- subterra best weapons: Splitblade is the strongest all-around craft target for damage and late-game pressure.
- Greatswords: Win when you want reliable melee power in tight tunnels and boss fights.
- Bows and longbows: Safer for deep layers when spacing matters more than raw burst.
- Loadouts matter: Pair your weapon with Lucky, Blazing Pickaxe, or Bigger Backpack for better runs.
Subterra Best Weapons Tier List
Subterra's weapon pool is compact, which makes ranking practical instead of guesswork. The best picks are the ones that support your real loop: mining, clearing enemies, and staying efficient long enough to profit from a run.
Video Highlights:
- Focus on damage first if you want one main weapon
- Use ranged options when the layer is crowded
- Greatswords give the cleanest balance of damage and simplicity
- Starter weapons are serviceable, but they should not anchor your build
S Tier
- Splitblade
- Best raw damage
- Strong boss prep
A Tier
- Knight's Greatsword
- Wretched Sword
- Excellent midgame power
Best Utility
- Lucky
- Explosive Touch
- Blazing Pickaxe
If you only want one craft target, make Splitblade your priority. It gives you the cleanest late-game upgrade path and the most reliable melee ceiling.
| Rank | Weapon | Type | Damage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Splitblade | Greatsword | 92 | Late-game damage, boss prep |
| A | Knight's Greatsword | Greatsword | 66 | Mid-to-late progression |
| A | Wretched Sword | Greatsword | 56 | Mid-game monster clearing |
| B | Sturdy Greatsword | Greatsword | 51 | Early-to-mid melee upgrade |
| B | Reinforced Longbow | Longbow | 44 | Safer ranged play |
| B | Spine Bow | Bow | 38 | Mobile ranged combat |
| C | Reinforced Bow | Bow | 30 | Early ranged fallback |
| C | Sword | Sword | ~25 | First combat step |
| C | Iron Greatsword | Greatsword | 20 | Starter craft option |
| C | Curved Bow | Bow | 16 | Very early ranged use |
The ranking is simple on purpose. Greatswords dominate the top end, bows fill the safety niche, and starter weapons exist to bridge the first upgrade gap. If your build is thin on survivability, a slightly weaker but safer weapon can still outperform a higher-damage choice you cannot use cleanly.
How to Choose the Right Weapon
Choosing the right weapon in Subterra is less about fantasy and more about route control. A good weapon should match how you move, how deep you mine, and how often you expect to fight while carrying valuable ore.
A weapon that looks strong on paper can still slow you down if you cannot stay alive, keep distance, or finish runs with enough inventory space to profit.
Decide Your Main Job
If you spend most of your time mining, prioritize consistent clearing. If you fight often, prioritize burst damage and safer positioning.
Pick Your Range
Greatswords are best for close-range control. Bows and longbows are better when you want to hold space in tight layers.
Check Your Materials
Save upgrade materials before crafting. A strong weapon you cannot afford to maintain is less useful than a steady mid-tier option.
Match Cards to the Weapon
Use Lucky for farming, Blazing Pickaxe for smelting efficiency, and mobility cards when your route gets deeper or more dangerous.
| Weapon Type | Strength | Weakness | Best When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greatsword | High burst, easy pressure | Shorter safety window | You can control melee spacing |
| Bow | Safer ranged hits | Lower close-range control | Enemies force you to kite |
| Longbow | Better reach and spacing | Slower setup | Open tunnels and layered caves |
| Starter Sword | Cheap early fallback | Falls off fast | First hours and tutorial stage |
If you want a practical rule, use melee for confidence and bows for survival. Greatswords are the better default, but ranged weapons become more valuable when a run is already carrying rare ore and you cannot afford a wipe.
Best Loadouts by Playstyle
The strongest Subterra builds are not just weapon picks. They are combinations of damage, utility, and inventory control. That is why the best loadouts usually stack one weapon with cards that reduce downtime.
The cleanest builds solve three problems at once: kill faster, carry more, and return to the surface less often.
| Loadout | Weapon | Cards | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Ore Farmer | Splitblade | Lucky, Explosive Touch, Blazing Pickaxe, Bigger Backpack | Highest value for long mining routes and dense ore pockets |
| Fast Smelter Build | Knight's Greatsword | Blazing Pickaxe, Larger Furnace, Lighter Pickaxe, Stronger Pickaxe | Cuts mining and processing downtime |
| Safe Deep Explorer | Wretched Sword | Healthy, Double Jump, Walk Speed, Extra Oxygen | Balances survivability and movement in deeper layers |
| Ranged Safety | Reinforced Longbow | Walk Speed, Double Jump, Healthy, Sneaky | Keeps distance while staying mobile |
| Starter Safety | Sword | Pouch, Magnet, Radiant, Healthy | Smooth early-game comfort and item pickup |
Ore Farming
- Splitblade
- Lucky
- Bigger Backpack
Survival
- Healthy
- Double Jump
- Extra Oxygen
Speed
- Lighter Pickaxe
- Walk Speed
- Blazing Pickaxe
A loadout only works if it fits your route. If you keep returning to sell or heal, prioritize comfort. If you stay underground for long stretches, prioritize utility and movement. The best weapon is the one that makes your full loop smoother, not just your damage number higher.
Weapon Progression and Material Priority
Weapon progression in Subterra is tied to material discipline. If you spend key ores too early, you slow down both combat power and overall mining speed. The smartest path is to bank materials until your next major upgrade is already within reach.
Save rare materials first, then craft. That habit keeps your weapon path and your deeper-layer progress moving together.
Bank These Materials Before Crafting:
- Keep Rock, Gold, and Coal for early progression
- Save Raw Copper and Copper Ingot for the first real upgrades
- Hold Raw Tin, Tin Ingot, and Raw Iron instead of spending them on filler crafts
- Protect gem materials like Citrine, Topaz, Amethyst, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, and Diamond
- Use Chrono Shards on cards that support your weapon choice
| Material | Where It Matters | Why You Should Keep It |
|---|---|---|
| Rock | Early upgrades | Needed for early pickaxe progress |
| Gold | Multiple tiers | Always useful for upgrades |
| Coal | Early-mid routes | Helps many early recipes |
| Raw Copper / Copper Ingot | Early progression | Core crafting and upgrade currency |
| Raw Tin / Tin Ingot | Mid progression | Bridges into stronger recipes |
| Raw Iron / Iron Ingot | Midgame | Important for stronger gear paths |
| Citrine / Topaz | Early gems | Often required before later tiers |
| Amethyst / Emerald | Mid gems | Easy to waste if you craft carelessly |
| Ruby / Sapphire / Diamond | Late gems | Best saved for higher-value recipes |
| Official Reference | Use |
|---|---|
| Roblox Game Page | Launch the game and check the main experience page |
| Polyworks Studio Trello | Review progression systems and item references |
| Polyworks Studio Discord | Follow updates, announcements, and community news |
Use the official links as your baseline, then build your weapon route around actual playtime. That keeps your choices grounded in what the game asks you to do, not just what looks strongest in a vacuum.
Subterra Best Weapons FAQ
If you want the shortest answer possible, start with a greatsword path, then add one utility card for farming or survival.
Q: What is the best weapon in subterra best weapons for most players?
Splitblade is the best all-around choice because it delivers the strongest listed damage and fits late-game progression cleanly.
Q: Should I use a bow or a greatsword?
Use a greatsword if you want higher burst and simpler combat. Use a bow or longbow if you need safer spacing in deeper layers.
Q: What loadout is best for mining runs?
Splitblade with Lucky, Explosive Touch, Blazing Pickaxe, and Bigger Backpack is the most efficient ore-farming setup.
Q: When should I stop using starter weapons?
Replace starter weapons as soon as you can support a real crafted upgrade. The starter sword is only meant to bridge the early game.