Dynasty Warriors Origins has ten different weapons each providing their own unique playstyle, combos, and Battle Arts that you can unlock and master over the course of the game. However, not all weapons are made equal so we’ve made this tier list to help you pick the strongest weapons in Dynasty Warriors Origins.
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Every Weapon Ranked in Dynasty Warriors Origins
Weapon | Tier Rank |
Gauntlet | D tier |
Stave | C tier |
Spear | C tier |
Sword | B tier |
Podao | B tier |
Wheels | A tier |
Lance | A tier |
Crescent Blade | S tier |
Twin Pikes | S tier |
Halberd | SS tier |
D Tier
- Gauntlets: The Gauntlets are easily the weakest weapon in Dynasty Warriors Origins due to one simple reason. They lack the range and AoE capabilities that make any other weapon strong in a 1v1000 game like this. They can perform decently in one-on-one combat against officers, but they lack the versatility, range, and damage that a good weapon needs. Plus, Stances take up time and the payoffs are not usually worth it.
C Tier
- Stave: The Stave is a decent weapon if you enjoy tickling your enemies until the officer slaps you in the face. Jokes aside, the Staff is an alright weapon with some hefty hits and decent sweeping attacks. However, the light attacks barely deal any damage and the heavy attacks take too long to charge meaning it doesn’t have a balanced identity that suits its playstyle. That lands the Stave quite low on our list.
- Spear: Early on in the game, the Spear can be considered your best friend and a top-tier weapon, especially for 1v1 fights against tough officers and enemies. In fact, I’d place this weapon a lot higher were it not for the later-game weapons simply outclassing it. The Spear’s primary weakness is its slow heavy attacks and single-direction playstyle supported by relatively weak Battle Arts. It has the best beginner-friendly Battle Art for auto parries, but that falls off quite hard later in the game.
B Tier
- Sword: The sword is the starting weapon you unlock and if there’s one word to describe it, it would be ‘Balanced’. The Sword is a well-rounded weapon that scores a B in every single category but that also means it excels at none of them. A true jack of all trades but master of none, but a fun and reliable tool nonetheless. It can remain relevant quite late into the game thanks to its powerful Battle Arts.
- Podao: The Podao is essentially a large curved greatsword that makes use of large and heavy swings that string heavy attacks and charged heavy attacks into its regular light attack combos. It also has some of the flashiest Battle Arts in Dynasty Warriors Origins and has really good damage numbers. What holds it back is the long time it takes to charge the heavy attacks and the payoffs not being too special compared to other weapons higher on this list. You unlock the Podao during the Subjugation of the White Wave Bandits main quest.
A Tier
- Wheels: The Wheels are a weapon that can be taken up to the S-tier by masters and will be completely ignored as a C-tier weapon by others. This is because the Wheels require more commitment than other weapons to fully understand and learn their combos. They require you to perfectly time your heavy attack presses with the return animation of the Wheels. If you can master this technique they become a powerful tool that shreds everything in a wide radius around you, however, they do leave you feeling quite squishy and light. You unlock the Wheels during the Suppression of You Province mission.
- Lance: Another weapon with a unique mechanic that is either S-tier when mastered or C-tier for those who don’t understand it. The Lance relies on its retribution mechanic where you counterattack anyone who tries to attack you and it does this with fast and powerful sweeping animations that are devastating against groups of enemies. The drawbacks include the lack of range and having to stand still while charging the Endure attack. You unlock the Lance during the Battle of Xu Province by defeating Tao Qian.
S Tier
- Crescent Blade: The Crescent Blade is the ultimate crowd control tool with its wide sweeping attacks and powerful charged strong attacks. It’s a very beginner-friendly weapon that anyone can quickly pick up and master to dominate the game. However, and this is subjective, the Crescent Blade can get boring really quickly and the lack of mobility and long charge attacks leave you vulnerable against stronger enemies.
- Twin Pikes: The Twin Pikes are a devastating tool if you can master their basic heavy attack combo that relies on launching enemies in the air and keeping them there. The Battle Arts buff your attacks and your goal is to time and execute your combo correctly. If done right, the Twin Pikes have the strongest and most reliable heavy attacks in the game that can kill enemy Officers and hordes of enemies with little to no effort. The only drawbacks are the long animations and low mobility. You unlock the Twin Pikes during the Battle of Hulao Gate.
SS Tier
- Halberd: This secret weapon can only be unlocked by defeating Lu Bu at the highest difficulty after completing the game. It’s also one of the hardest challenges in the game. However, it’s absolutely worth it because the Halberd is the best weapon in Dynasty Warriors Origins. This weapon has a unique moveset that makes your mere existence on the battlefield a threat. The weapon is fun to use, flashy, and has low-cost Battle Arts that can pull enemies in, launch them in the air, and deal wide AoE damage with ease. It’s an endgame weapon that makes you feel like a true War God.
That concludes our Dynasty Warriors weapons tier list. For more guides, you should also check out all Musou abilities and all Companions.
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Published: Jan 16, 2025 2:22 AM UTC