Stoneshard is a challenging turn-based open-world RPG with a brutal pain, injury, and permadeath system. You control a lone mercenary navigating a medieval world, taking contracts, clearing dungeons, and managing a complex health system where injuries affect gameplay — broken arms reduce accuracy, leg wounds slow movement, and untreated infections can kill. The caravan management system lets you build a trading empire between adventures. Stoneshard is still in early access but already offers 50+ hours of punishing RPG content for players who want consequences.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longsword | S | Swordsman build for balanced combat approach | The balanced melee weapon with moderate damage, good accuracy, and versatile skill tree. |
| Warbow | A | Archer build for maximum ranged safety and damage | The strongest bow type with highest range and damage per shot. |
| Staff of Flames | A | Mage build for AoE fire damage and enemy control | A magical staff enabling Pyromancy spells — Fireball (ranged AoE), Flame Wall (area denial), and Ignite (DoT). |
| Twin Daggers | B | Dual Wielder build for speed-based critical damage | The fastest weapon combination with attacks that apply bonus effects (poison, bleed) on each hit. |
| Greathammer | B | Two-Handed build for stun-locking individual tough enemies | The highest stagger weapon — enemies hit by a Greathammer are stunned for 1-2 turns, preventing their action. |
S-Tier: Longsword
The balanced melee weapon with moderate damage, good accuracy, and versatile skill tree. Longswords have stance-switching abilities between offensive (more damage) and defensive (more block) modes. The most forgiving weapon for learning combat mechanics.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Swordsman build for balanced combat approach |
| Key Mechanic | pain and injury system |
| Recommended Build | Swordsman |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Longsword: Pairs naturally with Swordsman thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Warbow
The strongest bow type with highest range and damage per shot. Warbows require arrows (craftable) and the Archery skill tree. The charged Aimed Shot ability deals 2-3x normal damage with increased critical chance. The safest weapon in the game for avoiding damage entirely.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Archer build for maximum ranged safety and damage |
| Key Mechanic | caravan management |
| Recommended Build | Archer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Warbow: Pairs naturally with Archer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Staff of Flames
A magical staff enabling Pyromancy spells — Fireball (ranged AoE), Flame Wall (area denial), and Ignite (DoT). The Staff provides +magic damage when equipped. Pyromancy is the highest-damage magic school but sets the environment on fire, which can backfire in tight spaces.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Mage build for AoE fire damage and enemy control |
| Key Mechanic | open world exploration |
| 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 of Flames: Pairs naturally with Mage thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Twin Daggers
The fastest weapon combination with attacks that apply bonus effects (poison, bleed) on each hit. Daggers have the lowest per-hit damage but the highest attack speed and dual-hit mechanics. Critical strike chance is higher with daggers than any other weapon type.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Dual Wielder build for speed-based critical damage |
| Key Mechanic | skill trees |
| Recommended Build | Dual Wielder |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Twin Daggers: Pairs naturally with Dual Wielder thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Greathammer
The highest stagger weapon — enemies hit by a Greathammer are stunned for 1-2 turns, preventing their action. The Greathammer's Stun effect trivializes 1v1 fights but the slow speed is dangerous against groups. Deals crushing damage that ignores a portion of armor.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Two-Handed build for stun-locking individual tough enemies |
| Key Mechanic | permadeath |
| Recommended Build | Two-Handed |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Greathammer: Pairs naturally with Two-Handed thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Osbrook
- Warbow → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Staff of Flames → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Longsword → 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.
- Save at inn beds and campfires — death is permanent and losing a 10-hour character to an avoidable fight is devastating. Save before every dungeon and risky encounter.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Stoneshard Guides
- Stoneshard Stoneshard Overview
- Stoneshard Best Builds
- Stoneshard Tier List
- Stoneshard Walkthrough
- Stoneshard Beginner's Guide
- Stoneshard Tips & Tricks
- Stoneshard Combat Guide
- Stoneshard Boss Guide
- Stoneshard Maps & Locations
- Stoneshard Crafting Guide
- Stoneshard Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Stoneshard, 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
