Game Development
Oct 18th, 2024Role-playing games (RPGs) have long captivated players by offering immersive worlds filled with adventure, quests, and weapons. Discovering new weapons is crucial to RPGs’ appeal, leading many to ask, what is an RPG weapon? In RPGs, weapons are more than just tools for dealing with damage; they are extensions of a character’s identity, integral to storytelling, and central to gameplay.
As players progress through the game, the weapons they acquire enhance their combat abilities and symbolize their character’s growth and evolution. Crafting weapons for RPGs is particularly exciting for game development studios due to the vast creative possibilities. A skilled RPG game development company can perfect these elements – combat styles, weapon designs, movements, and hit power – crucial to making the game more engaging and immersive. Continue reading to dive deeper into the diverse categories and types of weapons in games.
Across all RPG games, weapons typically fall into five main categories: melee, ranged, firearms, magical, and projectile. In addition to these, you may also encounter a few unconventional weapons. The different types of weapons are heavily influenced by the storyline, the era in which the game is set, and the types of characters within the game.
Melee weapons are designed for close-quarters combat and are among the most iconic weapon types you will find in RPG games. These weapons emphasize physical strength, dexterity, and strategy since players must close the distance to engage enemies directly.
Daggers are light and fast, often used by agile or stealth-based characters like rogues or assassins. Characters using these types of weapons prioritize speed and precision over raw power, making them ideal for quick strikes, critical hits, or backstabbing enemies. Daggers allow players to sneak up on foes for a lethal surprise attack. One of the most memorable RPG games featuring different variations of daggers and knives is Skyrim.
What are RPG Weapons without swords? Swords are the quintessential melee weapons known for their versatility. They balance speed, damage, and reach, making them useful in various combat scenarios. In RPGs, swords are often the weapon of choice for balanced characters who need offense and defense.
They come in multiple forms, from quick, one-handed shortswords ideal for agile fighters to massive two-handed greatswords that deal devastating blows but require strength to wield effectively. At times, the one-handed sword can be paired with a shield, offering defensive capabilities, while a two-handed sword delivers powerful strikes at the cost of speed. From sleek katana to giant broad swords like the Buster sword in Final Fantasy VII, many memorable swords inspire game asset designers for RPG games.
These blunt weapons are effective at crushing through armor and delivering blunt-force trauma. They are slower than swords or daggers but can significantly damage heavily armored opponents. Hammers and maces are often favored by clerics, trolls, or paladins, who use them to smite enemies with righteous force.
Generally, characters with such weapons are not the most agile or strategic and are ideally suited in situations or teams designed for head-on physical combat. Jayce in League of Legends demonstrates the classic and powerful use of the hammer as one of the most potent RPG weapon types.
Axes deal heavy damage but are generally slower and more challenging to control than swords. They’re wielded by characters who emphasize brute strength over finesse, such as berserkers or barbarians. In RPGs, axes deliver massive damage in single hits, often penetrating armor or shields more effectively than other weapons. It can be seen in RPG games set in the Viking era or inspired by Nordic folktales. A classic example of how powerful axes can be in RPG games is the Leviathan Axe wielded by Kratos in God of War. Mystic Realm also showcases formidable axe designs that enhance gameplay and character development.
Fist weapons are a unique category of melee weapons that focus on hand-to-hand combat, allowing players to engage enemies using their fists or enhanced striking abilities. These weapons are often characterized by their close-range effectiveness and can include various forms of gauntlets, knuckles, and specialized punching implements. In games like Elden Ring, fist weapons have unique properties that appeal to specific playstyles.
Polearms, such as spears and halberds, offer extended reach in melee combat, allowing players to keep enemies at a distance while attacking. They’re often used in strategic combat, where positioning is essential. Spears are standard in tactical RPGs where players must engage enemies from a safer distance or control space during battle. Kratos is one of the most popular game characters who uses a halberd.
Firearms bring modern or futuristic technology into RPG combat, offering high-powered attacks with rapid-fire capabilities. These weapons are standard in sci-fi or post-apocalyptic RPGs, where traditional melee or ranged weapons are replaced with guns and other advanced armaments.
Pistols are some of the oldest and most conventional firearms in various video games. They are quick, versatile, and perfect for close-to-mid-range combat. They are easy to handle and often serve as secondary weapons in modern RPGs. While they don’t deal as much damage as larger firearms, their speed and reliability make them excellent for fast-paced combat.
Rifles provide more excellent range and accuracy than pistols, making them ideal for long-range engagements. Players using rifles typically focus on positioning and precision, using the weapon to pick off enemies from a distance. But they are comparatively challenging to aim and shoot. In RPGs with tactical elements, rifles are favored by snipers or soldiers who must deal damage before the enemy can close the distance.
Shotguns are powerful at close range, delivering massive damage in a wide spread. While ineffective at longer distances, they are devastating in close-quarters combat. Shotguns are often the weapon of choice for players who like to charge into battle, overwhelming enemies with sheer firepower. They’re usually favored in more modern or post-apocalyptic RPG settings.
Automatic firearms are common and occasionally witnessed in first-person or third-person shooter games as the primary choice of weapon. Automatic weapons like submachine guns or assault rifles provide high rates of fire, excelling in situations where suppression or dealing with multiple enemies is necessary.
Ranged weapons allow players to attack from a distance, providing a tactical advantage by keeping enemies at bay. These weapons are typically used by archers, rangers, or other classes specializing in dexterity and precision. They offer an entirely different combat style, focused on positioning and accuracy rather than brute strength.
Bows are the most common ranged weapon in fantasy RPGs, offering long-range attacks with great accuracy. They allow players to deal damage from a safe distance, often with various arrows that can be enhanced with elemental effects like fire, ice, or poison. In games with stealth mechanics, bows also enable silent takedowns from afar. The most famous user of the bow and arrow is Amber from Genshin Impact.
Crossbows are slower to reload than bows but pack a bigger punch. They’re ideal for players who prefer a heavier, more systematic approach to ranged combat. Crossbows often offer single-shot severe damage, making them perfect for situations where precise, powerful attacks are needed, such as when facing heavily armored enemies. The full-moon crossbow in Elden Ring and Link’s Crossbow in The Legend of Zelda are famous and notable crossbows in RPG games.
Projectile weapons include anything that can be thrown or launched at an enemy, providing a versatile means of attacking from a distance. These weapons can be used in melee and ranged combat situations, adding tactical variety to a player’s arsenal. Such weapons are highly effective against enemies at a distance. Crossbows, bows and arrows, slingshots, and various types of RPG weapons are available in fantasy RPGs, period-based RPG games, and even battle RPG games.
These are known for their light and fast nature. Throwing knives allow for quick, precise ranged attacks without the need for a full-fledged ranged weapon. They are often used by rogue or assassin characters who want to maintain mobility while engaging enemies at a distance.
Javelins, lances, and spears are some of the most underrated weapons in RPG video games. They can cause significant damage when they hit the target. However, they can also slow down the character somewhat, and the player often suffers health damage and attacks as they take the stance and need time to focus and aim. They are best-suited weapons when the character throws them from a distance and is hidden from the enemy.
Boomerangs offer a unique ranged attack as they return to the thrower after use. This adds an element of strategy, allowing players to hit multiple enemies or attack from unexpected angles. Boomerangs are typically seen in fantasy RPGs where magic or unconventional weapons are prevalent.
Flying discs and chakras are melee weapons, also known as projectile weapons. Unlike any video game, this weapon style was popular in the classic TV series Xena: The Warrior Princess. Later, it is witnessed as one of the weapons used by Lara Croft.
Magical weapons harness arcane forces to deal enhanced damage or provide special effects. These types of weapons are often wielded in fantasy games by mages, wizards, or other spellcasting classes and are crucial for characters who rely on magic rather than physical strength. Magical weapons blend combat with spellcasting, allowing players to imbue their strikes with elemental power or unique abilities. The following are unique RPG weapons that are designed with magical properties:
Amulets are objects characters wear to protect against evil influences, enhance magical abilities, or provide good fortune. Traditionally, they are believed to carry intrinsic powers derived from the materials used or the symbols inscribed upon them. In RPGs, amulets often serve multiple functions, such as protection, boosting strength and agility, and special abilities such as healing. They are defensive weapons rather than offensive ones in most games. A great example is the Amulet of Kvasir in God of War, where using the amulet slows down time right before getting attacked and, hence, buys the player more time.
Spellbooks or grimoires serve as weapons and spellcasting focus, usually for more scholarly magic-user types. They often allow for various spells but may lack the raw power of more specialized magical weapons. The most notable mage or sorcerer character that uses spellbooks and grimoires as weapons is Lisa in Genshin Impact.
Staves are long, ceremonial weapons that amplify a character’s magical abilities. Spellcasters commonly use them to channel powerful spells and are often tied to elemental forces like fire, lightning, or ice. In many RPGs, they can be used for attacking; they also increase mana regeneration or the potency of spells, making them a must-have for magic-focused characters, depending on the game mechanics. In the Final Fantasy game franchise, you will find several styles of magic staff.
Wands are lighter, quicker than staves, and often used for rapid spellcasting. They allow for faster casting times but with less power than staves. Wands are perfect for characters who must quickly switch between casting spells and engaging in more agile combat. The use of wands in Hogwarts Legacy is the most obvious example of wands as RPG weapons. The Final Fantasy game franchise also features various wands as weapons.
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Unconventional weapons cover anything outside the standard melee, ranged, or magical categories, often adding creative or surprising elements to combat. These weapons break traditional RPG norms and are usually introduced to add humor, innovation, or challenge to gameplay. Character classes on a lower level, like hunters, thieves, or druids, use such weapons.
These weapons offer mid-range attacks, allowing players to strike from a distance without fully committing to ranged combat. Whips often stun or ensnare enemies, adding a layer of crowd control to combat. The whip is a defensive and offensive weapon at the same time. It can be used to entangle enemies from a distance or hit them.
This is another defensive weapon used to entangle or strangle the enemies. The cloak is occasionally used by character classes like mages, priests, and even warriors and fighters.
Blowpipe is a stealth and offensive weapon. It is used to silently blow darts or seeds at enemies at a distance. These are generally poisoned. Ghost of Tsushima features this weapon, which is used by Jin Sakai.
Many RPG games have earned their reputation and popularity for the sheer entertainment they provide through gameplay. The weapons and action sequences play a significant role in contributing to the popularity of such games. Designed by top game development studio asset designers, we have listed some of the best RPG weapons ever created to date by top game asset designers, showcasing the creativity behind these iconic game weapons:
The Leviathan Axe from God of War is an iconic weapon and a central element in the evolution of Kratos as a character. Forged by the same blacksmiths who created Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, the Leviathan Axe can freeze enemies, be summoned back to Kratos after being thrown, and is deeply tied to the game’s Norse mythology. Its heavy, deliberate combat style adds a tactical layer to the gameplay. At the same time, its connection to Kratos‘ late wife imbues it with emotional weight, symbolizing his journey from rage to redemption.
Arguably one of the most legendary weapons in all gaming, the Master Sword symbolizes courage and heroism. In the Legend of Zelda series, this sword represents the strength and purity of the game’s protagonist, Link. The Master Sword is not just a weapon but also a key that unlocks new paths in the game, representing a rite of passage for the player as they progress through the story. Its deep connection to the lore of Hyrule makes it more than a tool for combat; it’s a symbol of destiny and the eternal fight between good and evil. The sword is occasionally considered equivalent to King Arthur’s Excalibur.
Cloud Strife’s Buster Sword is instantly recognizable with its massive, imposing design. More than just a weapon, it has become a symbol of Final Fantasy VII’s lasting legacy in RPG history. The sword’s oversized nature reflects Cloud’s internal struggle and his burdens. It’s more than just a tool of destruction; it encapsulates the weight of responsibility and the emotional journey Cloud undertakes throughout the game. When mastered well, it makes the wielder undefeatable.
The Keyblade is a unique weapon that stands at the heart of the Kingdom Hearts universe, blending combat and storytelling. This magical weapon is used by Sora and other characters to battle enemies and unlock paths to different worlds. The Keyblade’s role goes beyond traditional weapons—it is integral to the narrative, unlocking secrets, sealing worlds, and holding deep ties to the game’s lore. Its distinctive design, resembling a key, makes it one of the most memorable weapons in modern RPGs.
At Juego Studios, we understand that weapon design is not just about stats—it’s about storytelling, player immersion, and emotional connection. Our team has a deep understanding of how to craft weapons that feel unique and impactful. Whether you need weapons for a medieval fantasy world or futuristic tech, our talented designers and developers specialize in creating weapons that stand out visually and functionally.
Our approach combines deep industry knowledge with cutting-edge design techniques:
From indie projects to AAA titles, Juego has expertise in various game development services that will elevate your game’s arsenal. Let’s forge the next legendary weapon together.
Weapons in RPGs are more than mere tools; they are integral to the genre’s immersive and engaging experience. From swords imbued with legendary power to magic-infused staves that alter reality, RPG weapons impact not only combat but also storytelling and player experience. This comprehensive RPG weapons list illustrates the creativity and diversity that enrich players’ adventures.
For game developers and enthusiasts alike, understanding the significance of weapon design is vital to creating memorable and lasting gaming experiences. At Juego Studios, we know how to harness this power, crafting weaponry that enriches gameplay and enhances immersion.
A weapon becomes iconic in RPG games when it transcends its basic function as a tool for combat and becomes deeply tied to the game’s narrative, characters, and lore. Iconic weapons often have unique designs, memorable abilities, and significant roles in the story, representing key themes like heroism, sacrifice, or power. These weapons leave a lasting impression on players due to their importance in gameplay and storytelling.
RPG weapons can enhance storytelling by symbolizing a character’s journey, reflecting their strengths and weaknesses, and catalyzing essential plot events. They can also contribute to character development by allowing players to experiment with different playstyles and make choices that align with their desired character build.
Some of the most memorable RPG weapons include:
As innovation and creativity are paramount in game development, you may find yourself wondering if outsourcing to an external team can be helpful. Many studio heads and project managers often find themselves at the crossroads – efficiently integrating external development teams without sacrificing quality or vision.
Indie games are short for Independent Games. These games are developed and published by independent developers who are not part of a game development studio.
Racing game mechanics are the backbone of every thrilling high-speed adventure. These mechanics, from realistic physics to dynamic controls, create an immersive experience that keeps players engaged.
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