Official game facts
OFFICIAL PATCH RECORD
S signal — Obsidian Hammer
This is a tier of official patch confidence, not a claim about hidden DPS. The Obsidian Hammer received a full balance pass and substantially higher damage while heavy weapons broadly gained poise and damage. No other named weapon receives as many aligned positive signals in the Week 1 notes.
OFFICIAL PATCH RECORD
A signal — Great Martyr's Blade and Axatana
- Great Martyr's Blade: explicit damage increase plus a follow-up correction for a previously missing change
- Axatana: new ability invulnerability frames, Fragile stacks and a repaired combat Tarstone trigger
OFFICIAL PATCH RECORD
Retest tier — Salvaged Trebuchaxe
The Tarred Fragment was redesigned because the developer described its earlier state as both overpowered and broken. That makes launch rankings stale, but the notes do not provide enough comparative data to place the redesign above the positive-signal weapons.
OFFICIAL PATCH RECORD
What would change the ranking
- Repeatable damage and posture measurements on the same target
- Recovery and setup cost
- Boss-specific safety and resistance
- A later official balance patch
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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
Is this a measured DPS tier list?+
No. It ranks the strength of official balance signals and labels the evidence limit; exact DPS needs controlled in-game testing.
Why is Obsidian Hammer first?+
It has the clearest combination of a named full balance pass, substantially higher damage and the broader heavy-weapon buff.