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What are the best weapons in NieR:Automata? For a versatile endgame loadout, start with the Type-3 Tactical Sword, Iron Will, Spear of the Usurper and Demon’s Cry, then choose a second weapon to suit your preferred pace or survivability. There is no official universal ranking: the order below synthesizes guide recommendations, weapon abilities and practical combat roles, while recognizing that weapon combinations and playstyle matter.
This guide ranks eight weapons supported by the available class-based recommendations rather than inventing two more entries to fill a top ten. Those rankings focus on weapons at maximum upgrade and do not account for how hard they are to obtain, so an endgame favorite may not be the best next upgrade for a story-progressing player.
How to choose the best weapons in NieR:Automata
NieR:Automata has four melee weapon classes. Small swords balance power, speed and range; large swords hit hard and reach far but attack more slowly; spears have linear attacks, strong power and long reach; combat bracers give up reach for fast, numerous attacks. Square Enix’s official battle overview describes these tradeoffs and confirms that weapons can be assigned to light and heavy attacks.
You can configure two weapon sets and switch between them during combat. That makes a weapon’s value partly dependent on its partner: a quick weapon can complement a slower heavy hitter, while two weapons with different attack shapes can help you adapt to enemies and space. Upgrading raises weapon stats and unlocks weapon stories; guides also describe additional abilities and combo strings as upgrades progress.
#1 Best Overall
- Action-Packed Battles - Players will switch between using melee and ranged attacks in battle against hordes of enemies and challenging bosses across a variety of open field maps.
- Beautifully Desolate Open-World - The game seamlessly joins together hauntingly beautiful vistas and locations with no area loading.
- Masterfully Crafted Story and Characters - NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S and A2 and their ferocious battle to reclaim a machine-driven dystopia overrun by powerful weapons known as machine lifeforms.
- Elements of an RPG - Players will obtain a variety of weapon types, level up in battle, learn new combat skills, and customise a loadout that caters to their playstyle.
- Utilise the Pod Support System to Assist In and Outside of Battle - Pods can attack the enemy in both manual and lock-on modes.
The ranking below is an editorial synthesis, not a developer-issued tier list. Altema’s class rankings evaluate weapons at maximum upgrade and exclude acquisition difficulty; the guide itself notes that there are no clearly weak weapons for every player because preference and combinations vary. Treat the positions as useful starting points, not a promise that the weapon in first place is best for every character, upgrade stage, enemy or build.
Best weapons ranked
1. Type-3 Tactical Sword — small sword for hard-hitting combos
Altema recommends this small sword for its strong upper-end attack and an explosive final combo hit. Small swords’ balance of speed, power and reach makes this a practical all-rounder when you want a responsive weapon without giving up a forceful finish. Choose it if you value combo damage and a flexible role in either weapon set.
The ranking reflects its cited maximum-upgrade performance, not its availability or value at every point in the story. If your current weapon is far more upgraded, compare their actual in-game stats before spending materials.
Rank #2
- Uncover the truth behind the world of NieR and prepare to question everything in this dark, twisting tale
- Journey alongside an unlikely group of allies through a ruined world, plagued by sickness and monstrous horrors
- A mesmerizing iconic soundtrack, newly recorded by NieR:Automata composer, Keiichi
- Fight back dreadful enemies with a visceral, uniquely customizable blend of swordplay and powerful magic
2. Iron Will — large sword for durability
RPG Site describes Iron Will’s Endurance Up and Steel Spine effects, giving it a defensive slant among the large-sword options. Its class brings reach and power at the cost of attack speed, so it suits players who prefer deliberate, substantial swings and want a weapon with a durability-oriented identity.
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Its slower pace is a real tradeoff: pair it with a faster weapon in your other set if you want a quicker answer when enemies crowd you or leave only a short opening.
3. Spear of the Usurper — spear for critical potential and control
This spear is a strong choice for players who like reach and straight-line attacks. The cited guides highlight critical potential and a chance to subjugate enemies, giving it an offensive role with an additional control-oriented effect. It is a natural fit when you want to keep pressure on targets at range rather than rely on the close, rapid hits of combat bracers.
Rank #3
- Action-Packed Battles
- Beautifully Desolate Open-World
- Masterfully Crafted Story and Characters
- Elements of an RPG
- Utilise the Pod Support System to Assist In and Outside of Battle
Because the class attacks linearly, positioning matters: its reach is useful, but the attack shape is less forgiving if an enemy is not in front of you.
4. Demon’s Cry — combat bracers for groups
Demon’s Cry’s finishing shockwave makes it especially useful against groups, according to the cited weapon guides. Combat bracers attack quickly and in numbers but have less reach, so this is the pick here for players who like to stay close and turn a combo’s finish into area pressure.
The same guide cautions that the weapon’s special effect is less suited to boss fights. Consider it a crowd-clearing option rather than a single answer for every encounter.
5. Phoenix Lance — spear for sustain
Phoenix Lance offers a different reason to use a spear: the guides point to faster attacks and healing tied to attacks. That makes it the sustain-oriented alternative to Spear of the Usurper’s critical and subjugation potential. It is worth considering if maintaining health through offense matters more to you than the Usurper’s effect.
6. Iron Pipe — small sword for stun and high variance
Iron Pipe is a small-sword option associated with stun and high damage variance. The variance matters: a maximum damage ceiling should not be read as dependable average output. It is a better fit for players who enjoy its chance-driven character than for anyone looking for consistent damage from every hit.
7. Beastbane — small sword for a durability-minded setup
Beastbane is another small-sword candidate, with a defense-oriented effect and a beast-themed ability noted by RPG Site. It gives players who want a balanced class but a more durability-focused weapon an alternative to the Type-3 Tactical Sword’s combo emphasis.
Best Value
- Import Game - Japanese Version
- Compatible with US systems (region free)
- Japanese language (other languages may be included)
- Manual and packaging in Japanese language
8. Type-3 Blade — large sword for stable combos
Altema includes Type-3 Blade among its recommended large swords; its class comparison makes it the stable-combo option in that category. Choose it when you want the reach and force of a large sword but prefer a steadier combo identity than the more defensive Iron Will.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which weapons should you upgrade?
Upgrade the weapon you can use effectively now, not simply the one highest in an endgame-oriented list. Maximum-upgrade rankings do not settle the practical question of when a weapon becomes available, how much upgrading it needs, or whether you have the materials. Your character, preferred class and current weapon set also affect the payoff.
- Want a flexible starting point? Prioritize a small sword such as Type-3 Tactical Sword for its balance and combo potential.
- Prefer reach and heavy hits? Choose between Iron Will’s defensive character and Type-3 Blade’s stable-combo role.
- Want a spear? Pick Spear of the Usurper for its critical potential and subjugation chance, or Phoenix Lance for faster attacks and attack-based healing.
- Fight groups at close range? Demon’s Cry’s finishing shockwave offers a group-focused role.
- Like risk and stun? Iron Pipe’s high variance means its best-case damage is not a reliable expectation.
Before committing scarce materials, check the weapon’s current stats and ability at its present upgrade level, then consider what the next upgrade unlocks. Upgrades improve stats and reveal weapon stories, so the decision can offer more than a change in attack power.
How to make a weapon ranking work for your loadout
- Cover different combat needs. Assign a fast or balanced option alongside a weapon that brings reach, heavy hits, sustain or crowd control.
- Use both weapon sets. Configure weapons for light and heavy attacks, and practice switching during combat so you can respond to openings and enemy spacing.
- Match attack shape to the target. Spears reward lining up attacks; bracers favor close-range flurries; large swords trade speed for power and reach.
- Evaluate the weapon at your actual upgrade level. A maximum-upgrade guide ranking cannot tell you whether a weapon you can use now is a better choice than one you have not developed.
RPG Site’s weapon and acquisition guide provides ability and location references, but it was published in 2017; verify any version-sensitive detail in your game. The complete catalogue and current in-game upgrade state are more useful for deciding what to invest in than treating this cross-class order as a universal answer.
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