The dream weapon for those looking to go toe to toe with the many named dragons and wyrms in Elden Ring, the Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana brings to players a great mix of raw damage and utility. As implied by its name, its Dragonwound Slash Weapon Skill also packs quite a punch and it’s sure to make a difference when facing a certain boss.
But did you know it’s possible to acquire the great katana early on? For all looking to awaken the Dragonborn in their Tarnished, here’s how to get the Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana location
You can get the Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana in Elden Ring by defeating the Ancient Dragon-Man boss in the deepest level of the Dragon’s Pit cave. You can reach the cave by first following the road right of the Castle Front Site of Grace until you reach the Pillar Path Waypoint one. The site will be located by a path marked by dragon statues. As you might have guessed, the latter will lead directly to the entrance of the cave. You can check out an in-map view of how to reach the Dragon’s Pit cave below.
I recommend caution when first treading the road right of the Pillar Path Waypoint Site of Grace. The reason for that lies in how once in it, you will be invaded by the red phantom of the Ancient Dragon-Man. The enemy will use the same movements as the boss but will have way less health. To deal with it, rely on either big hits or fast dual weapon combos. I also recommend that you make use of the environment to avoid his Incantations.
Once at the cave, you will be able to easily reach the boss by following our How to clear the Dragon’s Pit in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree guide.
Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana stats and scaling
The Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana scales off Strength and Dexterity and will have an initial scaling of D on both stats. Unfortunately for all using Arcane, Intelligence, and Faith builds, it is also not possible to infuse it with alternative properties. You can check out an overview of the Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana below:
- Type: Great Katana (Slash/Pierce)
- Requirements: 15 Strength and 20 Dexterity
- Initial Scaling: D on both stats
- Scaling at +10: C on both stats
- Weapon Skill: Dragonwound Slash (Unique) / FP cost: 18
- Weight: 10.5
- Attack Power: 152 Physical / 100 Critical
- Guarded Damage Negation: 69.0 Physical, 32.0 Magic/Fire/Lightning/Holy, 40 Guard Boost
- Passive Effect: 55 Blood Loss per hit.
How to use and the best talismans
As you can expect of a great-class weapon, the Dragon-Hunter’s Great Katana is a great pick for those looking to both dual-wield it or pair it up with a trusty shield. I recommend the latter in most scenarios, as the weapon’s slowish moveset might leave you open against more agile enemies —he says while having Putrescent Knight flashbacks.
If you are looking to maximize your damage, using the Godfrey Icon or the Shard of Alexander Talisman is a must. The Talismans will offer a 15% increase on Skill DMG each. If you don’t mind using two slots, their effects can stack for a 30% boost in DMG.
