Weapon

Basics
A primary weapon is an equipment for the main purpose of dealing damage. Depending on the weapon's details, it can be either melee or ranged, and deals one of various types of damage. The primary weapon is equipped in the character's right hand slot (sword background). Characters must equip a primary weapon in order to attack. A primary weapon can be customized in order to do more damage, but it will only be usable by that particular character.

A secondary weapon, also often referred to as "off-hand weapon/item", is an equipment that offers a supportive role in combat, often in the form of additional armor or energy. The secondary weapon is equipped in the character's left hand slot (shield background).

Certain types of weapons require two hands to wield. When equipped, the left hand slot will be darkened and have a red cross over it. A secondary weapon can still be equipped, but will have no effect whatsoever. Because equipped weapons do not take up space in the inventory, it is still recommended to equip a secondary weapon while wielding a two-handed primary weapon.

Weapons can have different magical Weapon upgrades and Weapon modifiers on them.

For details on how weapons inflict damage, see Damage.

For lists of available weapons, see Category:Weapons.

Obtaining Weapons
There are various ways to get a weapon in Guild Wars:


 * Weaponsmiths (NPC)
 * Loot from killed mobs
 * Collectors
 * Quest reward
 * Chests
 * Trade with another player

Equipping/Unequipping Weapons
To equip a weapon, drag and drop it to its weapon slot or any background area in the inventory panel. Alternately, just double-click on the weapon. If another weapon was originally equipped in the same slot, the two weapons will be swapped.

To unequip a weapon, drag it from the weapon slot and drop it over an empty slot in the inventory or storage. In explorable areas and missions, weapon can be unequipped by directly dropping it on the ground too.

Up to four Weapon Sets are available to quickly change the weapons equipped.

Equipment in general cannot be equipped or changed during the activation of a skill or the swing of an attack. Attempt to equip/change equipment during said action will not be queued, and must be reattempted after the previous action was completed.

If a weapon providing health or energy is unequipped, the health or energy provided by the item is removed. See energy and health for details.

Linked Attribute
Generally every player can equip any weapon. However, mid to high end weapons all have an attribute requirement for their primary stat. If the character's rank in the required attribute is not high enough, one of two stats can be used:
 * If the weapon is a collectors, crafter, quest reward, or unique weapon, then the stat used is the one for a starter weapon of the same type.
 * If the weapon is a dropped item, then the stat used is half of the current stat. For example, a max 6-28 axe will have a damage range of 3-14 when you do not meet requirements.

Certain attributes also increases damage dealt using specific types of weapons as their inherent effect.

Weapon Types
Melee Weapon Comparison
 * Martial
 * Sword, Axe, Hammer, Shield
 * Bow
 * Daggers
 * Scythe
 * Spear, Shield
 * Spellcasting (all caster professions)
 * Wand (generalization of all one-handed primary caster weapon)
 * Staff
 * Focus item

Ranged Weapon Comparison


 * 1) Wands and staves tied to Restoration Magic can only be obtained as loot in the form of variable attribute staves and wands that are tied to Restoration Magic. They cannot be obtained from collectors or weaponsmiths in Factions, but they can be obtained through collectors and weaponsmiths in Nightfall.