Ubisoft Montreal shipped For Honor on 14 February 2017 built around the Art of Battle, a melee system where every guard and every attack lives in one of three stances: top, left or right. The 18 mission campaign runs three chapters against Apollyon and her Blackstone Legion, and multiplayer has grown past 30 heroes split between the Knights, Vikings, Samurai, Wu Lin and Outlanders. Marching Fire added the Wu Lin in October 2018 along with Breach, the four against four castle assault mode.
Your choice of weapons 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.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warden longsword | S | Learning the Art of Battle without fighting your own moveset | A straightforward European longsword with average reach and speed, paired with the charged Shoulder Bash that forces a reaction. |
| Kensei nodachi | A | Spacing control and punishing overextension | A two handed Japanese greatsword with the longest reach among the Vanguard heroes, ending its chain in an unblockable top heavy. |
| Lawbringer poleaxe | A | Punishing impatient opponents in one against one fights | A long polearm suited to a counter attacking Hybrid who wants to be attacked rather than to open. |
| Berserker dual axes | B | Relentless pressure and trading through light attack spam | Fast paired axes carrying hyper armour on chained heavy attacks, so the swing continues through hits that would stop another hero. |
| Nobushi naginata | B | Zone control in four against four modes and holding a capture point | The longest reach in the Samurai roster, built around poking from outside the opponent's range and applying bleed. |
S-Tier: Warden longsword
A straightforward European longsword with average reach and speed, paired with the charged Shoulder Bash that forces a reaction. It is the reference point new players measure every other hero against.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Learning the Art of Battle without fighting your own moveset |
| Key Mechanic | Art of Battle three stance guard |
| Recommended Role | Knights |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Warden longsword: Pairs naturally with Knights thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Kensei nodachi
A two handed Japanese greatsword with the longest reach among the Vanguard heroes, ending its chain in an unblockable top heavy. The reach lets a Kensei punish attacks that whiff outside everyone else's range.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Spacing control and punishing overextension |
| Key Mechanic | Revenge meter |
| Recommended Role | Vikings |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Kensei nodachi: Pairs naturally with Vikings thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Lawbringer poleaxe
A long polearm suited to a counter attacking Hybrid who wants to be attacked rather than to open. Parries and guard break follow ups do most of the work, so patient players get far more out of it than aggressive ones.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Punishing impatient opponents in one against one fights |
| Key Mechanic | Stamina and exhaustion |
| Recommended Role | Samurai |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Lawbringer poleaxe: Pairs naturally with Samurai thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Berserker dual axes
Fast paired axes carrying hyper armour on chained heavy attacks, so the swing continues through hits that would stop another hero. In exchange the Berserker has no dependable defensive option outside Deflect.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Relentless pressure and trading through light attack spam |
| Key Mechanic | Feats earned through Renown |
| Recommended Role | Wu Lin |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Berserker dual axes: Pairs naturally with Wu Lin thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Nobushi naginata
The longest reach in the Samurai roster, built around poking from outside the opponent's range and applying bleed. She is fragile up close, so the whole game is keeping the gap open.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Zone control in four against four modes and holding a capture point |
| Key Mechanic | Gear stats disabled in duels |
| Recommended Role | Outlanders |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Nobushi naginata: Pairs naturally with Outlanders thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Citadel Gate
- Kensei nodachi → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Lawbringer poleaxe → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Warden longsword → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Watch the opponent's guard indicator rather than their animation. The Art of Battle resolves on stance, so an attack coming from their right side is blocked by putting your guard on that side regardless of how the swing looks, and reading animations will make you late every time.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More FOR HONOR Guides
- FOR HONOR FOR HONOR Overview
- FOR HONOR Best Builds
- FOR HONOR Tier List
- FOR HONOR Walkthrough
- FOR HONOR Beginner's Guide
- FOR HONOR Tips & Tricks
- FOR HONOR Combat Guide
- FOR HONOR Boss Guide
- FOR HONOR Maps & Locations
- FOR HONOR Crafting Guide
- FOR HONOR Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy FOR HONOR, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Weapons Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Weapons Guide: action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Guide: action game with similar mechanics
