Ubisoft Quebec released Assassin's Creed Odyssey on 5 October 2018, dropping the series into 431 BCE and the Peloponnesian War. You choose Alexios or Kassandra, a Spartan mercenary carrying the broken spear of Leonidas, and later patches pushed the level cap to 99. Forty two members of the Cult of Kosmos have to be unmasked before the Ghost of Kosmos will meet you face to face.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swords | S | General purpose play and hybrid builds that use two trees at once | The balanced middle of the seven weapon families, with reach and speed both acceptable and nothing outstanding. |
| Daggers | A | Stealth builds, Hero Strike chains and critical damage stacking | The fastest weapons in the game and the natural pairing with an Assassin build, since assassination damage multiplies with speed and critical rate. |
| Spears | A | Hunter and hybrid builds that want to poke and reposition | Longer reach than swords with a lighter hit, which keeps you outside the swing arc of most soldiers. |
| Heavy Bladed | B | Overpower attacks and Warrior ability builds | Slow, wide and heavy, built for Warrior builds that trade hits rather than avoid them. |
| Bows | B | Clearing forts from range and softening bosses before closing | The Hunter tree's whole reason to exist, powering Predator Shot, Devastating Shot and Rain of Destruction. |
S-Tier: Swords
The balanced middle of the seven weapon families, with reach and speed both acceptable and nothing outstanding. They are the safest choice while you are still learning which ability tree you enjoy.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | General purpose play and hybrid builds that use two trees at once |
| Key Mechanic | Three ability trees |
| Recommended Build | Hunter |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Swords: Pairs naturally with Hunter thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Daggers
The fastest weapons in the game and the natural pairing with an Assassin build, since assassination damage multiplies with speed and critical rate. Reach is poor, so open fights punish them.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Stealth builds, Hero Strike chains and critical damage stacking |
| Key Mechanic | Adrenaline fuelled abilities |
| Recommended Build | Warrior |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Daggers: Pairs naturally with Warrior thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Spears
Longer reach than swords with a lighter hit, which keeps you outside the swing arc of most soldiers. They pair naturally with abilities that reward staying mobile.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Hunter and hybrid builds that want to poke and reposition |
| Key Mechanic | Engravings on gear |
| Recommended Build | Assassin |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Spears: Pairs naturally with Assassin thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Heavy Bladed
Slow, wide and heavy, built for Warrior builds that trade hits rather than avoid them. Individual swings do the most damage of any melee family and interrupt more enemy attacks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Overpower attacks and Warrior ability builds |
| Key Mechanic | Mercenary tiers and bounties |
| Recommended Build | Hybrid mercenary |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Heavy Bladed: Pairs naturally with Hybrid mercenary thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Bows
The Hunter tree's whole reason to exist, powering Predator Shot, Devastating Shot and Rain of Destruction. Legendary options change the rules outright, with the Cursed Bow of Hades turning every arrow into a fire arrow.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Clearing forts from range and softening bosses before closing |
| Key Mechanic | Conquest battles and naval warfare |
| Recommended Build | Naval captain |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Bows: Pairs naturally with Naval captain thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Kephallonia
- Daggers → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Spears → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Swords → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Dismantle legendary gear you will never wear instead of selling it. Dismantling is a main source of engravings, and an engraving unlocked once can be applied to any future weapon at a blacksmith.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Assassin's Creed Odyssey Guides
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Assassin's Creed Odyssey Overview
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Best Builds
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Tier List
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Walkthrough
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Beginner's Guide
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Tips & Tricks
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Combat Guide
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Boss Guide
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Maps & Locations
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Crafting Guide
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Classes & Characters
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