EDITORIAL TIER LIST
Weapon Tier List
Every weapon family ranked after Update 8's focus specials and heavy attacks. Armor is not ranked.
S tier for Update 8: Bows (Shortbow / Longbow) and One-handed Swords (+ Shield).
- Game version:
- Update 8 / v0.9.1.2
- Reviewed:
- Author:
- GameWith Enshrouded Editorial
- Entries
- 10 entries
This page reflects Update 8 / v0.9.1.2. The game is now on Version 1.0, so some details may have changed.
Tier board
- S Tier
Best in class. Build around these first.
- A Tier
Strong and reliable in most situations.
- B Tier
Useful in specific situations or party roles.
Scope
The ten weapon families you can craft or find, judged for general progression and boss fights. Named weapons are listed as examples of each family. Armor and shields as gear are excluded because this site does not rank armor sets.
How we rank
Ranks weigh safety, consistency across enemy types, stun-bar pressure, and how quickly a weapon recovers after a miss. Update 8 added a focus bar with weapon-specific specials and heavy attacks to every melee weapon, so families that gained both rank higher than before.
S Tier
Best in class. Build around these first.
Bows (Shortbow / Longbow)
- Ranged
- Safe
- Solo
- Focus special
The safest weapon family in Enshrouded: pick fights from range, deal piercing damage, and finish with the Update 8 focus special.
Why it ranks here
- The Ranger tree (Marksman, Multi Shot) scales it hard
- Special arrows add elemental answers without a staff
Tradeoffs
- Long expeditions need a steady supply of arrows
- Weak once enemies close in unless you swap weapons
- Damage type
- Piercing
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
- Notable weapons
- Draconian Bow, Dragon's Wing
How to get
Crafted and upgraded through the Huntress; strong loot from bosses and chests.
One-handed Swords (+ Shield)
- Melee
- Forgiving
- Co-op
- Focus special
Quick recovery, a heavy attack, a focus special, and a shield in the other hand: the most forgiving melee kit for learning bosses.
Why it ranks here
- Blocking gives a clean answer to every mistake
- Swift Blades (Warrior) speeds up one-handed attacks
Tradeoffs
- Less reach and burst than any two-handed weapon
- Damage type
- Cutting
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
- Notable weapons
- Dragon Sword
How to get
Blacksmith crafting and upgrades; shields became rune-upgradable in Update 8.
A Tier
Strong and reliable in most situations.
Greatswords
- Burst
- Stun
- Focus special
Update 8 rebuilt the greatsword chain and gave it a heavy attack that doubles damage and stun: a huge payoff for players who commit to timing.
Why it ranks here
- Reach plus penetration handles groups and armored foes
- Barbarian finishers (Whirlwind Crescendo) reward the long chain
Tradeoffs
- Long animations punish mistimed swings
- Damage type
- Cutting / Piercing
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
How to get
Blacksmith; the attack chain was rebuilt in Update 8.
Two-handed Hammers
- Stun
- Defense breaker
- Focus special
The defense breaker: blunt hits fill stun bars fastest, and the Update 8 heavy attack doubles that impact.
Why it ranks here
- Stuns open shielded and armored enemies
Tradeoffs
- Slowest recovery in the game after a miss
- Damage type
- Blunt
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
- Notable weapons
- Dreadbane
How to get
Blacksmith; attack chain reworked in Update 8.
Two-handed Axes
- Sustained DPS
- Focus special
Sustained cutting damage through the reworked Update 8 chain: the two-hander for players who want damage without the hammer's stun focus.
Why it ranks here
- Steady damage across the whole chain
Tradeoffs
- Commitment without the hammer's stun payoff
- Damage type
- Cutting
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
How to get
Blacksmith; attack chain reworked in Update 8.
Daggers
- Burst
- High skill
- Focus special
Fast, mobile, and built for Sneak Attack's +900% backstabs. Devastating openers, thin margins once you are seen.
Why it ranks here
- Quick attacks recover instantly after a miss
- Slice And Dice boosts bow damage after a dagger crit
Tradeoffs
- Short reach makes groups dangerous
- Damage type
- Cutting
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
- Notable weapons
- Circus Knives
How to get
Blacksmith crafting; Assassin skills define the playstyle.
Wands
- Ranged
- No charges
- Focus special
Charge-free magic damage at range. Update 8 raised wand range and gave wands a focus special, closing the gap to staffs for everyday fights.
Why it ranks here
- Battlemage's Arcane Proliferation adds a 30% extra-projectile chance
- Element choice per wand covers resistances
Tradeoffs
- Lower peak damage than a staff loaded with Eternal spells
- Damage type
- Magic
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
- Notable weapons
- Cryptic Wand, Darya's Wand
How to get
Alchemist crafting and upgrades; no spell charges required.
B Tier
Useful in specific situations or party roles.
One-handed Axes
- Crits
- Backstab
- Focus special
Fast axes tuned for critical hits and backstabs. Fun with Assassin or Warrior crit skills, but swords do the same job with a safer profile.
Why it ranks here
- High crit ceilings with Veteran and Sneak Attack
Tradeoffs
- Same reach limits as swords with less consistency
- Damage type
- Cutting
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
- Notable weapons
- Dragonsbane
How to get
Blacksmith crafting and upgrades.
One-handed Maces & Clubs
- Stun
- Crowd control
- Focus special
Blunt one-handers bring stun pressure to a shield build. Solid, but they sit between swords (speed) and hammers (impact) without owning either.
Why it ranks here
- Stun-bar damage while keeping a shield up
Tradeoffs
- Slower than swords, weaker stuns than two-handed hammers
- Damage type
- Blunt
- Focus special
- Yes (Update 8)
How to get
Blacksmith crafting and upgrades.
Staffs
- Spellcaster
- No focus special
The most versatile damage platform once Eternal spells are online, but the one weapon family that still has no focus special after Update 8. Keen Games says staff changes are coming.
Why it ranks here
- Swap elements per fight by changing charges
- Healing and utility spells only work from a staff
Tradeoffs
- No focus special, and charge management for non-Eternal spells
- Damage type
- Depends on the loaded spell
- Focus special
- Not yet (planned)
- Notable weapons
- Darya's Staff
How to get
Alchemist crafting; damage comes from the spell charges you load.
