Elden Ring Patch 1.17 has been released, which introduces lots of new content and balance adjustments for the Tarnished Pack DLC that is scheduled for release on August 28, 2026. This guide covers Elden Ring Idus Sword full stats, farming locations, weapon skill (Ash of War), and practical build suggestions.
Elden Ring Idus Sword Guide
The Idus Sword is a brand‑new Light Greatsword added with the Tarnished Pack DLC for Elden Ring. It is the signature starting weapon for the new Idus Knight class, and players can also locate it out in the open world.
Classified as a Light Greatsword, the Idus Sword combines the long blade length of a regular greatsword with surprisingly low weight thanks to fine craftsmanship. As lore text describes, properly trained users can swing this heavy‑looking armament with speed similar to a standard straight sword. It deals standard and pierce‑type physical damage, and it comes with its own unique weapon skill, Impaling Thrust. This weapon does not have any innate elemental or status buildup.
Elden Ring Idus Sword Base & Maxed (+25) Core Stats
Weapon Type: Light Greatsword | Damage Type: Standard / Pierce
Weight: 7.0
Weapon Skill: Impaling Thrust, FP Cost: 9
Critical Damage: 100
Requirements: Strength 10, Dexterity 15; Intelligence, Faith, Arcane: 0
Attribute Scaling (+25): Strength D, Dexterity D; no scaling for Int, Faith, Arcane
Attack Power (+25): Physical: 303 + 171; Magic / Fire / Lightning / Holy: 0
Guarded Damage Negation: Physical 65.0, Magic 33.0, Fire 33.0, Lightning 33.0, Holy 33.0
Guard Boost: 45
Note: It uses regular smithing stones for upgrades, not somber smithing stones. Its scaling is quality‑oriented, leaning on both Strength and Dexterity.
Elden Ring Idus Sword Attribute Scaling
The Idus Sword features straightforward attribute scaling that only applies to physical offensive stats, with no magical or arcane scaling bonuses. Below is the complete official attribute scaling data covering base and maxed (+25) upgrade states:
Base Level Scaling: 1-handed Strength (D), 2-handed Strength (D), Dexterity (D); No scaling for Intelligence, Faith, Arcane
+25 Maxed Scaling: Strength (D), Dexterity (D); Zero scaling for Intelligence, Faith, Arcane (no attribute bonuses from these stats at any upgrade level)
This weapon adopts a strict quality-oriented scaling profile, focusing solely on Strength and Dexterity for damage growth. Unlike many flexible DLC weapons, it gains no additional damage or utility from magic, faith, or arcane stat investments, limiting its build compatibility to pure physical melee setups.
The dual D-tier scaling on both core physical stats results in low attribute growth potential. In Elden Ring’s scaling system, letter grades determine damage gain per stat point: S/A tiers deliver the highest bonuses, while D/E tiers provide only minor damage increments. This means the Idus Sword’s damage output relies heavily on its fixed base value, with very limited improvements from late-game stat leveling.
In direct comparison to the DLC-exclusive infusible Milady Light Greatsword, the Idus Sword holds a higher base damage value but distinctly inferior attribute scaling. This creates a clear power progression gap between the two weapons: the Idus Sword outperforms Milady in the early game with unleveled or low investment stats, while Milady gradually surpasses it as players level up attributes and complete further upgrades.
The overall damage disparity between the two weapons is modest (roughly 10% at high stat levels). As a result, the Idus Sword remains a fully viable gameplay choice throughout the entire game if players do not obtain Milady in the DLC. It serves as a reliable early-to-mid game light greatsword, and players can smoothly transition to Milady once they reach the DLC endgame and higher character levels for optimal damage output.
Elden Ring Idus Sword Weapon Skill: Impaling Thrust
Impaling Thrust is a piercing‑focused ash of war native only to Idus Sword. This skill lets piercing‑type armaments bypass enemy shields. You charge up power, then lunge forward with a powerful thrust attack that can go straight through an opponent’s guard. It works well against shield‑carrying human enemies you will frequently meet across the Lands Between.
Elden Ring Idus Sword Location & How to Get It?
You have two primary ways to obtain this DLC item in Elden Ring.
Pick Idus Knight as your starting class. When you create a new character and select Idus Knight, you begin the game directly with the Idus Sword in your inventory, alongside the Silver Grooved armor set and Silver Grooved shield. This is the fastest access for fresh playthroughs.
Find it in the open world (for existing characters). Travel to southern Liurnia of the Lakes. Start from the Liurnia Lake Shore Site of Grace, then travel northwest. Look for a corpse leaning against a tree; the Idus Sword rests on this corpse. You do not need to defeat any boss or complete a quest to grab this weapon.
Related note: The matching Silver Grooved armor and shield set for Idus Knight can be bought from the nomadic merchant near Bellum Church in north Liurnia if you did not start as this class.
Elden Ring Idus Sword Build Guide
Since Idus Sword gets D/D scaling in Strength and Dexterity at max upgrade, it is a quality‑build friendly light greatsword. Its Light Greatsword weapon class has a unique mechanical advantage: light attacks and heavy attacks can smoothly chain into each‑other, opening flexible combo options.
Stat Spread Suggestion
Core stats: Aim for 40 Strength, 40 Dexterity for solid quality scaling.
Vigor: 50‑60 for survivability.
Endurance: Enough to keep your equip load at Medium Load (the weapon weighs 7.0, so you do not need extremely high endurance).
Mind: Only enough FP to comfortably cast Impaling Thrust; 10‑12 Mind is sufficient.
Intelligence, Faith, Arcane: You can leave these at base unless you plan to add an affinity that needs them.
Recommended Affinity & Ashes of War
Standard (Quality): Stick to default affinity, keep the native Impaling Thrust skill. Great for fighting shield‑heavy foes. Use Impaling Thrust to break guard, then follow‑up with light‑heavy chained combos.
Keen Affinity: Shift scaling more toward Dexterity. Swap to external ashes of war such as Cragblade. Cragblade raises your physical damage and stance damage, complementing the fast‑chaining light‑greatsword moveset.
Cold Affinity: Cold affinity improves Dexterity scaling and adds frost buildup. You can apply pressure with continuous combos to trigger frostbite status for extra damage and enemy debuff.
Suggested Talismans
Winged Sword Insignia: Boost damage for successive hits, works very well with the light‑greatsword’s fast chained combos.
Millicent’s Prosthesis: Further raise successive‑attack damage.
Green Turtle Talisman: Improves stamina recovery, since you will chain many light and heavy attacks in sequence.
Great-Jar's Arsenal: Lets you wear heavier armor while maintaining medium equip load.
Playstyle Tips
A practical combo pattern: Charged heavy attack → two light attacks → charged heavy attack. This avoids the slower final hit in the full light‑attack chain while maintaining high stance damage. You can stop the combo early and roll away when enemies counter‑attack.
Use Impaling Thrust against shield‑wearing soldiers and knights; it pierces their block so you can deal damage without breaking their posture first.
This weapon is a solid early‑to‑mid game option. It performs reliably but is not overpowered, so you still need good positioning and combo management against end‑game bosses.