Elden Ring: Great Katana Weapon Build Guide

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The world of Elden Ring offers countless ways to shape your Tarnished into a fearsome warrior, and few weapon types embody elegance and lethality quite like the Great Katana. Introduced in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, this weapon type delivers both reach and power, rewarding precise timing and mastery of spacing. If you’re looking to dominate both PvE and PvP with style, this Great Katana build guide will help you cut through enemies with deadly efficiency.

Why Choose the Great Katana

The Great Katana sits between a standard katana and a colossal sword in terms of speed and power. It has longer reach than traditional katanas like the Uchigatana or Nagakiba, but it retains that signature bleed buildup that makes dexterity builds so deadly. Unlike most massive weapons, its attack animations flow smoothly, allowing for skillful combos and punishes rather than slow, clunky swings.

Its moveset includes sweeping horizontal slashes and a satisfying thrusting heavy attack, making it perfect for crowd control and dueling. When infused properly, it can shred bosses and players alike with well-timed strikes and critical hits.

Recommended Stats

For an optimized Great Katana build, focus on Dexterity, Vigor, and Endurance. Strength should be secondary but not ignored, as most Great Katanas scale with both Strength and Dexterity. A suggested mid-game stat spread could look like this:

Vigor: 40

Endurance: 25

Strength: 25

Dexterity: 45

Mind: 15

Arcane: 20 (for improved bleed buildup)

This setup balances damage output, stamina, and survivability, while Arcane helps maximize the weapon’s innate bleed scaling.

Ashes of War and Infusions

One of the Great Katana’s strongest points is its compatibility with various Ashes of War. Unsheathe remains a classic for katanas, offering fast, high-damage strikes. However, Lion’s Claw or Flaming Strike can give you a surprising edge in duels and boss fights. For bleed builds, Seppuku remains the go-to choice, adding even more bleed buildup at the cost of some HP.

When it comes to infusions, the Keen or Occult paths are ideal. Keen favors pure Dexterity builds, while Occult works best when you’ve invested in Arcane for bleed synergy.

Armor and Talismans

Since you’ll rely on fast movement and well-timed dodges, choose light-to-medium armor. Sets like the White Mask or Raptor’s Black Feathers enhance your offensive potential—especially with jump attacks and bleed synergy.

Recommended talismans include:

Lord of Blood’s Exultation (boosts attack power when bleed occurs)

Erdtree’s Favor (increases HP, stamina, and equip load)

Shard of Alexander (enhances skill damage)

Claw Talisman (for stronger jump attacks)

Gameplay Tips

The Great Katana excels at controlling distance. Use its long reach to keep enemies at bay and bait them into punishable openings. In PvE, mix charged heavies and jumping attacks to stagger bosses quickly. In PvP, patience is key—wait for your opponent to overextend, then punish with a quick Unsheathe or running R2 attack.

Remember that stamina management is crucial. Overcommitting to long combos can leave you open to counters. Instead, strike, dodge, and reposition—let your enemy bleed out while you stay in control.

Progression and Runes

Leveling up and upgrading gear is essential for this build’s success. You’ll need plenty of smithing stones and runes to push your Great Katana to its full potential. If you’re short on resources, some players choose to buy Elden Ring runes to save time and focus on experimenting with builds. Reputable player-to-player trading sites, such as buy elden ring runes u4gm, offer a convenient way to stock up without tedious farming. Just make sure you use trusted sources and follow the game’s trading guidelines to avoid any issues.

A Great Katana build in Elden Ring strikes the perfect balance between grace and destruction. With proper stat investment, weapon choice, and timing, you can carve your way through the Lands Between with deadly precision. Whether you’re slicing through late-game bosses or dueling other Tarnished, this build rewards skill and confidence—making it one of the most satisfying playstyles in the game.