Weapons in Dan the Man are temporary power-ups that can dramatically shift the tide of battle. They appear as pickups during stages and each has unique properties that suit different situations. Knowing which weapon to use when — and which to ignore — is a critical skill.
Weapon Tier List
| Tier | Weapon | Strengths | Best Used Against |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Plasma Cannon | Highest DPS, screen-wide AOE, pierces armor | Bosses, elite waves, armored enemies |
| S | Blaster Rifle | Long range, fast fire rate, safe damage | Ranged enemies, bosses, crowd control |
| A | Greatsword | Wide arc, high damage, knockback | Crowds, shielded enemies, heavy bruisers |
| A | Dual Pistols | Good range, moderate damage, mobile | General purpose, hit-and-run tactics |
| B | Baseball Bat | Fast swings, decent knockback, common | Early stages, grunt enemies |
| B | Throwing Knives | Ranged chip damage, unlimited ammo | Harassing bosses, softening waves |
| C | Wooden Sword | Barely better than fists, breaks quickly | Desperation only |
| C | Slingshot | Low damage, slow projectiles | Not worth picking up |
S-Tier Weapons: Always Grab These
Plasma Cannon
The Plasma Cannon is the undisputed king of Dan the Man weapons. It fires a continuous beam of energy that pierces through all enemies in its path, dealing massive damage to everything it touches. Against bosses, the Plasma Cannon can delete 30-40% of a health bar before it depletes. Against crowds, it clears entire waves in seconds.
The only downside is its rarity — Plasma Cannons appear in only two stages (Stage 15 and Stage 19) and are single-use items. Save them for boss fights. Using a Plasma Cannon on regular enemies is a waste of one of the game's most powerful resources.
Blaster Rifle
The Blaster Rifle is the most versatile ranged weapon. It fires energy bolts at a steady rate with good accuracy and moderate damage. The key advantage is range — you can damage enemies from across the screen while staying safely out of their attack range. This makes it invaluable against bosses with dangerous close-range attacks and against stages with many ranged enemies.
Blaster Rifles appear more frequently than Plasma Cannons, making them the practical S-tier choice for most runs. Their ammo count is generous (30 shots), and they remain effective even in the late game.
A-Tier Weapons: Solid and Reliable
Greatsword
The Greatsword swings in a wide arc that hits everything in front of Dan. It deals bonus damage to shields, breaking a shield bearer's guard in a single swing where punches would take three. The knockback on each swing pushes enemies away, creating breathing room in crowded fights. Its only weakness is the slow swing speed — fast enemies can slip in a hit between swings if you are not careful.
Dual Pistols
A balanced ranged option with no major strengths or weaknesses. The Dual Pistols let you stay mobile while dealing consistent damage. They are the best weapon for hit-and-run tactics against bosses — fire while retreating, then switch to melee when the boss closes in. Their ammo pool (24 shots) and damage fall somewhere between the Blaster Rifle and throwing weapons.
Weapon Strategy by Enemy Type
- Shield Bearers: Greatsword breaks their guard instantly; Blaster Rifle ignores their shield entirely with headshots. Avoid using fists or light weapons.
- Heavy Bruisers: Plasma Cannon or Greatsword. You need high damage-per-hit to overcome their innate damage resistance. Fast-but-weak weapons like Dual Pistols are inefficient.
- Ranged Enemies (archers/gunners): Blaster Rifle lets you outrange them. Dual Pistols work if no rifle is available. Do not engage them in melee unless you have no choice.
- Bosses: Plasma Cannon > Blaster Rifle > Greatsword > Dual Pistols. Ranged weapons are safer because you can damage while dodging. Melee weapons force you into the boss's attack range.
- Crowds: Greatsword for wide swings; Plasma Cannon for piercing AOE. Throwing Knives can soften a crowd from range before you engage.
Weapons have limited durability or ammo. Switch back to fists for easy enemies to preserve weapon charges for tougher encounters. There is no penalty for switching weapons — use the right tool for each situation. A Blaster Rifle with 3 shots remaining can still finish off a low-health boss.