Great katanas are among the most popular weapons in Elden Ring due to their high damage and versatility. In this guide, we will discuss the best Great Katana build for Elden Ring PvE and PvP, including weapon choices, stats, ashes of war, and optimal talismans.

Weapon Choices
For a Great Katana build, the top choices include:
Rivers of Blood: Without a doubt the strongest Great Katana, known for its bloody AoE Corpse Piler ash of war. However, it's quite late-game to obtain.
Dragon-Hunter's Great Katana: Found early in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, its heavy attacks deal extra damage against dragons and beasts. Great starter katana.
Nagakiba: Very high skill scaling and damage. Pairs well with sepuku ashes of war.
Moonveil: Known for its fast magic weapon art that deals both physical and magic damage. Excellent for a hybrid INT build.

Recommended Stats
For a quality build focusing on both Dexterity and Strength:
Vigor: 30-40
Mind: 15-20
Endurance: 20-25
Strength: 18-25
Dexterity: 50-60
Intelligence/Faith: 10-15 (minimum requirements)

For an INT/DEX Moonveil build:
Vigor: 30
Mind: 20-30
Endurance: 15-20
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 25-30
Intelligence: 60
Faith: 10

Best Ashes of War
Here are some top ashes of war for great katanas:
Bloody Slash: Great for PvP, deals bleed build-up and good damage.
Seppuku: Infuse weapon with bleed and boost damage at the cost of HP. Pairs well with Nagakiba.
Flame of the Redmanes: Quick and spammable flame art, deals fire damage.
Storm Stomp: Good rolling catch for PvP, deals lightning damage on strong attacks.
Moonveil Weapon Art: Fast magic projectile great for INT builds and burst damage in PvP.

Best Talismans
Recommended talismans include:
Lord of Blood's Exultation: Boosts attack power as HP decreases, synergizes with self-damage ashes like Seppuku.
Shard of Alexander: Boosts damage against enemies with high HP like bosses.
Rotten Winged Sword Insignia: Boosts damage dealt against enemies with less than full HP.
Great-Jar's Arsenal: Boosts attack power when equipment load is medium.
Green Turtle Talisman: Boosts HP, FP and stamina recovery.

Playstyle Tips
Great katanas excel at fast, aggressive gameplay utilizing their high damage potential. Some tips:
Stay close and apply constant pressure with quick light attacks and jump attacks.
Space yourself just out of enemy range and whiff punish with running or dashing R1s.
Spam quick weapon arts like Bloody Slash and Moonveil art in PvP.
Take advantage of status build-up like bleed and freeze against tough enemies.
Fall back and heal only when critical, katanas dish out damage too fast to tank hits.
With optimized stats, talismans and ashes of war, a great katana build can dish out massive burst damage both in PvE and PvP. Focus on maximizing Dexterity and other offensive stats for killer bleed or magic build-up. Stay light on your feet and constantly apply pressure - great katanas reward an aggressive playstyle with fast kills.