Sword, Rapier, and Mace support shields. Dagger, Two-Handed Sword, and Two-Handed Axe do not. Each family earns its own Weapon EXP and Sword Skills through use.
Sword and Shield
The balanced starting class. Sword supports offense, guarding, and parries without forcing a specialized rhythm. You can unequip the shield for faster, riskier movement, but keeping it is the strongest learning setup.
Pick Sword if
- You want one class that can answer most encounters.
- You are learning parry timing but still want a reliable guard.
- You value flexibility over a single extreme strength.
Rapier
A light, long-reaching weapon built around flowing chains and counters. It retains shield access, making it a strong bridge between fast offense and defensive security.
Pick Rapier if
- You prefer precision and reach.
- You want a shield without the Sword's heavier feel.
- You enjoy chaining attacks after a clean dodge or counter.
Mace
A shield-compatible weapon with heavier attacks and a focus on breaking defenses, staggering enemies, and creating knockdowns.
Pick Mace if
- You want visible control windows rather than constant speed.
- Enemy guards and poise are a recurring problem.
- You like turning stagger into a partner or Sword Skill punish.
Dagger
The fastest close-range family. Daggers hit frequently, give up shield access, and can gain ranged blade throws through certain Sword Skills.
Pick Dagger if
- You are comfortable relying on evasion.
- You prefer many short attacks to one heavy commitment.
- You will use skills to compensate for short reach.
Two-Handed Axe
A slow aggressive class with long reach and area-of-effect pressure. Wide attacks help against groups, but missed or mistimed swings expose the player.
Pick Axe if
- Group control matters more than shield defense.
- You can create openings with partner aggro.
- You are comfortable managing large Stamina commitments.
Two-Handed Sword
A heavy class centered on charged attacks and high damage. It has low manoeuvrability, cannot use a shield, and changes the standard dodge into a roll.
Pick Two-Handed Sword if
- You enjoy learning exact boss recovery windows.
- You want to convert one opening into a large hit.
- You are willing to build around Stamina and safe commitment.
What makes two weapons of the same class different
Blueprint, base parameters, attribute scaling, unique effects, and EX-Mods can all change the value of an individual drop. Compare the complete package before deciding which weapon becomes the target and which becomes enhancement or synthesis material.