Elden Ring Dark Moon Greatsword Location, Stats & Best Build Tips
A Moon Greatsword, bestowed by a Carian queen upon herspouse to honor long-standing tradition.One of the legendary armaments.Ranni’s sigil is a full moon, cold and leaden, and this sword is but a beam of its light.
Dark Moon Greatsword – Elden Ring Legendary Weapon Guide
The Dark Moon Greatsword is one of the most iconic weapons in Elden Ring and a staple of FromSoftware’s legacy. As one of the 9 Legendary Armaments, it brings exceptional power, magical scaling, and rich lore. This guide covers everything from stat requirements and location to unique mechanics and build synergy, with a focus on updated patch mechanics post-1.07.
The Moonlight Greatsword skill buffs the weapon with cold magic, enhancing its attacks and enabling its signature charged heavy attacks to launch devastating magic projectiles.
Fires a projectile when charged heavy (R2) is used while buffed
Projectile deals 35 stance damage and scales with Intelligence
Causes Frost buildup (55)
Buff affected by talismans like Godfrey Icon, Warrior Jar Shard, and Shard of Alexander
Cannot be infused with Ashes of War
Cannot be enchanted or boosted with consumables
Upgraded with Somber Smithing Stones
Dark Moon Greatsword Location
You’ll find the Dark Moon Greatsword beneath the Cathedral of Manus Celes, but unlocking it requires completing the extensive and lore-rich Ranni the Witch’s questline:
Defeat General Radahn to unlock Nokron, Eternal City.
Retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade and give it to Ranni.
Gain access to Ainsel River Main via Renna’s Rise.
Interact with the Ranni Doll, defeat Baleful Shadows, and get the Discarded Palace Key.
Use the key to unlock a chest in the Grand Library (where you fought Rennala) to obtain the Dark Moon Ring.
Progress through Lake of Rot and defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.
Equip the Dark Moon Ring to unlock the lift to Moonlight Plateau.
Reach the Cathedral of Manus Celes and complete your final interaction with Ranni to receive the Dark Moon Greatsword.
Patch Updates & Notes
With Patch 1.07 and onward, the blade itself now deals damage while the skill is active, allowing effects like the Axe Talisman and Spiked Cracked Tear to trigger on charged attacks if the blade makes contact. This expanded synergy has made it an even more viable option in PvE and PvP magic builds.
Build Synergy & Power-Stancing
The Dark Moon Greatsword is an excellent fit for Intelligence-focused builds. It pairs especially well with weapons like Helphen’s Steeple, which shares similar scaling and stat demands.
Great for frost-focused sorcery or hybrid melee/caster builds
Ideal for power-stancing with similar INT-scaling greatswords
Projectile-heavy style helps manage crowd control in PvE
Legacy and Lore
This weapon is a spiritual successor to the famous Moonlight Greatsword, a recurring archetype in FromSoftware games:
King’s Field: Moonlight Sword
Armored Core: MOONLIGHT laser blade
Demon’s Souls: Large Sword of Moonlight
Dark Souls series: Moonlight Greatsword
Bloodborne: Holy Moonlight Sword
Its iconic status, deep lore connections, and strong scaling make it not just a weapon—but a rite of passage for any Elden Ring sorcerer.
