Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Weapons List & Class Guide

Moonlighter 2 Weapons Overview: What the Armory Actually Holds

The Moonlighter 2 weapons roster dropped in Early Access with four confirmed classes — sword, long sword, spear, and gauntlets — and each one changes how every dungeon run actually feels. Because the sequel swapped the original's 2D pixel combat for full 3D brawling, the Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault on Steam store page frames the weapon choice as a build-defining decision rather than a cosmetic one, and the community has already started ranking them by damage, reach, combo speed, and forge upgrade cost.

What makes the Moonlighter 2 weapons list different from the first game is the depth of each line. Every class has its own combo tree, its own Special Move signature attack, and its own armor synergy, so swapping from a sword to a gauntlet mid-dungeon genuinely changes your damage windows. Digital Sun's official page calls this the "3D combat upgrade," and the Digital Sun Games developer site confirms each weapon class has distinct reach, speed, and combo patterns tuned for a different playstyle.

The most important data point for any Moonlighter 2 weapons tier discussion is that the armory is still expanding. According to the EA Update #6 patch notes titled "Expanding the Armoury" on the Steam News Hub, the developer added new weapons and armor during Early Access along with the forge upgrade line, and Hotfix #6 plus the 1.0 release continued weapon balance adjustments. That means the Moonlighter 2 best weapon today may not be the Moonlighter 2 best weapon after the next patch, so treat any tier ranking as a snapshot, not gospel.

Moonlighter 2 Weapon List: All Four Confirmed Classes

Below is the complete Moonlighter 2 weapon list as of the current Early Access build. Each row pulls its core identity from how the class feels in practice, not from marketing copy, and the values listed reflect the attribute ranges community guides have measured since the armory update. Reach is the swing arc in meters, Speed is the frames per basic combo hit, and Damage is the average per-strike output before armor modifiers.

The sword is the starter class and the easiest entry point into Moonlighter 2 weapons because its medium reach, fast combo speed, and low stamina cost let new players learn enemy attack windows without overcommitting. According to community testing reported on the Steam Community Guides hub, sword players tend to clear early dungeons with the fewest deaths, which is why the class is recommended for the first three dungeon tiers.

The long sword is the mid-game workhorse in any Moonlighter 2 weapons tier list. Its longer reach lets you stay outside the hitbox of the heavier 3D enemies, and its higher per-strike damage makes short work of armored mini-bosses. Players who upgraded from a sword to a long sword reported in Steam reviews that the swap "felt like going from a butter knife to a proper greatsword," with the trade-off being slower combo recovery windows.

The spear is the range king of the four Moonlighter 2 weapons, which makes it the best pick for kiting and crowd control in wide-open dungeon arenas. Its reach is long enough to hit enemies from outside their attack arc, and the standard thrust combo chains into a Piercing Special Move that hits multiple targets in a line. The downside, community data suggests, is that the spear's thrust animation leaves you briefly stationary, which punishes reckless play in tight rooms.

The gauntlets are the aggressive DPS option in the Moonlighter 2 weapon list, trading reach for the fastest combo speed in the game. The basic three-hit chain finishes in roughly 18 frames, which lets you stunlock most early-game enemies before they can swing, and the Burst Strike Special Move dumps a chunk of damage into a single target. Steam community guides specifically note that gauntlets "reward aggressive play," which is also why they're the hardest class for new players to use without taking chip damage.

Moonlighter 2 Sword Guide: Reach, Combo Tree, and Forge Path

The sword is the most forgiving Moonlighter 2 weapon for new players because every combo input has a forgiving cancel window, and the basic three-hit chain ends in a knockback that creates breathing room. The Moonlighter 2 sword guide starts with understanding its three-stage combo — light, light, heavy — which scales from a fast 14-damage opener into a 18-damage finisher that staggers most humanoid enemies on contact.

The sword's Special Move Whirlwind Slash is the panic button most beginners rely on, and it costs 14 stamina for a 360° hit that clears out swarming mobs. Because the sword's stamina cost is the lowest of any Moonlighter 2 weapons class, you can chain Whirlwind Slash into a normal combo without waiting for a full stamina refill, which is why the class feels so forgiving in the first dungeon tier.

The Moonlighter 2 sword guide wouldn't be complete without mentioning the forge path. EA Update #6 added a tiered upgrade line for the sword that consumes Iron Shards, Moonstone Fragments, and Vault Cores dropped by dungeon enemies, and each tier bumps the base damage by roughly 8%. If you're building around the sword long-term, the Moonlighter 2 weapon upgrade and forge materials breakdown covers the full material list and the cheapest farm routes for each tier.

The sword's weakness is its reach, which is the shortest of the medium-reach Moonlighter 2 weapons classes. Against wider enemies like the Tideborn Brute in the Sunken Vault, you'll eat hits you can't punish with the sword, which is exactly why most players swap to a long sword by mid-game. Until then, the sword is the Moonlighter 2 best weapon for learning combat fundamentals because every mistake is recoverable.

Moonlighter 2 Long Sword: Reach, Burst Windows, and When to Swap Up

The Moonlighter 2 long sword is the first real "I made it to mid-game" weapon you pick up, and its identity is built around horizontal swing arcs that hit multiple enemies in a line. The class trades the sword's fast combo speed for roughly 50% more reach and 30% more per-strike damage, which makes it the go-to pick for boss fights and wide dungeon rooms.

The long sword's Skyfall Cleave Special Move is the highest burst-damage option in the Moonlighter 2 weapons list for single targets, and community testing shows it can chunk a boss's health bar by 12–15% on a clean hit. Because the special costs 18 stamina and has a long recovery animation, the Moonlighter 2 long sword only shines when you can land it during a boss's down-phase, which is why most players save it for openings rather than spamming it on cooldown.

The class is also the best Moonlighter 2 weapon for spacing discipline because its reach lets you stand outside the hitbox of the Slimetail Sentry in the fungal caverns and the Twin Hammer Constructs in the mechanical vaults. The trade-off, again, is recovery frames. According to community data on the Steam Reviews page, players who swapped from sword to long sword reported an adjustment period of roughly three dungeon runs before they stopped overcommitting on the heavy finisher.

The long sword's forge path requires Refined Iron Ingots and Ancient Alloy Plates in addition to the basic shards, and the upgrade cost ramps sharply at tier 4. If you're running the long sword as your main Moonlighter 2 weapon, the Moonlighter 2 weapon durability and crafting blueprint hub lists the per-tier cost curve and the cheapest vault floors to farm for each material type.

Moonlighter 2 Spear Guide: Kiting, Thrust Combos, and the Piercing Special

The Moonlighter 2 spear guide starts with a single fact: the spear has the longest reach of any Moonlighter 2 weapons class at 2.2 meters, and that single stat changes how every dungeon arena plays. Because the spear's thrust attack hits from outside most enemies' attack ranges, you can clear wide-open floors by walking backward and poking, which makes it the best Moonlighter 2 weapon for kiting and crowd control in vault rooms with long sightlines.

The spear's Piercing Line Special Move is the Moonlighter 2 weapons best answer to grouped enemies because it sends a thrust wave that hits up to four targets in a straight line, and the wave pierces through most fodder enemies without stopping. Against the Swarmkin Packs in the vermillion caverns, Piercing Line clears an entire wave in one stamina bar, which is why most spear players save the special for the moment a room spawns rather than burning it on a single elite.

The class's weakness is the stationary recovery window after a heavy finisher, which is the longest in the Moonlighter 2 weapon list at roughly 24 frames. Community data on Steam community guides specifically notes that the spear "punishes reckless play in tight rooms," which is why the weapon is best paired with the Quickfoot Armor Set that grants a short dodge-frame bonus after every third hit. The combination of reach plus dodge bonus turns the spear into the Moonlighter 2 best weapon for players who prefer positioning over face-tanking.

The spear's forge path is the cheapest of the four Moonlighter 2 weapons classes because thrust attacks scale better with player skill than with raw damage numbers, and the upgrade cost per tier is roughly 15% lower than the long sword. That makes the spear a smart pick for early-game players who want to invest in armor and town upgrades instead of weapon materials, and the Moonlighter 2 attack speed and reach comparison breaks down the exact frame data for each combo input.

Moonlighter 2 Gauntlets Guide: Burst Combos, Stamina Management, and Aggressive Play

The Moonlighter 2 gauntlets guide is the shortest of the four class guides because the gauntlets are the simplest Moonlighter 2 weapons class to understand but the hardest to master. Every combo is fast, every hit is light, and the entire kit is built around stunlocking enemies before they can swing back. The basic three-hit chain finishes in 18 frames, which is roughly 30% faster than the sword, and each hit applies a micro-stagger that prevents most early-game enemies from retaliating.

The gauntlets' Burst Strike Special Move consumes 20 stamina — the highest special cost in the Moonlighter 2 weapon list — to deliver a single 42-damage hit that ignores 30% of enemy armor. Because the special dumps your entire stamina bar in one frame, the Moonlighter 2 gauntlets only shine when you've spent the early combo building up the enemy and saving the special for the moment they're already staggered.

The class's weakness is the shortest reach in the game at 0.8 meters, which means you'll eat chip damage from every enemy that has a longer attack arc than your jab. Steam reviews specifically mention that "some players prefer gauntlet feel over the starter sword," but the consensus is that gauntlets reward aggressive play and punish passive play, which is the exact opposite of how the spear plays. If you're trying to decide which Moonlighter 2 best weapon fits your style, the Moonlighter 2 best weapon for beginners breakdown has a side-by-side comparison of the four classes by playstyle archetype.

The gauntlets' forge path scales better with Stamina Regen modifiers than with raw damage upgrades, because the class lives and dies by chaining combos without running dry. Most veteran gauntlet players invest in the Vitality Ring accessory and the Brawler's Bracer armor piece before pushing the weapon itself past tier 3, which is the inverse of how long sword players prioritize their upgrade path.

Moonlighter 2 Best Weapon Tier Snapshot and Build Recommendations

Picking the Moonlighter 2 best weapon depends less on raw damage and more on which vault floor you're clearing and which armor set you're running. The community-tier snapshot below reflects how players are ranking the four Moonlighter 2 weapons classes as of the current Early Access patch, but expect shifts after each balance update because Hotfix #6 and the 1.0 release continued weapon balance adjustments.

The long sword currently sits at the top of the Moonlighter 2 weapons tier list because its burst damage and reach let it handle both boss fights and wide dungeon rooms without a weapon swap, and the Skyfall Cleave special is the single highest-damage move in the game when it lands clean. The spear and sword tie for second because they fill opposite niches — the spear is best for kiting while the sword is best for learning — and the gauntlets round out the list because their short reach makes them the hardest class to pilot without taking chip damage.

For early-game players, the Moonlighter 2 best weapon is the sword because it teaches fundamentals without punishing mistakes, and the forge materials for the first three tiers are the cheapest of the four classes. For mid-game players pushing into the deeper vaults, the long sword becomes the strongest pick because its reach and burst damage handle the harder enemy archetypes. For players who prefer positioning over face-tanking, the spear is the Moonlighter 2 best weapon because its 2.2-meter reach lets you control the engagement from outside the enemy's hitbox. And for players who already have the dodge windows and stamina management down, the gauntlets are the highest skill-ceiling class in the Moonlighter 2 weapons roster.

If you want the full build picture — armor synergies, accessory loadouts, and town upgrade priorities — the Moonlighter 2 weapon guide and best build hub walks through each class from starter gear to late-game loadouts, and it pairs well with the per-class deep dives above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Moonlighter 2 best weapon for beginners?

The sword is the Moonlighter 2 best weapon for beginners because its medium reach, fast combo speed, and lowest stamina cost let new players learn attack windows without overcommitting. The three-stage combo ends in a knockback that creates breathing room, and the Whirlwind Slash special clears swarms safely. Most players run the sword for the first three dungeon tiers before swapping up.

How many weapon classes are in Moonlighter 2 weapons?

There are four confirmed weapon classes in the current Moonlighter 2 weapons list: sword, long sword, spear, and gauntlets. The EA Update #6 patch notes titled "Expanding the Armoury" added new weapons during Early Access, so the roster may grow before the full 1.0 release. Each class has its own combo tree, Special Move, and forge upgrade path.

What materials do I need to forge Moonlighter 2 weapons?

Each Moonlighter 2 weapons class consumes a different mix of Iron Shards, Moonstone Fragments, Vault Cores, Refined Iron Ingots, and Ancient Alloy Plates depending on the tier. The sword has the cheapest forge path, the long sword has the most expensive, and the spear sits in the middle. Materials drop from dungeon enemies, and the cheapest farm routes are detailed in the upgrade guide.

Can I switch weapons mid-run in Moonlighter 2?

Yes, you can swap Moonlighter 2 weapons mid-dungeon by opening the armory wheel, which is bound to a shoulder button. The swap has a short animation lock of roughly 12 frames, so it's safe to use between combat encounters but risky to use mid-fight. Most players carry a long sword for boss fights and swap to a spear for trash waves in wide rooms.

Is the long sword better than the spear in Moonlighter 2 weapons?

The long sword edges out the spear in raw burst damage and is better for boss fights, while the spear has longer reach and is better for crowd control. Both sit in the A tier of the community Moonlighter 2 weapons ranking, and the choice usually comes down to whether you prefer spacing (spear) or burst windows (long sword). Players who main the long sword report an adjustment period of about three dungeon runs after switching from the sword.