Carry weapons with different damage types and useful specials rather than choosing only the highest Power number. Queen’s Domain gives you three melee slots, and early sword, spear and club options cover Slash, Pierce and Impact. This is a checked starter selection, not a list of every weapon.
Your first useful loadout
| Weapon | Role | Where the opening route places it |
|---|---|---|
| Rusted Short Sword | Starting Slash option | Knights’ camp opening |
| Rusted Spear | Pierce option with a retreating special | Chest in the opening island tower |
| Wooden Club | Early Impact option | Side room in the Crypt |
| Holy Sword Endu | Slash weapon and traversal unlock | Shrine beyond the first boss |
| Pandora Blade | Optional hidden weapon | Secret room near the shrine key |
These locations sit along or near the opening route. The Crypt guide connects the key and club detour, while the Pandora Blade guide describes the hidden wall interaction. The table does not imply that all five can be active at once.
Match the enemy, not just the rating
Slash, Pierce and Impact answer different resistance problems. If a familiar attack feels weak against a new enemy, compare its bestiary entry and switch your equipped weapon. Do the comparison with a recovered Power Meter so an empty attack bar does not distort the result.
A slower weapon can offer a higher Power rating but require a longer opening. A fast weapon can be easier to use safely without necessarily being the best answer to that enemy’s defenses. Choose the attack you can land and recover from reliably.
Specials are part of the decision
The Rusted Spear’s retreating move helps maintain space. Endu unlocks Wind Dash, while other weapons can offer ranged, defensive or recovery effects. Read the special’s requirements before judging it from one button press with an empty resource meter.
Published weapon comparisons distinguish time-based recharging attacks from specials that build their meter through damage. That difference changes when the ability is available. If you are fighting a long boss encounter, a dependable move you understand may be more useful than a theoretically stronger one you cannot trigger safely.
Endu and movement remain separate
Collecting Endu makes Wind Dash available even with another melee weapon active. You can therefore choose an appropriate combat damage type without treating the sword as your only exploration loadout. Watch your dash charges before moving toward an exposed ledge.
Weapon experience is not a replacement for Wind Gems. If your goal is crossing the western bridge or the larger temple gap, check the movement upgrades instead of grinding a favorite weapon in the hope that another dash appears.
Upgrade with the next encounter in mind
Use a weapon’s actual special, reach and type to decide whether to develop it. Some eligible weapons evolve, while others reach a different cap. The Trident and Pandora Blade are reasons not to assume one identical level rule applies to the entire arsenal.
Read weapon evolution before planning around a specific transformation. This page avoids a universal “best weapon” ranking because that requires assumptions about enemy defenses, the player’s progress and the ability being compared.
Sources and scope
Reviewed November 5, 2026. See GamerBlurb’s weapon locations, GAMES.GG’s utility comparison and the full-game opening route. The official store advertises 50+ melee weapons; the table here is deliberately a smaller early selection.