Monolith shipped Middle-earth: Shadow of War on 10 October 2017, scaling the Nemesis System up from roaming patrols to five fortresses with named garrisons. Talion and Celebrimbor forge a new Ring of Power and take Mordor region by region, turning orc captains into branded followers instead of just killing them. The game launched with a paid Market selling gold and war chests, and Warner Bros. removed it entirely on 17 July 2018, which cut the grind out of the Shadow Wars endgame and replaced it with a shorter Epilogue that rewards the Masks of the Nazgul.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword | S | Combat builds that live on counters, streaks and Execution. | The primary melee slot and the one that benefits most from a Warrior Gem, since it is where your hit streaks turn into Execution damage. |
| Dagger | A | Clearing a camp quietly before the captain's bodyguards ever activate. | The stealth weapon, used for assassinations and Brutalize, and it scales with the Predator tree rather than with open fighting. |
| Bow | A | Captains marked Immune to Stealth, and thinning bodyguards before you drop into a camp. | Fires on Focus, which recharges rather than using ammunition, so the real limit is how fast your Focus comes back. |
| Armour | B | Any build heading into a fortress assault where you will be surrounded rather than picking fights. | One of the two defensive slots alongside the Cloak, and the pair is where Life Gems earn their place through health and healing effects. |
| Ring | B | Players building a large garrison who need Mirian income more than raw combat stats. | The single accessory slot and the natural home for a Wealth Gem, since Mirian pays for training and upgrading your entire army after the Market removal. |
S-Tier: Sword
The primary melee slot and the one that benefits most from a Warrior Gem, since it is where your hit streaks turn into Execution damage. Legendary swords come off legendary captains of the matching tribe, such as the Dark sword from a Legendary Dark Slayer or Destroyer.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Combat builds that live on counters, streaks and Execution. |
| Key Mechanic | The Nemesis System |
| Recommended Role | Combat |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Sword: Pairs naturally with Combat thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Dagger
The stealth weapon, used for assassinations and Brutalize, and it scales with the Predator tree rather than with open fighting. The Darkest dagger is a story reward rather than a random drop, unlocked by completing Knife in the Dark.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Clearing a camp quietly before the captain's bodyguards ever activate. |
| Key Mechanic | Domination and branding |
| Recommended Role | Predator |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Dagger: Pairs naturally with Predator thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Bow
Fires on Focus, which recharges rather than using ammunition, so the real limit is how fast your Focus comes back. Detonating explosive barrels with it is usually more damage than shooting bodies directly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Captains marked Immune to Stealth, and thinning bodyguards before you drop into a camp. |
| Key Mechanic | Fortress assaults |
| Recommended Role | Ranged |
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 Ranged thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Armour
One of the two defensive slots alongside the Cloak, and the pair is where Life Gems earn their place through health and healing effects. Four piece legendary set bonuses generally hang on having both defensive pieces from the same tribe.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Any build heading into a fortress assault where you will be surrounded rather than picking fights. |
| Key Mechanic | Orc tribes and their perks |
| Recommended Role | Wraith |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Armour: Pairs naturally with Wraith thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Ring
The single accessory slot and the natural home for a Wealth Gem, since Mirian pays for training and upgrading your entire army after the Market removal. Gems come in Regular, Carved, Polished, Refined and Perfect grades, so upgrading the gem is often cheaper than chasing a new ring.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Players building a large garrison who need Mirian income more than raw combat stats. |
| Key Mechanic | The Epilogue and Masks of the Nazgul |
| Recommended Role | Mounted |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Ring: Pairs naturally with Mounted 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 Minas Ithil
- Dagger → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Bow → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Sword → 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.
- Brand captains rather than executing them, because a branded orc keeps his level and traits and fights for you during the fortress assault in that region.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Middle-earth: Shadow of War Guides
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Middle-earth: Shadow of War Overview
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Best Builds
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Tier List
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Walkthrough
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Beginner's Guide
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Tips & Tricks
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Combat Guide
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Boss Guide
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Maps & Locations
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Crafting Guide
- Middle-earth: Shadow of War Classes & Characters
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