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One-Handed Weapons
March 27, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Fix em dashes: replaced with hyphens per wiki guidelines
One-handed weapons are a category of melee weapons in Crimson Desert that are wielded in a single hand, leaving the off-hand free to carry a shield, a dagger, or nothing at all. The category spans swords, axes, hammers, maces, and rapiers, giving players a broad set of options for different playstyles.
Sword and Shield is Kliff's default starting loadout, making one-handed weapons the first melee archetype most players experience. Compared to heavier two-handed alternatives, one-handed weapons deliver fast, versatile strikes that are ideal for building combos and reacting quickly to enemy movements.
One-handed weapons can be paired with shields for a defensive, block-and-counter approach, or dual-wielded for aggressive combo chains. This flexibility makes them one of the most adaptable weapon families in the game's combat system.
Each subtype within the one-handed category has distinct attack animations, damage profiles, and tactical roles. The table below summarizes the key differences.
Image | Subtype | Characteristics | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
Fast swing speed, balanced damage, wide combo variety | General-purpose combat; the most versatile one-handed option | ||
Brutal wide arcs, higher per-hit damage than swords | Crowd damage and cleaving through groups of enemies | ||
Hammers / Maces | Strong stagger effects, capable of breaking enemy defenses | Fighting armored enemies and shield-bearing opponents | |
| Precise thrusting attacks with devastating riposte counters | Dueling single targets; Damiane's signature weapon, often paired with a buckler |
Swords are the most common subtype and the easiest to pick up for new players. Axes trade some combo flexibility for raw cleave damage. Hammers and maces lean into stagger, punishing enemies who rely on blocking. The rapier rewards precise timing and is particularly effective in one-on-one encounters where riposte windows can be exploited consistently.
There are 46 confirmed one-handed weapons in Crimson Desert. Each weapon has a base Attack (ATK) value, optional stat bonuses, a number of core slots for slotting ability cores, and possible special effects. Weapons can be obtained through crafting, merchant purchases, boss drops, quest rewards, challenge completions, or as starting equipment for different characters.
The table below lists every confirmed one-handed weapon sorted by base ATK from lowest to highest. Stat abbreviations: Crit = Critical Hit Chance, Atk Speed = Attack Speed.
Image | Name | ATK | Core Slots | Special | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | None | Craft: Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | |
| 10 | Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | None | Craft: Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | |
| 11 | Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | Craft: Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | |
| 10 | Crit Lv.2 | 3 | None | Craft: Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | |
| 13 | None | 3 | None | Craft: Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | |
| 13 | None | 3 | None | Craft: Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | |
11 | None | 3 | None | Craft: Iron Ore x5, Copper Ore x2 | ||
| 12 | None | 3 | None | Kliff starting weapon | |
| 12 | Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | Thalwynd region merchant or loot | |
| 13 | Atk Speed Lv.2 | 3 | Core: Wind Slash | Boss drop from Kailok | |
| 14 | Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | Merchant or loot drop | |
| 14 | Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | Sydmon region merchant or loot | |
| 16 | Crit Lv.1 | 5 | Mining Mastery 10% | Mining-related quest reward | |
| 16 | Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | Core: Spirit on Hit | Exploration reward | |
| 16 | None | 3 | None | Merchant or loot drop | |
| 16 | Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | None | Damiane starting weapon | |
17 | Atk Speed Lv.2 | 3 | Core: Groundsurge | Sell value: 14.32 Silver | ||
16 | Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | Core: Crow's Pursuit | Quest: Toward the Nest | ||
18 | Crit Lv.1, Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | None | Oongka starting weapon | ||
18 | Crit Lv.1, Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | Cores: Crit I, Elite DMG +4%, Atk Speed I | Challenge: Podium of Resolve | ||
16 | Spirit on Hit | 1 | Restores Spirit | Demessian Ruins | ||
19 | Crit Rate Lv.2 | 3 | Groundsurge | Stellen Manor | ||
14 | - | 2 | - | World Loot | ||
17 | - | 2 | - | Sand Grave Oasis | ||
17 | Crit Lv.1, Spd Lv.1 | 3 | Atk Speed I | Death's Grip Cavern | ||
14 | Crit Lv.evel 1 | 3 | None | -- | ||
16 | Atk Speed Lv.1, Crit Lv.0 | 3 | None | -- | ||
13 | Atk Speed Lv.0, Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | -- | ||
13 | Atk Speed Lv.0, Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | -- | ||
13 | Atk Speed Lv.1, Crit Lv.0 | 3 | None | -- | ||
13 | Atk Speed Lv.1, Crit Lv.0 | 3 | None | -- | ||
18 | Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | 3.69 Silver | ||
14 | Crit Lv.evel 1 | 3 | None | 82 Copper Coins | ||
19 | Crit Lv.2 | 3 | None | Not available for purchase | ||
12 | Atk Speed Lv.1 | -- | None | 2.45 Silver Coins | ||
16 | -- | 3 | None | 1.00 Silver Coin | ||
17 | Atk Speed Lv.2, Crit Lv.1 | 3 | None | 8.86 Silver | ||
16 | Crit Lv.evel 1 | 3 | None | 11.33 Silver Coins | ||
30 | Atk Speed Lv.2 | -- | None | -- | ||
13 | Crit Lv.evel 1 | 3 | None | 71 Bronze Coins | ||
12 | Atk Speed Level 1 | 3 | None | 80 Copper Coins | ||
16 | Atk Speed Level 1 | 3 | None | 2.28 Silver Coins | ||
1 | Atk Speed 1 | 3 | None | -- | ||
17 | -- | 3 | None | 2.65 Silver Coins | ||
17 | Atk Speed Level 2, Crit Lv.evel 0 | 3 | None | 20.58 Silver Coins | ||
15 | Atk Speed Lv.1 | 3 | None | World Loot |
Attack values range from 10 (entry-level crafted gear such as the Crude Club and Glenmore Sword) up to 18 (high-end weapons like Wolf's Fang and the Silver Wolf Axe). Most craftable weapons at the low end require Iron Ore x5 and Copper Ore x2, making them accessible early in the game. The Mining Knuckledrill is unique for having 5 core slots instead of the standard 3, and the Wolf's Fang comes preloaded with three built-in cores.
Four weapons come as starting equipment for specific characters: the Sword of the Wolf for Kliff, the White Wind Rapier for Damiane, the Silver Wolf Axe for Oongka, and the Wolf's Fang as a challenge reward from the Podium of Resolve.
Several one-handed weapons stand out due to unique properties or story significance.
Kliff's starting weapon. At 12 ATK with no special bonuses, it serves as a reliable baseline that new players use throughout the early hours. Its 3 core slots allow customization through ability cores as players unlock them.
Drops from the boss Kailok and comes with Attack Speed Lv.2 (a higher tier than most weapons) plus a built-in Wind Slash core. At 13 ATK, the raw damage is moderate, but the speed bonus and free core make it one of the best early-to-mid-game swords.
Damiane's starting weapon and the strongest rapier in the confirmed list at 16 ATK with Attack Speed Lv.1. Combined with Damiane's rapier-focused moveset, this weapon enables rapid riposte chains right from the start.
Both a combat weapon and a mining tool. At 16 ATK with 5 core slots and a Mining Mastery perk (10% additional ore chance), it is the only one-handed weapon that serves a dual purpose. Players who invest time in ore gathering will find this weapon invaluable for both combat and resource collection.
At 16 ATK, this weapon combines Attack Speed Lv.1 with Spirit restoration on hit, making it one of the few weapons that also functions as a sustain tool. Players who rely on Spirit-consuming abilities benefit from passive Spirit regeneration during melee combos.
One of the higher-ATK one-handed weapons at 17. It carries Attack Speed Lv.2 and a built-in Groundsurge core, which releases a shockwave on heavy attacks. The combination of speed and area damage makes it effective for clearing groups of enemies. Its sell value of 14.32 Silver suggests it can be found as loot rather than crafted.
Rewarded from the quest "Toward the Nest," this curved sword sits at 17 ATK with Attack Speed Lv.1 and a built-in Crow's Pursuit core. Crow's Pursuit is a gap-closing core that lunges toward a target, making this sword particularly effective for chasing down mobile enemies.
Oongka's starting weapon and one of the strongest one-handed weapons at 18 ATK. It carries both Crit Lv.1 and Attack Speed Lv.1, giving it a balanced offensive profile. The dual stat bonuses make it effective without requiring specific core investments.
The most powerful one-handed weapon at 18 ATK, earned by completing the Podium of Resolve challenge. It comes preloaded with three built-in cores: Crit I, Elite DMG +4%, and Atk Speed I. No other one-handed weapon offers this many built-in bonuses, making Wolf's Fang the top-tier choice for players who clear the endgame challenge content.
One-handed weapons excel at sustained pressure through rapid combo chains. Their fast recovery between swings means players can string together light attacks, dodge-cancel mid-combo, and quickly re-engage without committing to long animation locks. This makes them forgiving for newer players while still offering depth at higher skill levels.
Shield pairing is the classic defensive approach. Blocking with a shield absorbs incoming damage and opens up parry windows that stagger the attacker, creating an opportunity for a punishing counter-combo. Kliff's default Sword and Shield build is designed around this loop of blocking, parrying, and countering.
Dual-wielding strips away the defensive safety of a shield in exchange for pure offensive output. With a weapon in each hand, players can chain alternating strikes for higher sustained damage and faster combo meters. This style rewards aggressive positioning and dodge-based defense rather than blocking.
The rapier introduces a third style focused on precision. Damiane's rapier and buckler combination centers on timed ripostes: deflecting an enemy attack at the right moment and immediately punishing with a rapid thrust. The buckler provides a smaller block window than a full shield, but successful parries lead to more damaging counter-attacks.
Every weapon in Crimson Desert can be refined at a blacksmith to increase its base Attack value. Refinement requires materials (typically ores and sometimes monster parts) plus a silver fee that grows with each level. Weapons can be refined up to 10 levels, and each level adds roughly +2 to +3 Attack to the weapon's base stat. A fully refined weapon therefore gains between 20 and 30 additional Attack on top of its starting value.
Refinement is not reversible, but you keep all accumulated levels if you switch to a different weapon and later return to the refined one. The materials needed increase at higher refinement tiers, so most players refine their primary weapon steadily while saving rarer ores for the final few levels. Refinement affects only the base Attack stat; it does not change special stats like Critical Hit Chance or Attack Speed bonuses.
The cost efficiency of refinement makes it worthwhile to refine even mid-tier weapons that you plan to use for a while. A Balton Hammer refined to level 5, for example, reaches roughly 20 to 22 Attack, which is competitive with an unrefined Lambert Axe at base 14. Players who invest in refinement early will find the mid-game significantly smoother as enemy health pools increase.
One-handed weapons can be obtained through several methods across the world of Crimson Desert:
Starting equipment: Kliff begins the game with a basic sword and shield loadout, providing immediate access to the one-handed weapon class.
Crafting: Players can craft one-handed weapons using gathered materials at crafting stations found in towns and settlements. Different recipes unlock higher-tier weapons.
Merchants: Weapon vendors in major towns sell a selection of one-handed weapons. Availability varies by region and story progress.
Enemy drops: Defeated enemies and bosses can drop one-handed weapons as loot. Rare and named variants have lower drop rates from tougher foes.
Quest rewards: Certain main story and side quests reward unique one-handed weapons upon completion.
Upgrading one-handed weapons through the equipment enhancement system improves their base damage, stagger values, and may unlock additional combo finishers. Players should prioritize upgrading whichever subtype matches their preferred combat style.
