PC - Tier List: Pre-Hardmode Weapons (2024)

652Graystripe said:

Other than that, I've decided to add an icon to the thread for "point of contention" that marks weapons that are up for change.
It looks like this.

To get it applied to an item - well, that's easy. You just have to say "I think X should be in Y tier", and it'll get applied, simple as that. If more people (e.g. one other person or more) back you up - I count as "more people" as well - I'll move it over.
Hope this makes the thread easier to navigate.

Click to expand...

From my last two threads on the topic, which you can view here.

Early to Mid-Hard Mode
Late Hard Mode

It's a fact: some weapons are better than others. This thread is intended as a community-input encyclopedia on what weapons are the best and worth getting, pretty decent and useful, or not so useful at all. This also includes the "piece of crap" category, also known as the Unholy Trident.

When commenting as to why you think a weapon should be moved up or down, be sure you formulate a logical argument. "I like this weapon" or "I did something cool with this weapon" doesn't count. What we like most here are factual, stat-backed-up responses that can be done by anyone - just play around with the weapon and you'll see.

The following variables are taken into consideration:

-How much damage does the weapon do?
-Is it a single- or multi-target weapon?
-How useful is it in a variety of scenarios?
-Is it extremely useful in a single scenario?
-Is it difficult to get ammo or mana to sustain it?
-How hard is it to obtain?
-Any other factors that determine its usefulness, such as accuracy?

The thread covers all weapons that are available between the start of the game and the Wall of Flesh's defeat. Keep in mind that all weapons are not tiered against each other; they are tired judging by the next credible threat. For example, the Wand of Sparking might be balanced against underground monsters, while the Diamond Staff would be balanced against the Goblin Invasion and Skeletron.

If you disagree with this thread, feel free to tell me. It's only starting with my opinions; it will be changed according to that of the community. I am only the poster for something that I hope will become much larger. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Note that, with the 1.4 update, this list has been shaken up quite a bit! An asterisk (*) denotes weapons that are either new or significantly modified, and as such require reevaluation. I will also include a section for weapons that I don't feel able to rank, since I haven't played as much as I would like since the update.

S Rank

Minishark

Molten Fury (

)

Phoenix Blaster

Space Gun*

Vilethorn

A Rank
These weapons are excellent and well-rounded, but lack a certain something that prevents them from reaching their highest potential.

A+

Beenade

Grenade

Musket

Muramasa*

Night's Edge

The Rotted Fork

Trident

Water Bolt*

A

Amazon

Amber Staff

The Bee's Knees

Blade of Grass

Bone Javelin*

Bone Throwing Knife*

Cascade

Diamond Staff

Imp Staff*

Javelin

Shuriken

Snapthorn*

Spear

Starfury (

)

Sticky Grenade

Sunfury*

Revolver

The Undertaker (

)

A-

Blowgun

Blue Moon*

Bone Glove* (

)

Bouncy Grenade

Boomstick

Code 1

Demon Scythe

Emerald Staff

Fiery Greatsword

Flamelash*

Flaming Mace*

Hellwing Bow

Magic Missile*

The Meatball*

Poisoned Knife

Ruby Staff

Sickle

Star Anise

Throwing Knife

Swordfish

B Rank
Weapons in this category begin to become iffy - they lack attributes that would be greatly useful, or have some other quirk that prevents them from seeing widespread use. Although useful, they're less-than-ideal and often should not be farmed for.

B+

Bee Gun

Blood Rain Bow*

Bone Sword (

)

Cactus Sword*

Candy Cane Sword

Dark Lance

Enchanted Boomerang

Falcon Blade

Fruitcake Chakram

Gray Zapinator*

Handgun

Harpoon

Hornet Staff

Ice Boomerang (

)

Ice Blade

Mace*

Paintball Gun

Quad-Barrel Shotgun*

Red Ryder

Sapphire Staff

Spiky Ball

Storm Spear*

Thorn Chakram

Valor (

)

Vampire Frog Staff

B

Amethyst Staff

Ball O'Hurt*

Bee Keeper*

Blood Butcherer

Bone

Book of Skulls*

Chain Knife

Crimson Rod (

)

Enchanted Sword

Finch Staff*

Flamarang (

)

Flower of Fire

Frost Daggerfish

Katana

Mandible Blade

Phaseblade

Shroomerang*

Snowball Cannon

Star Cannon

Topaz Staff

Wand of Sparking* (

)

Wooden Boomerang (

)

Wooden bows

B-

Aqua Scepter

Bladed Glove

Bloody Machete

Demon Bow

Exotic Scimitar

Flintlock Pistol

Light's Bane

Metal bows

Molotov co*cktail (

)

Purple Clubberfish

Tendon Bow

Zombie Arm

C Rank
This is the lowest usable category - weapons here have some merit, somewhere, but in general are very poor choices and should only be used as a last resort.

C+

Ale Tosser

Artery

Blowpipe

Happy Grenade

Malaise

Snowball

Other wood swords

C

Metal swords

Rotten Egg

Shortswords*

Stylish Scissors

Thunder Zapper*

Wooden Sword

Wooden Yoyo

C-

Flare Gun

Rally

Ruler*

Sandgun (

)

Tragic Umbrella*

Umbrella*

Need ranking
Due to my limited time playing the 1.4 update, I haven't been able to play with these new weapons, and so they need ranking. Suggest starting ranks!

Combat Wrench

Gladius

Leather Whip

Terragrim

Unranked

Arkhalis* (

)

Slime Staff (

)
Though they're both extraordinarily good weapons, they're so rare they're not even worth categorizing.
With 1.4 the Arkhalis has a different method of obtaining - anyone care to comment on it?