Which Starter Weapon Should You Choose In Moonlighter 2

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault asks you to choose from four weapon options at the start of a new game. These are just the base versions of the four weapon types, but you’ll be using whichever weapon you pick for several runs before you can unlock another one, making this choice one you’ll want to think about. In this guide, we’ll break down which weapon is best in Moonlighter 2, so you aren’t stuck with the wrong one for a good while.

Merchant’s Sword

The sword is considered a balanced weapon, offering a four-hit attack-pattern for its primary attack, with the final hit functioning as a finisher. The special move is a spinning attack, dealing damage in a circle around Will. If you use your special after three attacks, it transforms into a more powerful finisher.

Merchant’s Large Sword

The Large Sword has a slow attack pattern, but it also has the strongest attacks. The primary attack has a three-hit pattern and uses sharpness on every attack. Your special is a quick jab attack that is much weaker but restores sharpness. The Sharpness meter is broken up by chunks, and for each missing chunk, you deal less damage.

Merchant’s Spear

The Spear offers a long-range attack but doesn’t offer any width to its strikes. Using the primary attack spawns Spearheads, with the fourth attack dropping three Spearheads. Using the Spear’s special ability, you can recall the Spearheads to you, dealing damage to enemies in their path.

Merchant’s Gauntlets

The Gauntlets offer the fastest attack speed of the four weapon types. The primary attacks don’t deal a ton of damage, but they build special meter. The special attack is slower and deals a ton of damage, and when your meter is full, it activates Berserk, which increases your attack speed and knockback.

Which weapon should you choose?

While most of the decision comes down to personal taste, I found the Large Sword to be the best of the bunch of the early runs in Moonlighter 2. The reduced attack speed isn’t that much of a hindrance, and the much stronger attacks are worth the trade. Plus, you still have access to your gun, which can be used in the moments where a sword swing would take too long. You can unlock the rest of the base weapons by earning materials from monsters in Kalina, the first area you have access to.

For more on Moonlighter 2, use our guides on finding the Kalina Treasure, getting more potions, and expanding your Moonlighter 2 inventory.