Skyrim Greatsword Tier List

Summary

The greatsword is a prominent weapon in Skyrim, with beautiful designs and a variety of materials used for crafting.
The S Tier greatswords are the most powerful, with unique abilities like absorbing health or releasing energy blasts.
Greatswords are categorized into different tiers based on their level of damage and accessibility, ranging from high-level rare swords to common ones found early in the game.

The greatsword is the hallmark weapon of the warrior culture of the Nords and differs from previous games in The Elder Scrolls series which referred to them as claymores. Greatswords are numerous and found throughout Skyrim, wielded by fighters from all walks of life and crafted from a variety of different materials.

The emphasis on weapons in Skyrim means that many of the greatswords, especially the ones found at higher levels, have beautiful designs as if each was made with great care. However, unlike the staves in Skyrim, there aren't many unique or named greatswords, and the ones that do exist come from the Dragonborn and Dawnguard DLC.

S Tier

These greatswords are the best in Skyrim and can either only be found at the highest levels or in areas that are difficult to traverse at lower levels, such as Solstheim. They're all made from premium crafting materials, and one has an effect so powerful and unique that it makes it the best greatsword in Skyrim:

The Ebony Blade - This blade is technically a greatsword as it's a sword and benefits from the Two-Handed perk tree. The only artifact of a Daedric Prince on this list, the Ebony Blade of Mephala starts off weak, but gains power with each friendly NPC killed with it. At full power with 30 Absorb Health, never needing to be recharged, and with its incredibly fast attack speed, the Ebony Blade is by far the most powerful Two-Handed weapon in the game.
Bloodskal Blade - One of the few named greatswords in Skyrim, the Bloodskal Blade can be found on Solstheim. Though it deals the same base damage as Glass greatswords, it releases a blast of energy that deals 30 damage with each power attack and can even penetrate walls, making it incredibly useful and versatile. The energy blasts can hit multiple targets, stagger them, and hit targets that the blade itself strikes.
Dragonbone Greatsword - Making its debut in Dawnguard, the Dragonbone greatsword hits with 25 damage, making it the biggest damage-dealing greatsword in Skyrim. Dragons are notoriously resilient, particularly their scales and bones, and a greatsword smithed from dragon bones is as formidable as it is deadly. Dragonbone greatswords can be found all over Skyrim, particularly looted from Keepers in the Soul Cairn.
Daedric Greatsword - Daedric greatswords were the top damage dealers before Dawnguard, and they still offer a formidable and stylish alternative. It deals 24 base damage on hit, has double serrated edges, and has a red glow woven through the center and grip that contrasts with the ebony black of the blade. Daedric blades only appear around level 46 and above and can be improved with an ebony ingot.
Stalhrim Greatsword - Another greatsword from Solstheim, these greatswords are made from stalhrim, an ore with a composition like enchanted ice. Stalhrim is extremely rare and can only be mined with an Ancient Nordic Pickaxe. Stalhrim greatswords take to Frost enchantments particularly well, with Frost damage enchantments being 25% stronger thanks to the nature of the ore.

A Tier

Found at higher levels but appear earlier than the S-Tier candidates, these greatswords are worthy of any great warrior and a little easier to get:

Ebony Greatsword - These iconic greatswords are one of the earliest high-level greatswords to appear in Skyrim, around level 36. They can often be found being wielded by draugr. Ebony greatswords are similar in appearance to the Blades' swords with the Akaviri-style curved blade, but are larger and classified as Two-Handed weapons, with ornate decorations carved into the blade and grip.
Glass Greatsword - The term "Glass" is misleading as these greatswords are crafted with malachite, not the same glass used in architecture. These greatswords deal 21 damage, and begin appearing around level 27. Glass greatswords can be upgraded with Refined Moonstone ingots.
Elven Greatsword - One of the earliest of the higher level greatswords to appear, Elven greatswords are beautiful weapons that appear as early as level 19. They deal base damage of 20 and, like Glass greatswords, can be upgraded with Refined Moonstone ingots.
Stormfang - This has the appearance of an ordinary steel greatsword, but appearances can be deceiving. Though Stormfang only deals 17 base damage, as its name implies, it's also enchanted to deal lightning damage, dealing an additional 30 points of shock damage, and half as much damage to Magicka. It also appears at early levels in the game, dealing loads of damage for the level the Dragonborn can acquire it at.

B Tier

These greatswords are in the middle of the range, but are worth acquiring. All the greatswords in this category deal 20 base damage, and can be acquired at lower levels:

Skyforge Steel Greatsword - Whiterun's Skyforge creates legendary steel and is renowned across Skyrim for its quality. Its smith, Eorlund Gray-Mane, tends to the forge in favor of the Companions, whose headquarters are right next to the forge for easy access. Skyforge Steel Greatswords shares a model with the Steel Greatsword, but has a higher base damage score of 20. It can be bought from Eorlund Gray-Mane.
Nord Hero Greatsword - The Skyforge appears again as it's the only forge that can craft the Nord Hero Greatsword. An improvement on the Ancient Nord Hero Greatsword, the Nord Hero Greatsword can only be forged upon completing the Companions questline. It's lighter and deals more damage than other similar greatswords, and is a worthy addition to any Harbinger of the Companions' arsenal.
Nordic Greatsword - An addition that came with Dragonborn, the Nordic Greatsword uses quicksilver and the Advanced Armors Perk. It deals 20 damage, and is as beautiful as it is deadly, especially with enchantments.

C Tier

These greatswords are found between levels 2-12, and deal up to 19 base damage. They're made from materials that are commonly found throughout Skyrim:

Dwarven Greatsword - The Dwemer were geniuses at metalwork, and their greatswords deal a reasonable amount of damage despite only appearing at level 12. They can be crafted and improved with Dwarven Metal Ingots, or be found throughout Skyrim, dealing base damage of 19.
Orcish Greatsword - Orcs are renowned as some of the most skilled smiths in Tamriel, and their greatswords pack a punch. Orcish greatswords can be found anywhere as early as level 6, and deal 18 base damage. They can be improved with orichalcum ingots.
Steel Greatsword - One of the first upgrades from the Iron Greatswords, the Steel Greatsword is one of the earliest and most recognizable greatswords in Skyrim. It deals base damage of 17 and starts appearing at level 2. Though it doesn't pack as hard a punch as most of the other greatswords that can be found across Skyrim, they're plentiful and versatile enough to carry any Dragonborn through until other options are available.

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