Saros packs over 15 Main Weapons and 4 devastating Power Weapons into its roguelite combat loop, and knowing what each one does, when it unlocks, and which ones are worth keeping can make or break a run. This guide covers every weapon in the game, including how each one works, which biome it appears in, a full tier list, and the best picks for early game.

Table of Contents
All Main Weapons in Saros
Main Weapons drop from white, red, and yellow locked containers scattered across biomes. You can reroll containers to fish for a weapon that suits your current build. Every weapon you unlock also contributes toward the Full Arsenal trophy, which requires defeating 25 enemies with each weapon. Track your progress by checking each weapon’s kill percentage in the Databank and pushing all of them toward 20%.
1. Handcannons
All three Handcannons unlock in Biome 1 (Shattered Rise), making them the first weapon class you encounter.
- Eruptor Handcannon: The Eruptor fires a triple burst as its primary attack. Its Alt-Fire loads multiple shots into the barrel and unleashes them in a high-recoil, wide-spread spray. This is Arjun’s default weapon and one of the strongest options in the game thanks to its Auto-Hit feature and burst damage potential.
- Ricochet Handcannon: The Ricochet fires single shots that pierce enemies and bounce off walls, letting one bullet hit several targets at once. Activating the Alt-Fire removes the fire rate limiter entirely, letting you dump shots into groups of enemies at full speed. It excels at clearing rooms but loses some effectiveness against single-target bosses.
- Marksman Handcannon: The Marksman is the only Handcannon that lacks Auto-Hit on its primary fire, which requires more precise aim. Its triple burst primary is identical in form to the Eruptor’s, but the Alt-Fire charges a single powerful shot. Hitting an enemy with that charged shot marks the target, temporarily enabling Auto-Hit on follow-up primary fire. Use the Alt-Fire first to activate the mark, then follow up with the primary to get the best of both modes.
2. Rifles
All three Rifles unlock in Biome 1 (Shattered Rise).
- Tactical Rifle: The Tactical Rifle shoots at a steady rate with its primary fire. Holding down L2 for the Alt-Fire gradually increases the fire rate the longer you hold the trigger, turning it into a high-speed automatic weapon at full spin-up.
- Onslaught Rifle: The Onslaught Rifle gives up Auto-Hit in exchange for precision-focused damage. Its primary fire mirrors the Tactical Rifle’s baseline behavior, but the Alt-Fire slows the rate of fire and launches heavier projectiles designed to punish enemy weak points. The payoff is significant when you land those precision shots consistently.
- Smart Rifle: The Smart Rifle fires red-colored projectiles with its primary fire and uses Auto-Hit for easy tracking. The Alt-Fire spreads the bullets and gives them full homing capability, making this weapon one of the most beginner-friendly options in the game. It handles mob clearing and aggressive bosses well because you can stay mobile and still land hits without stopping to aim.
3. Shotguns
All three Shotguns unlock in Biome 2 (Ancient Depths).

- Horde Shotgun The Horde Shotgun fires a wide horizontal spread as a semi-automatic. Pressing L2 rotates the barrel to a vertical orientation, concentrating the spread into a tighter column for more precise shots at longer distances.
- Stalwart Shotgun The Stalwart shares the same primary fire spread as the Horde Shotgun, but its Alt-Fire creates a floating wall of projectiles that drifts slowly toward enemies. Firing the primary again after deploying the wall accelerates the projectiles, giving you an effective two-hit burst combo.
- Annihilator Shotgun The Annihilator fires the same spread as the Horde Shotgun on primary, but the Alt-Fire converts the weapon into a grenade launcher. The grenade detonates on contact with enemies or surfaces, dealing heavy area damage. In boss fights, consistent grenade landings drain health bars rapidly and push bosses into their next phase fast.
4. Crossbows
All three Crossbows unlock in Biome 3 (Shattered Descent).
- Repeater Crossbow The Repeater fires wide bolts automatically with its primary fire. The Alt-Fire launches a single concentrated shot that splits into multiple homing projectiles on impact, handling both precision targets and nearby enemies at once. It does most of the work for you, making it one of the easiest weapons in the game to use effectively.
- Impactor Crossbow The Impactor requires charging before it fires. Hold R2 to load up the shot, adding more bolts the longer you hold, then release or dash to fire the volley. The Alt-Fire shoots a single bolt that spawns homing projectiles when it hits a weak point, rewarding precise targeting with an explosive follow-up.
- Bifurcator Crossbow The Bifurcator works similarly to the Impactor’s charge mechanic. Charge the shot with R2 and release or dash to fire. A longer charge releases more projectiles, all of which home in on the nearest enemy. The Alt-Fire behaves identically to the Repeater Crossbow’s split-bolt shot.
5. Chakrams
All three Chakrams unlock in Biome 6 (Acolyte’s Haven).
- Ripsaw Chakram Holding down R2 on the Ripsaw fires discs that embed themselves into enemies and deal damage over time. Activating the Alt-Fire while discs are lodged in enemies spins them faster, dealing additional damage until you release the button or the enemy dies.
- Reaping Chakram The Reaping fires a single disc at enemies with R2. Pressing L2 calls the disc back to Arjun. Holding L2 after the disc returns spawns a spinning ring around him that damages any enemy within melee range. It works as a unique hybrid of ranged throw and close-range area control.
- Myriad Chakram The Myriad uses Auto-Hit to fire discs rapidly without requiring precise aim. Switching to the Alt-Fire disables Auto-Hit but allows the discs to track enemy weak points directly. Any disc that connects with a weak point returns instantly, letting you sustain a near-constant stream of fire.
All Power Weapons in Saros
Power Weapons sit in a separate slot from Main Weapons and use a dedicated Power resource. Each one delivers a significant damage spike, and picking the right one for the situation matters.
| Weapon | Unlocks In | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Prominence | Shattered Rise (Biome 1) | Hold L2 and fire R2 to launch an explosive projectile that deals heavy area damage and staggers enemies caught in the blast. |
| Dispiritor | Ancient Depths (Biome 2) | Fires a constant swarm of homing projectiles that deal damage over time. Enemies killed by this weapon leave behind a temporary cell that automatically fires projectiles outward. |
| Nova Lance | Desecrated Fortress (Biome 5) | Charge by holding L2 and R2, then release to fire a piercing energy shot that passes through multiple enemies and deals significant weak point damage. |
| Illumine | Cathedral (Biome 7) | Charges up and fires a beam that locks onto a target and deals continuous damage as long as your Power gauge holds out. |
Best Weapons Tier List in Saros
Main Weapons Tier List
| Tier | Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Eruptor Handcannon | Burst fire with Auto-Hit on primary plus a charged Alt-Fire that punishes weak points. Versatile in every biome and against every boss. |
| S | Onslaught Rifle | Full-auto with a precision Alt-Fire that rewards accurate play. Excels in both defensive and offensive combat styles. |
| A | Marksman Handcannon | High ceiling for skilled players. The mark mechanic bridges the gap between precision and Auto-Hit. |
| A | Smart Rifle | Full-auto with homing Alt-Fire. Ideal for beginners and players who need to stay mobile constantly. |
| A | Bifurcator Crossbow | Charged shots that scale with hold time and home in on targets. Strong both in mobs and single-target encounters. |
| A | Impactor Crossbow | Weak point Alt-Fire spawns homing projectiles, making it a burst-damage machine in the right hands. |
| B | Ricochet Handcannon | Best room-clearing gun in the game. Falls off against single-target bosses due to its piercing mechanic losing value. |
| B | Tactical Rifle | Reliable mid-range option with a spin-up Alt-Fire that rewards sustained engagement. |
| B | Horde Shotgun | Solid semi-auto shotgun with a barrel-flip mechanic for range flexibility. |
| B | Repeater Crossbow | Full-auto crossbow with homing Alt-Fire. Easy to use and effective in most situations. |
| B | Myriad Chakram | Auto-Hit rapid fire with a precision toggle. Consistent performance across all encounter types. |
| C | Stalwart Shotgun | The hovering projectile wall is situationally powerful but awkward against fast enemies. |
| C | Annihilator Shotgun | Grenade launcher Alt-Fire hits hard but struggles against small, fast aerial enemies. |
| C | Ripsaw Chakram | Damage-over-time model makes it slower to kill than most other options at the same proficiency level. |
| D | Reaping Chakram | The single-disc throw mechanic and ring damage are too niche to justify over any other Chakram variant. |
Power Weapons Tier List
| Tier | Weapon | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Illumine | Continuous beam damage works against every enemy type and locks onto targets easily. The most versatile Power Weapon in the game. |
| S | Prominence | One-shot explosive with stagger capability. Works at range, handles groups, and hits bosses hard. |
| A | Dispiritor | Excellent against swarms. The residual projectile cells add ongoing value after kills but limit its single-target efficiency. |
| A | Nova Lance | Piercing railgun that deals massive weak point damage. Ideal for slow enemies and specific boss encounters where aiming at weak spots is manageable. |
Best Early Game Weapons in Saros
If you just started a run in Shattered Rise and need to know which weapons to prioritize from your first few containers, the Eruptor Handcannon and Smart Rifle are your best options.

The Smart Rifle is arguably the strongest early game weapon in the entire game. Its primary fire chips down enemies steadily, and the homing Alt-Fire means you never need to stop moving to land shots. During mob encounters in Solar Cages or against aggressive bosses that constantly close distance, the Smart Rifle lets you focus on dodging while the bullets find their targets. Higher proficiency versions of this weapon scale extremely well, pushing it into viability through mid and late game without needing a replacement.
The Eruptor Handcannon starts as Arjun’s default weapon and holds up better than most starters in any roguelite. Its burst fire deals solid damage, and higher-level variants appear frequently in Shattered Rise, so upgrading it early is straightforward. The main limitation is magazine size, since the Handcannon runs dry faster than rifles and demands consistent fusion reloads. Disciplined players who reload regularly will get a lot out of it, but the Smart Rifle edges it out for players who prefer a lower-maintenance option.
How to Unlock All Weapons in Saros
Every weapon in Saros ties directly to story progression. You cannot miss or skip any of them through optional routes because there are no hidden or side-quest weapons. The game adds new weapons to the random loot pool as you advance through the plot. Here is the exact order weapons become available:
- Handcannon variants (starting default)
- Prominence (Power Weapon)
- Rifle variants
- Shotgun variants
- Dispiritor (Power Weapon)
- Crossbow variants
- Nova Lance (Power Weapon)
- Chakram variants
- Illumine (Power Weapon)
Keep pushing through the story, and each new weapon class will appear in containers naturally. If you want the Full Arsenal trophy, track your kill count per weapon in the Databank and make sure you reach 25 kills with each one before moving on to a preferred loadout permanently. Play Now!
FAQs
What is the best weapon in Saros?
The Eruptor Handcannon and Onslaught Rifle are the best Main Weapons in Saros. For Power Weapons, the Illumine and Prominence top the tier list.
How many weapons are in Saros?
Saros has 15 Main Weapons across five weapon classes and 4 Power Weapons, giving you 19 total weapons to unlock and use.
How do you unlock all weapons in Saros?
All weapons unlock through story progression in order: Handcannons, Rifles, Shotguns, Crossbows, and Chakrams, with Power Weapons added to the loot pool at specific biome milestones.
What is the best early game weapon in Saros?
The Smart Rifle is the strongest early game option in Saros. Its Auto-Hit primary fire and homing Alt-Fire let you deal consistent damage while staying mobile, making it ideal for beginners and boss fights alike.
What are Power Weapons in Saros?
Power Weapons are a separate high-damage weapon slot that uses a dedicated Power resource. Saros has four Power Weapons: Prominence, Dispiritor, Nova Lance, and Illumine, each unlocking at different biome milestones.
