Sword Comparison (Rev. 23)

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. In this article we’ll compare all of the swords for each of the sword classes.

Disclaimer

Please note this is not a ‘which class has the most DPS’ article. It is an article that compares each and every sword, their DPS compared to other swords, and some additional information as to what makes each sword unique. This article largely focuses on gear obtainable outside of Exaltation content, as players with endgame swords most likely won’t need a comparison guide.

This article will mainly focus on each sword’s capabilities, mainly their DPS and how each sword’s DPS measures up compared to other swords. However, (true) range, projectile speed, shot pattern and other attributes are a major factor in how swords are used. For example, longer safety and thus the ability to get more hits in.

The Classes

The sword classes encompass the Warrior, Knight, and Paladin. The differences between these classes are important because it makes different swords or other equipment more practical for one class than it would be for another. Here’s a brief rundown of these classes’ capabilities.

Warrior

Warrior has an attack cap of 75 and a dexterity cap of 50, making him a very potent class with the sword. His Helm allows him to move and attack faster, further increasing his DPS. Warrior has the most DPS of all sword classes and is second to Knight in terms of natural defense.

Knight

Knight has an ATT and DEX cap of 50 each. His DEF cap of 40 is the highest of all classes. His shield does not provide a boost to his weapon damage, but it does provides a good amount of burst damage and can stun enemies. Knight has the lowest DPS among sword classes because he lacks the ability to boost his own weapon DPS, but his shield stun allows him to deal damage in relative safety.

Paladin

Paladin has an ATT cap of 50 and a DEX cap of 55. His DEF caps at 30, but his ability, the seal, boosts DEX instead of DEF. The seal provides Paladin with a damaging buff that boosts his damage per shot beyond that of Warrior. With the damaging buff, Paladin’s DPS sits between that of Warrior and Knight.

Formulas

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 (in decimal; 100% RoF should be written as 1.00)) = 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 (in decimal; 100% RoF should be written as 1.00)) = 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 (in decimal; 100% RoF should be written as 1.00)) = Damage per Second

The Swords

The DPS of each sword against an enemy with 0 DEF is listed for all the classes (Warrior/Knight/Paladin). In addition, the amount of DPS lost per point of DEF is listed for each of these classes. The DPS loss per point of DEF correlates directly with the amount of shots fired per second with a given weapon. You can multiply this DPS loss per point by the DEF of the enemy in question, then subtract this value from the DPS against 0 DEF provided in order to get the DPS against said enemy.

The DPS and defense values are calculated with the aid of Haizor’s DPS tool.

The assumptions made by this comparison of numbers are as follows:

• All shots fired will each hit one enemy and do damage.
• Warrior and Paladin are affected by the respective buffs that they can provide to themselves, but without any other players.
• All three classes are equipped with their respective T6 ability (this gives Paladin +4 DEX).
• None of the classes are wearing an Armor or Ring that would boost their DPS further.

Tiered Swords

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.

Skysplitter Sword
DPS (0 DEF): 3492.7 / 2094.17 / 3167.8
Availablity: Various, buyable in the Nexus with Fame, tradable

Sword of Acclaim
DPS (0 DEF): 3602.1 / 2159.8 / 3267
Availablity: Various, most notably Wine Cellar, tradable

Sword of Splendor
DPS (0 DEF): 3820.8 / 2291 / 3465.4
Availablity: Void Entity, other endgame dungeons, tradable

Sword of Majesty
DPS (0 DEF): 4410 / 2203.52 / 3059.74
Availablity: 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.

“Unviable” Ranged Swords

These swords are typically weak - all of them deal less DPS than the Skysplitter Sword. However, their range makes them great for learning bosses and easy to hit, useful in dangerous scenarios and quick enemies. They might also have other properties that make them useful. As a plus, all of these swords have relatively easily obtainable locations.

Crystal Sword (CSword)

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.

Arcane Rapier

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, easiest to use, (and only tradable) piercing sword available.

Ancient Stone Sword (A.S.S.)

DPS (0 DEF): 3189.37 / 2892.67 / 1912.75
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.

Indomptable

DPS (0 DEF): 2644.47 / 2398.46 / 1586.2
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.

Shotgun Swords

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!

Demon Blade (DBlade)

DPS (0 DEF): 4725 / 2831.98 / 4285.44
DPS drop per DEF point: 13.96 / 11.6667 / 10.18
Availability: Abyss of Demons
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 40deg., its true range is only 1.37 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.

Pixie-Enchanted Sword (Pixie)

DPS (0 DEF): 4783.33 / 2831.98 / 4338.35
DPS drop per DEF point: 27.88 / 23.3333 / 20.36
Set: Swoll Paladin Set
Availablity: 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) and 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.

Cheerful Chipper

DPS (0 DEF): 4705.5 / 2821 / 4269.57
DPS drop per DEF point: X / Y / Z
Set: Oryxmas Gear
Availablity: 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.

T13 Competitive Swords

These swords are more defined as ‘largely, if not entirely outclassed by T14 in the large majority of cases’ over being especially great VS the T13 sword.

Pirate King’s Cutlass (Cutlass)

DPS (0 DEF): 3877 / 2324.29 / 3516.31
DPS drop per DEF point: 9.073 / 7.258 / 6.618
Availablity: Deadwater Docks
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.

Oryx’s Greatsword (Greatsword)

DPS (0 DEF): 4391.25 / 2093 / 3166.46
DPS drop per DEF point: 0 ( Ignores defense of target)
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.

T14 Competitive Swords

These are endgame viable swords.

Sword of the Colossus (Colo Sword)

DPS (0 DEF): 5022.5 / 2509.89 / 3485.16
DPS drop per DEF point: 8.75 / 5.8333 / 5.4
Availablity: Marble Colossus
The Sword of the Colossus is a rare, powerful, and prestigous untiered sword. It has a range of 4.5 tiles, but its shots are affected by an amplitude that makes the shots curve away from the line of aim by a distance of 0.7 tiles before truing up at the end of their range. Because of this, there is a gap in this sword’s range where you will not hit your target if you aimed the sword directly toward it. The Colo Sword will always outdamage a tiered sword because it has an identical rate of fire. However, there are a few swords that do more damage than it against enemies with certain defense values. The Colo Sword will start to outdamage the Pixie at 28/21/31 DEF. The DBlade fares slightly better, outdamaging the Colo Sword until 75/56/83 DEF. The A.S.S. and Indomptable will begin to outdamage the Colo Sword at 342/256/384 and 361/271/406 DEF, respectively. But those DEF values are astronomical and there are few (if any) enemies that can possess such a high DEF to allow for such an occurrence. The Colo Sword is an exceptionally powerful sword, but the key to mastering it is in learning to deal with the sine wave movement of its projectiles.

Additional Comparisons

Outdated.

Range Comparison

True Range Comparison

Average Damage per Shot Comparison (before Attack modifier)

Average Damage per Proc Comparison (before Attack modifier)