While FromSoftware’s collection of Soulslike titles each boast distinct atmospheres and combat systems, they are unified by more than just a reputation for punishing difficulty. Beyond the signature poisonous swamps and those infuriating, aggressive dogs that test every player’s patience, there is a recurring icon that shines through the darkness: the Moonlight Greatsword.
These legendary blades are instantly recognizable—towering, seafoam-hued, and devastatingly powerful. You could call them the absolute titans of the FromSoftware arsenal.
Bloodborne served as my personal gateway into the studio’s catalog, which makes the Holy Moonlight Sword hold a special place in my collection. Hidden within The Old Hunters expansion, this weapon is a trophy earned only after besting the grotesque and tragic form of Ludwig, the Holy Blade. In its dormant state, it functions as a standard greatsword, but when unleashed as a trick weapon, it transforms into an ethereal, glowing turquoise blade capable of carving through enemies with shimmering arcane projectiles.
The studio’s most recent juggernaut, Elden Ring, has shattered records with over 30 million copies sold, and naturally, it carries on the tradition with the Dark Moon Greatsword. Rather than being looted from a fallen foe, this weapon serves as the ultimate reward for navigating the intricate, sprawling questline of Ranni the Witch—the enigmatic, four-armed figure who guides the player through much of the game’s deepest lore.
Once you complete her lengthy odyssey—which requires conquering the likes of General Radahn and aiding Blaidd—you are gifted this celestial blade. Its base form is imposing, but its unique skill allows you to infuse it with moonlight, boosting your magical damage and enabling you to strike foes from a distance with those signature, gravity-defying energy waves.
Moonlight greatswords are a constant throughout the Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls trilogies, sparking endless community debates about which iteration holds the crown for being the most powerful. However, the tradition isn’t universal. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice notably breaks the pattern; with its focus on vertical mobility, parry-centric combat, and a locked, specific protagonist, the game lacks a magical, glowing heavy weapon. While some players speculate that the Divine Dragon’s glowing Seven-Branched Sword is a nod to the legacy, nothing is ever explicitly confirmed.
It is important to remember that these swords transcend the Soulslike genre. The Moonlight legacy is perhaps most famously preserved in the Armored Core franchise, where a laser-infused variant—most recently seen as the IA-C01W2 Moonlight blade in Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon—continues to dominate the battlefield.
In truth, this iconic weapon predates the high-stakes frustration of Demon’s Souls entirely. It made its grand debut in FromSoftware’s 1994 inaugural title, King’s Field. The design was so striking that it has remained largely unchanged for decades, appearing in everything from Otogi: Myth of Demons to Ninja Blade.
As we look toward future projects, I would be willing to wager that whatever FromSoftware crafts next, it will inevitably feature another iteration of their most cherished, glowing blade. Some traditions are simply too powerful to abandon.
Source: Polygon
