As I stand here in 2026, the glow of the Erdtree still faintly visible on the horizon, I can't help but reminisce about my countless journeys through the Lands Between. While many Tarnished swear by colossal weapons or swift katanas, my heart has always belonged to a more elegant, sweeping class of arms: the Curved Greatswords. These weapons, to me, are not just tools of war but partners in a deadly dance, each with a rhythm and soul of its own. FromSoftware's masterpiece continues to captivate, and even now, years after its release, the debate over the best armaments rages on. My own experiences, forged in fire and blood against demigods and dragons, have led me to a personal ranking of these magnificent blades, a chronicle of steel and sorcery that defined my ascent to Elden Lord.

9. The Monk's Flameblade: A Flickering Ember

My journey with Curved Greatswords began not with a roar, but with a whisper. The Monk's Flameblade was my first true encounter with this weapon type, found clutched in the hands of a fallen monk near the Liurnia Highway. To wield it was to hold a dying flame; its physical damage output felt like trying to light a bonfire with a matchstick compared to its brethren. Its range was disappointingly short, making every encounter feel like a desperate, close-quarters scramble. It was a weapon that demanded you get dangerously intimate with your foes, a risky proposition in a world filled with horrors. However, its one saving grace, like a single ember in the ashes, was its customizable Ash of War. This flexibility allowed me to experiment early on, grafting skills onto it like a novice surgeon, learning the basics of weapon arts before moving on to greater things.

8. The Dismounter: A Reliable, if Uninspired, Workhorse

Next came the Dismounter, looted from a Kaiden Sellsword on the stormy cliffs of Limgrave. This weapon was the definition of utilitarian—a reliable, if bland, companion. It was the plain oatmeal of Curved Greatswords: it nourished you in a fight, but offered no excitement. Its damage was a step up from the Flameblade, and its reach was slightly better, but it lacked any defining characteristic or flair. Using it felt like performing a familiar, well-rehearsed play; effective, but devoid of inspiration. I respected any Tarnished who mastered its straightforward swings, for they did so without the crutch of flashy skills or inherent bleed. It was a weapon that taught pure fundamentals.

7. The Omen Cleaver: A Brutal Step Up

The Omen Cleaver marked a turning point. Wrenched from the hands of a cursed Omen in the sewers beneath Leyndell (after what felt like a hundred attempts, thanks to its miserly 4% drop rate), this weapon finally had the heft I craved. Its damage was viable. It felt like trading a practice sword for one meant for real battle. The ability to customize its Ash of War was a blessing, and its unique heavy attack—a brutal, overhead slam—added a new layer of strategy to my combos. This cleaver was like a reliable, if grumpy, blacksmith: it got the job done with gruff efficiency.

6. Beastman's Cleaver: Strength Personified

In the crumbling Farum Azula, I claimed the Beastman's Cleaver from one of the ancient, lightning-wielding beastmen. This weapon spoke the language of pure, unadulterated Strength. For a Tarnished like me, who poured levels into brawn like water into a bottomless cup, this was a perfect fit. It wasn't flashy—its true beauty was in its simplicity and raw power. Making its Ash of War "Heavy" turned it into a scaling monster, a true extension of my own might. Swinging it felt less like wielding a sword and more like hurling a piece of the architecture itself at my enemies.

5. Magma Wyrm's Scalesword: The Dragon's Tooth

Defeating the great Magma Wyrm Makar in the Ruin-Strewn Precipice was a trial by lava, but the reward was extraordinary: the Magma Wyrm's Scalesword. This was no mere sword; it was a piece of a dragon, a weapon that thrummed with primordial fire. Its uniqueness was immediately apparent. Its Ash of War, Magma Guillotine, was a spectacle—a leaping, spinning slash that summoned a wave of magma, nearly impossible to interrupt. It was a weapon that demanded a hybrid build, scaling with both Strength and Faith, making it a fiery beacon for those who walked the path of the dragon communion. Wielding it was like holding a captured volcanic eruption, unpredictable and devastating.

4. Zamor Curved Sword: The Ice Dancer

From the frozen heroes of the Mountaintops of the Giants, I took the Zamor Curved Sword. Yes, its range was curiously short, almost stubby. But what it lacked in reach, it made up for in grace and deadly utility. Its light attack chain was a revelation—a series of steps and slashes that propelled me forward like a figure skater on a blade of frost. Its unique Ash of War, Zamor Ice Storm, was a beautiful area-of-effect nightmare, spinning frost around me and building up frostbite. This sword turned combat into a lethal ballet on ice, where every movement was both an evasion and an attack.

3. Bloodhound's Fang: The Legendary Bleeder

Ah, the Bloodhound's Fang. This weapon needs little introduction, as its fame (and infamy) echoes through every corner of the community. I earned mine from Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Forlorn Hound's Evergaol, and it felt like unlocking a legend. In terms of pure, raw physical damage, no other Curved Greatsword I found hit harder. But its true power lay in its passive bleed effect and its sublime skill, Bloodhound's Finesse—a backward somersault followed by a teleporting forward slash. This skill was a beginner's best friend and a veteran's versatile tool, offering both evasion and punishing retaliation. It was the workhorse of the elite, as reliable as a sunrise and as deadly as a viper's strike.

2. Morgott's Cursed Sword: The Arcane Artist

Claiming Morgott's Cursed Sword after the poignant battle with the Veiled Monarch was a bittersweet victory. This weapon was different. It didn't seek to overpower with brute force like the Bloodhound's Fang. Instead, it was a weapon of precision and arcane artistry, scaling with Dexterity and the mysterious Arcane stat. Its range was incredible, allowing me to keep foes at a distance. Its Ash of War, Cursed-Blood Slice, was a move ripped right from Morgott's own arsenal—a swift, long-range slash that hemorrhaged bleed buildup onto enemies. For a Tarnished invested in Arcane, it was a sophisticated and devastating alternative to the more common bleed weapons, a scalpel compared to a cleaver.

1. Onyx Lord's Greatsword: The Gravitational Masterpiece

And so, we come to the pinnacle, the weapon that feels less forged and more conjured: the Onyx Lord's Greatsword. To earn it, I bested an Onyx Lord in the depths of the Sealed Tunnel, and from that moment, it never left my primary hand. This sword is an anomaly, a beautiful paradox. It scales with Strength and Intelligence, a pairing as rare and potent as a solar eclipse. But its crown jewel is its Ash of War, Onyx Lord's Repulsion. Activating it creates a localized gravitational catastrophe, a swirling vortex of dark energy that pulls enemies in before violently blasting them away, dealing massive damage. It controls the battlefield like a conductor commands an orchestra. It can hit multiple enemies, it interrupts attacks, and it looks utterly sublime. This weapon isn't just a tool; it's a statement. It declares that its wielder commands not just steel, but the very laws of physics. In my journey, it was the key that unlocked victory against mobs and bosses alike, a weapon that made me feel less like a warrior and more like a force of nature. For these reasons, it sits, unchallenged, at the top of my list.

Rank	Weapon	Key Strength	Best For
9	Monk's Flameblade	Customizable Ash of War	Early-game experimentation
8	Dismounter	Balanced, reliable	Learning fundamentals
7	Omen Cleaver	Good damage & unique heavy	Mid-game power spike
6	Beastman's Cleaver	Excellent Strength scaling	Pure Strength builds
5	Magma Wyrm's Scalesword	Unique fire Ash of War	Strength/Faith hybrids
4	Zamor Curved Sword	Frost buildup & agile moveset	Dexterity/ Frost builds
3	Bloodhound's Fang	High raw damage & bleed	Versatile, powerful builds
2	Morgott's Cursed Sword	Long range & fast bleed	Dexterity/Arcane builds
1	Onyx Lord's Greatsword	Gravity AoE Ash of War	Strength/Intelligence builds

My armory holds many treasures, but these Curved Greatswords tell the story of my rise. Each one, from the humble Flameblade to the cosmic Onyx Lord's blade, was a chapter in my legend. They taught me that in the Lands Between, the right weapon isn't just about stats—it's about finding the steel that sings in harmony with your own spirit. 🗡️✨