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In this article, we'll run through some of the best two-handed swords you can pick up in the early to mid game of Crimson Desert (before Chapter 9). Two-handed greatswords are arguably the most satisfying weapons in the game; they offer wide sweeping arcs, strong stagger, and crucially, up to five Abyss Gear slots for serious offensive customisation.
The main trade-off when compared to one-handed swords, is speed. This puts extra emphasis on your timing, making it more important to nail large combos. Generally, two-handed swords are much better at AOE damage or fighting groups of enemies. They also come in handy when fighting shielded enemies.
- Rhett's Longsword
- The Hwando
- The Darkbringer
- Righteous Verdict
- Frozen Anguish
- Ignir
- The Hound
- Vessel of Dark Pursuit
The Best Two-Handed Swords in Crimson Desert (Early to Mid Game)
These are the best two-handed swords in Crimson Desert's early to mid game.
Rhett's Longsword
A great entry point into two-handed combat, and one of the easiest weapons to obtain in the game.
Source: Purchased directly from the Hernand Equipment Shop near the Town Centre for 2.30 Silver, or crafted at a Blacksmith after reading the Two Handed Weapons of the World Vol. 1 crafting manual. This quest is also unlocked as part of Tranan's Request quest at Greymane Camp.
Why It's Good: A solid 15 attack damage is great for such an easy-to-obtain weapon, which also features five slots for Abyss Gear, making it well worth grabbing as soon as you arrive in Hernand. It won't carry you through the whole game, but it's a reliable bridge weapon that gets you comfortable with the greatsword moveset.
The Hwando
The Hwando is one of the best early-game two-handed swords in Crimson Desert. It's also very cool looking, and only requires you to do a little bit of stealing to acquire.
Source: Found inside a chest at Lioncrest Manor, to the northwest of the Hernand City. You'll need a key to unlock the door containing it and a Mask to allow you to steal from the area.
Why It's Good: The Hwando does 19 attack damage per hit and comes with Critical Rate I, and Stamina Siphon Abyss Gear already equipped. The Stamina Siphon allows you to replenish Stamina during combat, which is a massive boon for players chaining long greatsword combos. Considering how easy it is to get, The Hwando is a fantastic early option.
The Darkbringer
Arguably, the crown jewel of Crimson Desert's early-game two-handed swords, the Darkbringer is well worth obtaining.
Source: Found in the northern region of Pailune, look for the "S" in Silver Wolf Mountain to the West of Pailune city. Head Northwest from that location, parallel to the small lake/pond until you find the fast travel location shown above. From there, you will find the sword is embedded in the mouth of a massive, partially unearthed skeleton inside an excavation-like pit.
Why It's Good: The Darkbringer boasts 22 attack damage, Level 3 Critical Rate, and a unique Abyss Gear called Ator's Orb. The passive causes golden orbs to appear with every heavy attack and shoot at nearby enemies, and the orbs trigger regardless of whether you land the hit. Since Ator's Orb is a detachable Abyss Gear, you can also remove it and slot it onto another weapon. One of the most powerful weapons in the entire game at this stage.
Righteous Verdict
A hidden gem that you can grab without fighting a single enemy, yet it rivals some late-game greatswords in raw stats.
Source: Located inside the Demeniss Ancestors' Ruins, travel to the Nightfell Expedition Camp in Wells Estate, in the southern section of Hernand, directly south of the "D" in Demeniss on your map. Enter the cave in the southwestern corner, navigate through the ruins behind the underground waterfall, and pick up the sword from the stone slab in the final chamber.
Why It's Good: The Righteous Verdict arrives at Refinement Level 4 with 23 Attack, Level 3 Critical Rate, and Level 2 Attack Speed. It's also the only weapon in the game that carries a Level 2 Gale Abyss Gear, making it uniquely powerful for speed-focused builds. The combination of high Crit and fast attack speed makes it devastating against bosses.
Frozen Anguish
A slightly out-of-the-way pickup, but one of the best greatswords in the game for players who love long, uninterrupted combo chains.
Source: Found in a chest in the basement of the Spire of Frost, located in the Dead Fire Mountains north of Hernand. You can get here by heading north between the "E" and "M" in Demeniss, and you'll see it physically in the world as all four spires are major landmarks.
Pro Tip: The area will do persistent frost damage to you. You will need either lots of food or frost-resistant gear to survive.
Why It's Good: The Frozen Anguish packs 25 Attack and carries the Stamina Transference Abyss Gear, which restores your stamina with each hit, keeping your combos flowing without pause. At this attack value, it's one of the strongest greatswords you can get before the endgame, and the Stamina sustain makes it particularly rewarding in longer fights.
Ignir
Note: The sword will be rewarded after the Chapter 8 start cutscene plays.
A story reward that requires zero detours, just keep playing.
Source: Automatically obtained by completing Chapter 7 of the main story. No searching required.
Why it's good: Ignir sits at 24 Attack with Level 1 Critical Rate, and comes pre-loaded with a triple Abyss Gear setup, Destruction I x2 + Insight I. It's a strong, no-nonsense greatsword that's immediately competitive, and having three Abyss Gears already installed means you can focus your resources on upgrading rather than slotting.
The Hound
Note: You cannot just head to the location shown above until you unlock the quest chain in Hernand City area first.
The Hound is unlocked through a quest chain in Chapter 3/4. While the quest is easy, the unlock process is slightly odd. We have a full The Hound guide if you would like a helping hand.
Source: The Hound is rewarded from the quest "The Rabid Hound of Hellwood," however, to get this, you will first need to progress the House of Serkis, Trace of Intruder "Robin Hood" style quest. Then head way south to the Church of Senia to help the locals before unlocking the Hound.
Why It's Good: A fairly strong weapon that can be got early if you go out of your way slightly. The Hound's Claws is a strong special attack, and the early level 2 Critical Rate is a great bonus.
Vessel of Dark Pursuit
The Vessel of Dark Pursuit is another very powerful two-handed sword in the early-to-mid game, but you'll have to earn it.
Source: Obtained at the Sanctum of Absolution by defeating Antumbra's Sword. The location is deep in the Southwestern part of the map, south of the Scholastone, which we visit in Chapter 4. The Sanctum areas are "unlocked" after Chapter 5 when you meet the witches.
Why It's Good: The Vessel of Dark Pursuit has 25 Attack and carries a unique Wound of Darkness Abyss Gear. Each attack stacks a shadow debuff on your target, and after five stacks, the debuff explodes for massive bonus damage. This makes it exceptional for sustained single-target fights and boss encounters. The high effort-to-reward ratio is absolutely worth it if you can handle Antumbra's Sword.
Check out our other content for more in-depth Crimson Desert coverage and expert tips.