The Darkmoon Greatsword is a legendary weapon tied to one of the most intricate and emotionally charged questlines in Elden Ring. A spiritual successor to the Moonlight Greatsword from FromSoftware’s legacy titles, this blade rewards players who choose to follow Ranni the Witch and embrace the cold majesty of the moon. This guide will walk you through acquiring the Darkmoon Greatsword, optimizing its use in combat, and Elden Ring Runes building a powerful character around its unique properties.

How to Obtain Ranni’s Darkmoon Greatsword

To wield the Darkmoon Greatsword, players must complete Ranni’s questline, which spans a significant portion of the game. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

Meet Ranni the Witch: After defeating Royal Knight Loretta in Caria Manor (Liurnia of the Lakes), head to Ranni’s Rise and agree to serve her.

Progress Her Questline:

Aid Blaidd in Nokron.

Collect the Fingerslayer Blade.

Unlock Nokron Eternal City and defeat Baleful Shadow.

Acquire the discarded palace key and open Renalla’s locked chest to get the Darkmoon Ring.

Complete Ainsel River:

Defeat Astel, Naturalborn of the Void.

Use the Darkmoon Ring to access the lift behind Astel.

Reach Cathedral of Manus Celes:

Find Ranni’s body and place the ring on her finger.

She will disappear, and the Darkmoon Greatsword will be yours as a reward.

Weapon Overview: Stats and Abilities

Weapon Type: Greatsword

Damage Type: Magic and Physical

Ash of War: Moonlight Greatsword (unique, cannot be changed)

Stat Requirements: STR 16 / DEX 11 / INT 38

Scaling: High Intelligence scaling, with moderate Strength and Dexterity

Special Skill: Moonlight Greatsword

Activating the skill temporarily buffs the weapon with frost and magic damage. Charged heavy attacks will unleash a projectile wave of magic damage, making it devastating at mid-range.

Best Build for the Darkmoon Greatsword

To unlock the sword's true potential, you'll want to center your build around Intelligence. Here’s a breakdown of a powerful late-game setup:

Character Build: Moonlit Knight

Primary Attributes:

Vigor: 40 (survivability)

Mind: 20 (FP for skill use)

Endurance: 20 (for armor and swings)

Strength: 16 (meets requirement)

Dexterity: 11 (meets requirement)

Intelligence: 60 (maximizes damage)

Faith/Arcane: Base stats

Weapon:

Darkmoon Greatsword +10 (max upgrade via Somber Smithing Stones)

Armor Suggestions:

Raya Lucarian Robes or Spellblade Set for thematic synergy and INT boosts

Carian Knight Armor for a balance of defense and aesthetic

Talisman Loadout:

Magic Scorpion Charm: Increases magic damage

Radagon Icon: Reduces spell casting time

Erdtree's Favor: Boosts HP, stamina, and equip load

Green Turtle Talisman: Faster stamina regeneration

Combat Strategy with the Darkmoon Greatsword

General Playstyle:

The Darkmoon Greatsword favors a measured, aggressive approach. You’ll trade raw speed for devastating bursts of damage, especially with charged heavies and magic projectiles.

In PvE:

Buff Often: Always activate Moonlight Greatsword before major encounters. The weapon glows blue, gains frost, and can shoot energy waves.

Use Charged R2 Attacks: These send out crescent-shaped waves of magic. Great for both crowd control and ranged burst damage.

Exploit Frostbite: Enemies susceptible to frost will take a huge damage spike when the status triggers. Follow up with additional hits while they’re staggered.

In PvP:

Zoning Tool: The projectile wave deters rolling and punishes aggressive opponents.

Surprise Combos: Switch between light pokes and charged attacks to bait dodges.

Watch Your Buff: If the glow fades, reactivate the skill to maintain pressure.

Synergistic Spells and Items

While the Darkmoon Greatsword doesn't scale with spells directly, combining it with support sorceries can round out your build:

Recommended Spells:

Terra Magica: Boosts magic damage in a zone

Carian Phalanx: Provides defense while preparing an offensive

Adula's Moonblade: For additional frost-based pressure

Scholar's Shield: Buff your off-hand if using a shield

Buff Items:

Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear (Wondrous Physick): Temporarily boosts magic attacks

Freezing Grease: Though the sword is already frost-infused, this can be used on secondary weapons

Endgame and NG+ Viability

The Darkmoon Greatsword continues to scale well into New Game Plus and beyond. With high INT scaling and frost buildup, it remains viable against late-game bosses and PvP veterans.

Boss Matchups:

Strong Against: Dragons, giants, and heavily armored enemies

Weak Against: Highly mobile or magic-resistant foes

Tips for Late-Game:

Pair with a secondary weapon or catalyst for quick spellcasting

Keep your Vigor high to avoid being one-shot

Mix in defensive tools like Greatshield Soldiers Spirit Ash for aggro control

Lore and Thematic Considerations

The Darkmoon Greatsword isn’t just powerful—it’s deeply symbolic. It's the final reward for those who choose Ranni's path, rejecting the Greater Will and embracing the cold wisdom of the moon. Wielding this blade represents your allegiance to her vision of independence and Elden Ring Runes buy starlit mystery.

This blade has appeared across the Soulsborne universe under different names (Moonlight Greatsword in Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, Bloodborne). In Elden Ring, it returns as a legacy weapon with new life and devastating power.

Conclusion

The Darkmoon Greatsword is more than just a weapon—it's a statement. It rewards commitment, lore exploration, and mechanical mastery. Whether you’re cutting down dragons, dueling invaders, or forging your own dark destiny alongside Ranni, this greatsword turns your Tarnished into a true Moonlit Knight.

So buff your blade, gaze into the stars, and let Moonlit Vengeance fall upon your enemies.