In the sprawling, perilous world of Elden Ring, players are granted an astonishing degree of creative freedom to forge their own legend. With a veritable arsenal of hundreds of weapons, spells, and skills at their disposal, the path of a Tarnished is rarely linear. Among this vast collection, certain armaments stand out not just for their power, but for their unique identity. These are weapons imbued with special, irreplaceable skills—Ashes of War that are intrinsically bound to the item itself. The Coded Sword is one such exceptional armament, a beacon for those who walk the path of high Faith. Its allure is matched by its elusiveness, as securing this holy blade requires precise timing and navigation within the ever-shifting Lands Between.

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How To Acquire The Coded Sword

Obtaining the Coded Sword is a race against the game's central narrative clock. This sacred weapon can only be procured prior to vanquishing the formidable boss, Maliketh, The Black Blade. This encounter acts as a point of no return; after it, the Royal Capital of Leyndell undergoes a cataclysmic transformation, permanently sealing off the sword's resting place until a new journey or New Game Plus cycle is initiated.

The quest begins at the West Capital Rampart Site of Grace. From this vantage point, adventurers must demonstrate some platforming prowess:

  1. Locate and vault over the nearby railings opposite the Grace.

  2. Descend leftward, dropping down to a lower ledge.

  3. Proceed towards a massive, encroaching tree root embedded in the ground.

  4. Navigate around the root to its right side, then ascend onto the adjacent rooftops.

  5. Traverse the rooftops to locate a doorway on the side of a building.

Entering this structure reveals a hauntingly familiar locale: a spectral, abandoned version of the Roundtable Hold. Within this eerie echo of the hub area, proceed to the chamber typically occupied by the Two Fingers. There, upon a vacant throne, the Coded Sword awaits, ready to be claimed by a worthy believer.

Mastering The Coded Sword's Holy Power

The Coded Sword defies conventional armament logic. It possesses a singular, profound stat requirement: 20 Faith. Its damage scales exclusively with the Faith attribute, making it a cornerstone for pure caster or paladin-style builds. Its most defining trait is its damage profile; unlike most Faith-scaling weapons that blend physical and holy damage, the Coded Sword deals purely Holy Damage. This purity is both its greatest virtue and its most glaring vulnerability.

The weapon comes pre-equipped with its unique, unchangeable skill: Unblockable Blade. True to its formidable name, this skill consumes 18 Focus Points (FP) to unleash a sweeping golden arc that passes directly through any guard, including shields held by enemies or other players. This makes it an exceptionally potent tool in specific scenarios.

Strategic Analysis & Build Synergy

Understanding when and how to wield the Coded Sword is key to mastering it.

  • Strengths:

    • Shield Penetration: Unblockable Blade renders defensive turtling strategies obsolete. It's devastating against spear-and-shield knights or PvP opponents relying on greatshields.

    • Pure Scaling: Its exclusive Faith scaling means every point invested directly and efficiently boosts its attack power.

    • Low Barrier to Wield: Requiring only Faith allows builds to minimize investment in Strength or Dexterity.

  • Weaknesses:

    • Holy Resistance: Enemies with high holy resistance, such as many late-game bosses or sanctified creatures, can drastically negate its damage.

    • No Physical Damage: It cannot benefit from buffs that enhance physical attack or deal with enemies immune to holy.

    • Base Damage: The sword's base damage is not exceptionally high, meaning its end-game potency is almost entirely dependent on a maximized Faith stat (60-80 range).

For a Faith-focused Tarnished, the Coded Sword is less of a primary weapon and more of a specialized sidearm—a brilliant solution to problematic, shielded foes. It encourages a playstyle that demands awareness of enemy resistances. Pairing it with incantations that deal fire or lightning damage can cover its holy-specific weaknesses, creating a versatile holy warrior capable of adapting to any threat. In the right hands, it's not just a sword; it's a statement of unwavering, unblockable conviction.