Our best weapons guide covers the fundamentals — this tier list goes deeper, ranking every weapon type for specific scenarios: boss DPS, farming efficiency, combo chain synergy, and team composition fit. A weapon that's S-tier for boss fights might be B-tier for Item World farming.
Understanding these scenario-specific rankings helps you build the optimal weapon loadout for whatever content you're tackling.
Overall Weapon Tier List
| Tier | Weapon | Overall Score | Best At |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Swords | 95/100 | Versatility, combo chains, Magichange |
| S | Fists | 92/100 | Speed, AP efficiency, meter building |
| A | Spears | 82/100 | Safe positioning, AoE, new player safety |
| A | Bows | 78/100 | Ranged AoE, crit builds, exploration |
| B | Staves | 72/100 | Magic damage, elemental exploitation |
| B | Guns | 68/100 | Precision range, single target |
| C | Axes | 60/100 | Stagger burst, slow sustained DPS |
Boss Fight Weapon Tier List
Boss fights demand burst damage during stagger windows and reliable survivability during attack patterns.
| Tier | Weapon | Boss DPS Score | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Swords | 95 | Greatsword Magichange + versatile chains |
| S | Fists | 90 | Fast burst + meter building during stagger |
| A | Axes | 85 | Highest stagger fill, devastating burst on stagger |
| A | Spears | 75 | Safe range during learning phase |
| B | Staves | 70 | Magic bypasses physical DEF on some bosses |
| B | Bows | 65 | Ranged poke during dangerous phases |
| C | Guns | 60 | Low DPS vs boss HP pools |
Axes jump to A-tier specifically for boss fights because of their unmatched stagger capability. The "chain → Axe burst" pattern (build a combo chain with fast weapons, then switch to Axes for one devastating Strong Attack under the multiplier) is the standard boss-killing strategy.
Farming Weapon Tier List
For EXP and HL farming stages, clear speed matters more than per-hit damage. You need fast AoE to clear groups quickly.
| Tier | Weapon | Farm Score | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Swords | 92 | Hurricane Slash AoE clears groups |
| S | Fists | 90 | Fastest clear speed, AP efficient |
| A | Bows | 85 | Arrow Rain AoE from safe range |
| A | Spears | 80 | Holy Lance pierces groups |
| B | Staves | 70 | AoE spells but MP-limited |
| B | Axes | 65 | Earthshaker AoE but slow recovery |
| C | Guns | 55 | Single target, poor crowd clear |
Combo Chain Weapon Tier List
Combo chains reward fast attacks, generous cancel windows, and quick switch animations.
| Tier | Weapon | Chain Score | Chain Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Fists | 98 | Best chain opener (fast meter build) |
| S | Swords | 95 | Best chain partner (versatile mid-chain) |
| A | Spears | 80 | Good chain spacer (safe range between switches) |
| B | Bows | 70 | Ranged chain maintainer (keep timer alive at range) |
| B | Axes | 65 | Chain finisher (one massive hit) |
| C | Staves | 55 | Slow chain transitions |
| C | Guns | 50 | Minimal chain synergy |
Item World Weapon Tier List
Item World performance depends on exploration, crowd control, and Mystery Room navigation.
| Tier | Weapon | IW Score | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Swords | 90 | Hurricane Slash clears rooms efficiently |
| A | Bows | 85 | Ranged engagement, crit for Mimic drops |
| A | Spears | 80 | Holy Lance corridor clearing |
| B | Fists | 75 | Fast clears but must approach all enemies |
| B | Staves | 70 | AoE spells for dense floors |
| C | Guns | 65 | Single-target inefficient in dense rooms |
| C | Axes | 55 | Too slow for efficient floor clearing |
Build-Specific Weapon Recommendations
| Build Type | Primary | Secondary | Tertiary | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DPS Max | Fists | Swords | Spears | Fastest 3-weapon chain |
| Boss Killer | Swords | Axes | Fists | Stagger → burst pattern |
| Magic | Staves | Swords | Fists | Magic/melee hybrid |
| Tank | Spears | Swords | Fists | Safe positioning |
| Explorer | Bows | Fists | Spears | Range + speed + safety |
| Speed Farmer | Fists | Swords | Bows | Fast clear + ranged AoE |
FAQ
Why are Swords and Fists always S-tier?
Swords and Fists consistently rank S-tier because they have the fastest attack speeds, best combo chain compatibility, strongest Magichange synergy, and most versatile skill sets. Other weapons have niche advantages (Axes for stagger, Bows for range), but Swords and Fists are never a bad choice regardless of content.
Are Axes viable despite being C-tier overall?
Yes — Axes are A-tier specifically for boss fights. Their C-tier overall ranking reflects their poor sustained DPS and combo chain compatibility. But their stagger capability makes them essential for the boss-killing meta. The optimal approach uses fast weapons for chains and switches to Axes for the killing blow.
Which weapon should I enhance first in the Item World?
Enhance your Sword first. Its versatility means it appears in virtually every weapon loadout, and the permanent stat gains from Item World runs benefit every combat scenario. After your Sword reaches 50+ floors, enhance your Fists.
Does the tier list change after reaching S-rank proficiency?
S-rank proficiency reduces switch animations for all weapons equally (to 4 frames), which narrows the gap between weapon types. However, the fundamental differences in attack speed and combo meter gain remain, so the tier order stays largely the same. Fists and Swords remain S-tier even at max proficiency.
Should I build a team around the tier list or personal preference?
Use the tier list as a guide but build around your comfort. A player who executes Axes combos flawlessly will outperform a player who struggles with Fists combos. The tier differences between weapons are significant but not so large that player skill can't overcome them.