Guide of Mastering the Black Steel Greathammer in Elden Ring

Aug-13-2024

 

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion continues FromSoftware's tradition of delivering top-tier Faith-based weapons, and the Black Steel Greathammer is a shining example. This weapon, obtainable early in the DLC from the Black Knight at the Church of Consolation in southeastern Gravesite Plains, is perfect for players who prefer a Strength/Faith (STR/FAI) build.

 

 

Why Choose the Black Steel Greathammer?

The Black Steel Greathammer stands out for its fast moveset and buffable nature, making it a versatile option for many combat situations. Though it might seem like a simple weapon at first, its true potential is unlocked with the right infusions and Ashes of War, especially in a Faith-focused build.

 

The weapon's most unique feature is its guard counter ability. After blocking an attack, the Greathammer creates a circle of holy light on the ground that explodes after a short delay, dealing holy damage. This damage scales directly with your Faith stat, adding a powerful layer to your defensive playstyle.

 

 

Pros and Cons Of Black Steel Greathammer

Pros: Fast moveset, buffable and infusable, stance damage

Cons: Low range and only available late in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

 

 

Optimal Stat Distribution (Level 150)

Vigor: 50

Mind: 20

Endurance: 43

Strength: 25

Dexterity: 11

Intelligence: 10

Faith: 60

Arcane: 10

 

To maximize the Greathammer's potential, prioritize Faith over Strength. This weapon scales better with Faith, and the holy damage from its guard counter relies entirely on this stat.

 

 

Recommended Talismans

Curved Sword Talisman: Increases guard counter damage by 20%.

Greatshield Talisman: Reduces stamina damage taken while blocking by 20%.

Two-Headed Turtle Talisman: Raises stamina recovery speed by 22.5%.

Crimson Seed Talisman +1: Boosts HP restoration from the Flask of Crimson Tears by 30%.

 

 

Best Ashes of War and Infusions for Black Steel Greathammer

For a Faith build, Sacred Blade and Golden Land are excellent Ashes of War. They enhance your weapon with holy damage, making it more effective against tough enemies. If you prefer a more aggressive approach, consider Savage Lion's Claw or Cragblade with Heavy/Flame Art infusions to maximize your stance damage and close in on enemies quickly. It is undeniable that in the process of building this powerful item, we need to spend a lot of coins in the game. Obtaining some Elden Ring runes will definitely reduce the difficulty of the journey, and MMOSO will also provide you with assistance.

 

 

Best Shields For Black Steel Greathammer

The Black Steel Greathammer relies on guard counters, and players can choose to dual-wield or use a shield. However, dual-wielding isn't the best option due to its low physical damage negation. The choice of shield depends on Endurance and maximum equipment load. Heavier shields have higher guard boosts but are ill-suited for most builds. Medium Shields offer a good balance between weight and guard boosts, making them universally useful.

 

Serpent Crest Shield and Brass Shield are two best medium shields, sharing of great significance. Serpent Crest Shield owns the highest guard boost in the category of medium shields, together with extremely lightweight, which can be obtained by solving Incursion Painting in Shadow of the Erdtree. And on the other hand, Brass Shield is one of the most balanced shields in the game, which could be farmed by the soldiers along the way back in Limgrave. It is the best replacement of Serpent Crest Shield for players.

 

If players have necessary Endurance to wield a Greatshield, those two shields are the most appropriate options for them:

 

Verdigris Greatshield: Best Greatshield definitely, which can be acquired by completing Moore’s questline, taking place of the crown from Fingerprint Stone Shield.

Haligtree Crest Greatshield: A lighter variant among those Greatshields with a sharp difference of weight.

 

 

Powerful Incantations for Black Steel Greathammer

Players can select right incantations according to their situations, below are two incantations stand out for improving the effectiveness of Black Steel Greathammer:

Golden Vow: Increases attack and defense for self and allies by 15% and 10% separatively.

Flame, Grant me Strength: Boosts physical and fire-affinity attack power by 20%.

 

These incantations directly enhance the Greathammer's effectiveness, making it even deadlier in battle. There are other options available for players to freely choose from, such as Pest-Thread Spears, Flame of Frenzy and Knight’s Lightning Spear.

 

 

Best Crystal Tears for Black Steel Greathammer

Deflecting Hardtear: Enhances guard counter damage with a 5-minute buff.

Greenburst Crystal Tear: Temporarily boosts stamina recovery speed for 3 minutes.

 

 

The Black Steel Greathammer is a weapon that rewards players who master the art of guarding and countering. With the right build and equipment, it becomes an unstoppable force, capable of devastating enemies with powerful holy-infused attacks. If you're looking to shake up your STR/FAI build, the Black Steel Greathammer is a must-try weapon in Shadow of the Erdtree. 

 

That’s all, thank you for reading.