Stunlock Studios added two new categories of weapons in V Rising: Secrets of Gloomrot—the first of which are two-handed swords that are capable of surprising mobility and big burst damage. It's a great weapon to have for PvE and PvP players alike, though it's already looking like it's going to lean more toward the latter.
Greatswords, as they're referred to in-game, are on the slower side of V Rising's weapon spectrum, but they make up for this with high base damage and two abilities that can help vampires catch enemies by surprise. In order to make these weapons, though, players will have to go through several hoops.
How to Unlock the Greatsword Recipe in V Rising
The Greatsword crafting recipe can be unlocked by defeating Tristan the Vampire Hunter, a level 44 V Blood boss who is commonly seen in the border between the Farbane Woods and the Dunley Farmlands.
This can be a very tough boss fight, especially in the early game. The numbers alone will be working against players here. It's best to fight Tristan after reaching Iron-tier equipment, which can be done by beating Quincey the Bandit King in the Bandit Stronghold. He is a level 34 V Blood, and he is much easier to beat than Tristan.
When going after the vampire hunter, consider using an Iron Sword with the new Corrupted Skull spell, which summons Skeletal Warriors every time its projectiles hit an enemy. The skeletons won't do much damage, but they will distract Tristan enough to give players a chance to get some hits in.
Once the boss is down, drain his essence, and the recipe for all standard Greatswords should then be unlocked. This includes recipes for Dark Silver-tier weapons and beyond, but not their Merciless versions.
How to Craft Greatswords in V Rising
The earliest a player can get a Greatsword is around level 40. The lowest-tier Greatsword is crafted with Iron, which means players need to make a Smithy and have easy access to the Dunley Farmlands before they can make one of these weapons. It's possible to get the recipe for the Merciless Iron Greatsword to drop early, but it will be impossible to craft without beating Tristan first.
To make an Iron Greatsword, players need 16 Iron Ingots and 12 Planks. Both are readily available at this point in the game. Iron tends to sprout randomly around the Dunley Farmlands, though these are best farmed inside the Haunted Iron Mine itself. Having a base near the mine is highly recommended in order to cut down on travel time.
V Rising: Secrets of Gloomrot is now available on PC.