Elin is the long-awaited sequel to Elona, the legendary Japanese freeware sandbox RPG known for its bizarre freedom and emergent gameplay. You start in a procedurally generated world where you can be a warrior, farmer, merchant, thief, or anything in between — simultaneously. The game features town building where you attract and manage citizens, a pet system with breeding and gene modification, and dungeons (called Nefia) that scale to your level. Elin inherits Elona's DNA of radical player freedom while adding modern polish and a town management layer.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Sword | S | Warrior for reliable melee combat | The standard melee weapon with balanced damage and speed. |
| Staff | A | Mage for spell damage amplification | The magic casting focus that boosts spell damage and mana regeneration. |
| Bow | A | Any build wanting ranged combat capability | Ranged weapon for safe distance combat. |
| Pickaxe | B | Farmer and Merchant builds for resource gathering | A mining tool that doubles as a weapon. |
| Fishing Rod | B | Farmer and peaceful playstyle builds | Catches fish from water sources for food and sale. |
S-Tier: Long Sword
The standard melee weapon with balanced damage and speed. Long Sword skill improves through combat use. Higher skill levels unlock special attacks and increase damage. The most versatile melee option.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Warrior for reliable melee combat |
| Key Mechanic | sandbox RPG |
| Recommended Build | Warrior |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Long Sword: Pairs naturally with Warrior thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Staff
The magic casting focus that boosts spell damage and mana regeneration. Staves improve casting speed and spell effectiveness. Higher-tier staves found in deep Nefia provide significant magic power boosts.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Mage for spell damage amplification |
| Key Mechanic | town building |
| Recommended Build | Mage |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Staff: Pairs naturally with Mage thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Bow
Ranged weapon for safe distance combat. Bow skill improves with use, and higher skill levels increase accuracy and damage. Arrows are craftable from wood and feathers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Any build wanting ranged combat capability |
| Key Mechanic | pet system |
| Recommended Build | Thief |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Bow: Pairs naturally with Thief thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Pickaxe
A mining tool that doubles as a weapon. The Pickaxe extracts ore from mine nodes in dungeons and the overworld. Mining provides crafting materials for weapons and armor. Essential for self-sufficient crafting builds.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Farmer and Merchant builds for resource gathering |
| Key Mechanic | crafting |
| Recommended Build | Farmer |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Pickaxe: Pairs naturally with Farmer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Fishing Rod
Catches fish from water sources for food and sale. Fishing skill improves catch quality and variety. Fish provide cooking ingredients and can be sold for steady income. A peaceful alternative to combat-based income.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Farmer and peaceful playstyle builds |
| Key Mechanic | gene modification |
| Recommended Build | Merchant |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Fishing Rod: Pairs naturally with Merchant thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Starter Town
- Staff → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Bow → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Long 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.
- Build your town gradually — resources are scarce early and overbuilding creates food shortages. Start with a farm, a bed, and a workbench.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Elin Guides
- Elin Elin Overview
- Elin Best Builds
- Elin Tier List
- Elin Walkthrough
- Elin Beginner's Guide
- Elin Tips & Tricks
- Elin Combat Guide
- Elin Boss Guide
- Elin Maps & Locations
- Elin Crafting Guide
- Elin Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Elin, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Weapons Guide — rpg game with similar mechanics
