Lords of the Fallen (2023) Guide - Best Early Game Weapons

In Lords of the Fallen, you'll come across a vast array of weapons, spells, and catalysts as you embark on your adventure. With over a hundred options for crushing demonic foes and battling umbral monstrosities, it can be overwhelming. This guide simplifies the process by highlighting the top starter weapons for various character builds, whether you prefer brute strength, agility, or spellcasting.

Let's categorize these weapons by the primary attributes they scale with:

1. Strength Weapons
2. Agility Weapons
3. Radiance Weapons
4. Inferno Weapons
5. Boss Weapons
6. Ranged Weapons and Catalysts
7. Pilgrim's Perch Key Weapons

Strength Weapons:

These are the best options for characters focusing on strength.

Faithful Bludgeon

• Weapon type: Grand Hammer
• Requirements: 28 Strength
• Location: Below Skyrest Bridge
• Damage type: Physical
• Status effect: Burn

Find this mighty hammer beneath Skyrest Bridge. Take the elevator near the Vestige of Chabui in Sanctuary, descend the stairs, cross the bridge, and grab it from a lower platform using the umbral lamp. What's impressive is that this weapon, dealing physical damage, can also inflict burn on your foes.

Thorned Crimson Rector Sword

• Weapon type: Long Sword
• Requirements: 19 Strength
• Location: Below Skyrest Bridge and Pilgrim's Perch
• Damage type: Physical
• Status effect: Bleed

Whether you prefer the regular or thorned version, these long swords serve as excellent early game options. To find the regular version, follow the bone bridge after acquiring the Skyrest Bridge Key. As for the thorned version, locate it near the Vestige of Blind Agatha, accessed through the umbral realm.

Proselyte Sword

• Weapon type: Long Sword
• Requirements: 19 Strength
• Location: Random drop from the Proselyte in Redcopse
• Damage type: Physical and Fire
• Status effect: Burn

A potent early game weapon, albeit a random drop. Hunt the Proselyte enemy in Redcopse village or on the bridge before Pieta's boss arena to obtain this sword. It deals both fire damage and burn buildup, making it ideal for strength-based builds.

Pale Butcher's Blade

• Weapon type: Grand Sword
• Requirements: 25 Strength, 20 Agility
• Location: Forsaken Fen
• Damage type: Physical and Wither

This hefty cleaver, found later in Forsaken Fen, is unique for its wither damage. After kicking down the bridge shortcut on the way to the Hushed Saint boss, you'll discover it in a hut. Beware of the Shuja warrior within.

Agility Weapons:

These weapons cater to agile characters.

Fist of Insight

• Weapon type: Fist
• Requirements: 10 Agility
• Location: Purchased from Damarose the Marked before the Gentle Gavernus, Mistress of Hounds boss in Pilgrim's Perch
• Damage type: Physical
• Status effect: Burn

The best hand-to-hand weapon for early game agility-focused characters. Buy it from Damarose the Marked outside the Gentle Gaverus boss arena in Pilgrim's Perch. Act swiftly as Damarose may leave after you begin the boss fight. The Fist of Insight may not deal exceptional damage, but its burn buildup is a valuable asset.

Kukajin's Sword

• Weapon type: Short Sword
• Requirements: 12 Agility, 8 Strength
• Location: Obtain by smashing Kukajin's statue in the Forsaken Fen
• Damage type: Physical
• Status effect: Bleed and Poison

To acquire this sword, you must intentionally fail an NPC quest by smashing Kukajin's statue in the Forsaken Fen. Kukajin's Sword is exceptional, applying both bleed and poison with its rapid attack pattern. You'll find Kukajin in a cave near a burning pyre after unlocking the Vestige of Valade shortcut.

Hallowed Praise

• Weapon type: Short Sword
• Requirements: 12 Agility
• Location: Pilgrim's Perch
• Damage type: Physical and Holy
• Status effect: Bleed

A decent short sword found along your path through Pilgrim's Perch. After defeating the Scourged Sister Delyth boss, navigate the wooden walkways and look for a corpse holding this weapon on the far platform.

Radiance Weapons:

These weapons are ideal for characters focusing on radiance.

Orian Preacher Hammer

• Weapon type: Hammer
• Requirements: 13 Radiance, 10 Strength
• Location: Purchased from Exacter Dunmire in Skyrest Bridge
• Damage type: Physical and Holy

For early-game Radiance-scaling weapons, your options are limited. The Orian Preacher Hammer is your best bet. It's the starting equipment for the Orian Preacher class but can be purchased from Exacter Dunmire if you decide to embrace Radiance later.

Inferno Weapons:

 For those who favor the power of inferno.

Raw Mangler Axe

• Weapon type: Axe
• Requirements: 13 Inferno
• Location: Dropped by the double-axe-wielding enemies in Redcopse or purchased from Damarose
• Damage type: Physical and Fire
• Status effect: Burn

The Raw Mangler Axe deals fire damage and burn buildup. You can acquire it by defeating the double axe-wielding Raw Mangler enemies in Redcopse village or purchase it from Damarose the Marked before the Gentle Gaverus boss.

Rusty Cutter

• Weapon type: Short Sword
• Requirements: 11 Strength, 11 Inferno
• Location: In the lava pool opposite the entrance to Pieta's boss arena
• Damage type: Physical and Fire

Scaling with both Strength and Inferno, the Rusty Cutter is an accessible option. Find it opposite Pieta's boss arena, in a lava pool to the left of the enemies battling each other. While it doesn't apply burn buildup, it inflicts fire damage.

Boss Weapons:

Powerful weapons available after defeating specific bosses.

Pieta's Sword

• Weapon type: Short Sword
• Requirements: 25 Radiance
• Location: Purchased from Molhu after unlocking boss weapons and defeating Pieta, She of Blessed Renewal
• Damage type: Holy
• Status effect: Smite

As boss weapons become accessible early, Pieta's Sword stands out as a formidable Radiance-scaling choice. Collect Umbral Scourings by defeating bosses and using Soulflay on umbral memories to unlock it. This sword, with its holy damage, applies smite buildup, causing enemies to explode.

Hushed Saint's Halberd

• Weapon type: Polearms
• Requirements: 19 Strength, 16 Agility
• Location: Purchased from Molhu after unlocking boss weapons and defeating the Hushed Saint
• Damage type: Physical
• Status effect: Poison

An excellent option for both strength and agility, the Hushed Saint's Halberd deals poison damage. Few early-game weapons offer poison damage, making this polearm a valuable choice.

Ranged Weapons and Catalysts:

These are your options for spellcasting catalysts and ranged weapons.

Wilmarc's Catalyst

• Weapon type: Radiant Catalyst
• Requirements: 18 Radiance
• Location: Behind Kukajin's Statue in the Forsaken Fen

Obtain this catalyst by either smashing Kukajin's Statue or aiding her in the Forsaken Fen. It is an upgrade from the standard Radiant Catalyst, offering an additional spell slot.

Searing Accusation

• Weapon type: Inferno Catalyst
• Requirements: 18 Inferno
• Location: In the hidden crypt under Skyrest Bridge, after eliminating the umbral entity blocking it

This early Inferno Catalyst is an upgrade over the Pyric Cultist Catalyst, boasting four spell slots. Acquiring it is crucial for freeing the Tortured Prisoner. Offer it to her, and she will become a pyromancy spell vendor. After defeating the Spurned Progeny boss in Calrath, you can retrieve Searing Accusation from her by giving her the giant eyeball item.

Hallowed Bow

• Weapon type: Bow
• Requirements: 15 Agility, 8 Strength
• Location: By the entrance to Pilgrim's Perch after the Scourged Sister Delyth boss
• Damage type: Physical

An early-game bow that you can acquire right after defeating the Scourged Sister Delyth boss. Find it in a cave corridor by switching to the Umbral realm, offering a swift path to ranged combat.

Pilgrim's Perch Key Weapons:

If you acquire the Pilgrim's Perch Key from Stomund in Skyrest Bridge, you can access a late-game area early, near the Vestige of Blind Agatha. While the enemies are formidable, you can secure some impressive weapons.

Hammer of Holy Agony

• Weapon type: Hammer
• Requirements: 13 Strength, 13 Radiance
• Location: In the locked area you open with the Pilgrim's Perch Key near the Vestige of Blind Agatha
• Damage type: Physical and Holy
• Status effect: Bleed

Traverse the area unlocked by the Vestige of Blind Agatha to find this potent hammer. It scales with radiance and strength while dealing holy damage and causing bleed.

Bloody Glory

• Weapon type: Grand Sword
• Requirements: 32 Radiance, 30 Agility, 20 Strength
• Location: In the locked area you open with the Pilgrim's Perch Key near the Vestige of Blind Agatha
• Damage type: Physical and Holy
• Status effect: Bleed

A challenging weapon to acquire early, Bloody Glory boasts exceptional stats. It scales with radiance and strength and delivers both holy damage and significant bleed buildup. Your journey may end in defeat a few times before you secure this formidable sword.

These are the best weapon options for your character in Lords of the Fallen. Choose wisely and tailor your arsenal to match your playstyle and preferences.