Difference in weapons
-
Blakwight
- Layman

- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:27 pm
- ES Games: ES 1, 4, 5, Online
- Platform: PC
- Other Profiles: Blakwight
- UESPoints: 0
Difference in weapons
When it comes to different weapons in the game, is there any difference in the weapons? Like a flail is a 2h weapon that deals 2-14 damage, while a Longsword is 2-16 while being 1h. Do weights make a difference?
- SeaGtGruff
- Champion

- Posts: 894
- Joined: Sun Aug 27, 2017 6:25 pm
- ES Games: Arena, Daggerfall, Battlespire, Redguard, Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, ESO, Legends, Blades
- Platform: PC, Mac, iPad
- Status: Breathing, presumed conscious
- Other Profiles: SeaGtGruff (Steam), TinklyGosling47 (Xbox)
- UESPoints: 20
- Location: South Carolina
Re: Difference in weapons
I think the primary difference in the various types of weapons has to do with character class, since some classes are restricted from using certain types of weapons, armor, and/or shields.
Once you rule out the types of weapons, armor, and shields your character can't use, I think your choice of weapon can revolve around a number of considerations:
Can your character use two-handed weapons? If yes, you might want to use a two-handed weapon, since they usually do more damage than one-handed weapons of the same type (i.e., sword, axe, or mace).
Can your character use shields? If yes, you might want to use a one-handed weapon, even if you can use two-handed weapons, so you can equip a shield-- especially one that boosts an attribute or lets you cast a spell. But even if you can use a shield, you might decide you'd rather not carry around the extra weight of a shield, or that using a two-handed weapon is better than using a shield and a one-handed weapon.
Aside from those primary considerations, it can boil down to which material a given weapon is made of-- since certain monsters can only be damaged by weapons of certain materials-- or whether a given weapon is magical and, if so, what spell it lets you cast or which attribute it boosts. For instance, a dai-katana is generally the best weapon in the game (in my opinion), but a magical ebony dagger might be a far better choice than a non-magical iron dai-katana.
And then there are the role-playing considerations. For example, if you enjoy role-playing a stealth archer, you'll probably want to use a bow even if it isn't the most powerful weapon that your class can use.
Once you rule out the types of weapons, armor, and shields your character can't use, I think your choice of weapon can revolve around a number of considerations:
Can your character use two-handed weapons? If yes, you might want to use a two-handed weapon, since they usually do more damage than one-handed weapons of the same type (i.e., sword, axe, or mace).
Can your character use shields? If yes, you might want to use a one-handed weapon, even if you can use two-handed weapons, so you can equip a shield-- especially one that boosts an attribute or lets you cast a spell. But even if you can use a shield, you might decide you'd rather not carry around the extra weight of a shield, or that using a two-handed weapon is better than using a shield and a one-handed weapon.
Aside from those primary considerations, it can boil down to which material a given weapon is made of-- since certain monsters can only be damaged by weapons of certain materials-- or whether a given weapon is magical and, if so, what spell it lets you cast or which attribute it boosts. For instance, a dai-katana is generally the best weapon in the game (in my opinion), but a magical ebony dagger might be a far better choice than a non-magical iron dai-katana.
And then there are the role-playing considerations. For example, if you enjoy role-playing a stealth archer, you'll probably want to use a bow even if it isn't the most powerful weapon that your class can use.
ESO mains: Michel Shaldon (PC NA), Miguel Outrider (PC EU)
- legoless
- Global Wiki Admin

- Posts: 2552
- Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:02 pm
- ES Games: All
- Platform: PC, Switch
- UESPoints: 420
- Location: Ireland
- Contact:
Re: Difference in weapons
Thanks SeaGtGruff, that was a really thorough answer.
Wiki admin. Contact me on my talk page or via PM.