Leontiel’s Greatsword is one of the new weapons added in Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, and it sits high on greatsword picks thanks to a Dexterity-scaling profile and a matador-themed stance skill. It deals only physical damage, cannot be infused, and drops from an NPC invader in Caelid rather than deep in the Land of Shadow.
Quick answer: Defeat Starscourge Radahn in Caelid, then move out of his arena (heading north toward the War-Dead Catacombs). Knight Leontiel invades with roughly 4,273 HP. Kill him to receive Leontiel’s Greatsword and Leontiel’s armor set.
Leontiel’s Greatsword location in Caelid
The weapon is tied to the Starscourge Radahn fight, which you already need to clear to open the Shadow of the Erdtree region. Once Radahn is down, the pickup is a short trip away.
You will know it worked when the kill rewards both Leontiel’s Greatsword and the full Leontiel’s armor set. The armor looks the part but has low poise, so pair it with Bull-Goat’s Talisman if you plan to wear it.
Stats, requirements, and scaling
This is a Dexterity weapon first, with Strength serving only as a light secondary. It carries a Standard and Pierce damage profile, which lets its thrusts qualify for counterattack bonuses. It has no status build-up, and you upgrade it with Somber Smithing Stones.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Weapon class | Greatsword |
| Damage type | Standard / Pierce (physical only) |
| Weight | 9.5 |
| Strength requirement | 13 |
| Dexterity requirement | 26 |
| Scaling at +10 | B Dexterity, D Strength |
| Upgrade material | Somber Smithing Stones |
| Infusion / affinity | Not possible (unique weapon) |
Because you cannot change the affinity, there is no point leaning into stats outside Dexterity. If your starting class lacks the 13 Strength, two-hand the weapon or add a few points to meet the requirement.
How the Muleta Ash of War works
Muleta is the weapon’s unique skill and is exclusive to it. Activating it puts your character into a stance holding a red matador cloth. From there, you commit to a follow-up, and the animation itself doubles as an evasive move that can slip past enemy attacks.
- The stance grants roughly 20 invincibility frames as you sidestep, similar in spirit to Blind Spot.
- A light input performs a sidestep and swipe, putting you out of range while letting you retaliate. It connects more reliably against fast enemies.
- A heavy input travels farther for a thrust and can be charged for extra damage and poise damage.
- Two heavy inputs in a row deliver a strong upward thrust, comparable to Giant’s Hunt.
- The piercing follow-up counts for counterattack damage bonuses, and the charged heavy stacks stance damage.
Save the heavy version for when an enemy is winding up a slow attack, since that is where the biggest hits and stagger land. Use the light version to stay safe against quicker bosses.
Recommended build stats
Vigor, Endurance, and Dexterity are the only stats that matter for a standard setup. The greatsword moveset drains stamina, so do not skimp on Endurance, and Dexterity is your damage. Here is a workable Vagabond spread at level 125.
| Stat | Value | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Vigor | 60 | Survivability; no reason to be fragile |
| Mind | 10 | Raise it if you use the skill often |
| Endurance | 35 | Feeds stamina for the moveset |
| Strength | 14 | Only needs 13 to wield |
| Dexterity | 60 | Primary damage stat |
| Intelligence | 9 | Not required |
| Faith | 9 | Not required (raise for buff incantations) |
| Arcane | 7 | Not required |
If you want more damage, some points in Faith let you run buffing incantations like Flame, Grant Me Strength and Golden Vow. At higher levels, keep pushing Dexterity before touching Strength. Armor is free to pick, so stay at a medium equip load for good dodge rolls.
Best talismans for Leontiel’s Greatsword
The weapon behaves like a classic greatsword, with pokes and a jumping light-to-light chain, so it takes well to standard damage and stance talismans. Rellana’s Cameo is the standout because it directly rewards the Muleta stance.
| Talisman | Effect |
|---|---|
| Rellana’s Cameo | Around 45% skill damage boost after holding the stance for one second |
| Shard of Alexander | 15% boost to weapon skill damage |
| Two-Handed Sword Talisman | 15% weapon damage while two-handing |
| Spear Talisman | Boosts piercing counterattacks, fitting Muleta’s thrusts |
| Ritual Sword Talisman | 10% attack while at full HP |
| Ritual Shield Talisman | 10% defense while at full HP |
| Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman | 20% physical damage negation |
| Erdtree’s Favor | Raises HP, stamina, and equip load |
| Bull-Goat’s Talisman | Increases poise, ideal if you wear Leontiel’s armor |
To lean into the stance skill, hold Muleta for a full second so Rellana’s Cameo activates before you commit to the follow-up. Shard of Alexander stacks on top of that. If you don’t have Shard of Alexander yet, Warrior Jar Shard gives a 10% skill boost as an early stand-in, and Godfrey Icon adds charged-attack damage.
Buffing limits to keep in mind
Note: you cannot apply greases or drawstrings to Leontiel’s Greatsword, so its output stays purely physical and relies on raw scaling. Body buffs still work, so incantations like Golden Vow and Flame, Grant Me Strength, plus physick tears, remain the main ways to raise its damage.
Between the piercing counterattacks, the mobile stance, and the strong charged heavy, this greatsword rewards timing and positioning more than button spam. Grab it right out of Caelid, take it to +10 with Somber Smithing Stones, and it holds up well from mid-game through endgame content.
