Six Weapons at a Glance
| Weapon | Style | Difficulty | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Sword & Shield | Balanced melee | Easy | First runs and consistent clears | | Greatsword | Heavy melee | Medium | Big hits and stagger | | Dagger | Fast melee | Hard | Burst, crit, and mobility | | Katana | Combo melee | Medium | Rhythm and counterplay | | Crossbow | Ranged | Easy–Medium | Safe boss pressure | | Staff | Elemental ranged | Medium | AoE and tablet synergy |
Choosing Your First Weapon
Sword & Shield is the most forgiving starting point because blocking covers early positioning mistakes. Crossbow is the safer ranged alternative. Greatsword rewards patience, while Dagger and Katana ask for stronger timing and positioning.
Community 1.0 Summary
Staff and Sword & Shield have the most dependable overall recommendations, but artifact and tablet support can matter more than a nominal tier. Match the weapon to the element and bonuses your run actually gives you.
Practical Rule
Commit to one weapon during a campaign so its upgrades stay coherent, but experiment freely between runs. Weapon choice defines the combat rhythm; artifacts, tablets, and talents determine whether that rhythm scales.
Source Notes
This page condenses the supplied v1.0 research document and community discussion summaries. Balance-sensitive rankings are guidance, not official developer tiers.