In any RPG, using the right equipment is crucial in maximizing damage and skill boosts in battle, and typically requires weapon customization or purchasing from shops. Trails of Cold Steel IV retains these classic weapon mechanics, allowing players to frequent weapon shops and experiment with trading materials to upgrade the party's equipment.
With 39 playable characters, there's an overabundance of weapons available for the player to obtain, with a majority of them belonging to members of the new and old Class VII. Looking at the vast array of weapons in the game, here are the 10 best weapons available and the characters these weapons belong to.
10 Jusis' Shining Hrimthurs
Jusis Albarea is the quintessential knight, hailing from a noble bloodline and displaying exceptional fighting abilities. Throughout the series, Jusis' swords increase exponentially in Strength, a testament to his gradual growth from the first game to the last.
All of his swords in Trails of Cold Steel IV outshine even his best weapons in the previous games, but the Shining Hrimthurs is his most powerful. Shining Hrimthurs is a knight sword formed from Black Zemurian Ore. While only granting a +1 to Jusis' Range, it compensates with a +1500 to Strength and a +4% to Critical.
9 Kurt's Gleaming Basileus
As a member of the new Class VII, Kurt Vander stands out amongst the many swordsmen as a dual-wielder with twin blades. Despite his initial haughtiness and overeagerness to grow, Kurt's power levels reach a remarkable climb and is well reflected by his weapons gaining similar traits in the fourth game.
His top weapon, Gleaming Basileus, is incredibly stronger than his ultimate weapon from the third game, and it ties with many other weapons at a +1500 to Strength. The weapon itself is mechanically identical to Jusis', as it also has a +1 to Range and +4% to Critical on top of the identical Strength Score.
8 Rean's Homura
As the primary protagonist of the Cold Steel RPGs, it's no surprise that Rean Schwarzer wields one of the best weapons in the game. Known as the Ashen Chevalier, Rean is infamous for his vigor and leadership, and his role in Trails of Cold Steel IV only furthers this notion. Rean is a typical swordsman, wielding traditional Japanese swords known as Tachi.
Though he's had many strong weapons at his disposal, Homura is his toughest with a whopping +1500 to Strength. What makes this weapon shine amongst the others of the same Strength and Rate stat is that it grants +6% to his Critical-hit rate. While it's curious that Rean would not be given the strongest weapon overall as the protagonist, this is more than made up for in his overwhelming abilities in other fields.
7 Aurelia's Arcadia
Aurelia Le Guin (also known as the Golden Rakshasa) is one of the fiercest combatants in all of the Trails of Cold Steel lore, being a notorious Noble Alliance general and, later, an intimidating principal for Thors Branch Campus. In her two appearances as a party member, she wields the same weapon, a great sword called Arcadia, that is said to be treasured by her.
Between the third and fourth games, Arcadia gains a massive strength boost, most likely due to the fact Aurelia only appears in the fourth game's final battle. When equipped, it grants a +1500 to Strength, with an additional +5% to Range and an impressive +6% to the chances of landing a Critical Hit.
6 Ash's Fire Axe Agravain
If there's one thing Ash Carbide knows, it's battle — and this skilled fighter is never one to shy away from showing off his fighting prowess. Ending Trails of Cold Steel III out of commission, Ash comes swinging into Trails of Cold Steel IV with his switch axes and, unsurprisingly, has one of the best weapons of Class VII, old and new.
Fire Axe Agravain is a switch axe that has a Strength score of +1505. Like many of the other ultimate weapons it is crafted from Black Zemurian Ore, thus making it a late-game acquisition. Adding to Ash's already impressive reach it gives him a +2 to Range and finishes off with a +4% to Critical as well.
5 Gaius' Holy Arredoval
Coming into Trails of Cold Steel IV with an aircraft and better weapons than before, Gaius Worzel proves to be a helpful member of the old Class VII. While he only appeared near the end of the previous game, his presence in the fourth in providing transportation to the party gives Gaius more chances to shine — at least for long enough for the player to appreciate just how strong he is.
Skilled in fighting with spears, Gaius' Holy Arredoval adds a +1505 to his Strength, improving upon his already remarkable Strength stat. In addition, his Range goes up by +3, and this weapon ties with Rean and Aurelia's weapons in having the best Critical boost of +6%.
4 Sara's Kirin & Magatama
Showing potential at a young age led Sara Valestein on a path to eventually becoming the instructor of Thors' fabled Class VII. Not one to be outdone by her students, Sara holds her own reputation as the Purple Lightning, and later comes together with her students in this game to aid the Radiant Wings' efforts.
With her many accolades, her access to one of the best weapons in the game is deserving, as her Kirin & Magatama (a sword and a gun) feature a +1510 to Strength. While her Range and Critical enhancements are on par with many others on this list, the extra push from the higher Strength rank this weapon higher.
3 Altina's Flash Gauntlets Lia Fail
Altina Orion is one of the most fascinating party members in all of the Cold Steel series, having previously been affiliated with the villainous Black Workshop but now a prominent member of the new Class VII. Coming into her own in the third game, Altina shines brighter in Trails of Cold Steel IV and has increased battle potential to attest to that.
Claiomh Solais is Altina's sentient weapon and mode of transportation, and her equipable weapons are applied as gauntlets to this robotic puppet. One such attachment is the Flash Gauntlets Lia Fail, which are in fact the strongest weapons of all of the new Class VII. When equipped, Altina gains +1510 to Strength, +3 to Range, and a +4% to Critical, the best stats amongst her classmates' weapons.
2 Laura's Supreme Blade Blutgang
Laura S. Arseid, daughter of one of the best swordsmen in all of Cold Steel, is one of the most capable fighters amongst the old Class VII. Gaining her own reputation as a formidable sword-wielder, Laura contributes heaps in the final game of the Cold Steel series as a powerhouse character for beginner players to rely on.
With her many years of training, Laura is an expert at two-handed swords, and her Supreme Blade Blutgang boasts the strongest boost to Strength in the entire game at +1515. Adding this with her +2 to Range and +4% to Critical, Laura holds one of the most powerful weapons available, thus ranking second on this list.
1 Crow's Bolverk the Blue
Topping this list is Crow Armbrust and his ultimate weapon, the double saber Bolverk the Blue. Having previously worked with Gnomes until his memory returned, Crow defects in the final game and joins forces with his old Class VII classmates, proving himself a crucial part of the game's narrative.
While Crow's weapon may not hold the best overall Strength, being beaten by Laura's weapon by 5, it does offer more stat boosts than any other weapon on this list. Bolverk the Blue not only has a +1510 to Strength (which is already more than most on this list), it also adds +60 to Defense, +5 to Speed, +2 to Range, and +4% to Critical.
Overall, these numerous stat boosts more than compensate for the runner-up Strength score, and the additional bonuses culminate in Crow's Bolverk the Blue being the best weapon in Trails of Cold Steel IV.