It is the most forgiving starting setup because it combines normal offense, a shield, blocks, and parries. Pick Rapier and Shield if you want faster chains and more reach; pick Mace and Shield if staggering enemies matters more than speed.
Why your weapon is your class
Echoes of Aincrad does not lock you into a conventional class. Your equipped weapon determines your move set, which Sword Skills you develop, whether you can carry a shield, and which attributes best improve your damage. You can change classes in town between quests, but not after a quest has started.
That makes the best starting weapon the one whose defensive answer and attack timing you can repeat under pressure—not simply the weapon with the largest attack value.
Six weapon types at a glance
| Weapon | Best for | Main trade-off | Shield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword | Balanced beginners, blocks and parries | Less specialized than other classes | Yes |
| Rapier | Long reach, quick chains and counters | Rewards timing more than brute force | Yes |
| Mace | Staggering and breaking defenses | Slower attacks | Yes |
| Dagger | Fast pressure and ranged blade skills | Short reach and no shield | No |
| Two-Handed Axe | Area attacks and long-reaching swings | Slow commitment and no shield | No |
| Two-Handed Sword | Charged, high-damage attacks | Low mobility; dodge becomes a roll | No |
Choose by the mistake you want to survive
You attack too early
Use Sword or Rapier with a shield. Guarding gives you a fallback while you learn an enemy's real opening.
You struggle to interrupt enemies
Use Mace. Its identity is built around breaking defenses, stagger, and knockdown, giving you clearer punish windows.
You dislike slow animations
Use Dagger or Rapier. Dagger is the more aggressive commitment because it gives up the shield and works at shorter range.
You want to clear groups
Use Two-Handed Axe. Its wide area coverage is useful when several enemies are active, but a mistimed swing can leave you exposed.
You want large single openings
Use Two-Handed Sword. Charged attacks reward knowledge of boss recovery windows; the class is less comfortable while you are still learning those windows.
A sensible first test
- Enter a safe encounter with one weapon family.
- Use its light and heavy attacks, then test how quickly you can guard or dodge afterward.
- Try its starting Sword Skill and watch both SP use and animation length.
- Repeat with one contrasting weapon before spending Growth Points or Smithy materials.