Choosing your first weapon in Echoes of Aincrad can feel overwhelming. Every weapon type is capable of clearing the game, but they all excel in different situations. Some are perfect for beginners, while others shine once you’ve invested time into creating specialized builds.
If you’re simply looking for the strongest all-around weapon, the answer is fairly clear. However, if you enjoy experimenting with different builds or racing through content, there are better alternatives depending on your playstyle.
Here’s a breakdown of the best weapon choices and why they’re worth using.
Echoes of Aincrad Weapons Tier List – Best Maces, Swords
| Tier | Weapon Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| S | Two-Handed Sword | Overall damage, story progression, bosses |
| S | Two-Handed Axe | Speedruns, fast farming |
| A | Mace | Buildcrafting, hybrid builds |
| A | Sword & Shield | Defensive play and survivability |
| B | Other weapon types | More specialized or preference-based |
While every weapon is viable, the top three stand out because they either deal exceptional damage or offer unique advantages that are difficult to match.
Best Overall Weapon – Two-Handed Sword
If you’re unsure which weapon to invest in, the Two-Handed Sword is easily the safest recommendation.
It combines:
- High damage
- Excellent attack range
- Wide attack arcs
- Powerful Sword Skills
- Strong scaling into late game
Its basic attacks already hit multiple enemies at once, making it incredibly efficient for clearing groups.
Against bosses, things get even better.
Fully charged Heavy Attacks deal massive damage, while Sword Skills can quickly melt boss health bars once you’ve invested in upgrades.
For most players, this weapon offers the smoothest progression from beginning to end.
Why DEX Makes Two-Handed Swords So Strong
Another reason Two-Handed Swords dominate is their excellent interaction with DEX.
Investing in Dexterity provides several valuable bonuses, including:
- Larger Perfect Dodge window
- Easier Parry timing
- Increased Slash damage
- Higher Sword Skill damage
These bonuses improve both survivability and damage at the same time, making DEX one of the most rewarding stats for this weapon type.
Best Two-Handed Swords
If you’re using this weapon class, these are some of the strongest options available.
Broadsword
One of the best general-purpose choices.
Its Unique MOD increases both attack speed and normal attack damage whenever you successfully hit enemies.
Since the effect stacks multiple times, your damage ramps up quickly during longer fights.
Elven Geistblade
Perfect for players who prefer sustain.
Its Unique MOD restores HP based on the damage you deal, making exploration much safer without relying heavily on healing items.
Destruction Blade
A fantastic boss weapon.
Every Sword Skill increases future Sword Skill damage, allowing you to build up enormous burst damage during extended encounters.
The downside is increased SP consumption, so you’ll need to manage your resources carefully.
Abyss Bringer
An excellent option for aggressive builds.
It applies Burn stacks while attacking and restores SP whenever nearby enemies are burning.
This creates an effective loop where you’re constantly dealing damage while recovering the resources needed for more Sword Skills.
Best Weapon for Buildcrafting – Mace
Players who enjoy experimenting with stats, equipment, and different combinations should seriously consider the Mace.
Unlike many other weapon types, Maces can be paired with a shield, opening up additional equipment options and allowing for more creative builds.
Many Maces also feature Unique MODs that dramatically change how they perform, giving you plenty of room to customize your character.
Why Maces Are Great for Custom Builds
Maces excel because they offer:
- Strong Heavy Attacks
- Defensive flexibility
- Numerous Unique MOD combinations
- Wide variety of Sword Skills
Instead of focusing purely on raw damage, Maces reward players who enjoy optimizing every piece of their build.
Best Maces
Big Bopper
Ideal for Heavy Attack builds.
Its Unique MOD increases Heavy Attack damage based on your Attack stat while also improving the chance to knock enemies down.
Mithril Rod
A reliable weapon for sustained combat.
Landing normal attacks increases your attack speed, allowing your damage output to ramp up over time.
Bold Axe
One of the most versatile options.
It builds stacks whenever you deal or receive damage.
Once fully stacked, your Attack and Defense both receive temporary boosts, making it effective for longer fights.
Canary Tamer
A great crowd-control weapon.
It inflicts Daze on enemies, increases damage against stunned targets, and restores SP whenever you attack affected enemies.
This makes it especially useful for players who enjoy controlling enemy groups rather than simply overpowering them.
Best Weapon for Speedruns – Two-Handed Axe
If your goal is clearing stages as quickly as possible, the Two-Handed Axe is difficult to beat.
Rather than focusing entirely on raw damage, it emphasizes mobility.
Some axes allow you to sprint across maps at incredible speed while attacking at the same time, dramatically reducing the time spent moving between enemy groups.
Iron Scythe
Among speedrunning weapons, the Iron Scythe stands out.
Its Unique MOD enhances Sprint Attacks while also temporarily increasing Sprint Speed.
When combined with movement-focused EX-MODs, you can clear stages remarkably quickly by chaining Sprint Attacks through groups of enemies.
Boss Performance
Despite its focus on mobility, the Two-Handed Axe also performs well against bosses.
Several Sword Skills deal heavy burst damage, while attacks like Whirlwind can easily clear both bosses and surrounding enemies at the same time.
This makes it one of the fastest farming weapons in the game.
Which Weapon Should You Choose?
Your best choice depends on what you enjoy most.
Pick Two-Handed Sword if you want:
- The strongest all-around weapon.
- Easy story progression.
- Excellent boss damage.
- Reliable crowd clearing.
- A beginner-friendly experience.
Pick Mace if you want:
- Flexible builds.
- Shield access.
- Strong Heavy Attacks.
- Lots of equipment customization.
Pick Two-Handed Axe if you want:
- Faster farming.
- Speedrunning.
- High mobility.
- Efficient map clearing.
Every weapon in Echoes of Aincrad is capable of completing the game’s content, but some offer a smoother experience depending on your goals. For most players, the Two-Handed Sword is the strongest overall choice thanks to its outstanding damage, wide attack range, and excellent DEX scaling. If you enjoy optimizing gear and experimenting with different setups, the Mace provides the deepest build customization, while the Two-Handed Axe is the clear winner for players focused on speed and efficient farming.
Ultimately, the best weapon is the one that matches your preferred playstyle, but if you’re looking for the easiest path through the game, it’s hard to go wrong with a fully upgraded Two-Handed Sword.