Dainslef

The Dainslef, also known as Gurthang, is a bloodthirsty demonic sword of finality. When used by Alucard, he gains health when it cuts through a bloody enemy.

Game specific information

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Gurthang is one of the three swords that can heal their wielder (the other two are Mourneblade and Muramasa) and one of two that do so only when damaging bloody enemies. Unlike Muramasa, Gurthang heals on striking a bloody enemy with its command move only, rather than providing the full effects of Dark Metamorphosis the entire time it is equipped.

It is equal in basic strength, and could be considered a companion to, four of the "Brand" swords, Firebrand, Icebrand, Thunderbrand and Mormegil, and is slightly weaker than the fifth "brand" Holy Sword. Like all but the Mormegil, it has a quarter-circle command move which grands a +40 ATK strike which gives Alucard a brief flash of Dark Metamorphosis; this has no element, but also has no MP cost. In addition it doubles its ATK whenever the actual Dark Metamorphosis spell is active, making it substantially more powerful than any of the "Brands" and very much superior to them as a late-game sword.

Gurthang heals 8HP per command-move strike if the blood hits Alucard; it benefits from the Bloodstone, which increases its healing to 16HP per strike. While its basic attack power is inferior to that of the Mourneblade, it doubles its attack power during Dark Metamorphosis and also has a +40 ATK quarter-circle command move, both of which are more powerful. It is hard to rate against the Muramasa since the Muramasa's attack power is variable, but a Muramasa would require quite a long period of grinding to exceed the Gurthang's command move or Dark Metamorphosis boost power, meaning it is a better sword for general use. It has the added advantage of being one-handed, while the Muramasa requires both hands.

Since many powerful enemies are not bloody, Gurthang is a lot more situational than Mourneblade, which heals regardless of what it is striking, and in addition Mourneblade heals on every strike rather than requiring the blood to touch Alucard after a command move. Gurthang is still a strong end-game sword if its attack boosts are used well, however.

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow

Much as it is billed as the "Ultimate magical sword," Dainslef has a raft of debuffs and a lower ATK boost than Ascalon, Balmung, Final Sword and Excalibur, leading to some question as to what Dainslef is supposed to be the ultimate at even without taking the Claimh Solais into account. It comes later in the game than most of the listed swords, and while a respectable weapon, is still in the middle rank of the endgame swords. Note that Dainslef is the strongest Dark elemental sword.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

On top of the stat boosts, this also has a chance of cursing the undead enemies, which really slows them down.

Item Data

Item Data: Dainslef
Image	Name - Game   Type - Users Description	Attributes / Consume	Statistics / Sell	Found	Notes
	Gurthang (Dainsleif) - Symphony of the Night   Sword - Alucard				[edit]
	Gets stronger when bloodied A magic sword that sucks blood to power up	Attrib: Cut	ATT +25, DEF +1	Drop: Spectral Sword (in Anti-Chapel)	Effect: Doubles damage during Dark Metamorphosis Special: ↓↘→ + [Attack] for a stronger swing (ATT +40) with brief Dark Metamorphosis flash
	Dainslef (jpn) - Aria of Sorrow   Weapon - Soma				[edit]
	Ultimate magical sword.	Attrib: Sword, Darkness	ATK +96, CON -2, INT -2 (...) Sell: $15,000	Find: Inner Quarters (Galamoth's soul required to pass obstacle)
	Dainslef (jpn) - Dawn of Sorrow   Great Sword - Soma				[edit]
	A demonic sword of finality.	Attrib: Slashing, Curse Consume: 50 MP (Special Attack)	ATK +72 STR +6 CON +6 INT +6 Sell: $15,000	Find: Yoko's shop Create: Durandal + Lilith Soul	Special: Lunge forward. Evolve: + Draghignazzo Soul >> Ascalon
	Gurthang - Encore of the Night   Main Hand (Sword) - Alucard				[edit]
	Thirsty for Blood	#hands: 1	ATK +35	Drop: Doppelganger (in Cavern)	Effect: Blood Block Span +5%
	Dainslef (jpn) - Harmony of Despair   Greatsword - Alucard/Soma				[edit]
	Demonic sword of finality.	Attrib: Slash, Darkness #hands: 2	ATK +31 Sell: $6,000	Rarity: *** Buy: $24,000 Find: Chapter 9 (Normal)	Special: ↓↘→ + [Attack] for stronger hit with Dark Metamorphosis effect (10 MP) (Alucard)

Animations

Gurthang from Symphony of the Night

Gurthang Special Attack from Symphony of the Night

Dainslef from Aria of Sorrow

Dainslef from Dawn of Sorrow

Trivia

• In Tolkien lore, Gurthang is actually another name for Mormegil, although in Symphony of the Night the two swords are completely different weapons.
• Dainslef (or more correctly, Dáinsleif) is a sword from Norse mythology, belonging to king Hǫgni. It was said to be a dwarf-forged sword with the power to make wounds that never healed, which would always kill a man if it had been unsheathed. It is similar in legend to the sword Tyrfing.

This item article may have been created with information obtained from other sources. Please see the Inventory pages for each of the games that this item has appeared in for a list of potential sources.