Best Dark and Darker Weapons | Tier List (2024)

Much of the gameplay loop in Dark and Darker revolves around enduring grueling dungeons in the hopes to escape with the best weapons, armor, and loot you can find. These spoils enable you to defeat enemies more confidently and explore deeper into the dungeon during future adventures. However, you may be feeling in the dark about which weapons are worth wielding and which should be chucked off to a merchant. This Dark and Darker weapons tier list will answer that question by ranking all 55 of the game’s weapons. While Dark and Darker weapons come in 8 rarity levels, this tier list will rank them based on their highest rarity stats.

Weapon Tier List Key

Here’s what each tier means:

• S - Near perfection. The best weapons in the game.
• A - Excellent. Great in almost any scenario.
• B - Good with only minor flaws which can be mitigated.
• C - Has significant flaws but is decent overall.
• D - Poor. Has a low level of utility.
• F - Never worth equipping.

S Tier Dark and Darker Weapons

• Aegis
• Heater Shield
• Life After Death
• Famine, Elven Bow of Truth
• Nipalan
• Pestilence
• Pulverizing Prayer
• Cinder
• Fulgor
• Kuma’s Fang

Predictably enough, the majority of weapons in S tier are Unique weapons: super high-stat variations of their standard counterparts with added features like damage modifiers and enemy debuffs. You’ll undoubtedly struggle to come across these as they can only be obtained from bosses in High-Roller dungeons. These dungeons are definitely not for the faint of heart but if you’re successful, you’ll end up with some of the best gear in the game.

A Tier Dark and Darker Weapons

• Pavise
• Spellbook
• Battle Axe
• Felling Axe
• Double Axe
• Longbow
• Recurve Bow
• Windlass Crossbow
• Morning Star
• War Maul
• Wizard Staff
• Halberd, Spear
• Kuma’s Claw
• Longsword
• Rondel Dagger
• Crystal Sword
• Zweihander

A Tier features some classic weapon choices that won’t let you down. For example, the Longsword, an evenly balanced melee weapon with the additional defensive abilities of parry and riposte. Other entries include the Pavise, a high fantasy answer to a riot shield; essential magic user items like the Spellbook and the Crystal Sword; and some seriously powerful two-handed weapons that don’t excessively tank your movement speed.

B Tier Dark and Darker Weapons

• Hatchet
• Horseman’s Axe
• Hand Crossbow
• Crossbow
• Kris Dagger
• Stiletto Dagger
• Flanged Mace
• Magic Staff
• Quarterstaff
• Flute
• Arming Sword
• Falchion
• Short Sword
• Viking Sword
• Viola

Most of the entries in B Tier are just shy of greatness — just undercut by other weapons that do what they do but just a little bit better. One odd exception is the Flute, a Bard-specific weapon that you can use to play musical spells. Weirdly enough you can also use the Flute to parry and riposte, which just about keeps it out of C Tier. 

C Tier Dark and Darker Weapons

• Buckler
• Round Shield
• Survival Bow
• Crystal Ball
• Lyre
• Drum
• Lute
• Rapier
• Castillion Dagger

In Tier C, we have the rest of the Bard-specific weapons. While the Bard is an interesting class, its equipment really isn’t where it shines. The weaker shield options are also included, as they don’t offer enough protection to be worth giving up a hand that could be better occupied.

D Tier Dark and Darker Weapons

• Magic Wand
• Bardiche

What did these weapons do to deserve being relegated to D Tier? The Magic Wand is the weakest magical weapon, its only stat offerings being debuffs to your movement and action speed. Meanwhile, the Bardiche asks you to trade a maximum 71 damage and 11.7 range in exchange for -50 movement speed, -35% attack speed, -35% block reaction, and -35% defense. That’s far too hefty a price to pay when compared to other polearms.

F Tier Dark and Darker Weapons

• Unarmed

Please don’t tell me you’re going to try to complete the dungeon with your bare fists. Unless a Monk class comes to Dark and Darker, this is absolutely not a feasible strategy.