How to Get Ash of War: Swift Slash in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Thanks to the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Elden Ring pushed its arsenal even further with many new weapon types, which also included hand-to-hand equipment and great katanas. Among these was one that quickly came into favor: the Backhand Blade. It's easy to see why—it was easy to find early, had a standard upgrade path, and could potentially use the very powerful Swift Slash Ash of War.

While this native Blind Spot skill in the Backhand Blade offers a pretty versatile option, often it is the Swift Slash Ash of War that steals the show. That will send players rocketing forward, cutting through enemies and raking in a damaging vacuum effect. Its impressive reach and speed make it an incredibly helpful way to close the distance and overwhelm enemies. Learn how to obtain the Swift Slash Ash of War in Shadow of Erdree with the following guide:

Elden Ring Swift Slash Skill Location 

To get Swift Slash Ash of War, players must defeat Needle Knight Leda inside Shadow Keep to assist Hornsent. If Ait helps Hornsent do this, then this most precious reward shall be given.

This questline is tied to progressing both Hornsent and Needle Knight Leda's stories. The line begins by defeating the Twin Moon Knight Rellana, as that progresses Hornsent's Quest. Then, checking in the areas near Shadow Keep triggers a crucial story event to get things right for the eventual showdown of Hornsent with Needle Knight Leda.

First and foremost, the remembrance boss Rellana needs to be defeated in order to progress Hornsent's questline and trigger the event to receive the Swift Slash Ash of War. Upon beating her, players should find Hornsent and Needle Knight Leda right at the entrance to the boss arena. At this point, Needle Knight Leda will appear and task the player with investigating the Shadow Keep north of the Highroad Cross.

As players approach the Shadow Keep, something huge happens: Miquella's Charm breaks. At this point, all of his worshipers begin to get restless. Needle Knight Leda becomes wary of disloyalty from within their ranks and looks toward Hornsent. This is where the player will need to accuse Hornsent to Leda, further driving tension between the characters.

First, players will need to gain entrance to Shadow Keep and defeat the Golden Hippopotamus boss to progress further. Ultimately, it is the decision to either side with Hornsent or Needle Knight Leda during their duel that decides whether or not players receive the Swift Slash Ash of War.

Is Ash of War: Swift Slash Any Good?

The Swift Slash Ash of War is only a powerful skill, so it's specifically only to the Backhand Blade weapon type. While that may not be such a bad thing, there are only a few weapons in this weapon category: two regular and a Somber variant. Due to the early availability of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, however, the Backhand Blade becomes the best weapon to scale with Swift Slash.

Many strategies can be involved in maximizing the potential of Swift Slash. Like most Ash of War skills, this one also benefits from the Shard of Alexander talisman, raising total damage. Some items, like the Rotten Winged Sword Insignia or Millicent's Prosthesis, can further enhance the multi-hit ability of the skill. If dealing with bleed-vulnerable enemies, a blood infusion paired with Lord of Blood's Exultation could grant considerable damage boosts.

While this skill in and of itself does not include much weapon compatibility, Swift Slash may be able to give very high damage and strength needed for a Backhand Blade build with versatility.

Swift Slash reigned supreme among the Elden Ring meta, specifically after the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Since then, however, further nerfs have been administered, placing it as a much more solid, but less exceptional choice. The strategy remains viable for both PvP and PvE, but do not expect the same level of dominance.