Guide · Combat
Echoes of Aincrad Weapon Types
Six weapon types, each a distinct playstyle with its own Sword Skills. Here's how they differ, which take a shield, and who each suits.
One-Handed Sword — balanced all-rounder
The recommended starter. A clean mix of power and speed with full shield access, ideal for learning blocks and parries. Scales into the late game and never feels like a trap pick.
Rapier — agile duelist
Quick, accurate, high-crit thrusts — and uniquely it keeps a shield. Sits between Sword and Dagger: faster than the sword, sturdier than the dagger. One of the most versatile weapons in the game.
Dagger — hyper-mobile assassin
Extreme attack speed and mobility with relentless combos, but no shield and short reach. The highest skill ceiling — superb for players who dodge rather than block. Recommended for advanced players.
One-Handed Mace — guard-breaker
Slower swings that excel at staggering and breaking enemy guards, with shield access for safety. Great crowd-control and disruption if you can manage the slower tempo.
Two-Handed Sword — heavy single-target DPS
Big sweeping attacks and powerful finishers — the highest single-target burst in the demo. No shield and long recovery, so it rewards reading enemy patterns and committing at the right moment. The boss-killer.
Two-Handed Axe — crowd control
The slowest weapon, but its Sword Skills pull enemies together and unleash wide spins that hit whole packs. Best when you're swarmed; weaker single-target than the greatsword.
Sword Skills, MODs & the blacksmith
Each weapon has its own Sword Skills, and individual weapons carry MODs / EX-MODs you can swap at the blacksmith to tune your moveset. You can change EX-MODs freely, so don't be afraid to tinker. Pair your weapon with a complementary AI partner and lock it in with the Build Planner.