Bellwright is Donkey Crew's medieval survival and town-building RPG, in Steam Early Access since 23 April 2024 and still in Early Access as of August 2026, with a full release the studio has targeted for 2026. You start as an outlaw with a knife in the region of Karvenia, and you finish as the head of a settlement that other people work in. Seven village capitals sit on the map, Haerndean, Padstow, Bradford, Farnworth, Blackridgepool, Horndean and Crasmere, and each one only hands over recruits once you have earned its Trust. The 2026 Summer Update brought a performance overhaul and console versions, while the Maiden Voyage update added the Halmare Isles as a second landmass.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| One handed sword | S | Your first fifty hours, and any fight you are not certain you can win | Balanced speed and damage, and the only melee category that pairs with a shield without a heavy penalty. |
| Two handed axe | A | Players with a Guard squad to absorb attention while they hit things | The highest damage per swing and the fastest way to drop an armoured bandit, at the cost of a shield slot and a stamina bar that empties in a handful of attacks. |
| Spear | A | Group fights and camp clearing with companions | Longest melee reach in the game, which lets you contribute to a squad fight from a position where nothing is swinging back at you. |
| Bow | B | Hunting for hides and meat, and softening bandit camps before the melee starts | Ranged damage plus the main source of Agility experience and the food supply. |
| Shield | B | Anybody still learning enemy attack timings, which is everybody for the first several villages | Blocking builds shield skill, which raises attack speed while a shield is equipped. |
S-Tier: One handed sword
Balanced speed and damage, and the only melee category that pairs with a shield without a heavy penalty. Weapon skill rises by hitting human enemies rather than animals, so bandit camps are where it levels.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Your first fifty hours, and any fight you are not certain you can win |
| Key Mechanic | Village Trust and Renown recruiting |
| Recommended Build | Worker |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using One handed sword: Pairs naturally with Worker thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Two handed axe
The highest damage per swing and the fastest way to drop an armoured bandit, at the cost of a shield slot and a stamina bar that empties in a handful of attacks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Players with a Guard squad to absorb attention while they hit things |
| Key Mechanic | Villager jobs and work priorities |
| Recommended Build | Companion |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Two handed axe: Pairs naturally with Companion thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Spear
Longest melee reach in the game, which lets you contribute to a squad fight from a position where nothing is swinging back at you. Lower damage per hit than an axe, higher survivability than either.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Group fights and camp clearing with companions |
| Key Mechanic | Production chains and research |
| Recommended Build | Guard |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Spear: Pairs naturally with Guard thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Bow
Ranged damage plus the main source of Agility experience and the food supply. Arrows are crafted, so a bow build needs a wood and feather pipeline running before it can be used seriously.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Hunting for hides and meat, and softening bandit camps before the melee starts |
| Key Mechanic | Liberating bandit camps and villages |
| Recommended Build | Hauler |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Bow: Pairs naturally with Hauler thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Shield
Blocking builds shield skill, which raises attack speed while a shield is equipped. Because the block and counter loop is the core defensive rhythm, shield skill quietly improves the whole sword build.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Anybody still learning enemy attack timings, which is everybody for the first several villages |
| Key Mechanic | Stamina based melee with companions |
| Recommended Build | Crafter |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Shield: Pairs naturally with Crafter 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 Haerndean
- Two handed axe → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Spear → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- One handed sword → 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.
- Trust and Renown are two separate gates. Trust decides which recruits a village will offer, Renown pays for them. Grinding one without the other stalls your population either way.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Bellwright Guides
- Bellwright Bellwright Overview
- Bellwright Best Builds
- Bellwright Tier List
- Bellwright Walkthrough
- Bellwright Beginner's Guide
- Bellwright Tips & Tricks
- Bellwright Combat Guide
- Bellwright Boss Guide
- Bellwright Maps & Locations
- Bellwright Crafting Guide
- Bellwright Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Bellwright, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Weapons Guide: survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Weapons Guide: survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Weapons Guide: survival game with similar mechanics
