Greatsword

A Greatsword, also referred to as a red sword or two-handed sword is a Class 2 weapon that is very similar to any other sword, except that it must be at least 48" long and 24oz in weight. The blades are also typically thicker, as they require more padding due to their length and mass.

The Greatsword is a very popular Fighting Style for new fighters, for a variety of reasons. However, they are difficult to use effectively in a skirmishing or 1-on-1 situation. When equally skilled, a greatsword wielder facing a person with sword and board can usually expect to get one shield-breaking hit in as they are rushed down and killed. Greatswords become much more effectively when used in a line or with one or two friends alongside to provide support against charging shieldmen.

Many new fighters are particularly inclined to construct Cloud-style Buster swords (often 5-6'+ long and particularly heavy), which are universally found to be practically useless on the field. Other examples of commonly constructed but silly weapons can be found here: Experimental Weapons FAQ.

See Also

• Polearm
• Constructing a Blue Sword - the process for constructing a red sword is essentially identical, except that a red sword will require at least one additional layer of foam along the blade and that it will need a stronger core material.