Read this first: tier rankings are editorial and patch-sensitive. Greatsword and Staff appear in the cited S-tier snapshot; that does not make them the correct choice for every player, chapter, or co-op role.
01 / 1.0 snapshot
Weapon family ranking
S
Greatsword
Community reportedv1.0
Editorial 1.0 snapshot favors its high impact and area pressure.
Staff
Community reportedv1.0
Editorial 1.0 snapshot highlights its range and elemental flexibility.
A
Sword & Shield
Community reportedv1.0
Balanced offense and defense make it a strong learning route in the cited snapshot.
Crossbow
Community reportedv1.0
Safe range is useful, but reload and movement constraints matter.
Dagger
Community reportedv1.0
High mobility and speed are offset by a demanding close-range floor.
B
Katana / Blade
Unverifiedv1.0
The cited snapshot treats the stance-oriented route as more complex to master.
02 / How to use it
Choose by situation
- Want a forgiving first route? Start with the Sword & Shield family overview.
- Want range? Compare Crossbow and Staff, then check reload, distance, and element assumptions.
- Want mobility? Dagger offers a different execution pattern from heavy melee.
- Want a difficult stance route? Treat the Katana / Blade name as pending until the in-game label is normalized.