Enshrouded offers many different combat styles to choose from. The game doesn’t lock you into one path; it’s flexible and lets you specialize in a specific weapon later on. For a survival title, the system is quite deep and encourages experimentation. Especially early on, you can try out what feels best and decide what to lean on as you progress. But which weapons are there, exactly? And how do you keep and improve them? Let’s break down the weapon system so you know which options are worth your time.
Enshrouded weapon types at a glance: melee, ranged, and magic
Broadly, weapons in Enshrouded fall into three categories: melee, ranged, and magic. Within these, you’ll find distinct subtypes that significantly change how you attack. It’s important to understand these differences. The current max level is 50, raised with the latest Update 7.
Every weapon also comes with specific stats that make it better or worse for certain situations. All weapons, regardless of type, have durability and can break if you don’t repair them regularly. You can disable this in the settings if you prefer to keep your gear intact.
Most weapons also feature elemental strengths you can exploit: poison, fire, ice, shroud, and lightning. Not every weapon deals elemental damage, but if it does, it’s worth keeping.
Enshrouded melee weapons: swords, axes, and hammers
Melee is straightforward: no matter what you use, closing in and dealing damage is the plan. Still, you should pick the subtype that fits your style. Pay attention to slashing, piercing, and blunt damage—versatility is a plus.
Melee weapons currently include swords, axes, and hammers. Each comes in both one-handed and two-handed variants, so choose what suits your approach. One-handed weapons are lighter and faster, and you can pair them with a shield to block. Two-handed weapons hit harder but swing slower. They can dish out serious damage and have distinct animations depending on type.
Enshrouded magic: wands, overcharge, and mana
Magic is very strong in Enshrouded and one of the best late-game combat options—provided you use it well. Magic leans heavily on elemental damage, so always keep that in mind. Some weapons can even carry multiple elements at once. Additionally, spells consume mana, which you’ll need to recharge.
Like melee, magic splits into two categories. First are small wands you hold in hand, letting you attack faster. With the Overcharge ability, you can charge them for stronger strikes. They don’t consume mana, but their range and raw power are limited.
Then there are large staves, which start without elements but deal higher base damage. To use them, you’ll need the right spells, which add elemental damage. You must also have the Alchemist NPC to upgrade them. Attacks with staves consume mana.
Enshrouded ranged: bows, arrows, and elemental damage
Ranged combat is perfect if you prefer to keep your distance. You’ll primarily use bows, but the real star is your choice of arrows. Bows differ in arrow speed, stamina consumption, and draw speed.
Bows get really interesting with the right arrows. They can add bonus damage and elemental effects. To craft most arrows, you’ll need the Hunter. This gives you flexibility to test different arrow types and adapt to the fight.
Upgrading weapons in Enshrouded: enchantments and gems
Once you’ve found your style and a weapon you love, you can make it even better. Enshrouded currently offers two upgrade systems: enchantments and gems. Both provide distinct benefits that power up your favorite gear.
Enchantments in Enshrouded: blacksmith, runes, and legendary runes
To enchant, you first need to find the Blacksmith. Without them, you can’t improve your weapons. You’ll also need runes—small coins typically found on enemies in the Shroud. You can also get them by dismantling weapons or looting chests. From 25 runes, you can craft a legendary rune for later enchantments.
Every weapon in Enshrouded has preset enchantments it can roll. You can see these as soon as you pick the weapon up. Some weapons can have up to five enchantments, while others can’t be enchanted at all—those aren’t worth investing in. Unlock enchantments in order once you have enough runes. Visit the Blacksmith and choose the upgrade you want.
Socketing gems: jewel forges, Shroud Lairs, and Archaic Essence
Your second upgrade path is gems. Most high-tier weapons have a slot where you can socket a gem. You’ll only find gems by defeating tough enemies. There are more than twenty with different effects.
You can only socket gems at specific locations: jewel forges. These appear exclusively in Shroud Lairs, so they’re aimed at strong players. Each biome has three such forges. You’ll also need Archaic Essence to apply upgrades. Pay attention to forge tiers, as they differ as well. You can salvage found gems for essence, upgrade them, or socket them into your weapons.
Conclusion: Find your Enshrouded combat style
Enshrouded blends survival gameplay with a deep RPG system, resulting in a wide array of weapons to fight with. Whether you prefer classic swords, bows, or magic staves, you’ve got multiple combat approaches. You can also power up strong weapons further—via enchantments or with gems.
Team up with friends on one of our servers for Enshrouded and try out the different weapon types. Trade your finds and upgrade them together later on.
