Official game facts
OFFICIAL PATCH RECORD
Top patch signal: Obsidian Hammer
The developer says the Obsidian Hammer received a full balance pass and now hits substantially harder. Combined with the general heavy-weapon poise and damage pass, it has the clearest positive signal in the current official notes. That is evidence for retesting—not proof of an absolute number-one ranking.
OFFICIAL PATCH RECORD
High-confidence alternatives
- Great Martyr's Blade: damage increased, including an additional correction for a previously missing change
- Axatana: ability now grants invulnerability frames, inflicts Fragile stacks and correctly triggers its combat Tarstone active
- Salvaged Trebuchaxe: Tarred Fragment was redesigned after the developer described it as both overpowered and broken
OFFICIAL PATCH RECORD
How this shortlist is ranked
Tier placement requires repeatable damage, posture, recovery, setup-cost and boss-matchup testing. Until those measurements exist, ParryGrid ranks the strength of the official patch signal rather than inventing exact DPS values.
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How we verify this guide
Our editors prioritize official storefronts and first-party patch notes. Community discoveries do not become confirmed facts without independent verification.
Sources
Facts checked September 7, 2026. Review percentages and prices are time-sensitive snapshots, never editorial scores.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Obsidian Hammer buffed?+
Yes. The Week 1 notes describe a full balance pass and substantially higher damage.
Is Axatana fixed?+
The tracked patch says its combat Tarstone active now triggers correctly and its ability gained invulnerability frames plus Fragile stacks.