This page summarizes the community-verified weapon tier list for the Windrose Early Access launch build. Tier placements reflect cleared boss content, sustained damage profiles, and build flexibility rather than peak burst alone. Every weapon listed below is craftable or obtainable in the live game; data-mined weapons not yet usable in normal play are excluded.
Tiers are not a substitute for build matching. The S-tier weapons all carry their own playstyle constraints and stat requirements; an A-tier weapon that fits a player's existing build will usually outperform an S-tier weapon that forces a build pivot. Use the table below as a starting point, then cross-reference with the Class Builds page for the build framework that anchors each weapon.
S Tier
S-tier weapons are the boss-clearing benchmarks. Each one has a build that scales reliably from mid-game into the High Priestess endgame and offers a unique mechanic that makes other weapons in its class feel comparatively limited.
Weapon | Class | Scaling | Why It Sits S Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
Rapier | Precision | Five-stack Bleed application that ticks 25 damage per stack per second. Epic perk restores Temporal Health when bleeding enemies die. Anchors the strongest sustained-DPS build in the launch game. | |
Pistol | Precision | Two-shot burst applies Vulnerability, which raises all damage taken by the target by 15 percent. Pairs with every melee S-tier weapon and amplifies group damage in co-op. | |
Halberd | Strength | Plague Echoes stacking mechanic feeds a special attack that restores 35 percent max health on Epic. The single best one-button sustain weapon in the game. |
A Tier
A-tier weapons hold their own against S-tier picks but require either better build matching or a more specific encounter context to outperform.
Weapon | Class | Scaling | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
Musket | Precision | Faster reload than other muskets and a 20 percent Critical Damage bonus at Epic. Backbone of the Marksman build. | |
Greatsword | Agility (with Vitality at Epic) | F-key drains health from nearby enemies on a two-minute cooldown. The Vitality scaling at Epic makes it the cleanest tank-DPS hybrid in the launch build. | |
Rapier | Agility | Plague mark stacking that restores health on consumption. An alternate top-tier Rapier when a build wants Agility scaling instead of Precision. | |
Blunderbuss | Agility | 60 percent chance per hit to trigger a fire explosion around the target. Devastating against grouped enemies and pirate camps. |
B Tier
B-tier weapons are reliable picks that anchor their respective builds without standing out. They are excellent purchases for early- and mid-game progression but tend to be replaced by A or S options before the final biome.
Weapon | Class | Scaling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Pistol | Precision | Three-shot magazine; bonus damage against pirates makes it a strong pirate-camp clearing tool. | |
Pistol | Precision | 40 percent damage-as-health refund on hit. Excellent on the High Priestess pustule phase and any sustained ranged engagement. | |
Saber | Agility | Take Aim stacking with reduced stamina cost per swing. Pairs naturally with firearm hybrids. | |
Rapier | Precision | Extended Perfect Block window plus 20 percent Critical Damage. The defensive Rapier pick. | |
Saber | Agility | Plague Echoes stacking. Health-conversion gameplay rewards aggressive play. | |
Club | Strength | Damage scales with stamina pool size. Strong synergy with high-Endurance Crusher builds. |
C Tier
C-tier weapons are situational picks. Most have a clear niche, but they rarely outperform a B-tier alternative outside that niche.
Weapon | Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Blunderbuss | Knockdown chance and reduced gunpowder consumption. Crowd-control utility, low ceiling. | |
Musket | Accurate while moving but the slow reload limits sustained DPS. | |
Various | Reliable mid-game crafted weapons. Replaced by A and S options before the High Priestess. |
Tier-Independent Picks
A few launch-build weapons sit outside the tier conversation because they fill specific roles rather than competing on raw DPS:
Stalwart Greatsword - tied to the Dueling Greatsword Perfect-Block playstyle. Exceptional in player hands that reliably parry, average otherwise.
Captain's Greatsword - story-tied weapon with limited scaling but strong flavor for narrative-focused players.
Captains Greatsword alternates and other story weapons - generally B-tier in raw output but high-value during specific quests.
How Tier Lists Should Be Read
Tier placement is a starting heuristic, not a recommendation to pivot away from a working build. Stat scaling matters: a B-tier Strength weapon will outperform an S-tier Precision weapon for a Crusher build with no Precision investment. Likewise, weapon rarity (Rare versus Epic ascension) often matters more than tier; a Rare Plague Halberd still outperforms an unascended A-tier alternative. Use the table to inform crafting priorities and farm targets, not to abandon a build mid-progression.
See Also
Class Builds - the build frameworks that anchor each tier
Weapons - full weapon catalog
Armor Tier List - companion ranking for armor sets
Rarity System - how Rare-to-Epic ascension changes weapon power
Talent System - which talents amplify which weapons