The Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC introduced the "Greatsword of Damnation," a Remembrance Boss Weapon obtained after defeating Midra, Lord of the Frenzied Flame. While the weapon's design and concept are undeniably impressive, its Ash of War has sparked significant controversy within the player community. This unique ability not only disrupts gameplay balance but also seems to exploit the game's network system, leading to unpredictable and unfair interactions in PvP. With the Game of the Year awards on the horizon, the question arises: why hasn’t this glaring issue been addressed?
The Greatsword of Damnation's Unique Problem
Unlike other weapons in Elden Ring, the Greatsword of Damnation isn’t broken in the sense of being overpowered—it’s literally broken. The issue lies in the Ash of War's grab attack, which interacts poorly with the game's net code. Normally, grabs require precise timing and positioning to connect, but this weapon’s Ash of War bypasses those standards entirely. Here’s how it works:
- Network Lag Exploitation: If the grab connects with an enemy on your screen, even if they have successfully dodged it on their screen, the game's net code will still register the grab as successful. This results in massive damage being dealt unfairly, leaving the victim frustrated and confused.
- Hyper Armor and Buffs: Adding to the chaos, the Ash of War boasts incredible hyper armor, allowing it to trade hits with almost anything. It can also be boosted by The Shard of Alexander and The Dagger Talisman, which increase critical damage, making it devastatingly effective even when used improperly.
For players unfamiliar with how Elden Ring's latency and net code work, the weapon feels like an insurmountable challenge in PvP. This has caused widespread frustration, especially since the bug isn’t a simple hitbox or damage issue. Instead, it’s deeply rooted in the game's net code, making it unlikely that FromSoftware will ever address it.
Why the Bug Remains Unfixed
The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has been out for nearly six months, yet FromSoftware hasn’t taken any steps to fix the Greatsword of Damnation. There are several reasons why this might be the case:
The Root Cause Is Complex: The problem with the weapon isn’t just a standard bug—it’s a result of how the game’s net code handles player interactions. Fixing this would likely require a significant overhaul of the game’s underlying systems, which might not be feasible at this stage of the game’s lifecycle.
Low Priority: Since the weapon works fine in normal latency environments, the developers may not see it as a pressing issue. The grab attack behaves as intended in offline play or with stable connections, so it’s primarily a problem in PvP, which is already known for its chaotic and unpredictable nature in Elden Ring.
Focus on New Content: With Elden Ring being a massive success, FromSoftware is likely focused on developing new content or even future titles. Revisiting and fixing a single weapon in a DLC might not be worth the effort compared to creating fresh experiences for players.
The PvP Experience: A Chaotic Mess
For those who venture into PvP, the Greatsword of Damnation provides a chaotic and often hilarious experience—but not always for the right reasons. The weapon is infamous for its unpredictability and the sheer absurdity it brings to invasions and duels. Here’s a glimpse into what players often encounter:
- Unavoidable Damage: The grab attack can connect in situations where normal attacks wouldn’t, leading to unfair one-shots.
- Insane Hyper Armor Trades: Players using the sword can tank through almost anything, making it difficult to interrupt their attacks.
- Exploiting Gaps in Knowledge: Many players don’t understand how the net code works, leaving them vulnerable to the weapon’s quirks.
Despite these issues, some players have embraced the chaos, using the weapon as a way to troll or dominate in PvP. One user described their experience as follows:
"I love it. This weapon is so damn fun. Players don’t expect you to play well with the sword—they just expect you to spam the Ash of War and let the broken net code do the rest. It’s a mess, but that’s what makes it entertaining."
Is It Game-Breaking?
While the Greatsword of Damnation is undeniably problematic, it’s unlikely to ruin Elden Ring’s reputation or its chances at winning Game of the Year awards. The weapon represents a small fraction of the overall experience, and many players will never encounter its issues if they stick to PvE or avoid PvP altogether. That said, it does highlight an ongoing challenge for FromSoftware: balancing their intricate combat system within the constraints of online play.
For those struggling with progression or PvP battles, resources like runes can make a significant difference. To ease your journey through the Lands Between, you can always get cheap Elden Ring runes from AKRPG, a reliable and fast way to boost your character’s stats and gear.
The Greatsword of Damnation is both a marvel and a menace. Its design is fascinating, but its implementation in PvP has exposed fundamental flaws in Elden Ring’s net code. While it’s disappointing that FromSoftware hasn’t addressed the issue, the weapon’s chaotic nature has cemented its place in the community as a love-it-or-hate-it feature. Whether you view it as a game-breaking bug or simply part of the fun, one thing is clear: the Greatsword of Damnation is here to stay, for better or worse.
