Mastering survival in the Lands Between requires choosing a weapon that balances massive stagger potential with built-in utility. The Great Stars stands out as a premier Great Hammer due to its unique passive ability to restore health on every successful hit. This comprehensive guide outlines how to claim this formidable weapon, optimize its growth, and design builds that dismantle the toughest bosses.

Where to Find Great Stars in Altus Plateau

Securing the Great Stars requires adventurers to venture into the sun-drenched landscapes of the Altus Plateau region. The weapon is located inside a chest pulled by a moving carriage convoy traveling along the road southwest of the Road of Iniquity Side Path site of grace. Players must carefully dispatch the guarding soldiers or strike the giant trolls pulling the vehicle to halt the caravan safely.

For players seeking ultimate power, a rare second copy can be acquired by invading the world of Magnus the Beast Claw near the Writheblood Ruins. Defeating this hostile NPC unlocks the possibility of wielding dual warhammers simultaneously during your campaign. Dual-wielding these clubs significantly accelerates blood loss buildup and environmental posture breaks against elite foes.

Base Requirements and Core Weapon Statistics

Wielding this spike-covered warhammer demands a moderate investment in physical attributes before its true scaling potential unlocks. A character must possess at least 22 Strength and 12 Dexterity to handle the weapon without suffering severe stamina penalties. It features a baseline passive blood loss effect that inflicts heavy supplementary damage during prolonged combat engagements.

The defining feature of the Great Stars remains its innovative passive health leech mechanic that activates on every strike. Every physical connection with an enemy restores approximately one percent of the player's total health bar instantly. This recovery effect also triggers through special ash of war strikes and defensive guard counters during close-quarters duels.

Optimal Upgrade Paths and Smithing Progression

The Great Stars utilizes standard Smithing Stones for refinement, allowing it to scale all the way to a maximum level of plus twenty-five. Choosing the right infusion drastically shapes how the weapon performs alongside your character's primary attribute investments. Applying a Heavy infusion optimizes its raw Strength scaling, making it an absolute monster when handled with a two-handed grip.

Alternatively, players can choose an Occult or Blood infusion to exploit the weapon's native status application capabilities. This path shifts the primary attribute scaling toward the Arcane stat, massively boosting the speed of hemorrhage explosions on targets. Strategic adjustments at the blacksmith guarantee that the weapon remains highly effective throughout both early exploration and late-game zones.

Powerful Build Ideas and Synergistic Gear

Creating an unstoppable setup around the Great Stars requires pairing its unique properties with protective armor sets and dynamic talismans. The Wild Strikes ash of war is an exceptional choice, allowing players to hold down an aggressive attack chain that constantly recovers health. Combining this rapid assault style with the Lord of Blood's Exultation talisman provides a massive damage boost whenever hemorrhage occurs.

Another excellent path involves maximizing your health recovery systems by stacking multiple healing layers onto your character. Equipping the Blessed Dew Talisman alongside the Malenia's Great Rune allows you to play with extreme aggression without needing frequent healing flasks. This approach creates a virtually unkillable warrior capable of trading strikes comfortably with the fiercest demigods in the realm.