Code Vein's approach to action RPG elements makes for a fun experience where players can customize their playstyle based on the types of equipment they wear. The game's weapons can be split up into a tier list, but a person's build will have a huge impact on which item ranks as the best for them. Weapons all have unique move sets depending on their type, and players can make the experience even more personalized with blood codes.

RELATED: Code Vein: The Best Blood Codes In The Game

Blood codes change a player's stats, moves, and sometimes even the way they roll. Managing blood codes to learn new skills while tailoring them to the armor and weapons equipped is essential in making an effective character in Code Vein. The key to this is experimenting and trying out different combinations until the desired effect is shown.

Updated June 28th, 2021 by Mark Sammut: Code Vein has a massive collection of weapons, providing players with plenty of room to experiment with builds and craft unique creations. Whether someone is in the early stages of a playthrough or in the endgame, they will not be short in options. While blood codes do not typically directly impact a weapon's damage output, picking the right one for any build is crucial. This article has been updated to include important stats of each weapon along with the areas they can be found in. In some cases, a weapon can only be purchased or traded for points.

10 Sunset Sword And Prometheus

Required Stats: D (STR)

Weight: 30

Drain: 0.3

Scaling: C (STR), D+ (DEX)

With every action RPG, players have to start somewhere, and as far as starting points go, this combination is as powerful as it gets. Both the sword and the blood code are available pretty early on in the game and can work effectively for a long time.

The Sunset Sword has great starting damage and stats, at the cost of worse than normal scaling. In the early game, low scaling isn't a big deal because the stats aren't high enough to make a big difference. The Prometheus blood code improves dexterity and strength so it works perfectly with this one-handed sword.

Where To Find Sunset Sword

Commonly dropped by Lost during the early sections of the game, including in Ruined City Center.

9 Impulse Anchor And Atlas

Required Stats: D+ (STR)

Weight: 78

Drain: 0.87

Scaling: C+ (STR), E+ (DEX)

While not the best hammer in terms of damage or speed, the Impulse Anchor is the most well-rounded that can do crush and pierce damage. Being able to do multiple types of damage in this game is a strong ability most heavy weapons don't have, especially hammers. This provides an advantage against crush-resistant enemies.

The Atlas blood code allows players to focus on tank-style gameplay. Players with Atlas can equip more equipment than with other codes. Mixing the heavy damage potential of the hammer with high defense makes for an unstoppable juggernaut of a character.

Where To Find Impulse Anchor

An upgraded version is found in a chest in the Cathedral of the Sacred Blood. After finding that one, Rin will start selling the Impulse Anchor.

8 Black Halberd And Queenslayer

Required Stats: E (STR), B (DEX), D (MND)

Weight: 48

Drain: 0.45

Scaling: D (STR), A (DEX), C (MND), D+ (WIL)

Queenslayer is one of the most versatile blood codes because of its wide range of skills and great boosts to useful stats. This blood code works best with one-handed weapons and while halberds are in a way two-handed, the abilities still work just fine.

Combining these two makes for a build that can deal a lot of damage to a single enemy quickly or a decent spread of damage to multiple enemies at once. Making use of this versatility makes mobs of enemies easy to handle, and bosses no issue to dispose of. The Black Halberd is a light halberd with slash and pierce capabilities, making it useful in almost any battle.

Where To Find Black Halberd

A Lost wielding the halberd can be found very close to the City of Falling Flame's Back Alley Mistle. Defeat them to get a chance to receive the weapon.

7 Libertador And Queen

Required Stats: D (DEX), C (MND), C (WIL)

Weight: 20

Drain: 0.27

Scaling: C+ (DEX), B (MND), B (WIL)

Bayonets are extremely powerful weapons in Code Vein, which is pretty unusual for action RPGs as ranged weapons are normally weak. The special bayonet Libertador sacrifices range for extra damage and pairs well with the Queen blood code. Queen allows players to deal more damage and wear heavier equipment than other ranged blood codes. This is a great addition since Libertador means players will have to take more hits at a closer range.

RELATED: Code Vein: Reasons Why It's The Best Soulslike Game (& Titles That Are Better)

Queen also increases Willpower and Mind, great stats for more versatility in special skills. Combining these things with gifts that buff ranged shots like Blood Sacrifice can make for a truly unique Code Vein experience since ranged combat is only really possible with a bayonet.

Where To Find Libertador

Trade items with Eva Roux until 50 points are stored. Then, players will be able to trade the points for the Libertador.

6 Brodiaea and Harmonia

Required Stats: C+ (Dexterity), D (Mind), C (Willpower)

Weight: 10

Drain: 0.27

Scaling: A (DEX), C (MND), B (WIL)

This combination is pretty straightforward for a sniper type of build. Brodiaea isn't the strongest bayonet but it has the best range and second-best damage potential. If playing at a range is preferred, this build is the way to go. Brodiaea with similar skills and gifts to Libertador makes for a more specialized build that puts emphasis on blasting the enemy from afar and not even worrying a bit about melee.

For this combination, it is important to use mobility-based skills. Improving mobility makes it harder for enemies to close the gap between them and the character. Skills like Swift Destruction can go a long way in buffing damage and speed.

Where To Find Brodiaea

This weapon can be received from Mia Karnstein for 50 trading points.

5 Zweihander and Atlas

Required Stats: C (STR)

Weight: 87

Drain: 0.6

Scaling: B (STR), E+ (DEX)

Two-handed swords in Code Vein are at a level above almost any other weapon class, and the Zweihander is one of the best of them. Combining it with the Atlas blood code makes for an extremely powerful combination that tanks through hits and deals massive damage.

The best part about putting the two together is that players can use the Atlas abilities to add anti-stagger options to their attacks. Since the Zweihander has a long startup on its attacks, it's important to be able to keep swinging even while getting hit. Atlas isn't available until later in the game so there are alternatives to apply until this option is usable, but it's definitely one of the strongest endgame combinations.

Where To Find Zweihander

The easiest method is to just purchase one from Rin for 3500 Haze. However, Zweihanders are found relatively often in the wild, specifically Ruined City Center.

4 Iceblood and Harmonia

Required Stats: D+ (STR), C+ (DEX), C (MND), D (WIL)

Weight: 17

Drain: 0.5

Scaling: C (STR), B+ (DEX), B (MND), C (WIL)

If players want to take an unusual route and aim for a dark mage-type build, certain one-handed swords and Harmonia can take them a long way. Using Harmonia will boost Willpower and Mind, which improves any spell cast. Iceblood is the recommended sword because of its decent scaling of Mind and Willpower, which most swords don't have.

RELATED: Code Vein: The Hardest Bosses In The Game (& The Easiest)

To further improve the efficacy of this, upgrade the weapon to a devour type so that ichor regenerates with melee attacks. It isn't possible to create a casting-only build so some attacking will be necessary, which is why this sword is recommended. If the enemies are resistant to ice, using a fire weapon will achieve the same effect and scale similarly.

Where To Find Iceblood

This weapon is dropped by Blade Bearer and Cannoneer, two bosses fought simultaneously in the Crypt Spire. These enemies also drop Burning Disaster.

3 Judgment Edge and Hades

Required Stats: A (STR), D+ (DEX)

Weight: 86

Drain: 0.6

Scaling: B (STR)

Hades has some of the best strength scaling out of any blood code in the game, so it works well for hard-hitting builds. Using Hades with a strength weapon like Judgment Edge makes for a one-shot build with unparalleled damage potential. Players use this combination with damage-boosting abilities to play like a rogue character, assassinating enemies from behind.

Upgrading critical hit damage and chances is also recommended, to make the most out of this build since it'll guarantee killing more enemies in a single strike. Lastly, upgrading Judgment Edge with an Atlas Chrome will help add even more overall damage.

Where To Find Judgment Edge

This weapon is dropped by Juzo Mido, the Crypt Spire boss that is encountered directly after the dual fight against Blade Bearer and Cannoneer.

2 Argent Wolf Poleaxe And Scout

Required Stats: B (DEX)

Weight: 66

Drain: 0.45

Scaling: E (STR), A (DEX)

The Argent Wolf Poleaxe is the best dexterity spear weapon in the game and works well with dexterity blood codes focused on movement. Luckily, Scout is just that. Scout is an ichor heavy blood code so it's important to keep that in Mind for boss fights. During normal levels though, Scout is amazing because of its boosts to damage per second and movement capabilities.

RELATED: Code Vein: Best Class Skills (& The Worst)

This combination is more niche than others and isn't as useful in general situations but can really shine with the right combination of skills and gifts. Players should try to equip Swift Destruction, which buffs damage for being quick, and anything that can help regain ichor because it's needed to make the synergy work well.

Where To Find Argent Wolf Poleaxe

Dropped by the Lost Knight in the cave near the Observatory Site Mistle in the Ridge of Frozen Souls. The poleaxe can also be dropped by Cerberus Soldiers wielding the weapon in Provisional Government Center.

1 Huge Hammer And Fionn

Required Stats: B (STR)

Weight: 117

Drain: 0.67

Scaling: A (STR), D (DEX)

This combination is the pinnacle of a juggernaut build because of a gift that Fionn has. The Red Shoes ability allows players to keep swinging and attacking even after they've run out of stamina. This means if they manage to stagger an enemy, they can continue to wail on it until it attacks back. The Huge Hammer has a special combo that allows for a large number of overhead attacks, complementing Red Shoes perfectly.

This build is very niche and leaves things to be desired in the way of defense, but its offensive capabilities are insane. Combining special blood code abilities with unique weapon attacks is what this game is all about, and this combo demonstrates that perfectly.

Where To Find Huge Hammer

Found in chests in Ashen Cavern and Depths: Arachnid Grotto. Permitting one of these two has been obtained, Rin will then start to sell the Huge Hammer.

NEXT: Games To Play If You Like Dark Souls (& Titles You Should Avoid)