Swords, spears, axes, bows, and gauntlets: Weapon roles in prerelease footageMinor spoilers

Original video: “Is the age of neglected swords finally over? Weapon analysis from a high-difficulty player” | Japanese creator Strategist Semimaru | Watch the original video

Greater development freedom makes difficulty balance harder#

The prerelease battle footage offers more than damage numbers to anticipate. Weapons can also move characters into different roles. Consider difficulty alongside development freedom: characters can change classes, be recruited, explore labyrinths during preparation, and upgrade weapons and Combat Arts. Players can bring very different strengths to the same battle. Finding an efficient development method changes the clearing experience.

I therefore want to know whether high difficulty makes these choices matter. An additional higher difficulty was the update I most anticipated then. More development branches also mean more work balancing each approach.

Sword follow-up damage combines with accuracy#

Swords’ most appealing feature is 1.2-times follow-up damage. In the footage, Iron Sword is more accurate and lighter than Iron Bow.

Iron Sword compared with Iron Bow	Difference
Hit	+10
Weight	-2

That makes Hit and Attack Speed easier to maintain. Reliable melee attacks with extra follow-up damage fit the role I want swords to have.

Combat Arts can also follow up, another crucial point. Fast sword users need not choose between an art’s effect and a second hit. Some effects apply to the follow-up too. Compare the whole combat sequence, not only the first hit’s might.

Spears target cavalry while axes need Hit#

Spears are effective against cavalry, with clear uses against horse and Ornius riders. Two spear-wielding cavalry units also exploit each other’s weakness, so check the opponent’s weapon before charging.

Axes trade low Hit for high might, with higher Combat Art durability in the shop footage. If abilities fix Hit, the power becomes reliable. Otherwise, impressive stats can still produce a miss. Mikaela improves Hit when close to enemies, helping address this axe weakness.

Magical gauntlets and Combat Art durability#

Gauntlets no longer stand out through a default player-phase double hit; their introduction emphasizes Avoid. More interesting to me are magical gauntlets in the category. The footage shows 1–2 Range, follow-ups, and magical damage. That coverage appeals for characters with enough durability, Speed, and Magic.

Ordinary gauntlets need Combat Arts offering different benefits to compete.

Bows still need Range and Hit against fliers#

Bows in the footage generally have 2 Range and restricted class access. Longbow also has 2 Range on regular attacks, needing Deadeye for distant targets. Ranged Hit in the footage is low, raising another question about connecting at greater distance. Peter’s bow Combat Art Range bonus therefore deserves attention.

Bows remain super-effective against fliers and have a team role. But safely picking off everyone from afar is less simple than it looks. Magic is learned by character and receives per-map uses, covering offense, healing, and battlefield-changing effects.

Higher-grade weapons and combined proficiencies#

Prerelease footage also showed Underworld weapons with purple icons, and dungeon chests can contain this equipment. Alongside upgrading ordinary weapons through tiers, this is another category worth watching.

The shop’s Wooden Sword, Bronze Sword, and Iron Sword progressively raise might and durability while retaining 90 Hit, mainly at the cost of Weight. Upcoming matches also list recommended weapon ranks, making equipment upgrades part of preparation.

Look beyond special weapon names. Longbow puts its distant attack in a Combat Art. Other weapons say “effective,” which must be distinguished from “super-effective.” Killing Edge has high Critical and its own Combat Art. Compare regular attacks, special effects, Combat Arts, and Weight to understand what a swap actually gives you.

Some weapons require two proficiencies, meaning both need training. A spear user adding swords can create different weapon combinations from one adding axes. That is more interesting than learning a little secondary skill just for a class change.