Weapon Tier List
All weapon types ranked by damage output, speed, range, skill synergy, and overall combat effectiveness.
The 1.0.5 Rebalance Changed the Meta
Bandai Namco shipped the first major balance patch since launch on August 7, 2026. Its stated goal is to make every weapon type viable — and it does so by speeding up and strengthening a long list of Sword Skills while raising enemy pressure on the lower difficulties. If you built around the launch-day assumption that the One-Handed Sword is the only safe pick, it is time to re-evaluate.
▲ Buffed hardest
- Two-Handed Swords (Greatsword) — Cascade, Piercing Blast, Backlash, Blade Torrent, Brave Leep, Cyclone, Vertical Buster all sped up.
- Two-Handed Axes (Battle Axe) — Roaring Jolt, Whirlwind, Fierce Shock, Chain Angler, Volcano, Rockfang, Gravity all buffed.
- Swords / Daggers / Maces — individual skill buffs (Horizontal Square; Single Shoot, Kaynine, Rapid Bite, Fad Edge, Spiral Riser; Riot Smash, Double Cleave, Tri-Horn Medley, Spiritfall, Clashbang).
▼ Nerfed / toned down
- Daggers — Strike Rain and Hornet Swarm damage/ATK correction cut.
- Maces — Absorbing Strike down-adjusted.
- Unique MODs — Sword Barrier (Dress Swords) barrier value cut + cooldown extended; Supreme Shooter (Mournflower) throw damage multiplier reduced.
- Argo — Analyze support SP gain & bonus damage trimmed.
Difficulty: Story, Normal and Hard now field higher enemy HP/attack and more spawns, closing the gap to Very Hard. Safe Areas and partner modes matter more than ever. Full change log on the patch notes page.
Ver.1.0.6 (September 25, 2026) — What Changed for Weapons
Ver.1.0.6 is the current version and the balance pass ahead of the Genesis Maidens expansion. Three changes move this tier list: One-Handed Mace, Two-Handed Sword and Two-Handed Axe all had their Light, Heavy and Crush attack speed and base ATK raised; charge-type Sword Skills on Two-Handed Swords and Two-Handed Axes charge faster; and roughly twenty Unique MODs across every weapon type were retuned upward. Nothing dropped a tier, but the two-handed options closed more of the gap to the One-Handed Sword.
- ·Greatsword & Battle Axe get a second buff wave. Basic attack speed and base ATK up on top of the 1.0.5 skill buffs, plus shorter charge times — the two-handed commitment is now much cheaper.
- ·Rapier unique MODs all moved up. Noble Rapier, Vanishing Point, Blossom of Honor, Vivification and Corundum Fleure were all adjusted upward, which is why the Noble Rapier is now the named rapier to chase.
- ·Dagger is no longer double-nerfed. 1.0.6 cut Single Shoot's cooldown, raised Turbulence's ATK correction, and made Whip Snap cheaper with a wider hit area, offsetting the 1.0.5 Strike Rain and Hornet Swarm cuts.
Full change log on the patch notes page.
How This Weapon Tier List Is Ranked
The overall tier weighs damage, speed, range, defensive safety, Sword Skill synergy, and performance across regular encounters and bosses. A lower overall tier can still be the best choice for a specialized build, so use the scenario picks below alongside the general ranking.
All Weapons Compared — Stats at a Glance
Every weapon type in one table, ranked by overall tier. Damage is the base value at comparable upgrade levels; speed is scored out of 10. Use it to shortlist two or three candidates, then read the full entries below for skill synergies and build fit.
| Weapon | Tier | DMG | SPD | Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greatsword | S | 150 | 3/10 | Medium-Long | Strength builds, Boss fights, Guard breaking |
| One-Handed Sword | S | 85 | 8/10 | Medium | Balanced builds, Sword skill combos, Beginners |
| Shield | S | 20 | 5/10 | Short | Defensive builds, Tanking, Survival mode |
| Scythe | A | 100 | 5/10 | Long | Crowd control, Lifesteal builds, Sweeping attacks |
| Katana | A | 95 | 7/10 | Medium | Counter builds, Style points, High skill players |
| Spear | A | 90 | 6/10 | Long | Crowd control, Kiting, Defensive play |
| Rapier | A | 55 | 10/10 | Medium | Dexterity builds, Critical hit builds, Speed runners |
| Dagger | A | 40 | 10/10 | Short | Aggressive builds, Mobility builds, Status effect stacking |
| Battle Axe | B | 130 | 3/10 | Medium | Armor breaking, Tank builds, Resource efficiency |
| Mace | B | 110 | 4/10 | Medium | Stun builds, Shielded enemies, Guard-focused builds |
| Bow | B | 70 | 5/10 | Very Long | Ranged builds, Pull tactics, Weak point targeting |
Ver.1.0.5 Tier Impact — What Actually Moved
Patch numbers only matter if they change decisions. Here is how the August 7 rebalance reshapes each weapon's standing — and where our ranking differs from the launch-day consensus.
- ·Greatsword — buffed where it was weakest. Seven of its Sword Skills (Cascade, Piercing Blast, Backlash, Blade Torrent, Brave Leep, Cyclone, Vertical Buster) were sped up. A 3/10 speed weapon that suddenly chains faster closes its only real drawback, which is why it keeps S-tier and becomes far more forgiving for Strength builds that previously found it too committal.
- ·Battle Axe — the quiet winner. Seven skills buffed (Roaring Jolt, Whirlwind, Fierce Shock, Chain Angler, Volcano, Rockfang, Gravity) is the largest single buff package in the patch. We keep it in B-tier pending wider testing, but armor-shredding pressure builds should treat it as an underpriced pick right now.
- ·Dagger — first real crack in its A-tier status. Strike Rain and Hornet Swarm lost damage and ATK correction, hitting exactly the crit-damage loop that made Daggers popular. Mobility and status stacking are untouched, so the tier holds — but if you ran Daggers purely for burst, benchmark a Rapier before committing.
- ·Mace — nerf hits sustain, not identity. Absorbing Strike's down-adjustment weakens the heal-while-you-hit loop, yet stun-on-hit is unchanged. Shielded enemies and skeletal foes still melt, so Mace stays B-tier with the same job description.
- ·One-Handed Sword — still the reference point. Horizontal Square got faster, but its lead narrows as two-handed options catch up. The practical change: second-guessing the "One-Handed Sword only" advice is now justified, not just fashionable.
- ·Difficulty raise changes the safety math. Story, Normal and Hard now field tougher, more numerous enemies. Defensive tools scale up with them — Shield pairing, Spear kiting range, and Safe Area routing are worth more than they were at launch. Argo's Analyze support was also trimmed, so your own stat allocation (see the build planner) carries more of the damage budget.
Best Weapons by Scenario
One-Handed Sword
TSThe iconic weapon of the Black Swordsman. Balanced stats with fast swing speed and versatile sword skills. Excellent for all-round combat.
Greatsword
TSMassive blade that trades speed for devastating power. Each hit staggers enemies and breaks guard. High stamina cost but unmatched burst damage.
Shield
TSOff-hand defensive tool that enables blocking and parrying. Not a primary weapon but essential for survival-focused builds. Combines with one-handed weapons.
Rapier
TALightning-fast thrusting weapon with pinpoint accuracy. Lowest damage per hit but highest attack speed and critical rate. The Flash's weapon of choice.
Spear
TALong-reaching polearm with thrust and sweeping attacks. Excellent crowd control and the longest melee range. Sustained damage over burst.
Dagger
TATwin blades for rapid close-quarters combat. Highest attack speed in the game with excellent mobility. Punishes relentlessly but requires precision.
Katana
TAElegant curved blade with sheath-based combat style. Combines quick draw attacks with flowing combat arts. High skill ceiling with exceptional payoff.
Scythe
TAA long-handled curved blade that blends reach with wide, sweeping power. Its arcing swings hit multiple enemies at once and can drain enemy HP over time. Slower than a Spear but with a far larger cleave radius, making it a strong pick for crowd control and lifesteal-focused builds.
Battle Axe
TBHeavy axe with armor-shredding capability. Slower than greatsword but deals bonus damage to armored enemies. Good for sustained pressure.
Mace
TBBlunt weapon that excels against shielded enemies and skeletal foes. Stun chance on hit. Slower but safer than swords with guard capability.
Bow
TBRanged weapon for picking off enemies from safety. Limited ammo per encounter. Excellent for pulling enemies and exploiting weak points from distance.
Best Weapon in Echoes of Aincrad
The #1 best weapon in Echoes of Aincrad is the One-Handed Sword for most players. It is S-tier because it works with a Shield, has forgiving speed, and supports both beginner survival and advanced Sword Skill rotations. If you only care about raw boss damage, the Greatsword is the strongest S-tier alternative.
Notes
- ·S-tier dominates most scenarios. Greatsword for bosses, One-Handed Sword for general use.
- ·A-tier excels in specific situations — Rapier for crit builds, Spear for crowd control.
- ·Shield is ranked S-tier because it enables survival builds essential for Death Game Mode.
Common Questions
What is the best weapon in Echoes of Aincrad?
The One-Handed Sword is the #1 all-rounder — S-tier with balanced stats that works with any build. For raw damage, the Greatsword (also S-tier) hits hardest per hit. Katana and Rapier are strong A-tier picks for skilled players.
What are the best weapons in Echoes of Aincrad?
The best weapons are One-Handed Sword and Greatsword in S-tier. Katana, Rapier, Spear, Dagger, and Scythe are strong A-tier choices when your build supports their playstyle.
Did the Ver.1.0.5 patch change the best weapon?
Yes. Released August 7, 2026, Ver.1.0.5 speeds up and strengthens Sword Skills across Two-Handed Swords, Two-Handed Axes, Swords, Daggers and Maces. Two-Handed weapons in particular jumped in viability, so the old 'One-Handed Sword only' meta is no longer accurate — diversify your loadout.
What did Ver.1.0.5 buff and nerf?
Buffed hardest: Two-Handed Swords and Two-Handed Axes (multiple skills each), plus individual Sword, Dagger and Mace skills. Nerfed: Dagger Strike Rain and Hornet Swarm, Mace Absorbing Strike, the Sword Barrier and Supreme Shooter unique MODs, and Argo's Analyze support. Story, Normal and Hard difficulty was also raised.
What is the best weapon for beginners?
One-Handed Sword. Balanced stats, forgiving speed, works with any build.
Which weapon deals the highest damage?
Greatsword has the highest base damage (150). Rapier can exceed it in sustained DPS through critical hits.
What is the best Rapier?
The Noble Rapier — Ver.1.0.6 raised its ATK correction, and its blueprint is a free reward from the Fabled Food side quest or a drop from the Troll Ark Shaman. Rapier is A-tier for crit builds: low base damage (55), joint-highest speed (10).
What is the best Dagger?
Daggers are the fastest weapons in the game and still A-tier for status stacking, but no longer the burst kings — Ver.1.0.5 nerfed Strike Rain and Hornet Swarm, and Ver.1.0.6 compensated with Single Shoot, Turbulence and Whip Snap buffs. Look for the Cosmic Orbit and Forest Light unique MODs.
Is Shield worth using?
Yes, especially in Death Game Mode. Enables perfect blocks and guard breaks.
Build your weapon
Compare every weapon in detail, then plan your stats around it.