Weapons
The best weapons and armor in War in the North, tier-ranked for early, mid and late game — endgame uniques, set bonuses and the best loot farming spots.
Introduction
Gear defines your War in the North build. Weapons and armor drop from enemies, bosses and chests, and the best pieces are unique and legendary items with powerful passive bonuses. Eradan can wield bows, greatswords or dual blades; Andriel relies on staves and magic-boosting robes; Farin prefers heavy axes, shields and crossbows. Beyond raw damage, set bonuses reward players who collect matching armor pieces, and the loot system means the same area can drop completely different gear depending on your difficulty and luck. This section provides a tier-ranked overview of weapon types and armor, explains how rarity and set bonuses work, and points you to the best farming spots for endgame gear.
Weapon Tier List
| Tier | Weapon Types | Where to Find | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Endgame uniques and legendary weapons | Boss drops, Carn Dûm chests, high-level stashes | Heroic and Legendary difficulty runs |
| A | Reliable high-damage rare weapons | Boss and elite drops, secret stashes | Main-story and mid-game builds |
| B | Solid mid-game picks | Quest rewards, shop stock, common chests | Bridging gaps before uniques drop |
| C | Starter gear | Bree vendors, early drops | The first few hours |
Gear Breakdown
S-Tier Endgame
Uniques and legendaries that carry Legendary runs
A-Tier Reliable
High-damage rares for the main story
B-Tier Mid-Game
Solid bridges before uniques drop
C-Tier Starter
Day-one gear from Bree
Core Mechanics
Weapon drops are scaled to your level and difficulty, so the same sword you find at level five and level forty will have very different stats. Rarity tiers — common, rare, epic and legendary — add increasingly strong passive bonuses, and set items grant additional effects when you equip two or more matching pieces. Armor follows the same rules, with heavier sets favouring Stamina and survivability while lighter robes boost Will and spell damage. Because the Legacy Edition lets you fully equip your AI allies, you need to manage four gear sets at once: one for each hero. The loot grind is a major part of the endgame, and knowing which bosses and areas drop the best items saves hours of farming.
Advantages
The tier system gives every player a clear progression path from starter gear to endgame uniques. Unlike some loot games, War in the North's drops are deterministic enough that you can farm specific bosses for specific item types, and the set bonuses reward collecting matching armor rather than just stacking the highest numbers. The three heroes use different weapon types, which keeps loot interesting and forces you to evaluate every drop against each hero's build. For players who enjoy theory-crafting, the interaction between rarity, set bonuses, stat requirements and hero stances offers real depth. The three-hero weapon variety also keeps every drop interesting, because a piece that is useless for Eradan might be perfect for Farin. Combined with the deterministic boss drops, this makes gearing up feel rewarding rather than random, and it gives completionists a clear shopping list of items to farm.
Challenges
The drop rates for the best legendary and unique items are low, and grinding the same boss repeatedly can feel tedious. Set bonuses are powerful but inflexible — committing to a full set locks you out of mixing stronger individual pieces. The three-hero system also multiplies the gear grind: outfitting all three heroes well takes roughly three times the effort of gearing a single character. Finally, the damage formulas are not fully documented, so community tier lists are partly based on feel and testing rather than exact numbers. The damage formulas are also not fully documented, so community tier lists are partly based on testing and feel rather than exact numbers. Because the Legacy Edition is new, some drop tables and set-bonus interactions are still being mapped out, and a build that works at launch may shift after a balance patch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best weapon in the game?+
How do set bonuses work?+
Where is the best place to farm loot?+
Quick Tips
Do not obsess over rarity alone — a rare weapon with stats that match your build often beats a legendary with wasted stat lines. Check each drop against your hero's stat priorities (Strength for melee, Dexterity for bows, Will for magic) before equipping it, and compare the passive bonus as well as the damage number.
Commit to an armor set once you reach the mid-game. Set bonuses are a major power spike, and mixing pieces from different sets wastes them. Decide whether your build wants the two-piece or four-piece bonus and farm the specific set that provides it. Do not let rarity alone decide what you equip, because a well-rolled epic that matches your stat priorities can outclass a mediocre legendary. Compare the full stat line and passive bonus against your hero's build before assuming the higher rarity is automatically better for you.
Outfit your AI allies as well as your main hero. The Legacy Edition gives you full control over party equipment, and a well-geared Farin or Andriel will carry fights while you focus on your own hero. Check every shop for upgrades that match each hero's role. Commit to an armor set once you reach the mid-game rather than mixing pieces from different sets. The set bonuses are a genuine power spike, so decide whether your build wants the two-piece or four-piece bonus and farm the specific set that provides it.
Use Eradan's secret-stash tracking on every level. Hidden supply caches contain some of the best non-boss gear in the game, and several are easy to miss without his ability. Running each area once with Eradan in the party pays for itself in loot. Use Eradan's secret-stash tracking on every level to find the best non-boss gear in the game. Hidden supply caches contain rare items that most players walk straight past, and several are easy to miss without his ability, so running each area once with Eradan pays for itself.
Featured
War in the North best weapons ranked per hero guide
Compare War in the North best weapons across swords, axes, staves, bows, and crossbows. See tier rankings and loadout tips for Eradan, Farin, and Andriel here.
War in the North unique weapons for every hero guide
Discover War in the North unique weapons, from two-handed swords to dual wield setups. Learn the best picks for Eradan, Andriel, and Farin with stats and New.
War in the North best shield for defense builds guide
Find the War in the North best shield options for sword-and-board or axe-and-shield builds. Evaluate armor sets and legendary gear to maximize defense in this.
All Articles
War in the North gear progression with loot farms guide
Optimize War in the North gear progression with loot farming spots and item tiers. Use full party equipment control to outfit CPU allies and carry gear.
War in the North set bonuses from armor sets guide
Unlock War in the North set bonuses from armor sets and legendary weapons. Learn crafting, upgrading, and weapon stats to maximize your party's power in this.
War in the North sword and shield combat tactics guide
Master War in the North sword and shield combat with blocking and counterattacks. Compare heavy axes, single axe with shield, staves, bows, and crossbows.
War in the North damage guide: epic weapons for peak DPS
Maximize War in the North damage guide output with epic weapons and New Game Plus gear. Compare Eradan's bows, Farin's axes, and Andriel's staves for peak DPS.