Wartales is an open-world tactical RPG where you lead a mercenary warband through a gritty medieval world. Unlike linear RPGs, Wartales drops you into a region map and lets you take contracts, explore ruins, and pick fights at your own pace. The turn-based combat uses positioning, engagement zones, and morale mechanics. Between battles, you manage your company's food supply, pay wages, assign professions (blacksmith, cook, thief), and craft equipment. With the Pirate DLC adding naval content and the full 1.0 release, Wartales offers 80+ hours of mercenary sandbox gameplay.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatsword | S | Brute build for maximum melee damage output | The highest-damage melee weapon with Cleave capability. |
| Longbow | A | Archer build — consistent ranged damage from safety | The standard ranged weapon with reliable damage at 5-6 hex range. |
| Halberd | A | Spearman build for zone control and safe melee damage | A 2-hex reach polearm that lets you attack without being engaged. |
| Mace and Shield | B | Swordsman build for tanking and crowd control | The classic tank combination — the mace deals blunt damage (effective against armored enemies), while the shield provides +20-30% block chance. |
| Dual Daggers | B | Ranger or Thief profession characters for flanking damage and poison application | The fastest weapon combination with the most attacks per turn. |
S-Tier: Greatsword
The highest-damage melee weapon with Cleave capability. Two-handed, so no shield, but the raw damage output compensates. Greatswords are crafted by Blacksmiths from Steel ingots or looted from elite enemies. The endgame Legendary Greatsword variants add elemental damage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Brute build for maximum melee damage output |
| Key Mechanic | mercenary management |
| Recommended Build | Swordsman |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Greatsword: Pairs naturally with Swordsman thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Longbow
The standard ranged weapon with reliable damage at 5-6 hex range. Longbows use Dexterity for damage calculation and benefit from high-ground positioning (+15% accuracy). Crafting better arrows (Iron, Steel) increases damage. The Longbow is the workhorse of any warband.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Archer build — consistent ranged damage from safety |
| Key Mechanic | turn-based combat |
| Recommended Build | Archer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Longbow: Pairs naturally with Archer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Halberd
A 2-hex reach polearm that lets you attack without being engaged. The Halberd's Brace ability readies an attack for any enemy entering range, making it the best area denial weapon. Halberds deal less per-hit damage than greatswords but compensate with safety and Brace utility.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Spearman build for zone control and safe melee damage |
| Key Mechanic | crafting professions |
| Recommended Build | Spearman |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Halberd: Pairs naturally with Spearman thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Mace and Shield
The classic tank combination — the mace deals blunt damage (effective against armored enemies), while the shield provides +20-30% block chance. Shield abilities include Shield Bash (stun) and Protect (redirect attacks from allies to yourself). The safest frontline loadout.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Swordsman build for tanking and crowd control |
| Key Mechanic | region exploration |
| Recommended Build | Brute |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Mace and Shield: Pairs naturally with Brute thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Dual Daggers
The fastest weapon combination with the most attacks per turn. Dual daggers deal lower per-hit damage but synergize with poison application (each hit rolls poison separately) and critical chance stacking. The backstab bonus from flanking doubles dagger damage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Ranger or Thief profession characters for flanking damage and poison application |
| Key Mechanic | camp management |
| Recommended Build | Ranger |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Dual Daggers: Pairs naturally with Ranger thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Tiltren County
- Longbow → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Halberd → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Greatsword → 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.
- Feed your troops every day or morale plummets — low morale causes combat penalties and eventual desertion. Assign a Cook profession to a warband member to prepare meals that provide morale bonuses on top of base nourishment.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Wartales Guides
- Wartales Wartales Overview
- Wartales Best Builds
- Wartales Tier List
- Wartales Walkthrough
- Wartales Beginner's Guide
- Wartales Tips & Tricks
- Wartales Combat Guide
- Wartales Boss Guide
- Wartales Maps & Locations
- Wartales Crafting Guide
- Wartales Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Wartales, 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
