So many weapons in Dead Cells, how to choose? Maybe this list will help!
To those who do not know, Dead Cells is a 2018 roguelike developed by Motion Twin with a double dose of brutal, fast-paced combat and a nearly endless arsenal of weapons to keep you alive. You hack and slash your way through almost twenty unique biomes with hordes of enemies getting in line to end your run.
The 56 melee and ranged weapons, 14 shields, and 45 abilities are all that stand between you and the hordes waiting just beyond the first door. Some weapons, of course, will prove to be greater assets to you than others, and here is a list of 10 of the best weapons to keep you alive in Dead Cells, and where to find them.
10. Infantry Bow: (Best for high close-range damage and versatility)
The Infantry Bow is one of the first blueprints you will come across while playing Dead Cells. It is dropped from Undead Archers, mobs who you will encounter early and often while playing. Critical hits trigger when it hits enemies close to the player. A ranged weapon designed for close combat, this is a great blueprint to unlock early.
Why the Infantry Bow is Great
- The crits are easy to land. The enemies all come to you, practically lining themselves up to be slain.
- It is a versatile weapon, scaling with brutality and tactics.
- It can function as either a ranged and a melee weapon. At longer ranges, while losing the crit, it works to pick off pesky flying enemies or other low health mobs and at shorter ranges, it tears into the tankiest foes with the aforementioned critical hits.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Infantry_Bow
9. Assault Shield (Best for blocking projectiles)
Full disclosure: this is the only shield that I use. Dead Cells is a game full of fast-paced and hectic combat. Risks and rewards. For me, shields don’t often fit into that. But a shield that lets you rush forward, shield out, parrying attacks, and reflecting any projectiles that come your way? That’s a shield I can get behind. The blueprint is found in the timed door room leading into the Promenade of the Condemned.
Why the Assault Shield is Great
- The parry timing for this shield is easier than others. It is longer and it brings you closer to your enemies and in range of your other weapon.
- Parrying with this shield keeps the momentum going, functioning similarly to a dodge roll.
- Hitting enemies with the parry shoves them backward, meaning you can push enemies off of ledges. That never gets old.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Assault_Shield
8. Marksman’s Bow (Best for long-range engagements)
The Marksman’s Bow is the sniper’s best friend. It inflicts critical hits as long as the enemies are far away, and it is the perfect weapon for starting engagements (and ending them, often as not). The blueprint for this weapon is found in a timed door between Promenade of the Condemned and the Ossuary.
Why the Marksman’s Bow is Great
- Able to slay enemies before they aggro to you, sometimes before they are even on the screen.
- Great for taking down bosses, specifically the ones that like to jump away from you. (i.e. The Time Keeper and the Concierge)
- Not all criticals are created equal. Specifically, the Marksman’s Bow crits do 6x damage, making its crits even more critical than other crits.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Marksman%27s_Bow
7. Symmetrical Lance (Best for crowd control)
The Symmetrical Lance is a badass boss weapon wielded by the game’s final boss: The Hand of the King. It has a giant blade at each end, and, unfortunately, will probably be the last thing you see in a few runs. After you kill him for the first time you unlock this weapon. If you kill two enemies in a row, every hit crits for six-second. On top of that, the second swing in each three swing combo hits in front of and behind you.
Why the Symmetrical Lance is Great
- Badass. It is the weapon wielded by the game’s final boss and there’s something special about that.
- Best when surrounded by enemies. Its long reach and powerful strikes turn frantic engagements into a piece of cake.
- Even though it shines when surrounded, it dishes out the hurt even when facing only a single foe.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Symmetrical_Lance
6. Ice Bow (Best for freezing enemies)
As you may have figured out, this bow shoots arrows that freeze enemies. This is a very practical bow. It does not deal any significant amount of damage nor does it crit, but freezing enemies is huge. This is one of the best secondary weapons to have, able to set up engagements for your other weapon (maybe the symmetrical lance) to capitalize on. The blueprint drops from Undead Archers, enemies which you will encounter in droves through the first couple areas. Easy enough to acquire.
Why the Ice Bow is Great
- Works with almost every build. It scales with tactics and survival, but the freezing effect is what makes this bow great, not the damage.
- After enemies unfreeze their movement and attacks are slowed, giving you more breathing room in any situation.
- It can freeze enemies from afar, giving you time to approach or run away or heal or set up a great combo.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Ice_Bow
5. Frantic Sword (Best for consistent damage)
This is a weapon for those who like to live dangerously, but not so dangerous as to wield the Cursed Sword. (You may notice I did not include the Cursed Sword on this list. I am not strong enough to wield that weapon.) The Frantic Sword inflicts critical hits when your health is less than 50%, allowing you to dish out double damage while still being able to take a few hits before dying. This blueprint is dropped from Kamikazes, those pesky green bomb-carrying bats that inhabit every area.
Why the Frantic Sword is Great
- Deals decent damage even when not critting, making it usable for the whole run.
- Rewards clean play at low health with constant crits.
- Swings like a standard sword, with its quick attacks complementing fast play.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Frantic_Sword
4. Sadist’s Stiletto (Best for fast critical strikes)
This nasty dagger has earned its name, dealing critical strikes to foes who are bleeding or poisoned. It boasts fast attacks and critical hits that do double damage. It excels at focusing down one enemy, working best on bosses and elites. The blueprint is on the harder side to acquire, dropping from an unpleasant enemy with the name of “Impaler” that only exists in the Ancient Sewers and the Dilapidated Arboretum. They are, however, easy to spot, being a stationary, large mushroom that turns the floor into a deadly mass of spikes.
Why the Sadist’s Stiletto is Great
- Its critical condition is very easily met. On top of loads of weapons and abilities that inflict bleeding or poison, there is a mutation that allows every single melee strike to apply bleed.
- It scales with both brutality and tactics, making it one of only 4 tactics melee weapons.
- It is easy to build around, allowing you to focus on stacking bleeding and poison on enemies.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Sadist%27s_Stiletto
3. Hokuto’s Bow (Best for increasing DPS)
Hokuto’s Bow, like the Ice Bow, does not deal out damage on its own or have a critical condition. It marks enemies, increasing damage dealt to them. It works wonderfully in tandem with another weapon, making enemies suffer more damage with every hit. It is often hard to find two weapons that function well together, but Hokuto’s Bow pairs with almost everything. The Blueprint is dropped from “Cannibals,” fearsome enemies known to inhabit the Clock Tower.
Why Hokuto’s Bow is Great
- It synergizes well with any tactics build and is the perfect way to start each engagement.
- Enemies killed with a mark spread it to every nearby enemy, making it a great tool against any number of enemies.
- It allows your other weapon to shine and doesn’t need a lot of attention.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Hokuto%27s_Bow
2. Lightning Bolt (Best for mid-range combat)
Besides fulfilling everyone’s “unlimited power” dreams, the Lightning Bolt is one of the most powerful weapons in Dead Cells. It deals constant damage, inflicting critical hits after holding for five ticks. But you must be careful with this weapon, as after five critical hits it starts damaging you! This is indicated through the color of the bolts, starting blue, then turning yellow for crits, then red, signifying the danger that is to come. This blueprint is dropped from Inquisitors, robed, and ranged enemies found in later stages of the game.
Why the Lightning Bolt is Great
- Turns any breathing room into an electrical storm, dealing massive damage to enemies in range.
- Can shred through normal mobs or take down large chunks of elite or boss health.
- It synergizes well with weapons that freeze or root enemies, giving you time to charge up the critical strikes.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Lightning_Bolt
1. Alchemic Carbine (Best for damage over time)
The Alchemic Carbine. My favorite weapon in all of Dead Cells. This ranged weapon shoots large projectiles that burst into poisonous clouds on impact. Enemies in the clouds suffer tick after tick of poison damage potent enough to shred all enemies in your path. The blueprint is located in a secret area in the Toxic Sewers that does not always spawn in, so it might take multiple runs to find it. It’ll be worth it.
Why the Alchemic Carbine is Great
- Works with almost every tactics build and it can be a primary or secondary weapon, depending on the run.
- If you aren’t focused on a speedy run, popping a shot or two into a clump of enemies and then running away will often leave nothing but gold and cells.
- The poison cloud makes this weapon viable against single enemies or groups of them.
Details: https://deadcells.gamepedia.com/Alchemic_Carbine
