Echoes of Aincrad has six weapon types: one-handed sword, two-handed sword, two-handed axe, dagger, rapier and mace. This page is the data view — every type in one comparison table, then a stat block and confirmed skill list for each. Want the playstyle deep-dive and build reasoning instead? That lives in our weapon types explainer.
Weapon types, shield compatibility and skill names are confirmed from official material. Role, stamina profile and pairings are informed analysis, labelled as such. Retail footage can establish that a menu or item exists, but a single creator's damage test is not a site-wide tier list.
Why weapon choice matters: the triple-gauge system
Combat runs on three gauges — HP, Stamina and SP. Light attacks, heavy attacks, dodges and parries all spend Stamina; Sword Skills spend SP. That's why your weapon isn't just a damage number: it decides how fast you burn Stamina, how often you can afford to dodge, and which skills define your rotation. A dagger sips Stamina in short bursts and repositions constantly; a two-handed axe spends it in big, committal chunks. Read the "stamina profile" row below as "how forgiving is this to swing" — it's the stat that quietly shapes every fight.
Sword Skills: what those skill names mean
Every weapon below lists confirmed skills — the named special moves (Sword Skills) shown for that type in the official Weapon Overview. A Sword Skill is a scripted, high-damage attack that spends SP rather than raw Stamina, so it's the payoff you cash in after a good opening, not something to spam on cooldown. The names carry real identity: the dagger's Swarm Sting is a flurry of fast pokes, the axe's Whirlwind is a wide spin built to Guard Break a crowd, the sword's Horizontal Quad Slash a four-hit arc. These lists are what the official material has confirmed so far — each weapon has more skills than one trailer can show, and we'll fill out the full rosters, SP costs and unlock conditions as launch data lands. Treat a short list as "confirmed", not "complete".
All six weapons at a glance
| Weapon | Hands | Shield | Role | Stamina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Handed Sword | 1-handed | Yes | All-rounder | Moderate — quick recovery |
| Two-Handed Sword | 2-handed | — | Reach & commitment | High per swing |
| Two-Handed Axe | 2-handed | — | Breaker / stagger | High per swing |
| Dagger | 1-handed | — | Speed & risk | Low per hit — short bursts |
| Rapier | 1-handed | Yes | Precision duelist | Low — fast recovery |
| Mace | 1-handed | Yes | Unglamorous powerhouse | Moderate–high |
Jump to any weapon: One-Handed Sword · Two-Handed Sword · Two-Handed Axe · Dagger · Rapier · Mace.
Retail weapon-tree sightings: useful, not yet a complete database
A July 9 retail video shows a weapon-tree menu with named entries including Bronze Sword, Steel Sword and the dagger Iron Tooth. That is useful confirmation that the release build exposes named base weapons and their built-in MOD text in the equipment interface. It is not enough to publish an unlock table, a drop table, or exact numerical effects: one creator's save state cannot establish availability, scaling, or whether a later patch changes the result.
Our rule for the next layer of this database is deliberately boring: each named weapon needs a clear on-screen source plus independent confirmation before it receives its own entry. Until then, the safe takeaway is to inspect the full item card before you sell or fuse a duplicate, then read the EX-Mods guide for how built-in and random effects differ.
One-Handed Sword
| Type | One-handed · 1-handed |
|---|---|
| Shield | Compatible |
| Role | All-rounder |
| Stamina profile | Moderate — quick recovery |
| Confirmed skills | Sharp Nail, Rage Spike, Horizontal Quad Slash |
| Pairs well with | Balanced or defense stats; any partner type |
The franchise's signature class and the safest first pick. If you're undecided, start here — it teaches the combat system without punishing experimentation, and the shield option gives defense-leaning builds somewhere to go.
Strengths: Balanced stamina economy; Shield compatibility for defense builds; Forgiving learning curve.
Watch out for: Jack of all trades — excels nowhere in particular.
Two-Handed Sword
| Type | Two-handed · 2-handed |
|---|---|
| Shield | Not compatible |
| Role | Reach & commitment |
| Stamina profile | High per swing |
| Confirmed skills | Brave Leap, Meteor Strike |
| Pairs well with | Endurance stats; a defensive or crowd-control partner |
Big arcs, big commitment. In a stamina-gauge system every whiffed heavy is a dodge you can no longer afford, so this rewards players who read tells patiently rather than mashing.
Strengths: Wide arcs hit multiple enemies; High per-hit damage.
Watch out for: Long recovery — whiffs cost you a dodge; Stamina-hungry.
Two-Handed Axe
| Type | Two-handed · 2-handed |
|---|---|
| Shield | Not compatible |
| Role | Breaker / stagger |
| Stamina profile | High per swing |
| Confirmed skills | Whirlwind |
| Pairs well with | Endurance/defense stats; a healing or aggro-pulling partner |
The premier stagger weapon — ideal into bosses with poise or break gauges, and the Sentry Golem's armored back. The cost is the worst mobility in the game, which makes your partner choice load-bearing.
Strengths: Highest single-hit impact; Guard Breaks and knockdowns; Great into armored targets.
Watch out for: Worst mobility profile in the game; Partner-dependent.
Dagger
| Type | One-handed · 1-handed |
|---|---|
| Shield | Not compatible |
| Role | Speed & risk |
| Stamina profile | Low per hit — short bursts |
| Confirmed skills | Rapid Bite, Swarm Sting, Emerald Edge |
| Pairs well with | Speed stats; an offensive partner that keeps enemies occupied |
Minimal range, maximal speed, and the strongest hit-and-run rhythm in the roster. The skill floor is high — you live one greedy combo from a counter — but the ceiling may be the highest here.
Strengths: Fastest attack speed; Thrown-blade ranged option; Strong hit-and-run mobility.
Watch out for: Minimal reach; High skill floor — greedy combos get punished.
Rapier
| Type | One-handed · 1-handed |
|---|---|
| Shield | Compatible |
| Role | Precision duelist |
| Stamina profile | Low — fast recovery |
| Confirmed skills | Lier Lunge, Cyclone |
| Pairs well with | Speed/intelligence stats; a support partner with buffs |
The duelist. You fight at the very tip of your range, where enemy swings whiff and yours don't. A natural fit for boss-heavy play and speed-focused avatars — the weapon fans associate with Asuna.
Strengths: Excellent single-target pressure; Chains attacks and counters easily; Shield-compatible — rare reach-plus-defense combination.
Watch out for: Weak crowd control; Rewards spacing discipline.
Mace
| Type | One-handed · 1-handed |
|---|---|
| Shield | Compatible |
| Role | Unglamorous powerhouse |
| Stamina profile | Moderate–high |
| Confirmed skills | Wave Bash |
| Pairs well with | Defense/endurance stats; an offensive partner to add damage |
The unglamorous survivor. Blunt impact shrugs off the situations where blades struggle (golems, armor), and shield compatibility makes it the tankiest one-handed identity — an underrated pick for learning the game.
Strengths: Strong charged heavy attacks; Shield compatibility; Effective vs golems/armor.
Watch out for: Lower top-end speed than blades.
Which should you main?
There's no wrong answer for a first run, but the shortest path to each fantasy:
| If you want… | Pick |
|---|---|
| A safe, flexible first weapon | One-handed sword |
| Big numbers and wide arcs | Two-handed sword |
| Boss staggers and armor breaks | Two-handed axe |
| Fast, risky, stylish play | Dagger |
| Precise duels and spacing | Rapier |
| A tanky, forgiving learning curve | Mace |
One thing to weigh before you settle: the game tracks weapon proficiency per type, developing as you use a weapon. That means swapping your main isn't free — a new type starts cold while your old one sits at its earned rank. It's not a reason to avoid experimenting in the demo (that's exactly what the demo is for), but once the full game is live, committing to a type and building its proficiency compounds over time.
Because the demo lets you try all six and your progress transfers to the full game, the low-risk move is to sample two or three before committing. Test them against the Sentry Golem — its slow, armored body is a clean shooting range for feeling out a weapon's punish rhythm.
The Proto-Elucidator pre-order pack
Pre-ordering any edition grants the Proto-Elucidator pack: early-game weapons across all six types, bundled with shields and blueprints. Two things hide in that description — shields exist as a real equipment layer (relevant to sword and mace builds), and blueprints imply a crafting/forging loop feeding the Smithy's weapon upgrades. Details in our editions & pre-order guide.
FAQ
How many weapon types are in Echoes of Aincrad?
Which weapon is best for beginners?
Can you use a shield in Echoes of Aincrad?
Can you change weapons later?
Where to go next
Read the full playstyle breakdown in the weapon types explainer, put your pick to work in the Illfang boss guide, or plan your stat spread in the character creation guide.
Sources
Weapon types, shield compatibility and skill names from the official Weapon Overview and Steam store listing; frames captured from the same official trailer.
- Echoes of Aincrad — Official Weapon Overview
- Echoes of Aincrad — Steam store listing
- SwoleBenji — retail weapon-tree footage (single-source menu sightings only; not used for rankings or numerical values)