Unveiling the Moonlight Greatsword: A Legendary Weapon
The Moonlight Greatsword, also known as the "Lunar Greatsword" or "Moonveil," is one of the most iconic and sought-after weapons in the Elden Ring. Renowned for its unique weapon skill, Transient Moonlight, and its impressive magic damage, it's a staple for many spellblade builds. If you're looking to wield this legendary blade and unleash devastating magical attacks, you've come to the right place. This guide will walk you through exactly how to acquire and effectively use the Moonlight Greatsword in Elden Ring.
Where to Find the Moonlight Greatsword
The Moonlight Greatsword isn't found in a treasure chest or as a random drop. It's a boss reward, and a significant one at that. To obtain this coveted weapon, you'll need to defeat a specific boss located in a challenging area of the game.
The Path to the Dragonic Tree Sentinel and the General Radahn Festival
The Moonlight Greatsword is dropped by Starscourage Radahn. However, you cannot simply walk up to him and fight him. Radahn is the main boss of the Redmane Castle event, which is part of the Festival of Radahn.
Here's the breakdown of how to get there:
- Reach Caelid: You'll need to make your way to the Caelid region of the Lands Between. This is a dangerous area, especially for lower-level players, so be prepared for tough enemies.
- Activate Varre's Questline (Optional but Recommended): While not strictly required to *reach* the festival, progressing White-Faced Varre's questline can lead you to a shortcut to Mohgwyn Palace, which can then lead you to an area that makes navigating to Redmane Castle easier. However, for the direct path:
- Head to Redmane Castle: Locate Redmane Castle in the southeastern part of Caelid.
- Activate the Festival: The Festival of Radahn will only begin *after* you have reached a certain point in the game's progression. The most common trigger is defeating Starscourage Radahn himself. However, you can also trigger it by defeating at least two shardbearers (bosses that drop Great Runes) and then returning to the Roundtable Hold. After a bit of time or interacting with certain NPCs, the festival will begin, and the gate to the boss arena will open.
- Speak to the NPC at Redmane Castle: Once the festival is active, you'll find an NPC named Jerren, the master of ceremonies, in the main courtyard of Redmane Castle. Speak to him, and he will tell you about the upcoming fight.
- Enter the Arena: After speaking with Jerren, the gate leading to the Radahn boss arena will open. Proceed through it to participate in the festival.
Defeating Starscourage Radahn
Starscourage Radahn is a formidable foe, and the fight takes place in a massive arena. The key to this fight is utilizing the NPC summons available.
Here are some tips for tackling Radahn:
- Summon Your Allies: As soon as you enter the arena, you'll see various summon signs scattered across the battlefield. These are NPCs who will fight alongside you. Activating these summons is crucial to dividing Radahn's attention and chipping away at his health. You can re-summon them if they fall.
- Use Your Mount: Torrent is Your Friend: Your spectral steed, Torrent, is invaluable in this fight. Use him to quickly dodge Radahn's devastating ranged attacks, close the distance, and escape his melee combos.
- Dodge and Weave: Radahn's attacks are powerful and cover a wide area. Learn his attack patterns and focus on dodging at the right moments. His gravity magic attacks, especially the meteor strike, are particularly deadly.
- Magic and Ranged Attacks: If you have ranged capabilities (spells, bows), use them to your advantage while your summoned allies draw Radahn's aggro.
- Melee Strategy: If you're going for a melee approach, be patient. Wait for openings after his attack chains and get in a few hits before retreating.
The Reward: The Remembrance of the Starscourage
Upon defeating Starscourage Radahn, you will be rewarded with the Remembrance of the Starscourage. This is a key item that allows you to trade it with Enia at the Roundtable Hold for one of two powerful rewards. One of these rewards is the Moonlight Greatsword.
Acquiring the Moonlight Greatsword from Enia
Once you have the Remembrance of the Starscourage:
- Travel to the Roundtable Hold: The Roundtable Hold is a hub area where you can rest, upgrade your gear, and interact with various NPCs.
- Speak to Enia: Find Enia, the Two Fingers' Maiden, in the large hall of the Roundtable Hold.
- "Acquire Armaments": Speak to Enia and choose the option to "Acquire Armaments."
- Select the Moonlight Greatsword: You will be presented with a list of items you can obtain using boss Remembrances. Choose the Moonlight Greatsword. You will need to give up the Remembrance of the Starscourage.
Stats and Requirements for the Moonlight Greatsword
The Moonlight Greatsword is a unique weapon that scales primarily with Intelligence, but also benefits from Strength and Dexterity. It's ideal for builds that blend melee combat with sorceries, often referred to as "spellblades."
Minimum Stat Requirements:
- Strength: 16
- Dexterity: 11
- Intelligence: 38
As you can see, the high Intelligence requirement makes it a significant investment for many characters. However, the payoff is immense.
The Power of Transient Moonlight: Weapon Skill
The true defining feature of the Moonlight Greatsword is its unique weapon skill, Transient Moonlight. This skill allows you to unleash devastating magical projectiles and a powerful wave of energy.
How to Use Transient Moonlight:
- Light Attack (R1/RB): Pressing the weapon skill button followed by the light attack will cause your character to perform a swift upward slash, releasing a crescent-shaped wave of magic in front of you. This wave travels a good distance and deals significant magic damage.
- Heavy Attack (R2/RT): Pressing the weapon skill button followed by the heavy attack will cause your character to charge up and then perform a powerful, sweeping horizontal slash. This attack releases a larger, more damaging magical wave and can hit multiple enemies. It also leaves a lingering magical effect on the ground.
Important Note: The effective range and damage of Transient Moonlight are greatly enhanced by your Intelligence stat. The more Intelligence you have, the further the waves will travel and the more damage they will inflict.
Recommended Builds and Playstyles
The Moonlight Greatsword excels in builds that can meet its stat requirements, particularly Intelligence. Here are some popular and effective ways to utilize this weapon:
Spellblade Builds:
These builds focus on a synergy between melee combat and sorcery. You'll use the Moonlight Greatsword for your primary melee damage and unleash spells for ranged offense, crowd control, or buffs. High Intelligence is paramount here.
Intelligence/Strength or Intelligence/Dexterity Builds:
These hybrid builds allow you to meet the stat requirements for the Moonlight Greatsword while also investing in Strength or Dexterity to further enhance your physical damage with the weapon. This offers more versatility in your overall combat approach.
Utilizing the Weapon Skill Effectively:
Don't just spam Transient Moonlight. Learn to use it strategically:
- Opening Salvo: Use the heavy attack version of Transient Moonlight to initiate combat and stagger enemies.
- Ranged Harassment: The light attack version is excellent for chipping away at enemy health from a safe distance, especially against bosses that have predictable movement patterns.
- Crowd Control: The sweeping nature of the heavy attack can be effective for dealing with groups of weaker enemies.
- Stance Breaking: Repeated use of Transient Moonlight, especially the heavy attack, can contribute to breaking an enemy's poise, opening them up for a critical hit.
FAQ: Your Moonlight Greatsword Questions Answered
Q: How do I get the Moonlight Greatsword early in Elden Ring?
A: You cannot obtain the Moonlight Greatsword early in the game. It is a guaranteed drop from defeating Starscourage Radahn, a mid-to-late game boss. You must progress through Caelid and trigger the Festival of Radahn to face him.
Q: Why is the Moonlight Greatsword so powerful?
A: The Moonlight Greatsword is powerful due to its high magic damage, its excellent scaling with Intelligence, and its unique weapon skill, Transient Moonlight, which allows for potent ranged magical attacks. It's a cornerstone for many effective spellblade builds.
Q: What are the stat requirements for the Moonlight Greatsword?
A: The minimum stat requirements are 16 Strength, 11 Dexterity, and 38 Intelligence. The high Intelligence requirement makes it a dedicated weapon for sorcery-focused characters.
Q: Can I get two Moonlight Greatswords?
A: No, you can only obtain one Moonlight Greatsword per playthrough by trading the Remembrance of the Starscourage with Enia. If you want another, you'll need to start a new game or duplicate the Remembrance at a Walking Mausoleum in New Game Plus.
Wielding the Moonlight Greatsword is a rewarding experience in Elden Ring. By understanding its acquisition, stat requirements, and the devastating potential of its weapon skill, you'll be well on your way to becoming a formidable force in the Lands Between.
