Darkmoon Greatsword Build: How to Create a Mini Sun in Elden Ring

Are you looking for a powerful and versatile build that can unleash devastating magic damage and apply Frostbite to your enemies? Do you want to wield a weapon that scales with Intelligence and has a unique skill that enhances your sorceries? If you answered yes, then you might be interested in the Darkmoon greatsword build in Elden Ring.

The Darkmoon greatsword is a rare and coveted weapon that can be obtained by completing Ranni’s questline. It is one of the few weapons that scales with Intelligence, making it ideal for sorcerers and other magic users. It also has a skill that increases your magic damage and applies Frostbite to your foes, making them more vulnerable to your attacks.

In this article, we will show you how to create a Darkmoon greatsword build that can dominate any situation in Elden Ring. We will cover the following topics:

• Build Overview: The general concept and playstyle of the build
• Class Selection: The best class for this build and why
• Stat Allocation: How to distribute your stat points at different levels
• Equipment Choices: The best weapons, armor, shields, and talismans for this build
• Spell Selection: The best spells for this build, both offensive and defensive
• Skill Selection: The best skills for this build, both passive and active
• Combat Tips: How to play this build in combat and deal with different enemies and situations
• Pros and Cons: The main advantages and disadvantages of this build
• Conclusion: A summary of the main points and features of the build

Key Takeaways

Build Overview

The Darkmoon greatsword build is based on using the Darkmoon greatsword as your main weapon and source of damage. The Darkmoon greatsword is a special weapon that scales with Intelligence and has a skill called Darkmoon Blade. This skill increases your magic damage by 30% for 15 seconds and applies Frostbite to your enemies. Frostbite is a status effect that reduces their stamina regeneration and defense by 20%.

The Darkmoon greatsword build is designed to maximize your magic damage output and take advantage of the Frostbite effect. You will use spells and skills that deal high magic damage and complement the Darkmoon greatsword skill. You will also use equipment that boosts your Intelligence, magic damage, magic resistance, and utility.

The Darkmoon greatsword build is a versatile and powerful build that can adapt to any situation in Elden Ring. You can use different spells and skills depending on the enemy type, distance, terrain, etc. You can also switch between one-handed or two-handed mode depending on your preference. You can even use other weapons or spells if you want to change things up.

The Darkmoon greatsword build is not without its challenges though. The Darkmoon greatsword is a rare weapon that requires you to complete Ranni’s questline, which is not easy. You will also need to invest heavily in Intelligence to make the most of it. You will also need to manage your stamina and mana carefully, as both are essential for using the Darkmoon greatsword skill and other abilities.

Class Selection

The best class for the Darkmoon greatsword build is the Astrologer. The Astrologer is a class that specializes in using sorceries and other magic abilities. It has the highest Intelligence among all classes (16), which is the main stat for this build. It also has access to some of the best spells and skills in the game.

The Astrologer starts with the following stats:Open in browser

The Astrologer also starts with the following equipment:

• A staff, which is a weapon that can cast sorceries and has a skill that increases spell damage by 20% for 10 seconds
• A dagger, which is a fast and light weapon that can be used as a backup or for critical attacks
• A sorcerer’s robe, which is a light armor that provides decent protection and magic resistance
• A sorcerer’s ring, which is a ring that increases your mana by 10%
• A soul arrow, which is a basic sorcery that fires a projectile of magic energy
• A magic weapon, which is a skill that imbues your weapon with magic damage for 30 seconds

The Astrologer is the ideal class for the Darkmoon greatsword build, as it has the best synergy with the Darkmoon greatsword and other abilities. However, you can also choose other classes if you want to. The Wizard and the Cleric are also good options, as they have high Intelligence and access to some useful spells and skills. The Warrior and the Knight are also viable, as they have high Strength and Dexterity, which are secondary stats for this build.

Stat Allocation

The stat allocation for the Darkmoon greatsword build is focused on maximizing your Intelligence and magic damage output. You will also need to invest in other stats such as Vigor, Mind, Endurance, Strength, and Dexterity to improve your survivability and versatility.

Here is a suggested stat allocation for different levels:Open in browser

Equipment Choices

The equipment choices for the Darkmoon greatsword build are based on enhancing your Intelligence, magic damage, magic resistance, and utility. You will need to use the Darkmoon greatsword as your main weapon, but you can also use other weapons or spells if you want to. You will also need to use armor, shields, talismans, and rings that suit your playstyle and preferences.

Weapons

The Darkmoon greatsword is the core weapon for this build. It is a large and heavy sword that requires 18 Strength and 16 Dexterity to wield. It has a C scaling in Strength and Dexterity, but an A scaling in Intelligence, making it ideal for magic users. It also has a skill called Darkmoon Blade, which increases your magic damage by 30% for 15 seconds and applies Frostbite to your enemies.

The Darkmoon greatsword can be obtained by completing Ranni’s questline, which involves finding and helping her in various locations throughout the game. You will need to have at least 10 Intelligence and 10 Faith to start her questline. You will also need to make certain choices and actions that affect her fate. The questline is not easy, but it is worth it for the Darkmoon greatsword.

You can use the Darkmoon greatsword in either one-handed or two-handed mode. In one-handed mode, you can use a shield or a talisman in your off-hand to increase your defense or cast spells. In two-handed mode, you can use the Darkmoon Blade skill more effectively and deal more damage with each swing. You can also use other skills such as Frost Weapon or Crystal Magic Weapon to further enhance your weapon.

You can also use other weapons besides the Darkmoon greatsword if you want to. For example, you can use a staff to cast sorceries and use its skill to increase spell damage. You can also use a dagger or a rapier to deal fast and critical attacks. You can even use a bow or a crossbow to deal ranged damage. However, you should always keep the Darkmoon greatsword as your main weapon, as it is the most powerful and versatile weapon for this build.

Armor

The armor choices for the Darkmoon greatsword build are based on providing good protection and magic resistance. You will need to balance your weight and mobility with your defense and resistance. You will also need to consider your fashion and style preferences.

Some of the best armor sets for this build are:

• The Astrologer’s Set: This is the starting armor set for the Astrologer class. It is a light armor set that provides decent protection and high magic resistance. It also has a stylish and elegant design that suits the theme of this build.
• The Wizard’s Set: This is another light armor set that provides good protection and high magic resistance. It also has a skill that increases your mana regeneration by 10% for 10 seconds. It has a simple and classic design that fits the role of a sorcerer.
• The Cleric’s Set: This is a medium armor set that provides better protection and moderate magic resistance. It also has a skill that increases your healing by 20% for 10 seconds. It has a holy and noble design that reflects the faith of a cleric.
• The Knight’s Set: This is a heavy armor set that provides excellent protection and low magic resistance. It also has a skill that increases your poise by 20% for 10 seconds. It has a sturdy and majestic design that represents the honor of a knight.

You can mix and match different pieces of armor to create your own custom set that suits your needs and preferences. However, you should always keep an eye on your weight and mobility, as they affect your stamina consumption and dodge speed.

Shields

The shield choices for the Darkmoon greatsword build are based on increasing your defense and utility. You will need to use a shield that can block physical and magical attacks effectively. You will also need to use a shield that has a useful skill or effect.

Some of the best shields for this build are:

• The Sorcerer’s Shield: This is a small shield that provides good physical and magical defense. It also has a skill that reduces spell casting time by 20% for 10 seconds. It is ideal for casting spells quickly and efficiently.
• The Cleric’s Shield: This is another small shield that provides good physical and magical defense. It also has a skill that increases miracle effectiveness by 20% for 10 seconds. It is ideal for using healing or buffing miracles.
• The Knight’s Shield: This is a medium shield that provides excellent physical defense and moderate magical defense. It also has a skill that increases physical damage by 20% for 10 seconds. It is ideal for using physical attacks or skills.
• The Greatshield of Glory: This is a large shield that provides superb physical defense and low magical defense. It also has a skill that increases your stability by 20% for 10 seconds. It is ideal for tanking hits and blocking attacks.

You can use any shield that suits your playstyle and preferences. However, you should always keep in mind your weight and stamina consumption, as they affect your mobility and endurance.

Talismans

The talisman choices for the Darkmoon greatsword build are based on enhancing your spell casting and utility. You will need to use a talisman that can cast both sorceries and miracles effectively. You will also need to use a talisman that has a useful skill or effect.

Some of the best talismans for this build are:

• The Crystal Talisman: This is a talisman that can cast both sorceries and miracles with high power and speed. It also has a skill that increases your critical damage by 20% for 10 seconds. It is ideal for dealing high damage with spells and critical attacks.
• The Darkmoon Talisman: This is another talisman that can cast both sorceries and miracles with high power and speed. It also has a skill that increases your magic damage by 20% for 10 seconds. It is ideal for using the Darkmoon greatsword skill and other magic abilities.
• The Sunlight Talisman: This is a talisman that can cast both sorceries and miracles with moderate power and speed. It also has a skill that increases your healing by 20% for 10 seconds. It is ideal for using healing or buffing miracles.
• The Saint’s Talisman: This is a talisman that can cast both sorceries and miracles with low power and speed. It also has a skill that increases your faith by 5 for 10 seconds. It is ideal for using faith-based spells and skills.

You can use any talisman that suits your playstyle and preferences. However, you should always keep in mind your mana consumption and spell effectiveness, as they affect your performance and efficiency.

Rings

The ring choices for the Darkmoon greatsword build are based on boosting your damage, defense, or utility. You will need to use rings that complement your stats, equipment, spells, and skills. You will also need to use rings that suit your situation and preference.

Some of the best rings for this build are:

• The Magic Clutch Ring: This is a ring that increases your magic damage by 15% but reduces your physical defense by 10%. It is ideal for maximizing your magic damage output with the Darkmoon greatsword and other abilities.
• The Frost Clutch Ring: This is another ring that increases your frost damage by 15% but reduces your physical defense by 10%. It is ideal for enhancing the Frostbite effect of the Darkmoon greatsword skill and other abilities.
• The Ring of Favor: This is a ring that increases your vigor, endurance, and equip load by 5%. It is ideal for improving your survivability and versatility.
• The Ring of Steel Protection: This is a ring that increases your physical defense by 15%. It is ideal for increasing your durability and resistance.
• The Bellowing Dragoncrest Ring: This is a ring that increases your sorcery damage by 20%. It is ideal for boosting your spell damage output with sorceries.
• The Lingering Dragoncrest Ring: This is another ring that increases the duration of your spells by 30%. It is ideal for extending the effects of your spells and skills.
• The Sage Ring: This is a ring that reduces your spell casting time by 30%. It is ideal for casting spells faster and more efficiently.
• The Chloranthy Ring: This is a ring that increases your stamina regeneration by 7%. It is ideal for recovering stamina faster and more frequently.

You can use any combination of four rings that suits your needs and preferences. However, you should always keep in mind the trade-offs and benefits of each ring, as they affect your performance and efficiency.

Spell Selection

The spell selection for the Darkmoon greatsword build is based on using spells that deal high magic damage and complement the Darkmoon greatsword skill and other abilities. You will need to use spells that can exploit the Frostbite effect and synergize with your equipment and skills. You will also need to use spells that suit your situation and preference.

Some of the best spells for this build are:

• Soul Spear: This is a sorcery that fires a piercing spear of magic energy. It deals high magic damage and has a long range. It is ideal for sniping enemies from afar or hitting multiple targets in a line.
• Crystal Soul Spear: This is an upgraded version of Soul Spear that deals more magic damage and has a faster casting speed. It is ideal for dealing massive damage to bosses or tough enemies.
• Homing Soulmass: This is a sorcery that creates five orbs of magic energy that hover around you and automatically fire at nearby enemies. It deals moderate magic damage and has a short range. It is ideal for protecting yourself from enemies or dealing damage while moving.
• Crystal Homing Soulmass: This is an upgraded version of Homing Soulmass that creates more orbs and deals more magic damage. It is ideal for creating a barrage of magic projectiles that can overwhelm enemies.
• Soul Stream: This is a sorcery that unleashes a continuous stream of magic energy that sweeps across the area. It deals high magic damage and has a wide range. It is ideal for clearing groups of enemies or hitting large targets.
• Magic Shield: This is a sorcery that creates a magical barrier around your shield that increases its stability and defense. It lasts for 30 seconds and has a low mana cost. It is ideal for blocking attacks or enhancing your shield.
• Magic Barrier: This is a miracle that creates a magical barrier around yourself that increases your magic resistance. It lasts for 30 seconds and has a moderate mana cost. It is ideal for resisting magic attacks or enhancing your armor.
• Hidden Body: This is a sorcery that makes you invisible to enemies for 15 seconds or until you attack. It has a low mana cost and a fast casting speed. It is ideal for sneaking past enemies or ambushing them.

You can use any combination of spells that suits your needs and preferences. However, you should always keep in mind your mana consumption and spell effectiveness, as they affect your performance and efficiency.

Skill Selection

The skill selection for the Darkmoon greatsword build is based on using skills that enhance your magic damage and synergize with your equipment and spells. You will need to use skills that can exploit the Frostbite effect and complement the Darkmoon greatsword skill and other abilities. You will also need to use skills that suit your situation and preference.

Some of the best skills for this build are:

• Magic Weapon: This is a skill that imbues your weapon with magic damage for 30 seconds. It increases your weapon damage by 10% and adds 50 magic damage. It has a low mana cost and a fast casting speed. It is ideal for boosting your weapon damage output with the Darkmoon greatsword or other weapons.
• Crystal Magic Weapon: This is an upgraded version of Magic Weapon that imbues your weapon with more magic damage for 30 seconds. It increases your weapon damage by 15% and adds 75 magic damage. It has a moderate mana cost and a fast casting speed. It is ideal for dealing massive damage with the Darkmoon greatsword or other weapons.
• Frost Weapon: This is a skill that imbues your weapon with frost damage for 30 seconds. It increases your weapon damage by 10% and adds 50 frost damage. It also applies Frostbite to your enemies, reducing their stamina regeneration and defense by 20%. It has a low mana cost and a fast casting speed. It is ideal for enhancing the Frostbite effect of the Darkmoon greatsword skill or other abilities.
• Frost Clutch Ring: This is a skill that increases your frost damage by 15% but reduces your physical defense by 10%. It lasts for 30 seconds and has a low mana cost and a fast casting speed. It is ideal for maximizing your frost damage output with the Darkmoon greatsword skill or other abilities.
• Magic Clutch Ring: This is another skill that increases your magic damage by 15% but reduces your physical defense by 10%. It lasts for 30 seconds and has a low mana cost and a fast casting speed. It is ideal for maximizing your magic damage output with the Darkmoon greatsword or other abilities.
• Darkmoon Blade: This is the unique skill of the Darkmoon greatsword that increases your magic damage by 30% for 15 seconds and applies Frostbite to your enemies. It has a high mana cost and a moderate casting speed. It is ideal for unleashing a powerful burst of magic damage and Frostbite with the Darkmoon greatsword.

You can use any combination of skills that suits your needs and preferences. However, you should always keep in mind your mana consumption and skill effectiveness, as they affect your performance and efficiency.