Dark Souls III, the final installment in FromSoftware's Dark Souls trilogy, massively increased the number and variety of weapons available to players. Not only are there more weapons than in previous games, but weapons also feature special attacks that make them unique. This ensures every player can find a weapon that suits their individual tastes and playstyle.
Greatswords return in Dark Souls III and like every other type of weapon, there are many Greatswords to choose from. However, the Hollowslayer Greatsword stands out as perhaps the best in the game, due to its powerful skill and bonus damage, as well as the fact that it can be obtained quite early in the game.
Because the Hollowslayer Greatsword can be obtained fairly early, it makes initial areas significantly easier. To obtain this weapon, players must traverse the Undead Settlement -- the third area in the game -- and locate the Curse-rotted Greatwood. Although this boss is entirely optional, defeating it is necessary to unlock the ability to transform boss souls into weapons. The Greatwood's soul in particular is needed to create the Hollowslayer Greatsword.
After defeating the Curse-rotted Greatwood, players receive both the Transposing Kiln and the Soul of a Rotted Greatwood. Returning to Firelink Shrine and giving the Transposing Kiln to Ludleth of Courland will unlock the option to have him turn bosses' souls into unique and powerful weapons.
The Soul of a Rotted Greatwood can be used to obtain either Astor's Spear, at no additional cost, or to obtain the Hollowslayer Greatsword at a cost of 1,000 souls. The Hollowslayer requires 14 Strength and 18 Dexterity to wield, which are fairly low requirements for such an effective weapon.
The description of the Hollowslayer Greatsword suggests a connection to a major character from Dark Souls II. The text explains that the sword was,"used for a lifetime by a masked knight" and that it "harbors the fears that lurk within the minds of Hollows." These bits of lore and the fact that the Hollowslayer is nearly identical to Dark Souls II's Mirrah Greatsword, suggest that this weapon once belonged to Lucatiel of Mirrah.
Lucatiel of Mirrah was a non-player character who popped up throughout Dark Souls II. She, like the player character and many others in the series, was slowly going Hollow from continuously dying and resurrecting. Lucatiel was particularly afraid of going Hollow and losing all of her memories. She wore a mask to hide the physical effects of the curse.
These aspects of her character fit perfectly with the description of the Hollowslayer Greatsword and it is identical to the Mirrah Greatsword that she wields in Dark Souls II. How Lucatiel came to be associated with the Curse-rotted Greatwood is less clear, but perhaps her curse eventually led her to the Undead Settlement.
Along with being obtainable early in the game and having low stat requirement, the Hollowslayer Greatsword's unique skill and bonus damage make it very effective even until the end of the game. The weapon's skill, "Stance," allows players to perform powerful strikes which are great for breaking enemy's guards or finishing off weakened enemies.
The Hollowslayer Greatsword gets it name from another passive ability, which makes it do 20 percent more damage to all Hollow enemies. This is perhaps the strongest aspect of the Greatsword, because a huge number of Dark Souls III's enemies are considered Hollow. Hollow-type enemies range from lowly zombies to the late-game Mirror Knight boss, meaning the Hollowslayer Greatsword is effective in almost any encounter.
Dark Souls III took big steps towards ensuring each weapon can be useful to certain players. However, due to its long list of strengths, the Hollowslayer Greatsword is a smart pick for almost any player. With its fascinating lore, early availability and effectiveness against a majority of the game's enemies, the Hollowslayer should be considered a priority for players both new and old.