Six weapons at once
Your potato can wield up to six weapons at the same time, and they fire automatically by default. Steam also offers an optional manual aiming mode. Some characters change this limit, and Beast Master uses Pets instead of weapons entirely.
Filling all six slots early is one of the most repeated tips in guides. The first two shops of a run always offer two weapons. Waves three to five guarantee at least one weapon each time you roll the shop.
Weapon classes and set bonuses
Every weapon belongs to one or two classes. Holding several weapons of the same class grants a set bonus that grows with the number you hold. A creator guide admits it took a long time to realize these class bonuses give real benefits.
The same guide lists class examples such as Gun, Primitive, Medieval, Blunt, Elemental and Explosive. Building around one class is usually better than picking up the single best weapon each wave. You can check active set bonuses in the stats screen.
Rarity tiers
Weapons come in four rarities: Common (black), Rare (blue), Epic (purple) and Legendary (red). Higher tiers have better base damage and effects. You can buy higher tiers in the shop once they unlock, or combine duplicates.
Combining two identical weapons of the same tier creates one weapon of the next tier. This is why holding six copies of one weapon is so strong. It is the fastest path to tier III and tier IV gear.
How weapon damage scales
A weapon's damage starts from its base value, then adds a percentage of the stat it scales with, such as Melee Damage or Ranged Damage. Your percent Damage stat multiplies the result. Attack speed then controls how often that damage lands.
Some weapons scale with unexpected stats. The Shuriken is ranged but scales with melee damage, and other weapons scale with range, Max HP, Elemental Damage or level. Engineering tools spawn turrets, and those turrets scale with Engineering.
Comparing similar weapons
Weapons that look alike can play very differently. A creator compares the Knife and the Spear: both scale with melee damage, but the Knife has higher crit chance while the Spear gains more damage and range per tier. The Laser and Pistol share the Gun tag but differ in damage, attack speed and pierce.
Read the weapon card before you buy. After each wave, compare the damage each weapon dealt. Replace any weapon that is not pulling its weight.
How the shop chooses weapons
The shop offers weapons based on what you already own. Holding a weapon raises the chance of seeing that exact weapon and others of its class. This is why a one-weapon build tends to snowball.
Gun is one of the largest classes, so gun builds see a wide variety of offers. Character tags also affect which items appear. Our Brotato shop page covers rerolls and tier timing.
Recent weapon additions
The New Dawn update added the Vorpal Sword, which alternates between thrusting and sweeping and can one-shot an enemy the first time it hits. All Pain No Gain added the Rail Gun, whose damage grows every five seconds you avoid being hit. That update also buffed many weapons, including Knife, Sword, Hammer, Minigun and Plank.
Primal Dread adds 17 new weapons. Its Mecha evolution path lets you evolve weapons with Mecha parts and dismantle Mecha weapons in the shop for more parts. DLC weapons require owning that DLC.
Weapons that support other builds
Some weapons are useful even when they are not your main damage source. Engineering tools spawn turrets that scale with Engineering, while the tool itself deals melee damage. The Pruner helps create garden plants for healing.
The Sickle scales with Harvesting, which ties damage to your economy. The Shuriken scales with melee damage despite being ranged. These flexible options let you patch a weakness without changing your main plan.
Weapons for each playstyle
Guns suit players who like distance, and ranged weapons are generally easier on Nightmare. Melee weapons such as Spears and the Jousting Lance reward aggressive movement. Explosive weapons like Shredders shine with crowd-clearing builds.
Elemental weapons pair with burn items such as Scared Sausage and Snake. Wands and torches push elemental damage even higher. Pick the playstyle you enjoy, then stack the stat it needs.
Selling and replacing weapons
As your run progresses, early weapons may stop pulling their weight. Compare damage numbers after each wave to spot them. Replace the weakest when the shop offers a better match.
Keep weapons of the same class together for set bonuses. Swapping one weapon can break a bonus, so weigh both effects. Upgrading by combining duplicates is usually the stronger move.
Picking your weapons
Start by checking which damage stat your character boosts, then choose weapons that scale with it. Ranged weapons are often easier for beginners because you keep distance from enemies. Slingshot is a strong starting option even though it attacks slowly.
For the strongest options overall, see best weapon in Brotato. For full builds around weapons, see Brotato best build. New players should also read the Brotato guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many weapons can you hold in Brotato?
Most characters hold up to six weapons at once. Some characters change this, and Beast Master uses Pets instead.
How do you upgrade weapons in Brotato?
Combine two identical weapons of the same tier to create one of the next tier, or buy higher tiers once they unlock in the shop.
What are weapon set bonuses?
Holding several weapons of the same class grants a bonus that grows with the number you hold.
What are the weapon rarities?
Common (black), Rare (blue), Epic (purple) and Legendary (red).
Which weapons did recent updates add?
New Dawn added the Vorpal Sword, All Pain No Gain added the Rail Gun, and Primal Dread adds 17 weapons.