Greatsword

Lore & Background

In the Warhammer world, the greatsword is forged in the forges of the Empire and the shipyards of the northern kingdoms alike. Its blade is long enough to keep a Skaven warrior at arm's distance while its weight, swung by a trained knight or a battle-hardened Viking, can split a vermin's skull clean in two. The Order of the Silver Dragon and the various knightly orders of the Empire have long regarded the greatsword as the paragon of martial virtue: honest, unadorned, and lethal. Vikings, by contrast, see the greatsword less as a badge of chivalry and more as a practical extension of the arm. A raider from the fjords does not need a knight's crest etched into the crossguard; she needs a blade that will cleave through a rat-ogre's hide and keep cutting. Both traditions, however, converge on the same battlefield truth: when the Skaven pour out of their tunnels in endless waves, a single, well-timed greatsword strike can turn the tide of a skirmish. In Vermintide 2 the greatsword's design philosophy is preserved faithfully. It is slower than a rapier or a warhammer, but each swing carries a heft that makes Skaven models scatter. The charged attack — a wind-up strike that channels the wielder's full momentum into a single blow — is the weapon's crown jewel, and mastering its timing is what separates a casual player from a true Vermintide veteran.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell in sheets over the cobblestones of Altdorf, but the smell was worse: rot, oil, and the acrid tang of Skaven alchemy seeping up from the sewer grates. Wilhelm planted his boots, felt the familiar cold steel of the greatsword's pommel against his palm, and watched the next wave crest the barricade. Twenty. Thirty. A rat-ogre the size of a cart, mandibles dripping. He didn't run. He didn't need to. He pulled the blade back, felt the weight settle into his shoulders, and let the charge build. One arc. One thunderous crack of steel on chitin. The ogre's head separated from its body before it hit the ground, and the vermin behind it hesitated. That half-second was all he needed. He was already swinging again.

Reader's Guide

The Greatsword rewards a damage-per-hit playstyle. Its base swings are slower than one-handed weapons, but each hit lands with significantly more force, making it excellent for quickly dispatching elite Skaven and bosses. The charged (power) attack is the centrepiece: build up the charge, and the blade becomes a guillotine on a stick — time it right and you'll bisect a Stormvermin before it can finish its overhead chop. But don't get greedy: the wind-up leaves you wide open, so use it when a pack is bottlenecked or after you've dodged an incoming strike. Pair it with a mobility talent or a quick side-step to keep yourself alive while you line up the killing blow.

Did You Know?

• The Greatsword is the shared primary weapon of two distinct hero classes — Knights and Vikings — giving the same blade very different tactical roles depending on who wields it.
• The charged (power) attack on the Greatsword is a wind-up mechanic: the longer you hold the charge before releasing, the more damage the final swing deals, but you are vulnerable during the wind-up.
• In the broader Warhammer universe, the greatsword is historically associated with the Empire's knightly orders and the martial traditions of the northern kingdoms, making its presence in Vermintide a deliberate nod to in
• Because the Greatsword is two-handed, heroes wielding it cannot equip a shield or a secondary weapon, which shapes their entire defensive and utility kit around the block/parry or mobility options instead.