All Dynasty Warriors Origins Weapon Types, Ranked

Dynasty Warriors Origins presents the opportunity to explore and evolve a total of ten weapon types, each of which has its own Proficiency Level to max out, Battle Arts abilities to unlock, and general strengths and weaknesses to balance out your custom abilities. However, with so many weapon types to choose from, the first hurdle that you’ll tackle in the campaign will likely come in the form of a question: Which of the ten weapon types in Dynasty Warriors Origins will match your skill set, and which one are you more likely to transform into your ultimate sidekick to compliment your nearest and dearest Companion?

10. Lance

The Lance may have the best chance of securing a slew of K.Os on a mount, but that doesn’t excuse its lack of ground clearance abilities. It’s a tutorial sort of weapon, if anything, so while it might be of good use for the initial batch of the game’s battles, that isn’t to say that it’s a sturdy companion for the second layer of battles. The point is, if you have the chance to swap to another of the nine weapon types in Dynasty Warriors Origins, then you will be far better off boosting your Proficiency Level with something similar to either a Halberd or a Staff.

9. Halberd

The Halberd, although vastly superior to most other weapons in Dynasty Warriors Origins, isn’t all that useful unless you’re planning on returning to the battlefield to mop up any post-campaign missions or side battles. As you can only unlock the Halberd by beating the thirty-plus your story mode, the weapon seems almost redundant when compared with other powerful weapons. And it’s for that reason alone that the Halberd falls short of the pinnacle of best tools in the game, sadly.

8. Twin Pikes

Twin Pikes can be a little awkward to use in an effective manner, as they’re often marred by a snail-like movement and a tediously tight-knit blast radius. If, however, you’re able to knuckle in on a duel—a one-on-one fight that’ll allow you the breathing room necessary to take full advantage of the weapon—then the Twin Pikes can prove incredibly valuable. In a typical one-versus-thousand scenario, however, you will likely struggle to make the most out of the Twin Pikes’ core abilities.

7. Spear

The Spear isn’t necessarily a bad weapon, but the fact that it’s overshadowed by the might of other, far more powerful alternative pole arms makes it seem slightly inferior to its counterparts. On the one hand, it’s a brilliant choice for those looking to prioritize crowd control, but on the other hand, it’s not quite as rapid as, say, the Staff or the Crescent Blade. For starter weapons, it’s a brilliant choice, but that isn’t to say that it should be a primary weapon for the latter half of the campaign.

6. Podao

Sluggish by design, the Podao falls short in terms of its ability to deliver prompt and efficient attacks on the battlefield. The only saving grace for its lack of swiftness, of course, is that it has an incredible damage output—an output that could quite easily carve through hordes of enemy soldiers and whittle down their morale. Unfortunately, due to it taking roughly five-to-seven business days for the strike to reach its intended target, these attacks aren’t always possible. Still, as far as best weapons in Dynasty Warriors Origins go, it’s not the worst of the bunch.

5. Gauntlet

The Gauntlet is an excellent choice of weapon for those who would much prefer to tackle one-on-one duels over city-wide armies. Unfortunately, where the Gauntlet does a phenomenal job at delivering powerful blows to enemy Officers at a short range, the iron fists struggle with crowd control and keeping on top of fairly demanding tasks, such as eliminating upwards of 300 enemies in a short period of time. Still, if you’re gearing up for a smaller battle, or if you’re tackling one of the medium-sized missions on the side of the campaign, then the Gauntlet is bound to serve you well.

4. Sword

The Sword is, of course, the bread and butter of any warrior’s basic arsenal. And that’s understandable, given its swiftness and ability to unleash devastating blows to its opponents, regardless of size or prowess. That said, to say that a sword is the best weapon type in Dynasty Warriors Origins wouldn’t necessarily be true; it stacks up as one of the most accessible, but it doesn’t quite match up to the likes of the Crescent Blade or Staff. Suffice it to say though, that if if you’re content with the fundamentals of your arsenal, then there’s absolutely no harm in sticking to the textbook weapon of choice.

3. Wheels

The Wheels, while not the most popular choice for a frequent fan of the Dynasty Warriors series, have since become one of the most powerful weapons in the Origins universe. Naturally, the Wheels are of little use against single targets, but against vast numbers of enemies, the sky well and truly does become the limit. In short, they’re swift, effective, and surprisingly easy to use as a primary weapon. What’s more, the special attack, which can be activated with a complete Musuo gauge, can deal a tremendous amount of damage.

2. Staff

The Staff, while appearing rather inadequate even at the best of times, has the power to deal surprisingly effective combos on the battlefield — and at a rapid pace, too. In addition to it being useful for crowd control, staves also serve as a useful weapon for preventing enemy Officers from unleashing their own attacks and abilities. In other words, spamming the same button pretty much equates to being invincible in most, if not all cases.

1. Crescent Blade

The Crescent Blade, at least when equipped with the stat-boosting Battle Arts abilities, has the prestige of a well-rounded and impactful weapon. Although somewhat sluggish and a little chunky, the blade has the potential of benefiting its wielder by offering a signature twist of powerful force and immense strength, therefore making it a near-perfect sidekick in any given situation.