Best Weapons for Early to Late Game

This guide covers the best weapons to use in the early to late game of Final Fantasy 16 (FF16). Learn the best weapons overall, the best swords to use in the early, mid, and late game, and how to craft the best and strongest weapons for the first playthrough and New Game Plus!

Final Fantasy 16 Weapon Guides
Best Weapons	All Weapons & Locations

Best Weapons Overall

Gotterdammerung Ultima Weapon

Gotterdammerung for the First Playthrough

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Gotterdammerung	375	375	Craft after acquiring its design draft · Complete Blacksmith's Blues IV

The Gotterdammerung has the highest attack and stagger stats in the first playthrough, making it the best weapon if you're playing through the game once.

You can obtain its materials through the Blacksmith's Blues IV side quest and by hunting down Notorious Marks. Be very careful not to sell the rare crafting materials, as you might miss out on crafting the strongest weapon for your first run if that happens.

Ultima Weapon During Final Fantasy Mode

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Ultima Weapon	700	700	Craftable after starting New Game +

Ultima Weapon is the best sword in FF16, but you can only obtain it with a New Game Plus file at Final Fantasy Mode difficulty. It has 700 attack and stagger, making it the strongest weapon available in the game.

Final Fantasy Mode Guide

Best Weapons for Early Game

Bastard Sword Braveheart Stormcry Flametongue

Bastard Sword

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Bastard Sword	110	110	Complete the "Awakening" main quest. Craft in The Black Hammer. · Buy from Charon's Toll

Buy or craft this weapon as soon as it is available at the blacksmith or at Charon's Toll. You'll be needing a high damaging weapon for your fight with Garuda.

Braveheart

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Braveheart	130	130	Pre-order bonus weapon. Go to the Redeemable Items in the Menu to claim.

Braveheart is very strong in the early game and it can be redeemed only if you've pre-ordered the game. This weapon can carry you until your fight with Garuda as it falls off when you craft the Stormcry.

Stormcry

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Stormcry	135	135	Craft by acquiring Wind Shard from defeating Garuda.

Craft this weapon as soon as you defeat Garuda and you've acquired a Wind Shard from her spoils. You'll be needing this as a requirement for crafting Flametongue.

Flametongue

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Flametongue	180	180	Craft by acquiring Flame Shard from defeating Infernal Eikon

This is the best sword for the early game and is crafted using a Fire Shard and Stormcry as its materials. With high stats, this sword will carry you throughout the rest of the early game well.

Best Weapons for Mid Game

Levinbolt Grindstone Brightburn

Levinbolt

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Levinbolt	195	195	Craft by acquiring Ligtning Shard from defeating Republican War Panther

The next weapon to be crafted after Flametongue once you get the Lightning Shard, Levinbolt offers slightly higher stats than its predecessor, but it's still a good weapon to use. The higher the better, right?

Grindstone

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Grindstone	225	225	Craft by acquiring Earth Shard from defeating Hugo Kupka

Craft this sword after acquiring the Earth Shard together with the Levinbolt. With an attack and stagger stat of 225, this will carry you throughout the whole mid game!

Brightburn

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Brightburn	270	270	Craft in The Black Hammer after acquiring Light Shard from defeating Bahamut

Brightburn has 270 attack and stagger stat points that can carry you up to the midgame and at the start of the endgame. You can obtain the Light Shard after defeating Bahamut and once you have the Grindstone in your inventory.

Best Weapons for Late Game

Icebrand Everdark Defender

Icebrand

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Icebrand	300	300	Craft in The Black Hammer at the start of the Across the Narrow main quest

Icebrand is the next weapon to craft once you have the Ice Shard after completing the Across the Narrow main quest. This is the first weapon that you can obtain in the late game with 300 attack and stagger.

Everdark

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Everdark	315	315	Craft by acquiring Dark Shard from defeating Barnabas (Second Encounter).

Everdark is the next upgrade to the Icebrand which increases its attack and stagger by 15 points. You can obtain it once you have the Dark Shard completed The Last King main quest.

Defender

Weapon	ATK	STGR	How to Get
Defender	320	320	Available at Goetz's Toll at the "Streets of Madness" main quest. · Buy from Charon's Toll

If you still need to complete the side quests that let you unlock the Gotterdammerung, you can use the Defender to complete the last few main quests that lead to the final boss. In addition, this is the best sword that does not require crafting materials, as you can purchase it at Charon's Toll. You can even reinforce it to make it stronger!

How to Craft Best Weapons

How to Craft the Gotterdammerung How to Craft the Ultima Weapon

Gotterdammerung (First Playthrough)

Unlock Condition and Required Materials
Unlock Condition: ・ Complete Blacksmith's Blues IV Required Materials: ・Ragnarok x1 ・Orichalcum x3 ・ Darksteel x2 ・ Primitive Battlehorn x1
Unlock Condition for Blacksmith's Blues IV
1. Complete Blacksmith's Blues 2. Complete Blacksmith's Blues II 3. Complete Blacksmith's Blues III
How to Get Ragnarok
・Complete Blacksmith's Blues IV
How to Get Orichalcum
・Drops from the following enemies: Atlas, Svarog, Gorgimera, Behemoth King. ・Complete Under New Management II ・Complete Duty Undying II
How to Get Darksteel
・Drops from the following enemies: Thanatos and Prince of Death.
How to Get Primitive Battlehorn
・Drops from Gobermouch.

Complete 4 Side Quests at The Hideaway

Quest Name	Quest Location
Blacksmith's Blues
Blacksmith's Blues II
Blacksmith's Blues III
Blacksmith's Blues IV

To craft the Gotterdammerung, you need to complete all four of the Blacksmith's Blues side quest at The Hideaway. You also need to progress through the main story for these quests to appear in that location.

All Main Story Quests Walkthrough

Complete Blacksmith's Blues IV to Get Ragnarok

Ragnarok

You can get Ragnarok, the first required material, when you complete the Blacksmith's Blues IV side quest at the Hideaway.

Get Orichalcum from Notorious Marks and Side Quests

You can get Orichalcum after defeating certain Notorious Marks or as a reward from completing specific side quests. See the table below to learn how to obtain this crafting material.

Notorious Mark	Map Location
Atlas	Cressidia, Grand Duchy of Rosaria
Svarog	Mornebrume, Holy Empire of Sanbreque
Gorgimera	The Velkroy Desert, Dhalmekian Republic
Behemoth King	Vidargraes, Kingdom of Waloed
Side Quest	Map Location
Under New Management II	Northreach, Holy Empire of Sanbreque
Duty Undying II	Tabor, Dhalmekian Republic

Get Darksteel from Notorious Marks

You can get Darksteel as a drop from Notorious Marks. See the table below to learn which Notorious Marks drop the crafting material and where to find them.

Notorious Mark	Map Location
Thanatos	Titan's Wake, Dhalmekian Republic
Prince of Death	Cape Orsiere, Holy Empire of Sanbreque

Get Primitive Battle Horn from Notorious Marks

You can get Primitive Battle Horn as a drop from Notorious Marks. See the table below to learn which Notorious Marks drop the crafting material and where to find them.

Notorious Mark	Map Location
Gobermouch	Eistla, Kingdom of Waloed

Ultima Weapon (New Game Plus)

Unlock Condition and Required Materials
Unlock Condition: ・ Play at Final Fantasy Mode difficulty Required Materials: ・Utterance of Creation x1 ・Gotterdammerung Reforged ・Everdark Reforged
How to Play Final Fantasy Mode
・ Start a New Game Plus at the title screen and choose Final Fantasy Mode after completing the game.
How to Get Utterance of Creation
・Automatically added in the inventory when starting a New Game Plus in Final Fantasy Mode difficulty.
How to Get Gotterdammerung Reforged
・Craft the Gotterdammerung in Final Fantasy Mode
How to Get Everdark Reforged
・Collect all shards in Final Fantasy Mode Required Materials: ・Meteorite x24 ・Magicked Ash x200 ・Sharp Fang x400

Start a New Game Plus in Final Fantasy Mode Difficulty

At the title screen, choose New Game Plus + and select Final Fantasy Mode difficulty. This starts a new game but carries over your gear, weapons, level, Gil, crafting materials, and ability points.

New Game Plus Features

Get the Utterance of Creation Automatically

The first required material, the Utterance of Creation, will be added automatically in your inventory when you start a New Game Plus in Final Fantasy Mode difficulty.

How to Unlock Final Fantasy Mode

Craft the Gotterdammerung Reforged

Like in the first playthough, you'll need to complete the Blacksmith Blues side quest chain in Final Fantasy Mode for the Ragnarok Reforged and the Gotterdammerung design. This will let you craft the Gotterdammerung Reforged needed for Ultima Weapon.

Craft the Everdark Reforged

To craft the Everdark Reforged, you need to obtain the shards that the Eikon bosses drop during the main story. These shards will allow you to craft the swords that will be eventually used to craft Everdark Reforged.

Everdark Reforged Required Materials
・Collect all shards in Final Fantasy Mode 　 ┗ Wind Shard 　 ┗ Fire Shard 　 ┗ Ice Shard 　 ┗ Light Shard 　 ┗ Lightning Shard 　 ┗ Earth Shard 　 ┗ Dark Shard Required Materials: ・Meteorite x24 ・Magicked Ash x200 ・Sharp Fang x400

Final Fantasy 16 (FF16) Related Guides

Tips and Tricks: A Beginner's Guide to FF16

All Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks
All Stats Explained	Crafting Recipes and Upgrades
Timely Accessories Guide	How to Fast Travel
How Long to Beat FF16?	Active Time Lore Guide
Quick Time Events Guide	List of Trophies
Is There a Mini Map?	How to Exit Training Mode
How to Use Photo Mode	How to Redeem Pre-Order Bonuses
How to Get a Chocobo Mount	How to Sprint and Move Faster
Arcade Mode and Stage Replay Explained	Missables and One-Time Events
How to Respec Abilities	All Six Signboard Locations
Unlockables and Hidden Content	Medal of Valor Guide
How to Unlock Alliant Reports	How to Upgrade Inventory Slots
How to Upgrade Potion Potency	List of Guest Party Members
Farming Guides
EXP Farming Guide	AP Farming Guide
Gil Farming Guide	-
Best Guides
Best Abilities to Learn	Best Side Quests
Best Weapons	Best Combos
Best Accessories	Best Armor
Best Builds	-
Combat and Gameplay Guides
How to Use Eikonic Feats	How to Parry Attacks
How to Limit Break	How to Stagger Enemies
How to Use Precision Dodge	Combat Basics Guide
How to Change Lock On Targets	How to Use Shift Strikes and Shift Shots
How to Punish Enemies	Should You Choose Story or Action Focused?
How to Command Torgal	How to Do Precision Sics
Battle System Mechanics Explained	Death Penalty Guide
How to Decrease Enemy Will Gauge	How to Use Item Shortcuts
How to Heal	Level Cap Guide
Post-Game Guides
New Game Plus Guide	Post Game Content and 100% Guide
Final Fantasy Mode Guide
All Cid's Hideaway Features
Arete Stone (Training & Arcade)	The Black Hammer (Blacksmith)
Charon's Toll (Shop)	Thousand Tomes (Loresman)
Orchestrion (Jukebox)	Patron's Whisper (Renown)
State of the Realm (Story Overview)	Hunt Board (Moogle Quests)
All Hideaway Guides
How to Open Letters at the Reading Table	How to Get All Wall of Memory Items
Should You Buy a Round for the Hall?	-
Controls and Settings
Language Settings	How to Save
Graphics or Framerate Mode?	How to Skip Cutscenes
Difficulty Level Differences	How to Adjust Screen Brightness
How to Turn Off Motion Blur	Controls and Best Settings
FAQs
Romance Guide: Are There Romance Options?	-
Demo Guides
How to Transfer Demo Progress	Eikonic Challenge Mode