press L2 again to hit them a second time. This skill is excellent for dealing damage and stance damage, and it’s more effective overall thanOverhead Stance. However, it costs roughly double the FP, makingOverhead Stanceeasier to use more frequently. At level 150-ish, FP shouldn’t be a major issue, but if you’re starting out and just ventured into the DLC area with help,Overhead Stancemight be better for FP management early in the game.
I’ve set this weapon to theOccultaffinity for its weapon skill. The attack rating withArcanescaling is quite impressive, only about 30 to 40 points less than theDexterityscaling if you wentKeen. Additionally, the blood loss build-up is nearly double compared to the default, resulting in more frequent bleed triggers. I highly recommend theOccultroute for this weapon type.
The armor I’m using for this build is theOathseeker Knightset. I love its look and style, which reminds me of the classicDemon’s Soulsaesthetic. One major advantage is its good protection and the fact that you can obtain it very early in the game. I’ll show its location on the map and in my gameplay footage. However, the downside of this armor is that it doesn’t provide 51 poise—it has 42. To reach the necessary poise level for effective combat with this weapon, you’ll need to use theBull-Goat’s Talismanto avoid being interrupted during attacks.
While this is a drawback, you can swap out a piece or two if needed. Ultimately, the specific armor set you use isn’t crucial as long as you achieve 51 poise. For optimal performance, you would typically choose an armor set with at least 51 poise, allowing you to replace theBull-Goat’s Talismanwith another talisman.
For Talismans, we haveShard of Alexanderto increase the damage of eitherOverhead StanceorSavage Lion’s Claw. Both are used frequently in this build, so enhancing their damage is crucial.
I also useRotten Winged Sword Insigniato boost damage with successive hits, which works well with bothSavage Lion’s ClawandOverhead Stancedue to their rapid attack sequences. We don’t useMillicent’s Prosthesishere because we’re going with theOccultinfusion, notKeen. However, if you opt for aKeensetup,Millicent’s Prosthesiscould provide an additional 5 dexterity, making it a good choice for that route.
I also include theDragoncrest Greatshield Talismanin this build. This talisman is almost essential for the DLC because enemies hit very hard early on, before you acquire manyScadutree Fragments. There are numerous early-gameScadutree Fragmentsto collect, allowing you to reach about +4 or +5 on your buffs before encountering the first major boss of the initial Legacy Dungeon. Surviving enemy hits is crucial since bothOverhead StanceandSavage Lion’s Clawdon’t stagger enemies enough to stop their attacks, leading to frequent damage trades.
Additionally, I have theBull-Goat’s Talisman. Later, if you decide to change this armor set, look for a talisman that increases two-handed attack damage, which can also enhance this build. There are other valuable talismans as well, such as those increasing damage after killing enemies or performing critical strikes. New talismans introduced in the DLC can be beneficial, and even theGreen Turtle Talismanfor increased stamina recovery is useful.
Another talisman I recommend isRellana’s Cameo. It provides a 20% damage increase when usingOverhead Stanceif you hold it for about a second before attacking. Your body will glow red after a second, indicating the damage boost. While this boost is greater thanShard of Alexander, it requires that delay to activate, which may not be practical in tight combat situations.Shard of Alexanderis more reliable in quick engagements, though it offers 5% less damage. However, you can stack both talismans when usingOverhead Stanceto achieve even higher damage output.
For attributes, I have 50Vigor, 22Mind, 25Endurance, 14Strength, 18Dexterity, 16Intelligence, 7Faith, and 77Arcaneat level 150.IntelligenceandFaithare unnecessary for this build, so you can disregard those. I started as an Astrologer, but you don’t need any of those stats.
Additionally, some newDragon Incantationsin the DLC have highArcanerequirements. This build can accommodate those spells, though you won’t access them until much later in the DLC.
For theFlask of Wondrous Physick, I recommend two options for this build. First,Greenburst Crystal Tearhelps ensure you don’t have stamina issues during boss fights where you’re dodging and rolling frequently. Second,Thorny Cracked Tearwith successive hits is beneficial because you’ll get those fromOverhead StanceandSavage Lion’s Clawin both boss fights and regular attacks.
RegardingGreat Runes,Godrick’sis ideal for this build since you use six out of eight stats, which can save you many levels and make your build more efficient. Alternatively,Radahn’s Great Runeis also a good choice, providing more FP, stamina, and health, which are all beneficial for this build.
That wraps up mySavage Slasherbuild. I hope you enjoyed this guide. As always, let us know if you have questions or other tips in the comments below. We have a ton more builds coming forElden RingandShadow of the Erdtreeso stay tuned for those. If you need help finding the spells, items, or equipment in this build, and securing some personal objectives, make sure to check theElden Ring Map.
Castielle
Senior Editor at Fextralife. I enjoy gaming, playing and watching sports, cooking yummy food, watching a good movie and hanging out with Fex.
