Last updated: Exalt Version 2.3.2.0 (June 2022) |
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There is a healthy amount of debate on what sword is the clear-cut best of all. The truth is that there is no single sword that is the absolute best for every situation - though many do come close! In this article we’ll compare all of the swords for each of the sword classes.
This is an article that compares most viable swords, mainly their DPS and how each sword’s DPS measures up compared to each other. However, viability is tenious; players, even outside of the late game, might find many of the swords listed to be quite weak. This article focuses on many stages & areas of gameplay, so even swords with “bad” single target DPS are listed.
Other factors, like (true) range, projectile speed, shot pattern and other attributes are a major factor in how swords are used and are duly noted. For example, longer range gives safety & reaction time, and thus the ability to get more hits in. These factors are often player-dependent, and as such, often ignored in discussion (including this guide, somewhat).
The sword classes encompass the Warrior, Knight, and Paladin. Classes can change which swords are better for which levels of enemy defense, in addition to making some swords easier/harder to use.
Warrior has an attack cap of 75 and a dexterity cap of 50, making him the strongest sword class available. His Helm allows him to move and attack faster, further increasing his DPS.
Knight has an ATT and DEX cap of 50 each. His DEF cap of 40 is the highest of all classes. His Shield doesn’t boost weapon damage, but gives DEF, stuns, and provides burst damage. While he is the weakest of the three classes, the shield makes up for it. As this comparison ignores all other buffs, Knight will seem weaker than it actually is in a group setting.
Paladin has an ATT and DEX cap of 55. His DEF caps at 30, though the seal provides an HP boost. In addition, seals give DEX (not DEF) and a damaging buff that boosts damage/shot higher than the Warrior. With the damaging buff, Paladin’s solo DPS sits much closer to Warrior than of Knight.
Deriving the formulas from the Character Stats page, we get the following formula for Damage Per Second (DPS), which is a good indication of how good a given weapon and character is versus a certain amount of def on a mob:
Damage Per Second
(((Average Weapon Damage per Shot * (0.5 + ATT/50)) - Enemy DEF) * Number of Shots) * ((1.5 + 6.5*(DEX/75)) * Weapon Rate of Fire) = Damage per Second
Warrior and Paladin have buffs that affect this modifer; these are the formulas with these buffs accounted for:
Damaging
((((Average Weapon Damage per Shot * (0.5 + ATT/50)) * 1.5) - Enemy DEF) * Number of Shots) * ((1.25 + 6.5*(DEX/75)) * Weapon Rate of Fire) = Damage per Second
Berserk
(((Average Weapon Damage per Shot * (0.5 + ATT/50)) - Enemy DEF) * Number of Shots) * (((1.5 + 6.5*(DEX/75)) * 1.25) * Weapon Rate of Fire) = Damage per Second
Weapon Rate of Fire is in decimal form: 100% ROF = 1.00 in the formula
The DPS of each sword against an enemy with 0 DEF is listed for all the classes (Warrior/Knight/Paladin).
In addition, DPS lost per point of DEF is listed in the same order. DPS loss/DEF * DEF is DPS loss; subtact this number from the total DPS to find out your effective DEF. You could also use Haizor’s DPS tool, which this guide uses to calc 0 DEF DPS.
The assumptions made by this comparison of numbers are as follows:
This guide will compare several tiered swords to each untiered sword. Tiered swords have a range of 3.5 tiles and a projectile speed of 10 tiles per second (t/s). These are the highest tiered swords; other tiered swords will be mentioned when they warrant comparison.
DPS (0 DEF): 3492.7 / 2094.17 / 3167.8
Availability: Various, buyable in the Nexus with Fame, tradable
DPS (0 DEF): 3602.1 / 2159.8 / 3267
Availability: Various, most notably Wine Cellar, tradable
DPS (0 DEF): 3820.8 / 2291 / 3465.4
Availability: Void Entity, other endgame dungeons, tradable
DPS (0 DEF): 4039.58 / 2422.27 / 3663.8
Availability: Oryx’s Sanctuary
DPS drop per DEF point (all tiered swords): 6.98 / 5.83 / 5.09
The Sword of Splendor is the highest tradable tiered sword, while the Sword of Majesty is the highest tiered sword available.
These swords are typically weak - all of them deal less DPS than the Skysplitter Sword. However, their range makes them great for learning bosses, easy to hit, and useful in dangerous scenarios or against quick enemies. They might also have other properties that make them useful… just not against single bosses. As a plus, all of these swords have relatively easily obtainable locations.
DPS (0 DEF): 2836.46 / 1700.42 / 2572.6
DPS drop per DEF point: 6.98 / 5.83 / 5.09
Availability: Crystal Prisoner, tradable
The Crystal Sword has a nice 4.5 range, but loses to even the T8 Ravenheart Sword in shot damage. As its only other difference compared to tiered is its projectile lifetime (thus range), it’ll still be outclassed by any higher tier swords. The safety of the sword can help newer melee players out, though.
DPS (0 DEF): 2800 / 1678.57 / 2539.52
DPS drop per DEF point: 6.98 / 5.83 / 5.09
Availability: Sandstone Titan, tradable
The Arcane Rapier deals even less damage than the Crystal Sword, and from a 4 range. However, it pierces, boomerangs back to the user, and has twice the proj. velocity. It is the easiest to get and easiest to use piercing sword available.
DPS (0 DEF): 3189.37 / 1912.75 / 2892.67
DPS drop per DEF point: 4.18 / 3.054 / 3.35
Availability: Stone Guardians, tradable
The Anient Stone Sword fires slowly, but with high shot damage and range (4 tiles). This ROF makes it harder to use, but works better vs high DEF, allowing it to eventually overtake tiered. Eventually; it won’t outclass the Acclaim at any melee until past 100 DEF.
DPS (0 DEF): 2644.47 / 1586.2 / 2398.46
DPS drop per DEF point: 2.303 / 1.843 / 1.680
Set: Dragon Tamer Set
Availability: Lair of Draconis
The Indomptable is a more extreme version of the A.S.S; the highest shot damage of all swords at 4 range, but a 33% RoF and an even lower DPS. It also pierces enemies, with a slower (8 tiles/s) shot speed. As the damage is so low, it doesn’t see much generalist use, unless with the whole set.
These swords all fire multiple shots, but their high arc gap makes their true range extremely low. Most of the time, you would have to be able to sit on an enemy to effecitvely use these swords. Note: For non Knights, a stunned enemy is not safe to sit on! (thus, they are most viable on Knight)
DPS (0 DEF): 4725 / 2831.98 / 4285.44
DPS drop per DEF point: 13.96 / 11.6667 / 10.18
Availability: Abyss of Demons, tradable
The Demon Blade fires two shots of decent damage, for very high total damage. But despite a range of 3.38, with an arc gap of 25deg., DBlade’s true range is only 2.25 tiles. While it’s two shots are twice reduced by defense, it only falls behind Majesty at 93 / 71 / 94 DEF. This absurd power is only really usable at extremely close ranges.
DPS (0 DEF): 4783.33 / 2831.98 / 4338.35
DPS drop per DEF point: 27.88 / 23.3333 / 20.36
Set: Swoll Paladin Set
Availability: Candyland Hunting Grounds, legacy version tradable
The Pixie-Enchanted Sword fires double the shots of the DBlade, so DEF is twice as effective. At 0 DEF, it deals the most damage of any sword, with a better range (4.55) but worse true range (1.87). However, it loses its edge vs DBlade at just 4/3/4 DEF, and only beats Splendor until 44/27/33 DEF. However, its 4 shots and wide range give it another purpose; to clear mobs of enemies that you can’t precisely hit.
DPS (0 DEF): 4705.5 / 2821 / 4269.57
DPS drop per DEF point: 16.752 / 13.99 / 12.19
Set: Oryxmas Gear
Availability: Seasonal Event, Blueprint (Seasonal Event)
The Cheerful Chipper fires three shots with an even better true range (2.35 tiles). It fills the same role as the other two swords, outdamaging Pixie after 7/4/7 DEF, but losing to DBlade at all DEF. However, its shots decelerate before lingering for a bit, giving the Chipper a strong niche (and range) against bosses with set or otherwise predictable movement patterns.
These swords are more defined as ‘largely, if not entirely outclassed by T14 in the large majority of cases’ over being especially useful along with a T13 sword - though all of them can outdamage it in certain situations.
DPS (0 DEF): 3877 / 2324.29 / 3516.31
DPS drop per DEF point: 9.073 / 7.258 / 6.618
Availability: Deadwater Docks, tradable
The Pirate King’s Cutlass’s has a short range of 3.3 tiles, but superior proj. velocity (15 t/s). It has a high ROF, outdamaging Splendor until 29/22/27 DEF. It also gives +3 SPD. If you’re comfortable with the slightly shorter range, it’ll be a good replacement for the T12 Acclaim.
DPS (0 DEF): 4391.25 / 2093 / 3166.46
DPS drop per DEF point: 0 (
Ignores defense of target)
Set: Oryx’s Battle Attires Set
Availability: Wine Cellar
Oryx’s Greatsword is the only sword that pierces armor, dealing the same damage regardless of DEF - it’ll even outdamage the Colo Sword at 93/72/93 DEF, and every other sword falls sometime earlier (T13: 56/33/56, T14: 76/57/76). While it does sometimes outdamage T14, there are very few enemies with more than 75 DEF.
DPS (0 DEF): 3922.92 / 2350.83 / 3557.97
DPS drop per DEF point: 13.96 / 11.6667 / 10.18
Set: Corrupted Paladin Set
Availability: Killer Bee Queen
The Fallen One’s Blade isn’t particularly hard to use; while it fires 2 shots with a slight amplitude, it also has an above average range of 4. In a sense, it could be considered an upgrade to many of the ranged swords featured above. It outdamages T13 until 14/11/14 DEF.
These are endgame viable swords, from endgame sources.
DPS (0 DEF): 4039.58 / 2422.27 / 3663.8
Availability: Oryx’s Sanctuary
Put in here for the sake of comparison. The Sword of Majesty shoots straight with average range for amazing overall damage. It is a very consistently good endgame choice, even if other options deal more.
DPS (0 DEF): 4185.42 / 2509.71 / 3796.75
DPS drop per DEF point: 6.98 / 5.83 / 5.09
Availability: Marble Colossus
The Sword of the Colossus is rare, powerful, and prestigious. Not only does it have a range of 4.5 tiles, it clearly outdamages every non-sitting sword, including the Sword of Majesty. With a single shot and the same firerate, the Majesty will never beat the Colo. And of the sitting swords: Warrior’s Colo beats DBlade at 74 DEF, Chipper at 52 DEF, and Pixe at 28 DEF. Overall, there’s no comparison in terms of damage or range.
However, the shots have an amplitude; shots curve out, then in. As you alternate firing left and right, you’re forced to the edge of its range (or to sit on the foe) to actually do damage. Notably, this is out of most Shield ranges, so Knight will struggle. Regardless, it is still an endgame worthy weapon, of endgame damage.
DPS (0 DEF): 4019.62 / 2620.5 / 3775.83
DPS drop per DEF point: 4.18 / 3.054 / 3.35
Availability: Oryx’s Sanctuary
While the actual sword shoots as slow as the A.S.S and deals even less damage, it makes up for it by piercing, and by firing AOE, armor piercing Exalted Beams every second. This sword has absolutely no equal when it comes to clearing any crowd of monsters. For solo Knight and Paladins, this sword also has no equal - outdamaging any sword with a modicum of range (at any reasonable DEF: 0K, 5P).
However, these beams are not boosted by Berserk or dexterity, but Berserked Divinity still beats berserked T14 at 57/54/110? DEF (though this is before extra DEX). And overall, it’s much easier to use than the Colo - you have 2.25 tiles of wiggle space. Not only does it pierce, but it is easily one of the best weapons in the game - as expected from a white bag drop from the “final boss” of the game.