In RuneScape Dragonwilds 1.0, choosing the right weapon is crucial for leveling up, facing stronger enemies, and maximizing damage output. From early-game weapons to powerful late-game gear, each weapon has its unique strengths, special effects, and upgrade potential.
This guide will recommend the best melee, ranged, and magic weapons for each level based on actual stats in RS Dragonwilds 1.0. Let's take a look.

Power Level 1
Melee: Stone Dagger
At this level, you need speed, not damage. The dagger's fast attack speed will help you easily get through the first few battles until you have enough materials to craft more powerful weapons. Don't think too much about anything else - this weapon will be replaced soon.
Ranged and Magic
Not yet unlocked. Just focus on collecting Ash Logs and Animal Bones in the starter area.
Power Level 2
Melee: Bone Club
Craft a Bone Club at a crafting table using eight Animal Bones, six Ash Logs, and four Leather. It has a damage range of 26 to 46 and a five-hit combo. A significant power boost over Stone Dagger, this bone club is made possible by the materials dropped by all the chickens, rabbits, and deer you encounter.
Rangeed: Ash Shortbow
Inexpensive, easy to craft, and reliable. While it doesn't set damage records, it allows you to familiarize yourself with enemy attack patterns while using ranged attacks.
Magic: Ash Battlestaff
This is your first true staff in RS Dragonwilds. A 1.9x rune damage bonus means spells deal 90% more damage than with base runes. Use it to familiarize yourself with rune attacks before upgrading to other weapons.
Power Level 3
Melee: Skullsplitter
Skullsplitter boasts a +15% critical strike chance and crushing damage, making it your best choice at Power Level 3, but it requires a rare recipe obtained from Garou Berserkers. If you have it, that's fantastic. If not, Bronze Sword will suffice.
Ranged: Oak Longbow
Crafted at Fletching Bench using Oak Logs, Wool Thread, Bronze Bars, and Opal. If you lack materials, you can directly buy RuneScape Dragonwilds items. This is your first true ranged weapon upgrade, offering a 1.4x damage bonus and sufficient range to deliver a fatal blow before enemies get close.
Magic: Oak Battlestaff
Compared to Ash Battlestaff, Oak Battlestaff is a direct upgrade, boasting a 2.8x rune damage bonus and a four-hit combo. No fancy features - just more damage.

Power Level 4
Melee: Abyssal Whip
This early version of Abyssal Whip inflicts bleeding, and crucially, it's a necessary material for crafting Master Abyssal Whip at level 7. If you acquire one, don't discard it even if it no longer suits your needs.
Rangeed: Blue Crossbow
Its advantage lies in its fast reload, allowing you to fire more arrows in a shorter time than other crossbows. The downside is its low durability. If repair costs are a concern, Iron Crossbow is a good alternative.
Magic: Staff of Light
It boasts a 4.5x rune damage bonus, which can be upgraded to 8.7x at level 7. This staff is far more useful than its base level; however, its recipe requires completing a quest to unlock, so in the meantime, you can craft a Blightwood Battlestaff (4.1 multiplier).
Power Level 5
Melee: Zombie Axe
It deals both slashing and blunt damage, making it versatile against a variety of enemies in RuneScape Dragonwilds. Crafting this weapon requires completing Doric's quest, which demands the collection of three named weapons, including Shadow Sword, a rare Zog drop. Use Steel Sword until you complete the quest chain.
Rangeed: Dog Gnaw Crossbow
It can be obtained through More Restless Ghosts quest. It reloads faster, but can only use bone arrows (which cause bleeding), making it a completely different experience from a regular crossbow and an excellent long-term investment.
Magic: Necromancer's Staff
The rune damage multiplier at this level is 5.9, increasing to 8.8 at level 7 - higher than any native level 7 staff. The downside is lower durability, but its upgrade cap makes it one of the best magic investments in the game. Before acquiring Necromancer's Staff, Splitbark Staff (5.4) can temporarily fill this gap.
Power Level 6
Melee: Mithril Mace
It not only deals decent blunt damage but also allows you to wield a shield one-handed, making it a good upgrade choice in RS Dragonwilds. However, if you've already upgraded Zombie Axe to this level, you can continue using it as a general-purpose weapon unless you need to deal with highly resistant enemies.
Ranged: Mithril Crossbow
It offers more ammunition options than Dog Gnaw, including enchanted arrows. If you're satisfied with bone arrows and have already upgraded Dogtooth Bow, there's no need to change it. Mithril Crossbow's advantage lies primarily in its flexibility, rather than its absolute strength.
Magic: Maple Battlestaff
It has a rune damage multiplier of 6.8, and different elemental runes can trigger corresponding magical attack effects. Its core value lies in its stable rune damage multiplier and charged special attacks. It's suitable for players who have entered the mid-to-late game of RuneScape Dragonwilds and want to increase their magic output.
Power Level 7
Melee: Masterwork Abyssal Whip
This is why you keep the level 4 whip. Masterwork Abyssal Whip has a truly unique attack and focuses on bleed effects. Its recipe comes from Umbral Sands. Before unlocking it, an Adamant Mace can provide reliable crushing damage.
Rangeed: Bow of Elidinis
Its special skill, Moon Rain, attacks an area, and water attacks generate healing orbs. However, it also has a drawback: it cannot use poison arrows, bleed arrows, or fire arrows. Therefore, you need to consider whether this weapon suits your playstyle before choosing it.
Magic: Master's Staff
A powerful staff with 8.4 rune damage. But before changing any gear, you can check your equipment: at the same power level, Ascended Necromancer's Staff (8.8) or Staff of Light (8.7) still deal more damage.
Power Level 8
Melee: Rune Greataxe, Rune Greatsword
Both are two-handed weapons. Greataxe deals slightly more damage per hit - 168-294 at Adamantite level. Greatsword's Circular Strike is better suited for fighting groups of enemies. Therefore, you can choose based on your combat situation: the greataxe is better for single heavy targets, while the greatsword is better for groups of enemies.
Rangeed: Runic Crossbow
This is a very powerful late-game weapon in RuneScape Dragonwilds, offering a variety of arrows. The crossbow's one-handed nature allows it to be used with a shield, making it one of the safest endgame weapons.
Magic: Staff of the Ancestors
Powerful, part of the new equipment upgrade system, and doesn't require rare recipes from previous levels. Most importantly, it allows you to move freely and carry a shield while casting spells.
Power Level 9
Melee: Dragon Scimitar
This is a level 9 one-handed melee weapon with a five-hit normal attack combo and a special attack, Leaping Slash. It is primarily obtained by defeating Kuldra and opening Queenslayer's Reward Pack, not through crafting.
Rangeed: Dragon Crossbow
Its base damage is approximately 102, making it a high-tier ranged weapon suitable for late-game combat. Its special effect deals extra damage to dragons, making it even more valuable when challenging dragon enemies.
Magic: Wrath of Kuldra
With a rune damage multiplier of 11.3, it is currently a powerful choice for high-tier magic output. As a one-handed staff, it allows players to retain their off-hand equipment slot while casting spells on the move, making it especially suitable for late-game players who primarily use magic and frequently challenge dragon bosses.
The above is a recommendation of weapons at each level in RuneScape Dragonwilds 1.0. In short, you need to understand the actual effects of each weapon before deciding which one to carry. However, it's worth noting that sometimes, damage multipliers, special effects, and upgrade paths can make an older weapon outperform its more advanced alternatives.