Ashes of Creation Weapons Tier List

AoC gives players a lot of freedom when it comes to the choice of weapons. There’s a lot of weapon types out there, and each archetype actually has two sets - one for melee and one for ranged combat. So, how do you choose the right one for you build for both combat ranges? This Ashes of Creation best weapons tier list breaks down how the current weapons stack up in the Alpha meta, highlighting which options are worth prioritizing and which ones are more situational. Besides the ranking, we’ll also break down each weapon, and you’ll learn more about how the combat system works. For example, why does any one-handed weapon type need an offhand equipped if it doesn’t fit your class?

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Read our other Ashes of Creation guides:

• Crafting Guide
• Best Settings Guide
• Summoner Guide
• Best PvP Builds
• Gold Farming Guide
• Leveling Guide
• Gearing Guide

How This Ashes of Creation Weapon Tier List Works

For this Ashes of Creation weapons tier list, we’re ranking every weapon type currently available in the game, all within a single list. We are not splitting weapons into separate tier lists by archetype or role, since any class can use any weapon and swap between melee and ranged sets during combat. Instead, this list focuses on how each weapon performs overall in the current Alpha meta.

The rankings are based on how weapons perform in real gameplay, both in PvE and PvP. Some weapons have better skills in their skill trees. Others have better combos, the ability to hit more than one enemy, aka “cleave,” and other aspects. We’re ranking the weapon types based on these factors.

Here’s what each tier represents in this ranking:

• S-Tier - This tier is for the best weapons in the game for one reason or another. This applies to offhand weapons as well. Once we get to the explanations, you’ll learn that the DPS isn’t the only thing that can make a weapon type meta.
• A-Tier - This tier is for very solid weapons. They’re just slightly worse than s-tier due to one minor factor, which can honestly change in a couple of days with a new patch.
• B-Tier - Solid and usable weapons that get the job done but are generally outclassed by higher-tier options when min-maxing.
• C-Tier - Not very good weapons due to various reasons.

There’s one more unique criterion that we want to mention before we begin to break down what the AoC weapons meta looks like in the current version of the game. Also, don’t forget that the game gets integrated pretty regularly, since it's still in the alpha stage of development. So, there’s a good chance that this tier list will get outdated pretty quickly. And let’s be honest, it will happen. We will do our best to keep it updated and relevant, but you must still expect massive changes in how weapons and combat work in AoC.

Auto Attack as a Criterion for Ranking Weapons in AoC

Many new players misunderstand how much power comes from auto attacks. This matters because weapon rankings in this tier list are heavily influenced by how well each weapon’s auto-attack chain scales through its skill tree.

Auto attacks are not just basic filler damage. Every weapon has a fixed attack sequence made up of basic hits, a finisher, and, in many cases, an extended finisher. The finisher and extended finisher are where most of a weapon’s damage, status effects, and procs come from, especially once skill points are invested. BLOG20

Weapon skill trees directly enhance these finishers. Early nodes increase finisher damage or add a chance for deadly finishers, which deal more damage and apply effects like Wounded. Deeper nodes extend the combo itself, turning a simple three-hit chain into a four-hit sequence with an extended finisher that hits hardest of all.

This is why trigger chance, penetration, and finisher bonuses are prioritized when ranking weapons. Weapons with skill trees that heavily scale finishers gain far more value per auto-attack cycle than weapons with weaker or awkward chains. Over time, this difference becomes massive in both PvE cleave scenarios and PvP burst windows.

High-tier weapons in this guide, such as Longbows, Axes, and Spellbooks, rank highly because their auto-attack chains gain multiple procs, damage increases, and utility effects as the tree fills out. Lower-tier weapons fall behind not because they are unusable, but because their auto attacks gain less value from skill investment.

Understanding this connection between auto attacks and weapon skill trees explains why certain weapons dominate the meta, and others act mainly as stat sticks. The tier list reflects how efficiently each weapon converts skill points into real combat power.

Ashes of Creation Weapons Tier List

The ranking below is based on the current version of the game, the Alpha 2, which was released on Steam in late 2025. This game has come a long way in its development, and as you’re about to see, it already features a lot of unique weapon types. Either way, Ashes of Creation weapons are ranked within a single table to give a clear overview of which options offer the most value right now and which ones are more situational. Since any archetype can use any weapon and swap weapon sets mid-combat, you really gotta keep in mind two weapon sets instead of one.

If you don’t agree with this tier list, remember something else. Every weapon in Ashes of Creation can clear content, so generally speaking, it doesn’t even matter what weapon type you use unless you’re trying to min/max your build. This tier list might be more viable if you’re making a PvP build, since it's safe to assume that everyone there is doing the same, i.e., trying to get the most out of their weapons.

S-Tier Weapons Explained

These are the best weapons to use in Ashes of Creation. They offer the most consistent value, strong weapon skill trees, and excellent performance across both PvE and PvP.

• Longbows (Cindersong, Longbow of Briarhome)

Longbows are the strongest weapon in Ashes of Creation overall right now. They have the longest effective range, which means you can start your rotation from a really safe distance. Plus, they have a passive that can make you proc the anti-healing effect, which is extremely useful in PvP. And finally, the auto-attack combo is clean and easy to follow, making it noob-friendly.

• Spell Books (Ars Incantaris ("Art of Spellcraft"), Canticle of the Hollow Deep)

Spell Books are the only ranged weapons with built-in AoE basic attacks, which makes them Ashes of Creation best weapons for PvE. Every auto attack can hit multiple targets and apply status effects to all of them, which makes Spell Books incredibly strong for proc-based builds and group fights. This alone pushes them into S-Tier for almost every archetype.

• One-Hand Axes (Deepweld Stonegrip Axe, Glassveil Sunwrought Axe)

One-hand axes are among Ashes of Creation best weapons thanks to their weapon skill tree. That skill tree has multiple passives for increasing base damage, the attack speed, and armor penetration – all the things you need in a melee build. Pick the right offhand, and you’ll have a very solid build.

• Two-Hand Axes (Academant Great Axe, Crossways Cleaver)

Two-hand axes share the same weapon skill tree as one-hand axes, which makes them just as strong. They benefit from the same double base damage scaling and armor pen while having higher overall damage and cleave potential. In terms of raw melee power, they are S-Tier without question.

• Shields (Aegis of Soot, Barnacle Buckler)

Shields are the best offhand choice, especially in PvP. They provide block chance, damage mitigation, and survivability that no other offhand can match. While they sacrifice some offensive stats, the defensive value they offer makes them S-Tier for any build that cares about staying alive.

A-Tier Weapons Explained

A-Tier weapons are strong, reliable picks that perform very well but fall just short of being outright dominant. They usually lack one defining advantage that S-Tier weapons have, or they shine only in specific roles.

• Two-Hand Swords (Bladebinders' Montante, Bone Shard Greatsword)

Two-hand swords are extremely solid melee weapons with strong base damage, good attack speed scaling, and excellent cleave. Their swings feel smooth, their range is forgiving, and the weapon skill tree offers reliable damage bonuses. They are not as overloaded as axes, but they are one of the safest melee choices in the game.

• One-Hand Swords (Cadet's Poignard, Forsaken Sabre)

One-hand swords offer a well-balanced mix of base damage increases and attack speed. They feel consistent and flexible, especially when paired with a strong offhand. While they lack the double damage scaling of axes, they are still very dependable across most content.

• Two-Hand Maces (Maul of Living Stone, Academant Great Mace)

Two-hand maces hit extremely hard and offer good penetration and cleave. Their animations feel weighty but effective, making them strong in both PvE cleave situations and controlled PvP fights. They are slightly less flexible than swords due to slower pacing, which keeps them just below S-Tier.

• One-Hand Scepters (The Murmuring Seal, Briarhome Scepter)

Scepters function like magical maces and feel very smooth to play. They have good cleave, clean animations, and strong synergy with magic-focused builds. For casters who want a melee weapon that actually feels good to use, scepters are one of the best options.

• Shortbows (Briarhome Shortbow, Stormcurrent Squallcrest Shortbow)

Shortbows are situational but powerful in the right hands. Their fast attack speed and multi-projectile behavior make them excellent for proc-based builds, especially for rogues and certain support playstyles. They lack the range and overall dominance of longbows, which is why they stay in A-Tier.

• Wands (Briarhome Wand, Flamedancer) 

Wands offer strong single-target pressure and excellent proc potential thanks to their multiple-hit patterns. Their main downside is the finisher animation, which briefly locks movement and can feel dangerous in PvP. Despite that, they remain a strong and popular ranged option.

B-Tier Weapons Explained

B-Tier weapons are not currently in the Ashes of Creation meta weapons because they start to show clear limitations once you begin optimizing your build. They’re good but not great. You know how it goes.

• One-Hand Maces (Beastwarden's Prod, Mace of Briarhome)

One-hand maces are not bad, but they feel underwhelming compared to other one-handed melee weapons. They lack the standout damage scaling of axes and the smooth flow of swords. While they can still perform with the right setup, they rarely feel like the best choice.

• Dual Daggers (Bloodwrought Athames, Dunzentine Daggers)

Dual daggers mainly function as stat sticks rather than true combat weapons. They feel awkward to use, offer limited cleave, and do not provide enough upside through their weapon skill tree to justify regular use. They can work in very specific builds, but they are generally outclassed. BLOG20

• Focus (Proctor's Focus, Anchor of the Shattered Will)

The Focus exists almost entirely as a stat stick. It is useful for matching the power level of two-handed weapons when using a one-handed setup, but it provides no real defensive or gameplay utility. It does its job, but nothing more. 

C-Tier Weapons Explained

C-Tier in the Ashes of Creation Alpha 2 weapons tier list are the most situational options in the current meta. They are not unusable, but their weapon skill trees, attack flow, or combat value make them hard to justify once better alternatives are available. These are usually picked only if you are limited by drops, crafting, or very specific roleplay preferences.

• Rapier (Dunzentine Rapier, Stormcurrent Squallpoint Rapier)

The rapier suffers from poor cleave range and an underwhelming weapon skill tree. Its attack flow feels awkward, and it does not offer enough damage or utility to compensate. In both PvE and PvP, it is consistently outperformed by swords, axes, and even daggers.

• Spear (Adjudicator's Yard, Briarhome Spear)

Spears look appealing on paper but fall apart in practice. The cleave arc is narrow, positioning feels strict, and the skill tree offers very little that stands out. They can work as stat sticks, but as active weapons, they are hard to recommend.

Conclusion

Weapons in Ashes of Creation are more than just damage sources. Their value comes from how well their skill trees scale, how smoothly their attack patterns fit into real combat, and how effectively they pair with armor choices, offhands, and mid-combat weapon swapping. While every weapon can clear content, some clearly offer stronger advantages in the current Alpha meta, especially for players who want to optimize performance in PvP and endgame PvE.

This tier list is meant to help guide those decisions, not lock you into a single path. Balance changes, skill tree updates, and future patches will inevitably shift these rankings. Use this list as a reference point, experiment with what feels good for your playstyle, and be ready to adapt as Ashes of Creation continues to evolve.

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