Looking for a Dark Moon Greatsword build in Elden Ring that actually hits hard at level 150? This is the definitive Intelligence greatsword in the game — a Legendary Armament tied to Ranni's questline that coats its blade in frost and fires a ranged moonlight beam on its skill. Below is the exact stat spread, where to find it, the talismans and buffs that scale its projectile, and the mistakes that quietly gut its damage. All figures verified against Fextralife and in-game testing on base-game Patch 1.17 (live since 2026-08-28).
Quick answer: The Dark Moon Greatsword requires 16 Strength, 11 Dexterity, and 38 Intelligence, scales D/D/C (Str/Dex/Int) at base and up to B Intelligence at +10, and upgrades with Somber Smithing Stones. The strongest PvE build at level 150 runs roughly VIG 40–50, MIND 20, END 20–25, STR 16, DEX 11, INT 60–70, pairs it with the Magic Scorpion Charm + Godfrey Icon for the charged moonlight projectile, and buffs with Terra Magica and the Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear.
Key takeaways
- Requirements: 16 STR / 11 DEX / 38 INT — a dedicated Intelligence weapon, not a quality hybrid.
- How to get it: finish Ranni the Witch's questline and hand her the Dark Moon Ring at the Cathedral of Manus Celes. There is no shortcut — it is the final reward of the longest quest in the base game.
- Upgrade path: Somber Smithing Stones to +10. It cannot take Ashes of War and cannot be buffed with greases or magic enchantments — its skill is fixed as Moonlight Greatsword.
- The real damage comes from the charged R2 moonlight projectile. Talismans that boost skills and projectiles (Magic Scorpion Charm, Godfrey Icon, Shard of Alexander) are what make this build spike.
- Soft caps: Intelligence sorcery-scaling breakpoints sit at 60 and 80 — 60 is the efficient target on a level-150 build; 80 is for high-level or NG+ characters.
Dark Moon Greatsword stats and requirements
The Dark Moon Greatsword is one of Elden Ring's nine Legendary Armaments, and the only greatsword built around Intelligence. Here is the verified stat block.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Weapon type | Greatsword |
| Weapon skill | Moonlight Greatsword (fixed, cannot be changed) |
| Strength requirement | 16 |
| Dexterity requirement | 11 |
| Intelligence requirement | 38 |
| Base scaling | Str D · Dex D · Int C |
| Scaling at +10 | Str D(45) · Dex D(45) · Int B(126) |
| Attack power at +10 | 200 Physical + 240 Magic |
| Innate passive | Frostbite buildup 55 |
| Upgrade material | Somber Smithing Stones (max +10) |
| Infusable with Ashes of War? | No |
| Buffable with grease/magic? | No |
Two things define how this weapon plays. First, Intelligence scales the magic damage on every swing and the ranged projectile — Strength and Dexterity only prop up the physical portion, which is why you invest heavily in INT and leave STR/DEX at the minimum. At +10 the weapon hits 200 Physical + 240 Magic attack power with B-tier (126) Intelligence scaling — and crucially the Intelligence grade climbs from C to B at just +4, so even a half-upgraded sword rewards INT investment. Second, the weapon cannot be infused, so unlike most weapons you never swap its Ash of War. The Moonlight Greatsword skill is permanent, and it is the whole point of the weapon. It also carries innate Frostbite buildup (55), so sustained melee pressure procs frost on most enemies for a 10%+ damage-taken debuff.
"Ranni's sigil is a full moon, cold and leaden, and this sword is but a beam of its light." — in-game weapon description
How the Moonlight Greatsword skill works
Activating the skill (L2) coats the blade in blue moonlight, adding magic damage and frostbite buildup to your attacks for a limited window. While buffed, the weapon gains two things casual players miss:
- A unique heavy attack (R2) that fires a moonlight projectile — this is your ranged poke and your single biggest damage source against spaced-out enemies.
- The projectile does 22 stance (poise) damage, or 35 when charged, and its damage scales with weapon upgrade level and Intelligence — so every point of INT and every Somber stone makes the beam hit harder.
As of Patch 1.07, the blade itself gained damage detection while the skill is active, which lets charged attacks proc talismans like the Axe Talisman and Spiked Cracked Tear when the blade is in range. The practical takeaway: keep the buff up, and alternate charged R2 beams at range with buffed melee up close.
Where to find the Dark Moon Greatsword
The Dark Moon Greatsword is found below the Cathedral of Manus Celes in the Moonlight Altar region of southern Liurnia, but you only get there by completing Ranni the Witch's questline — the most involved quest in the base game. The short version of the path:
- Defeat Starscourge Radahn so a star falls and opens Nokron, Eternal City.
- Join Ranni's cause at Ranni's Rise, then retrieve the Fingerslayer Blade from the chest in Nokron and return it to her.
- Use the teleporter in Renna's Rise to reach Ainsel River, pick up the Ranni doll, and talk to it three times to be sent after the Baleful Shadows. Defeating one grants the Discarded Palace Key.
- Open the chest in the Raya Lucaria Grand Library with that key to get the Dark Moon Ring.
- Continue through the Lake of Rot to the Grand Cloister, drop into the coffin to fight Astel, Naturalborn of the Void, then travel to the Cathedral of Manus Celes and give Ranni the ring. She rewards you with the Dark Moon Greatsword.
Because this is a reward and not a lootable pickup, there is no way to "rush" it early — the weapon arrives mid-to-late game, which is exactly when a 38-INT build comes online. If you have not started the quest yet, follow our full Ranni questline walkthrough so you do not lock yourself out of a step.
Best Dark Moon Greatsword build (level 150)
This is a pure-Intelligence melee/caster hybrid. You meet the weapon's physical requirements exactly and dump everything else into Vigor and Intelligence.
| Stat | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vigor | 40–50 | 40 is the first major soft cap; push to 50 for the DLC. |
| Mind | 20 | Enough FP to keep the skill up and cast a backup sorcery. |
| Endurance | 20–25 | Carries the 9.0-weight greatsword plus medium armor under 70% equip load. |
| Strength | 16 | Weapon requirement — not a point more. |
| Dexterity | 11 | Weapon requirement — not a point more. |
| Intelligence | 60–70 | 60 is the efficient soft cap; 70+ if you also run sorceries. |
Intelligence soft caps sit at 60 and 80. On a level-150 build, 60 INT gives you the bulk of the scaling and frees points for Vigor; a level-200 or NG+ character can run 80 for the last push. Do not stop at 40 just because the weapon is usable there — the projectile damage keeps climbing with INT.
If you want a sorcery to pair with the greatsword, the Carian Regal Scepter (60 INT, +10% to Full Moon sorceries) is the best general-purpose staff, and Rock Sling covers magic-resistant enemies with physical gravity damage. For the deep dive on staff and spell choices, see our Elden Ring Intelligence build guide — it stacks perfectly with this weapon.
Talismans
The Dark Moon Greatsword's charged R2 projectile is treated as a skill/projectile, so these talismans directly multiply your best attack:
- Magic Scorpion Charm — +12% magic attack (but +10% physical damage taken). The single biggest damage talisman for this weapon; the projectile is magic.
- Godfrey Icon — +15% to charged skills and spells, as long as you charge the attack. Tailor-made for the charged moonlight beam.
- Shard of Alexander — +15% skill damage. Boosts the Moonlight Greatsword skill itself.
- Graven-Mass Talisman — +8% to sorceries if you are running a hybrid caster alongside the sword.
Swap the Magic Scorpion Charm out against heavy-hitting bosses if the +10% damage-taken is getting you killed.
Buffs
- Terra Magica — drop the sphere and stand in it for +22.5% magic damage for 30 seconds. Ideal before a boss burst window.
- Magic-Shrouding Cracked Tear — a physick tear granting +20% magic attack for three minutes. Pop it at the start of a long fight.
- Magic-Shrouding grease does not work here — the weapon cannot take greases, so lean on the sphere and physick instead.
How it compares to other Intelligence options
A common question is whether to run the Dark Moon Greatsword or Moonveil (the INT katana, 23 INT / 18 DEX). Moonveil is faster, lighter, and its Transient Moonlight skill spams ranged slashes cheaply — it is the better early INT weapon. The Dark Moon Greatsword hits far harder per swing, has a longer reach, and its charged projectile does meaningful stance damage, but it is slower and demands the full 38 INT and Ranni's questline. Rule of thumb: Moonveil to carry you to the Dark Moon, Dark Moon as your late-game Legendary Armament.
If you prefer raw physical scaling over magic, our Strength/Faith build and the Marais Executioner's Sword build cover the top Strength and Arcane weapons instead.
Common mistakes that kill your damage
- Leaving the weapon un-upgraded. INT scaling only reaches B at +10. A +3 Dark Moon Greatsword feels terrible — rush the Somber Smithing Stones.
- Over-investing in Strength or Dexterity. They only touch the physical portion, which is minor on this weapon. Stop at 16/11.
- Forgetting Vigor. An INT build with 25 Vigor dies to a single Malenia combo. Keep Vigor at 40+.
- Not charging the R2. The uncharged projectile is a fraction of the charged beam's damage and stance break. Charge it when you have the opening.
- Expecting to get it early. It is the end of Ranni's questline. Plan your INT investment around a mid-game pickup.
FAQ
What stats do you need for the Dark Moon Greatsword? You need 16 Strength, 11 Dexterity, and 38 Intelligence to wield it. It scales primarily with Intelligence (up to B at +10), so Strength and Dexterity should stay at the minimum and your points go into Vigor and INT.
Where do you get the Dark Moon Greatsword in Elden Ring? It is the final reward of Ranni the Witch's questline — you receive it from Ranni at the Cathedral of Manus Celes after giving her the Dark Moon Ring. You cannot find it as normal loot; the quest is the only way.
Is the Dark Moon Greatsword good in Patch 1.17? Yes. The base game has been stable since the 1.17 balance pass (live 2026-08-28), and the Dark Moon Greatsword remains one of the best Intelligence weapons for both PvE and PvP thanks to its ranged moonlight projectile and frost buildup. No 1.17.x hotfix has changed its scaling.
Can you infuse the Dark Moon Greatsword with Ashes of War? No. Its skill is permanently Moonlight Greatsword, and it cannot be infused, enchanted with magic, or boosted with greases. You build around the skill rather than swapping it.
Dark Moon Greatsword vs Moonveil — which is better? Moonveil is the better early Intelligence weapon (lower requirements, faster, cheap ranged skill). The Dark Moon Greatsword is the better late-game weapon — higher per-hit damage, longer reach, and a stronger charged projectile — but it demands 38 INT and the completed Ranni questline.
How much Intelligence should a Dark Moon Greatsword build run? Target 60 Intelligence at level 150 (the efficient soft cap) and push toward 80 only on a level-200 or NG+ character. The projectile damage scales with INT, so more is always better once Vigor is covered.
Need to respec into this build? You can rebuild your stats using a Larval Tear at Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon once you have defeated her. New to the game? Start with our best starting class guide.
