There's a lot that should go into choosing the primary weapon for your build in Echoes of Aincrad, especially with the various Sword Skills you'll be able to learn through mastering each of the six different weapons in the game. Doing that is a lot easier, though, when you're bringing the best weapons on your adventures.

Whether it's because of the unique mod each weapon in Echoes of Aincrad has, the base stats on a weapon, or the staggering values you can get with the right ACV alterations, you've got plenty to choose from when it comes to melee weapons.

How Do Tiers Work?

Though you have only a Sword and the optional Shield to use with it when you first begin the prologue in Echoes of Aincrad, you'll gain access to six weapon types once you reach the Town of Beginnings, if you'd like to try something else for your fighting needs. Every weapon type in the game has its pros and cons, so it's worth experimenting to see what works best for your play style.

You can upgrade the levels of your weapons in Echoes of Aincrad as you improve your Cardinal Ranking, which you'll do through progressing through key points in the main story. Weapons can be upgraded to level 20 by using other weapons and rare materials at the Smithy in any major town, and doing so will improve the weapon's base Attack stat considerably.

For our Echoes of Aincrad weapons tier list, we've broken things up into three distinct tiers, which we've sorted as follows:

  • S-Tier weapons are the cream of the crop when it comes to this game! Whether it's that they have a Mod that makes combat easier on you, the Attack stat is astronomical even before you upgrade it, or it has a potent mixture of stats to draw on with your ACV based on how you've spent your Growth Points, these weapons should be a priority.
  • A-Tier weapons in Echoes of Aincrad are still great picks, but they're not quite as powerful as those in the S-Tier. They're typically a bit easier to find, though, and are great choices until you should happen to find a stronger weapon.
  • B-Tier weapons are okay picks, especially in the earliest parts of the game, but they should be upgraded only as much as you need for the current moment and used as upgrade fodder when you get a better weapon. They're pretty good for weapons you can craft!

If you're using a weapon and find something from a higher tier, you can always give your old weapon to your favorite partner that uses that weapon type to give them a more powerful hand-me-down. Your partners use the weapons you collect as well, so be sure to have something on-hand for them to use, too!

S-Tier Weapons In Echoes Of Aincrad

Okuvlig Ande

Sword

Not only is the Okuvlig Ande one of the first Swords you'll receive with an S-rank for Dexterity when it comes to your ACV adaptations, but its Mod lowers the SP needed for Sword Skills while increasing the damage they inflict.

Aerial Stinger

Rapier

Rapier fans who like inflicting stratus ailments with their blows should try to get their hands on the Aerial Stinger, since this one not only inflicts Freeze on attacks, but it also replenishes SP when you're close to Frozen enemies. You'll also get a boost from this Rapier's ACV, since Agility is ranked B and both Dexterity and Intellect jump to C.

Cosmic Orbit

Dagger

Since Daggers use a lot of the Agility stat for their ACV boost, you'll see a bonus to attack when used with a high Agility stat. If your Agility doesn't cross that threshhold, though, you'll still see a staggering Agility boost that can easily increase your ACV.

Brazen Edge

Mace

We love when strong weapons get to show their Strength, and this one having an A-rank for the Strength modifier for your ACV is huge for anyone with a high Strength stat. You'll see it increase your down rate on the battlefield, and you also deal bonus damage based on your attack anytime you deal damage with this Mace.

Anima Bringer

Two-Handed Sword

While it might not be the Two-Handed Sword with the highest outright stats, having an A-rank from your Dexterity with this one is an easy way to give yourself an impressive ACV boost. Anima Bringer's unique Mod gives you an additional boost to damage done by Sword Skills if you use them when you're above 50% SP.

Crushing Cascade

Two-Handed Axe

With the Two-Handed Axes doing so much to down enemies, having one that gives bonus damage stacks when fighting near Downed enemies is a massive plus. Stack your damage and then lay it on one particularly strong enemy to really reap the benefits of your high Strength stat, making this one especially good for boss battles.

A-Tier Weapons In Echoes Of Aincrad

Dress Sword

Sword

If you're looking for a good way to inflict a status ailment with your weapon in Echoes of Aincrad, you'll have plenty of ways! The Dress Sword can inflict Blindness to enemies, and the attack on it increases against enemies who've been impacted.

Rapid Heat

Rapier

Rapid Heat just barely misses the S-tier for our Echoes of Aincrad weapon tier list, since only Agility and Intellect receive ACV boosts here. The Fire Charm unique mod, though, is what sets it apart, allowing you to inflict Burn onto enemies and gain an attack boost when standing near enemies that have been burned.

Obsidian Stilletto

Dagger

Another good Dagger for status ailments, the Obsidian Stilleto is only lower than the Cosmic Orbit in the S-Tier because of its lower ACV alterations. You'll still see an impressive Mod boost with Freeze infliction per attack, and this comes with an attack speed boost when near an enemy who's Frozen.

Agony Bludgeon

Mace

This Mace just looks powerful, doesn't it? It falls into the A-tier for weapons in Echoes of Aincrad due to its B rating for your Strength stat in your ACV adjustment, but its Mod gives you extra power beghind any Jump, Sprint, or Crush attacks, and it even inflicts Dazed when you land a blow.

Elven Geistblade

Two-Handed Sword

Using only your Dexterity as an ACV boost, this weapon has a staggeringly high base attack stat even befor your own ACV gets involved. It's also helpful to bring on long exploration jaunts, since it can easily replenish HP when you hit an enemy with it!

Corundum Axe

Two-Handed Axe

Still working well within the penchant for Two-Handed Axes to down enemies, the Corundum Axe falls into the A-Tier on our Echoes of Aincrad weapon tier list because it draws on Strength and Intellect for your ACV. Your Mod on this one also gives you a flat damage boost based on Strength when you use it against an enemy, and it even increases your Down Rate with Crush Attacks and Sword Skills.

B-Tier Weapons In Echoes Of Aincrad

Dread Not

Sword

With a bonus to Crushing Attack damage from Dread Not's mod and a stellar A-ranking from your Dexterity boost, you'll also see boosts to your Crushing Attack stack with successive hits.

Noble Rapier

Rapier

If you're making use of how sparse the open world can be between major areas as you explore Aincrad, then the Noble Rapier can give you a boost to damage done to enemies after you've taken a beat between fights and slammed the next foe with something powerful.

Hard Stilletto

Dagger

This one is a high risk high reward weapon for Echoes of Aincrad, since you'll increase damage done to foes but also increase damage taken in exchange. It requires both Agility and Intellect to use, too.

Sturdy Buster

Mace

We've got another status ailment-inflicting weapon with a potent base attack stat in the Sturdy Buster. It inflicts Blindness when you hit enemies, and it hits fully Blind enemies for extra damage. Needing to boost both your Strength and Intelligence, though, can make it a bit of an early-game choice.

Mithril Saber

Two-Handed Sword

One of the few B-tier weapons to inflict status ailments, the Mithril Saber is great for inflicting Freeze in battle. It deals Freeze damage with Sword Skills, and it also deals a bonus to attack based on your current attack stat.

Executor

Two-Handed Axe

Another weapon using only one low-end stat for your ACV boost with a B in Strength, you'll benefit from using the Executor axe if you're using it with consistently high HP, since you'll gain an attack boost relative to your current health.