10 Best Weapons in Crimson Desert

A single-player, open-world sandbox with so much freedom to roam around. You enjoy breathtaking environments that leave you in awe of their stunning flora and fauna. From scorched deserts to bubbling streams and snow-covered mountains, environments vary in every direction. That’s Crimson Desert in a nutshell, with a massive map almost twice the size of Skyrim’s.

And as expected, hundreds of weapons await your discovery and unlocking, from swords, spears, bows, rifles, guns, etc. And you might rank them by their stats, but another distinct feature of Crimson Desert is that the specific weapon you choose doesn’t really matter. Well, possibly in line with your melee, ranged, or other playstyle, or the unique Abyss Gears they come with.

Otherwise, all weapons effectively have the same starting point and will grow stronger depending on your focus on upgrades. Essentially, picking your favorite weapon may have more to do with its cosmetic appearance and, later on, leveling it up to be the most powerful weapon at your side. Hence, our list of the best weapons in Crimson Desert focuses on the strongest weapon types instead.

10. Rifle

You want to go with the rifle when you want to shoot enemies from afar. The damage output is pretty decent and useful against bigger enemies with high health bars. But swordplay definitely rules way more than guns in Crimson Desert. 

Rifles’ effectiveness only goes so far during combat. It fires at a single enemy at a time, making it practically useless against multiple foes. Moreover, the reload speed is wanting, which can leave you in a tight spot when fighting fast-paced bosses.

9. Greataxe

And so, an axe might be more useful in enemy encounters, especially the one-handed axes with devastating damage output and critical hits. Or you might find some double-wield ones with fascinating speed.

For an even better chance of survival, you might look for greataxes. They are far more powerful, albeit slower. You can’t go wrong with a two-handed greataxe dealing massive damage. Plus, you might find greataxes that are lighter and thus, attack faster, like the Fan-Blade Greataxe.

8. Great Hammer

Hammers, like axes, are also slow-acting melee weapons. And yet deal massive damage. Weapons like the Desert Hammer are so powerful that they’re capable of breaking through skulls.

You might have to combine it with another combo-weapon, though, preferably a faster-swinging sword. And while at it, grab the stronger Great Hammer, which is a two-handed weapons that deal more damage.

7. Hand Cannon

Don’t sleep on the Hand Cannons, which keep you at a safe distance while inflicting devastating damage. The projectiles cause explosive damage without having to be precisely accurate. The timing matters, though, as does the handling, which can be bulky when firing.

It ranks high among the best weapons in Crimson Desert for its AoE attacks; the only weapon capable of crowd control, mind you. Even a single shot can wipe out multiple enemies at once. 

6. Sword and Shield

Most players, I presume, will soft-land more easily into the Sword and Shield’s playstyle. Even newbies will find their footing, quickly getting into the groove of strikes and parries. But as with most games, you’ll need a couple of strikes to take out enemies.

Furthermore, it can become overwhelming when up against multiple enemies. For this, perhaps consider dual-wield swords for a wider reach and an exhilarating burst of fast-paced combat.

5. Rapier and Shield

Next up on the list of the best weapons in Crimson Desert are Rapiers. They are one-handed weapons that give you more agility and faster attacks. Make sure to pair Rapiers with a Shield, not only for defense but to enjoy elemental perks like summoning lightning and throwing it at enemies, Captain America-style.

4. Bow

The bow’s damage output isn’t any better than Rapiers. Yet, it’s ranged-use helps keep you at a safe distance, even as you pick off faraway enemies one by one. Besides, it should come easily to beginners and veterans alike as a stealth option.

Feel free to enhance its effect via projectile types. Beyond standard arrows, you can make them poisonous, explosive, or those that have elemental effects like fire.

3. Spear

Spears are another agile option you can consider for the best weapons in Crimson Desert. Besides speedy attacks, they have a wide reach and handle multiple enemies a lot better. Not to mention that their strikes have much higher damage output, dealt over and over, and all while still keeping at a safe distance. Remember to parry and settle nicely into a rhythm of attack exchanges. 

Some Spear counter-attacks are powerful enough to break combos. With offense and defense sorted, you can comfortably take your spear to fights against multiple enemies, unleashing a flurry of attacks, and even bosses. 

2. Pistol

Pistols will never go out of style, just for their convenience when in a jam. In Crimson Desert, pistols are effective at both close and long range. On their own, pistols may not be enough to level battlefields. But when strung together with other weapons in unstoppable combos, it can be a true game-changer.

You can use it to extend damaging combos against enemies, shooting them while mid-air, and moving around the battle arena while stealing shots. Interestingly, every shot gives you a dodge, thus keeping you on the move.

There are all sorts of ways you can use Pistols to spice up your playstyle, all contributing to slashing off enemy health bars.

1. Greatsword

Of all weapons in Crimson Desert, though, the Greatsword looks and feels the best. Its fluidity and movement are pristine, while its damage output is massive. The reach of each strike is wide enough to strike enemies at a distance.

Even though swords have faster swings, the Greatsword more than makes up for it with its high stagger and burst damage. It breaks armor more easily and has satisfying finishers. When well-timed, the swing of a Greatsword is all you need to break an enemy’s stance and go in for the kill.