Dead Cells, one of the most popular indie and roguelike games of all time, is about overcoming challenges and mastery through repetition. Of course, you’d be relying on the repetition part a lot less with the vast array of Dead Cells best weapons at your disposal.
These weapons not only enhance your arsenal but also help keep you invested in the rather hectic combat. Next time you die in the game, you might want to consider our picks for Dead Cells‘ best weapons, which we have ranked.
Punishment
- Weapon type: Shield
- Ability: Blocked attacks inflict damage on nearby enemies. Critical damage if parry is successful.
Starting our list is the Punishment, a weapon that may not be the most powerful, but it still has its uses, especially against multiple enemies and obvious death traps. This shield can inflict a decent amount of damage against frequent attacks.
More importantly, critical damage is guaranteed if you play a parry build, which is one of the most popular playstyles in Dead Cells.
Powerful Grenade
- Weapon type: Grenade
- Ability: Causes a large explosion.
Grenades are always handy in Dead Cells— particularly against multiple enemies and obvious death traps, and the Powerful Grenade is no exception.
It packs a punch and can clear out groups of enemies with its explosive impact. While not as versatile as some other weapons, it’s a reliable choice for when you’re starting to get tired of clearing rooms manually, earning its place among one of the most well-utilized Dead Cells‘ best weapons.
Ice Crossbow
- Weapon type: Ranged Weapon
- Ability: Freezes the enemy.
The Ice Crossbow offers a unique twist to the usual ranged weapons in Dead Cells.
As expected, it can freeze your enemies in their tracks, making it an excellent choice for crowd control. Freezing enemies can provide you with precious moments to strategize or take down other threats. It may not have the highest DPS, but its utility is a life-saver.
Alucard’s Sword
- Weapon type: Melee Weapon
- Ability: Teleports you to enemies for a critical hit.
A tribute to the legendary vampire hunter, Alucard from the retro Castlevania, this sword is as formidable as it is iconic. Its versatility allows you to take on various enemies with ease and convenience since the ability allows you to close the gap quickly with guaranteed critical damage.
With a mix of quick slashes and powerful strikes, Alucard’s Sword is a fantastic choice for those who want a balanced weapon that excels in both speed and power.
Flint
- Weapon type: Melee Weapon
- Ability: Hold the attack to inflict a critical hit and create a flaming trail.
Flint is a unique melee warhammer weapon that stands out due to its ability to create a flaming trail, true enough to its name. These trails can deal substantial damage to enemies in their vicinity, letting you commit to hit-and-run tactics.
The more significant intrinsic ability for this weapon is how it ignores shields and has charged attacks that automatically dead critical damage.
Barrel Launcher
- Weapon type: Ranged Weapon
- Ability: Launches an explosive barrel. Inflicts a critical hit if the barrel bounces off a wall or has been reflected back and forth before exploding.
If you prefer ranged weapons with a bit more oomph, the Barrel Launcher might be your choice. This weapon excels at dealing massive damage, making it perfect for taking down tough adversaries.
It’s also great if you’re bad at aiming since the barrel ammunition can bounce off walls with each ricochet guaranteeing a critical hit. As far as Dead Cells‘ best weapons, it’s one of the most convenient.
Scythe Claw/Left Scythe Claw
- Weapon type: Melee Weapon
- Ability: Inflicts a critical hit if you previously used the other claw.
The Scythe Claws are a fearsome melee weapon emphasizing critical damage. That’s the emerging pattern here. All of our picks for Dead Cells‘ best weapons toy around with critical damage.
In any case, the claws’ ability to deal critical hits consistently can be a game-changer in Dead Cells. This weapon is perfect for players who enjoy rhythmic high-risk, high-reward combat, as you’ll need precise timing with your attacks to make the most of its potential.
Heavy Crossbow
- Weapon type: Ranged Weapon
- Ability: Shoots several short-range bolts at once.
If you’re a fan of heavy firepower, the Heavy Crossbow is your chunky friend. This ranged weapon boasts remarkable damage output, especially at point-blank range. That somewhat defeats the purpose of having a ranged weapon, but treat it like a shotgun and you’ll understand it better.
Ideally, this makes the Heavy Crossbow making excellent for those who prefer to eliminate with nigh-infinite ammunition since you’ll be close to your enemy anyway and can grab the expended ammo. It may not have the fastest fire rate, but its sheer power more than compensates for it.
Giantkiller
- Weapon type: Melee Weapon
- Ability: Inflicts a critical hit if the victim is an elite enemy or a boss.
The apex Dead Cells‘ best weapon, particularly for boss killing, is the formidable Giantkiller. It turns predator into prey with automatic critical hits if you’re fighting elite enemies or bosses. Even against regular enemies, the high damage will carry you far.
Besides, the crits happen when it matters. You can pair it with our top pick in this Dead Cells best weapons list to cover your bases.
Rapier
- Weapon type: Melee Weapon
- Ability: Inflicts a critical hit immediately after a roll or a parry.
The Rapier secures a well-deserved spot at the top of our list. Its unique mechanic allows it to deliver critical strikes immediately after rolls, making it a perfect match for players who prioritize evasion and precision. That’s practically most of all the players in Dead Cells since rolling is the primary way to defend yourself.
Whether you’re facing a boss or swarms of foes, the Rapier’s swift and calculated strikes will serve you well and with consistency. It’s less offense-focused than the Scythe Claws, but the better option if you’re a beginner.
