Guides · Executor · patch 1.03.5 (balance 1.03.2) · updated 2026-11-01
Executor: crit
1. Summary
The Cursed Sword’s deflects deal stance damage (players: 12–18 a deflect on bosses). Break the stance, then riposte: the Cursed Sword has a crit rate of 1.5 (decoded), the highest in the game, and the crit relics multiply on top. 1.03.2 raised Cursed Sword crits. It is a solo build: “in trios, my crits were practically doing regular crit damage”, because teammates take the stance breaks.
No relics: 202 DPS. With the core lines: 239 DPS (+18.1%). Standing with players: 3 (1 = the current meta). Model: rank pack 10350000-429b9ee52d80.
For: solo. Needs: crit lines (Dark Night of the Baron carries two).
2. How it plays
- Cursed Sword out, deflect everything you can.
- When the boss staggers, riposte (the Cursed Sword’s own riposte, AtkParam 960510 + 960511, ×1.5).
- Between staggers: the Cursed Sword chain and the unlocked skill, like the default build.
Decoded rotation Crit: Cursed Sword deflect stance-breaks into crits (style rotation), no relics: 202 DPS on the 8 Nightlords’ mean (level 15, weapon tier 3, 60% of the fight attacking).
| Use | Uses / min | Share of DPS | Where the numbers come from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cursed Sword R1 2-4 | 5.3 | 24% | decoded AtkParam_Pc 960210, 960220, 960230 on the Cursed Sword’s AR 283; relic scope from sub-categories (melee, character_skill); rate: Nightreign TAE: c0000.anibnd a278 (Executor cursed-sword stance) 2h light chain, loop 3.57s; × share 0.6 × uptime 0.6 |
| 1H Light 2-4 | 3.6 | 16% | AR 283 × decoded motion values of the hero moveset’s hits (1/1/1 hits per step); rate: Nightreign TAE: c0000.anibnd a277 (executor-s-blade), 1h R1 1-5 loop 3.57s; × share 0.4 × uptime 0.6 |
| Ultimate Art | 0.5 | 14% | decoded AtkParam_Pc rows 700000350 (row choice: pickRows, 1 hit each (estimate)) on weapon AR where they use motion values; scaled to 3615 on the sparring dummy at level 15 (Aspects of the Crucible: Beast full sequence 3,615, no relics (muni1337 sparring, 2026-06-20; taken as level 15), other levels by the decoded Beast Attack Boost table); rate: knob ultimateUsesPerMinute = 0.5 (estimate) |
| Riposte (critical) | 1.8 | 12% | Cursed Sword riposte rows 960510 + 960511 on its AR 283 × crit rate 1.5 (decoded criticalAtkRate); rate: knob critsPerMinute = 2 (estimate) |
| Cursed Sword R1 5 (chain finisher) | 5.3 | 9% | decoded AtkParam_Pc 960240 on the Cursed Sword’s AR 283; relic scope from sub-categories (melee, chain_finisher, character_skill); rate: Nightreign TAE: c0000.anibnd a278 (Executor cursed-sword stance) 2h light chain, loop 3.57s; × share 0.6 × uptime 0.6 |
| Cursed Sword R1 1 | 5.3 | 8% | decoded AtkParam_Pc 960200 on the Cursed Sword’s AR 283; relic scope from sub-categories (melee, initial_attack, character_skill); rate: Nightreign TAE: c0000.anibnd a278 (Executor cursed-sword stance) 2h light chain, loop 3.57s; × share 0.6 × uptime 0.6 |
| Cursed Sword unlocked skill | 1.3 | 7% | decoded AtkParam_Pc 600000350 on the Cursed Sword’s AR 283; relic scope from sub-categories (melee, character_skill); rate: piece unlockedPerMinute 1.5 (estimate: deflects per minute ÷ ~3.3 to fill the 50-point accumulator) |
| 1H Light 5 (chain finisher) | 3.6 | 6% | AR 283 × decoded motion values of the hero moveset’s hits (1 hits per step); rate: Nightreign TAE: c0000.anibnd a277 (executor-s-blade), 1h R1 1-5 loop 3.57s; × share 0.4 × uptime 0.6 |
| 1H Light 1 | 3.6 | 5% | AR 283 × decoded motion values of the hero moveset’s hits (1 hits per step); rate: Nightreign TAE: c0000.anibnd a277 (executor-s-blade), 1h R1 1-5 loop 3.57s; × share 0.4 × uptime 0.6 |
3. Core relics
| Line | Players | Model value | Decoded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improved Critical Hits +1 | 6 agree | +2.7% | SpEffect 7040201: attack ×1.23 |
| Improved Critical Hits | 5 agree | +2.2% | SpEffect 7040200: attack ×1.18 |
| [Executor] Character Skill Boosts Attack but Attacking Drains HP | 1 agree | +12.1% | SpEffect 7034401: every 0.1 s, while state 2269; 7034402: attack ×1.35, only attack sub-categories 122, 6 s, while state 609; 7034403: damage taken ×1.4, 5 s |
- Improved Critical Hits and Improved Critical Hits +1. Decoded ×1.18 and ×1.23 on crits (SpEffects 7040200 / 7040201). Copies of +1 don’t stack; different tiers do. Sparring: four crit lines took a dagger crit from 533 to 1,078 (×2.02 = 1.18³ × 1.23).
- [Executor] Character Skill Boosts Attack: +35% on Cursed Sword moves, its riposte included (sub-category 122).
4. Strong and flex lines
| Line | Players | Model value | Decoded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occasionally Nullify Attacks When Damage Negation is Lowered | 1 agree | +2.3% | SpEffect 7037800 (engine-coded: no number in the params) |
| Physical Attack Up +4 | 1 agree | +12.0% | SpEffect 7001404: phys ×1.12 |
| Improved Stance-Breaking | 1 agree | +0.0% | SpEffect 8120000 (engine-coded: no number in the params) |
The model’s own strongest lines that players don’t list for this style:
| Line | Players | Model value | Decoded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack power up after defeating a Night Invader | – | +14.0% | SpEffect 7060201 (engine-coded: no number in the params) |
| Physical Attack Up +3 | – | +10.5% | SpEffect 7001403: phys ×1.105 |
| Physical Attack Up +2 | – | +6.0% | SpEffect 7001402: phys ×1.06 |
| Poison Buildup When Below Max HP | – | +5.6% | SpEffect 6851300: every 0.22 s; 6851301: 40 s, every 1.3 s, HP −10, HP −0.1% max; 505: 900 s, while state 2 |
| Rot Buildup When Below Max HP | – | +5.4% | SpEffect 6851400: every 0.24 s; 6851401: 40 s, every 1.3 s, HP −15, HP −0.15% max; 1120: 900 s, while state 5 |
| Improved Melee Attack Power | – | +5.3% | SpEffect 7006600: attack ×1.06, only attack sub-categories 130 |
| Physical Attack Up +1 | – | +5.0% | SpEffect 7001401: phys ×1.05 |
| Attack power permanently increased for each evergaol prisoner defeated | – | +5.0% | SpEffect 7060001 (engine-coded: no number in the params) |
| Taking attacks improves attack power | – | +4.3% | SpEffect 7032200: every 1 s; 7032201: while state 2374; 7032202: attack ×1.15, 10 s, while state 2374 |
| Physical Attack Up | – | +4.0% | SpEffect 7001400: phys ×1.04; 7001401: phys ×1.05; 7001402: phys ×1.06; 7001403: phys ×1.105; 7001404: phys ×1.12 |
5. Curses
Cost = what the model measures on this rotation (damage, stats, attack time) plus any hand penalty for what it can’t measure (stuns, death risk). Lower is cheaper.
| Curse | Cost (≈ % damage) | Model | Hand penalty | Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poison Buildup When Below Max HP | -3.1 | +5.6% | 2.5 | |
| Rot Buildup When Below Max HP | -2.4 | +5.4% | 3 | |
| Taking Damage Causes Frost Buildup | -1.6 | +3.1% | 1.5 | |
| Taking Damage Causes Blood Loss Buildup | -0.5 | +4.0% | 3.5 | |
| Taking Damage Causes Poison Buildup | -0.2 | +3.2% | 3 | |
| Ultimate Art Charging Impaired | 0.0 | -0.0% | – | |
| Reduced Strength and Intelligence | 0.3 | -0.3% | – | |
| Reduced Faith and Strength | 0.3 | -0.3% | – | |
| Reduced Damage Negation for Flask Usages | 0.3 | -0.3% | – | |
| Taking Damage Causes Sleep Buildup | 0.4 | +3.6% | 4 | |
| Taking Damage Causes Madness Buildup | 0.4 | +3.6% | 4 | |
| Reduced Dexterity and Faith | 0.6 | -0.6% | – | |
| Reduced Intelligence and Dexterity | 0.6 | -0.6% | – | |
| Reduced Vigor and Arcane | 1.0 | -1.0% | – | |
| Reduced Rune Acquisition | 1.0 | +0.0% | 1 | |
| Continuous HP Loss | 1.0 | -1.0% | – | |
| Taking Damage Causes Rot Buildup | 1.1 | +2.9% | 4 | |
| Near Death Reduces Max HP | 1.5 | +0.0% | 1.5 | |
| Repeated Evasions Lower Damage Negation | 1.6 | -1.6% | – | |
| Reduced Flask HP Restoration | 1.8 | -1.8% | – | |
| All Resistances Down | 2.0 | +0.0% | 2 | |
| Reduced Damage Negation After Evading | 2.2 | -2.2% | – | |
| Lower Attack When Below Max HP | 4.2 | -4.2% | – | |
| Taking Damage Causes Death Buildup | 8.0 | +0.0% | 8 |
6. Avoid
None listed.
- Trios: crits go to whoever lands them; the model ranks solo.
7. Vessels
| Vessel | Relic slots | Deep slots |
|---|---|---|
| Executor’s Chalice | blue, yellow, any | yellow, yellow, green |
| Executor’s Goblet | red, blue, green | red, blue, green |
| Executor’s Urn | red, yellow, yellow | red, yellow, yellow |
| Soot-Covered Executor’s Urn | red, red, blue | red, red, blue |
| Sealed Executor’s Urn | yellow, yellow, red | green, green, blue |
| Decrepit Executor’s Goblet | red, red, yellow | red, red, yellow |
| Forgotten Executor’s Goblet | green, blue, red | yellow, green, any |
| Giant’s Cradle Grail | blue, blue, blue | blue, blue, blue |
| Sacred Erdtree Grail | yellow, yellow, yellow | yellow, yellow, yellow |
| Spirit Shelter Grail | green, green, green | green, green, green |
| Scadutree Grail | red, red, red | red, red, red |
| Giant’s Cradle Grail | blue, blue, blue | blue, blue, blue |
| Sacred Erdtree Grail | yellow, yellow, yellow | yellow, yellow, yellow |
| Spirit Shelter Grail | green, green, green | green, green, green |
| Scadutree Grail | red, red, red | red, red, red |
8. Synergies
- Crit lines × the Cursed Sword’s crit rate 1.5: they multiply.
The model finds no payoff ↔ enabler pair on this rotation that adds more together than apart.
9. The data
The biggest use, Cursed Sword R1 2-4 (3 hits a use), each hit on a Nightlord with the core lines worn:
Basis: decoded AtkParam_Pc 960210, 960220, 960230 on the Cursed Sword’s AR 283; relic scope from sub-categories (melee, character_skill).
| Hit | Element | Attack | Relics (core set) | Defense 100 | Nightlord absorption (mean of 8) | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Executor Skill - Cursed Sword] Light 2 960210 | Phys | 294 | ×1.350 | ×0.6 | ×1.02 | 243 |
| [Executor Skill - Cursed Sword] Light 3 960220 | Phys | 297 | ×1.350 | ×0.6 | ×1.02 | 245 |
| [Executor Skill - Cursed Sword] Light 4 960230 | Phys | 300 | ×1.350 | ×0.6 | ×1.02 | 248 |
Relic multiplier: the core lines’ attack rates multiply (different SpEffects), each limited to the attack sub-categories it names. Defense: Nightlords have defense 100 on every type, which keeps 0.6 of attack in the sparring tests (dps_model DEF100_FACTOR). Absorption: the decoded *DamageCutRate per element.
Decoded: Cursed Sword riposte rows 960510 (34 flat) and 960511 (285% motion value), its criticalAtkRate 1.5 (EquipParamWeapon 60700000); crit relics ×1.18 / ×1.23.
10. Evidence
Sources players’ tiers for this style rest on (docs/research/relic-priority/Executor.json, researched 2026-11-01):
- The Best Build For Critical Hits Executor | Solo | Depth 5 (NerfLordMykie, 2026-10-14)
- Critical Hit Build Executor Is A MONSTER In Depth Five (CrudFrog Number Two, 2026-09-19)
- Was playing D5 and look at this crit damage from the executor I got (score 599; crit builds need teammates to leave crits; ‘in trios my crits were practically doing regular crit damage’) (reddit, 2026-05-04)
- Anybody know how much more Crit Damage Suncatcher does? (1.5x crit modifier; level-15 crit 689 post-1.03.2 vs 459 pre-patch; Cursed Sword AR 150 at 15) (reddit, 2026-03-07)
- Broken Executor Critical Hit Build! Depth 5 Solo Night Aspect Run (Youwy, 2026-01-19)
- Cursed Sword Critical Hits have 50% Crit Modifier on them now (459 -> 689 on the Roundtable Marionette; relic boosts the Cursed Sword by 34%, crit total 885) (reddit, 2026-01-15)
- Elden Ring Nightreign Executor Relic Priority and Build (Treyex Gaming, 2025-12-04)
Measurements: Cursed Sword crit 689 at level 15 with no relics, 885 with the skill relic (Roundtable Marionette, after 1.03.2); 1,261 with four crit lines. A 116,126 crit on D5 Libra (Reddit, score 158).
11. Gaps and confidence
The model agrees with players’ tier order on 67% of 9 line pairs.
Where it disagrees:
- core “Improved Critical Hits +1” +2.7% below strong “Physical Attack Up +4” +12.0%
- core “Improved Critical Hits” +2.2% below strong “Occasionally Nullify Attacks When Damage Negation is Lowered” +2.3%
- core “Improved Critical Hits” +2.2% below strong “Physical Attack Up +4” +12.0%
- Crits per minute is an estimate (2): it depends on how fast deflects break the stance. Crit relics are worth that share of your damage, so this is the number that would move the build most.
- Cursed Sword crits read 25% low against the 689 measurement. Players’ arithmetic has a second ×1.5 that isn’t in the decoded rows. Katana and colossal crits also read 9–13% high with four crit lines (only part of their crit may take the boost).
- To measure: the Sparring Grounds list, item 6 (crits on a katana, one and two numbers).
12. On your save
The Builds page ranks this preset on your own relics (drop your save there). The Builder opens the same preset to tweak.