Read this before the rankings
No Rest for the Wicked weapons roll with different requirements, scaling, facets, enchantments, gems, and rune access. A universal item-level DPS table would hide more than it explains. This tier list therefore ranks families and proven candidates for general PvE reliability, not every possible perfect roll.
The score asks: How safely does the moveset convert common openings? How much stamina and recovery does it demand? Does its reach match its speed? Can it pressure poise or groups? Does it need rare item modification before it feels complete? Patch 1 bow changes and balance adjustments are included.
S tier: reliable foundations
- Straight swords and versatile one-handed blades: readable recovery, shield compatibility, and broad encounter coverage make them excellent foundations.
- Spears and long one-handed thrusting options: reach creates repeatable punishes when spacing is disciplined.
- Greatswords: strong sweep and impact potential with a more accessible attack language than the slowest heavy families.
- Gauntlets and fast two-handed pressure: high engagement and Focus potential when the player can control the chain.
- Wands/staves with a complete Focus loop: top-tier problem solving only when normal attacks, cost, and cast safety are funded together.
Standout current names worth testing—not automatic winners—include Proud Lance, Corpse Smeared Blade, Cinder & Stone, Falling Sky, Wind of Death, and Fetid Club. Their presence and family are verified in Build 22928553; their final performance depends on the actual roll and build.
A tier: powerful with a clear condition
- Greataxes, greathammers, and greatclubs: excellent impact and poise pressure, held back by stamina and recovery demands.
- Rapiers, wakizashis, curved swords, and double daggers: strong short-window pressure, but long chains punish greed.
- Bows inside effective range: safe angles and strong build options remain after Patch 1, but gravity and falloff remove the old extreme-range assumption.
- Shield plus one-handed setups: exceptional learning and consistency, with damage pace and weight as the trade.
- Halberds and scythes: valuable reach and coverage, sometimes less immediate in tight spaces.
B tier: specialist or roll-dependent
- Narrow or unusual off-hands: can complete a specific build but are not general first-upgrade recommendations.
- Very slow heavy bases without a safe opener: powerful in the correct window, frustrating when the encounter rarely provides one.
- Rune-container choices whose normal moveset does not fit the player: the ability looks strong, but the build struggles when Focus is empty.
- Bows used only at extreme range: Patch 1 falloff and gravity make this a positioning mistake, not a weapon strength.
B tier does not mean unusable. It means the item needs a specific purpose, favorable roll, or practiced encounter plan before it becomes a reliable investment.
How to tier your actual drop
Score it in this order:
- Can you land the normal punish and stop safely?
- Does the requirement fit the existing damage lane?
- Does the complete set preserve the intended Equip Load class?
- Does the facet's downside damage the core loop?
- Do the rune slots solve different encounter problems?
- Are the enchantments and gem useful without relying on a bug or pre-patch interaction?
If the first three fail, a perfect enchantment does not make the item S tier for your character. If they pass, a so-called B-tier family can outperform a famous named weapon you cannot control.
Use the complete weapon list to verify names and families, then check Builds for the attribute and resource plan. This ranking will be re-tested after any gameplay balance patch and completely re-audited for 1.0.