All 6 Weapons Guide — Which One Should You Pick?
Complete breakdown of all 6 Echoes of Aincrad weapon types. Sword & Shield, Greatsword, Rapier, Dagger, Two-Handed Axe, Mace — best weapon for beginners, solo, and DPS.
Weapon Overview
Echoes of Aincrad has 6 weapon types. Your weapon is your class — none of the six use magic (a separate Mage magic path unlocks in the late game). Each weapon has unique Sword Skills, attack patterns, and playstyles.
| Weapon | Style | Shield? | Speed | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -------- | ------- | --------- | ------- | ------------ |
| Sword & Shield | Balanced | Yes | Medium | Easy |
| Two-Handed Axe | AoE burst | No | Slow | Medium |
| Dagger | Speed/crit | No | Very Fast | Hard |
| Rapier | Reach/counter | Yes | Fast | Medium |
| Greatsword | Heavy/charge | No | Slow | Medium |
| Mace | Stagger/break | Yes | Medium | Hard |
1. Sword & Shield — Best for Beginners
The most forgiving weapon. Block reduces incoming damage and creates counter windows.
- Pros: Tanky, simple combos, block saves you from mistakes
- Cons: Lower DPS ceiling compared to Rapier or Dagger
- Best Sword Skills: Horizontal Arc (AoE slash), Shield Bash (stun)
- Ideal for: Learning the game, surviving tough boss fights
2. Rapier — The Meta Pick
Fast thrusting weapon with parry counters. Blue flash on enemy attacks signals the parry window — successful parry creates a massive damage opportunity.
- Pros: Highest solo DPS ceiling, counter windows trivialize 1v1 fights
- Cons: Requires good timing, punished for missed parries
- Best Sword Skills: Linear (thrust combo), Star Splash (multi-hit)
- Ideal for: Solo players, experienced action RPG fans
3. Dagger — Speed Demon
Fastest weapon with high crit rate. Can throw daggers for ranged poke. Fragile but deadly in the right hands.
- Pros: Highest attack speed and crit rate, throw for ranged options
- Cons: Shortest range, very fragile, unforgiving
- Best Sword Skills: Rapid Bite (fast multi-stab), Fad Edge (throw)
- Ideal for: High-risk/high-reward players, Dex builds
4. Greatsword — Heavy Hitter
Slow, devastating charge attacks. Each swing is a commitment — but landing one changes the fight.
- Pros: Highest single-hit damage, charge attacks break shields
- Cons: Very slow, dodge becomes a roll (less safe than block)
- Best Sword Skills: Avalanche (heavy slam), Cyclone (spin AoE)
- Ideal for: Strength builds, farming mob packs, patient players
5. Two-Handed Axe — AoE King
Wide sweeping attacks that hit multiple enemies. The best weapon for clearing groups of mobs.
- Pros: Best AoE damage, strong guard breaks
- Cons: Slow recovery, vulnerable during long animations
- Best Sword Skills: Whirlwind (360 AoE), Boulder Breaker (slam)
- Ideal for: Mob farming, area control, clearing packs alongside your partner
6. Mace — Stagger Specialist
Blunt weapon focused on breaking enemy defenses. Builds up stagger on enemies — when the gauge fills, they become vulnerable.
- Pros: Staggers and guard-breaks, strong vs shielded enemies
- Cons: Lower raw DPS, situational effectiveness
- Best Sword Skills: Iron Crusher (guard break), Steel Slam (stagger build)
- Ideal for: Support role with partners, fighting shielded enemies
Which Weapon Should You Pick?
| Your Goal | Pick |
|---|---|
| ----------- | ------ |
| Learn the game | Sword & Shield |
| Max DPS / solo play | Rapier |
| Fast and risky | Dagger |
| Big numbers | Greatsword |
| Farm mobs efficiently | Two-Handed Axe |
| Break tough enemies | Mace |
Remember: you can switch weapons between quests at the Town of Beginnings. Try them all.