Summary
This guide covers Elden Ring's Leontiel's Greatsword, a unique Tarnished Pack weapon obtained by defeating invading Knight Leontiel in Caelid's Radahn arena post-boss victory. Its standout Muleta Ash of War grants evasive i-frames and versatile counterattacks, letting players use heavy armor without slow rolls. The optimal Dexterity-focused build prioritizes Vigor, Endurance and Mind, paired with talismans like Shard of Alexander and Rellana's Cameo for boosted skill damage. Upgrades require Somber Smithing Stones, and players can buy Elden Ring Runes to quickly level stats and fully refine this skill-based, aggressive melee build.
Elden Ring has always rewarded players who are willing to experiment with unusual weapons and creative character builds. The latest Tarnished content adds another interesting option in the form of Leontiel's Greatsword, a weapon that combines the reach and power of a greatsword with an unusually mobile combat skill. For players who normally avoid heavy equipment because of slower movement and heavier rolls, this weapon offers an intriguing alternative.
Rather than simply increasing attack power, Leontiel's Greatsword gives players another way to approach defense. Its signature Ash of War allows the user to enter a stance and perform an evasive maneuver before launching a counterattack. This combination of mobility, timing, and damage makes the weapon particularly attractive for players who enjoy aggressive melee combat.
A Greatsword Built Around Evasion
The defining feature of Leontiel's Greatsword is its unique Ash of War, Muleta. Unlike a conventional weapon skill that simply produces a powerful attack, Muleta is built around a stance followed by different offensive options.
Once the stance begins, players can choose between light and heavy follow-ups. The light option moves the character to the side before delivering a quick slash, while the heavy option moves in the opposite direction and produces a powerful thrust.
The important part is the evasive movement at the beginning of these attacks. The skill provides invulnerability frames that can allow a well-timed user to avoid incoming attacks while remaining committed to an offensive sequence. Current testing and build analysis place the opening dodge at roughly 14 or more invulnerability frames, depending on the specific interpretation and setup.
This makes the weapon fundamentally different from a traditional heavy greatsword. Instead of relying entirely on rolling away from danger, players can incorporate the weapon skill itself into their defensive strategy.
Why Heavy Armor Becomes More Interesting
Heavy armor is extremely useful in Elden Ring because it provides stronger defenses and can improve a character's ability to withstand attacks. The problem is that heavy equipment can push a character into a heavy-load state, resulting in the slowest roll animation.
For many builds, avoiding heavy load means sacrificing some defensive protection. Players may therefore have to choose between better armor and better mobility.
Leontiel's Greatsword introduces an interesting solution. Its Muleta skill can provide evasive movement without requiring the player to perform a standard roll every time an attack approaches.
This does not completely eliminate the disadvantages of heavy equipment. Timing is still critical, and the skill consumes FP. However, players who learn the timing can potentially build around heavier armor while using Muleta as an additional defensive tool.
That makes high-Endurance characters particularly interesting. Instead of spending every defensive moment rolling away from attacks, they can use the weapon's movement to stay close to enemies and immediately retaliate.
How to Obtain Leontiel's Greatsword
Getting the weapon requires players to return to Caelid after defeating Starscourge Radahn. The relevant encounter takes place around Radahn's former battlefield.
After Radahn has been defeated, players can return to the arena and travel toward the northern section of the area. An NPC invasion involving Knight Leontiel can then be triggered. Defeating the invader rewards the player with Leontiel's Greatsword and associated equipment.
The encounter is therefore relatively straightforward once the required progression has been completed. Players do not need to search through a long dungeon or complete a complicated multi-stage quest to obtain the weapon.
The main requirement is having access to the appropriate Tarnished content and reaching the required point in the game. Because the weapon comes from an NPC invasion, players should also be prepared for a duel rather than a conventional boss encounter.
A Weapon for Skill-Based Builds
Leontiel's Greatsword is not necessarily the easiest weapon for beginners. Its greatest strength comes from the flexibility of its Ash of War, and taking advantage of that flexibility requires good timing.
Players need to recognize enemy attack patterns and activate Muleta at the right moment. Using the skill randomly can waste FP or leave the player vulnerable after the evasive animation.
The reward for mastering it, however, can be substantial. The weapon lets players dodge through an attack and immediately respond with damage, creating a rhythm that feels closer to a duelist than a traditional heavy weapon user.
The heavy follow-up is particularly attractive because it produces a strong piercing attack. Charged versions can also generate significant damage and stance pressure, making the weapon useful against enemies that are vulnerable to repeated heavy attacks.
Recommended Build Direction
A Dexterity-focused character is a natural starting point for Leontiel's Greatsword. A balanced build can invest heavily in Vigor for survivability, Endurance for equipment load and stamina, Mind for additional skill usage, and Dexterity as the primary offensive attribute.
A moderate investment in Faith can also provide access to useful buffs such as Golden Vow and other supportive incantations, depending on the player's preferred level and equipment.
Talismans that increase skill damage or improve charged attacks can further strengthen the weapon's offensive potential. Rellana's Cameo is especially interesting because it rewards players for maintaining a stance before attacking, while the Shard of Alexander can increase the damage of weapon skills. Godfrey Icon can also benefit charged skill attacks.
This creates a build that focuses less on simply pressing the attack button repeatedly and more on choosing the correct response to every opening.
Managing Runes and Upgrades
As with every powerful weapon setup, character progression remains important. Players will need enough resources to improve their attributes, upgrade their weapon, and maintain the supporting equipment required by the build.
This is where Elden Ring Runes become especially valuable. Runes can be used to raise Vigor, Endurance, Dexterity, Mind, and other attributes while also paying for equipment upgrades and other progression costs.
Leontiel's Greatsword uses Somber Smithing Stones for its upgrades, meaning players should make sure they have access to the necessary upgrade materials before committing fully to the weapon.
Efficient rune management is therefore important. Instead of spreading points across too many attributes, players should establish the main purpose of their build first and invest accordingly.
Is Leontiel's Greatsword Worth Using?
For players who enjoy conventional greatswords, Leontiel's weapon is already appealing because of its moveset and damage potential. Its real attraction, however, is the unique combat identity created by Muleta.
The ability to combine an evasive movement with an immediate counterattack gives the weapon a distinct advantage over many conventional heavy weapons. It can also create new possibilities for players who enjoy heavy armor but dislike being locked into slow defensive movement.
That does not mean the weapon is automatically superior to every other greatsword. Its effectiveness depends heavily on player skill. A poorly timed Muleta can be less useful than a normal roll, while aggressive enemies can punish players who misuse the follow-up attacks.
For experienced players, however, that learning curve is part of the appeal.
Final Thoughts
Leontiel's Greatsword is one of the more interesting additions to Elden Ring because it changes how players think about defense. Instead of treating a greatsword as a weapon that simply trades speed for power, Muleta allows players to combine heavy attacks with deliberate evasive movement.
The result is a weapon that can support aggressive, skill-based builds while opening new possibilities for high-Endurance and heavy-armor characters. Players willing to practice the timing can turn enemy attacks into opportunities for counterattacks rather than simply retreating from danger.
If you are preparing a new character around this weapon, prioritize your core attributes, upgrade the greatsword consistently, and maintain enough FP to use Muleta throughout difficult encounters. If you want to accelerate your progression and have been considering where to buy Elden Ring Runes, make sure your resources are directed toward the stats and upgrades that actually support your chosen build.
