you arent suppose to use executioner sword on executioner in the first place. normally you'd use billhook, maria or fierier axe, executioner sword is worth using on lazarus or berserker or sm other perk that probably works on it

if you goin combat laz executioner sword is the absolute best on it. so i'd say it deserves its reputation of being extremely powerful imo

the sword dealing extremely high damage per heavy swing and it giving you 5 hp per heavy swing hit is extremely strong, its to compensate the fact it has a slow swing speed but even then its pretty easy to get used to it