If you've been dumping learning points into the Two-Handed skill in Gothic 1 Remake and have nothing to swing, you're not alone. The game withholds two-handed swords from merchants far longer than most players expect, and the world gives you almost no hints about where to look. The good news is that two solid two-handed swords exist in the early game, and you can grab both of them before Chapter 3 if you know the right spot.
Why are two-handed swords so hard to find early?
The short answer is that the game's economy is deliberately stingy. Vendors don't stock two-handed swords until Chapter 4, and even then the selection is underwhelming. Chests start generating them in Chapter 3, but waiting that long with a weak one-handed weapon while you've already invested skill points in Two-Handed is a frustrating position to be in.
The faction trainers do eventually teach the skill. Thorus teaches Two-Handed if you join the guards, and Lee or Gorn can train you if you go the New Camp route. But all of that requires committing to a faction first, which some players want to delay while they complete quests across all groups for maximum experience.
Old Mine northwest of Old Camp
How to get two-handed swords
The most accessible early source sits inside the Old Mine, located northwest of the Old Camp. Two NPCs named Templar and Gor Na Bar are inside, and both carry two-handed swords worth looting.
The catch is that fighting them directly at low levels is risky. Here's the approach that works:
The spider lure method
- Enter the Old Mine and locate Templar and Gor Na Bar.
- Find the spiders deeper inside the mine. These enemies are likely too dangerous for you to fight solo at this stage.
- Aggro the spiders and lead them back toward the two NPCs. The spiders will start attacking the NPCs instead of focusing on you.
- Stay out of the fight entirely. Let the guards handle the spiders, but the battle will drain both NPCs significantly.
- Once the spiders are dead and Templar and Gor Na Bar are badly wounded, move in and finish them off.
- Loot both bodies.
Done correctly, this gets you the Mercenary's Blade (73 damage) and the Custodian Blade (71 damage). Both weapons require 56 Strength to equip, so check your stat total before making the trip.
What about the New Camp option?
There's a second route that's a bit more straightforward but requires combat confidence. In the New Camp, you can fight Rice King and take his two-handed weapon after defeating him. This is described as moderately accessible, but Rice King is a named NPC with decent stats, so make sure your combat fundamentals are solid before trying it.
For a full breakdown of the combat mechanics you'll need, the Gothic 1 Remake combat guide covers everything from stat priorities to fighting technique.
Mercenary's and Custodian Blade
What if you want to plan around weapons from the start?
Knowing where weapons sit before you need them makes a real difference in Gothic 1 Remake's unforgiving early hours. The guide to every early weapon and where to find them maps out the full picture from starting gear through the mid-game arsenal, so you can plan your route without running into dead ends.
For everything else the game throws at you, the full Gothic 1 Remake guides collection has walkthroughs, build advice, and survival tips to cover the gaps.