Weapon Profiles
In RaiderZ your skills are shaped by the weapon you wield. Learn how each weapon and combat style really works.
Weapons determine which skills you can use in RaiderZ. You build your character by spending points in Combat Style trees (Defender, Berserker, Cleric, Sorcerer), but many skills require a specific weapon equipped (e.g., shield for Defender blocks/taunts, two‑handers for Berserker slams, and a staff for most Cleric/Sorcerer spells). Mix styles freely, but mind the weapon requirements to avoid dead skills.
Terminology: this game is classless. “Combat Styles” are skill trees. Your equipped weapon unlocks or restricts certain skills.
One‑Handed Sword & Shield
Melee • Balanced • Shield Required for many Defender skills
Reliable DPS with strong guard options. Ideal for learning boss patterns and tanking phases while maintaining steady damage. Ranged magic from Sorcerer/Cleric typically requires a Staff.
- Quick, safe melee combos
- Blocking/guard counters via shield
- Great synergy with Defender tree
- Note: most spell casts need a Staff
Recommended Combat Styles: Defender. Hybrid mixes possible, but keep Staff‑only spells in mind.
One‑Handed Hammer & Shield
Melee • Control • Shield Required for many Defender skills
Trades sword speed for heavier hit‑stun and crowd control. Great for tanking adds and setting up team damage windows.
- Stagger and stun potential
- Excellent guard uptime
- Pairs naturally with Defender
- Healing spells generally require a Staff
Recommended Combat Styles: Defender. Support/utility from Cleric is possible; core heals require Staff.
Two‑Handed Sword
Melee • Burst Damage • Two‑Handed Required for many Berserker skills
Heavy swings, big payoffs. Excellent part‑breaking and burst, but demands positioning and timing to avoid punishing recovery.
- Wide cleaves and charged strikes
- High stagger/part damage
- Limited defense—use i‑frames
- Signature weapon for Berserker
Recommended Combat Styles: Berserker. Defensive or utility points elsewhere are fine but core DPS sits in Berserker.
Two‑Handed Hammer
Melee • Impact • Two‑Handed Required for many Berserker skills
The slowest swings with the heaviest hits. Excels at knockdowns and burst windows. Support/heal skills from Cleric generally require a Staff.
- Massive impact and staggers
- Long recovery—plan your windows
- Great for breaking tough parts
- Pairs tightly with Berserker
Recommended Combat Styles: Berserker. Consider a secondary set (e.g., Staff) for support skills if desired.
Staff
Magic • Ranged/Support • Required for most Cleric/Sorcerer spells
Enables healing, buffs, and elemental DPS. Most Cleric and Sorcerer actives require a Staff, making it the core choice for support and ranged casters.
- Healing and party utility (Cleric)
- Fire/Ice ranged damage (Sorcerer)
- Area control and safety at range
- Very low physical defense—position well
Recommended Combat Styles: Cleric, Sorcerer. Swap to shield sets if you need specific Defender utilities.
Combat Styles
Defender
Shielded Tank • Control • Team Protection
Focuses on blocking, guard counters, and debuffs. Best with a shield (sword or hammer). Great for holding aggro, creating safe damage windows, and stabilizing difficult fights.
- Shield‑based skills (shield required)
- Stuns/taunts and damage mitigation
- Pairs with 1H weapons
Berserker
Two‑Handed DPS • Burst • Knockdowns
Specializes in heavy hits and crowd control using two‑handed weapons. Demands timing and positioning—slow wind‑ups, huge payoffs.
- Requires 2H sword/hammer for many skills
- High stagger and part damage
- Low innate defense
Cleric
Support • Healing • Holy Damage
Offers heals, buffs, and holy‑based attacks. Most core healing/offensive spells require a Staff. Can hybridize with Defender or Berserker for utility.
- Staff required for most heals
- Party sustain and cleansing
- Safe ranged playstyle
Sorcerer
Ranged DPS • Fire/Ice • Control
Focuses on elemental damage and ranged control. Most actives require a Staff. High damage from a distance but fragile up close—positioning is key.
- Staff required for most spells
- Area control and burst
- Synergizes with support Cleric picks
Pro Tip
You're free to respec and carry multiple weapon sets. Many veterans keep a Staff set for heals/spells and swap to melee for specific phases. Build around the weapon requirements of the skills you actually plan to use.