I never played Calamity before this year, and when I decided to try it out the Draedon's Arsenal weapons and Exo Mechs looked really cool, so I wanted to focus on the arsenal weapons during my playthroughs.
These weapons are arranged in five tiers, with each tier having one weapon for each class. The tiers are unlocked by finding 5 secret bases and finding encrypted schematics, then building computer pieces to decrypt them. Then you can build the machines using specialized tools found in the labs.
Below I'll describe each weapon and how it was to use it, as well as my ranking (out of 25 weapons total).
Tier 1 - Sunken Sea Schematic - Available after Hive Mind/Perforators
Gauss Dagger
This is a true melee broadsword that is pretty short. It shares a feature in common with some other melee Arsenal weapons: hitting an enemy repeatedly makes them gain a glowing energy field that does a ton of damage.
Unfortunately, its short range makes it hard to use against the next big fights: Skeletron, Queen Bee, Slime God. In Vanilla terraria, broadswords are actually great against Queen Bee if you catch her at the right moments, but Revengeance mode makes that impractical. The only real use for this weapon is tearing through crowds in Old One's Army. It doesn't help that it's competing with the new Broken Biome Blade.
My ranking: #24
Pulse Pistol
This is a magic weapon that shoots a cool-looking bolt of energy that arcs from one enemy to another. It's actually pretty useful for Skeletron, jumping between the hands, and is surprisingly very good against the Wall of Flesh when it hits all three hitboxes at once.
My ranking: #13
Star Swallower Containment Unit
This is a summon that gives you a little frog minion. It hops around, and vomits plasma in a parabola.
Given its slow speed and lack of flight or contact damage, this is a pretty bad minion. Against Skeletron, when I maneuvered the boss into its plasma, it did great damage, but it misses so often that it's just not worth it.
My ranking: #25, worst of the Arsenal weapons.
Taser
This is like a much better version of the harpoon. It's a ranged weapon that shoots out a taser attached by a glowing cord. If it misses an enemy, it has to retract before firing again, but when it hits, it latches on automatically, even staying on through teleportation. I used this for the rest of Pre-Hardmode, only switching out for something with more pierce vs Wall of Flesh.
My ranking: #14
Tracking Disk
This is a boomerang with lasers attached to it. The lasers don't miss. As a rogue weapon, it has a 'stealth strike' that builds up if you don't attack for several seconds. The stealth strike of this weapon shoots out lasers hitting every available target, and seems to do more damage coming back than going out.
This was the first Draedon weapon I ever used and it is fantastic. I was struggling against Revengeance Slime God and was shocked when the stealth strike of this weapon took off 25% of its health in a single shot. I used it for the rest of pre-Hardmode and some of early Hardmode exploration. Amazing weapon.
My ranking: #3
Tier 2 - Planetoid Schematic - Available after one mechanical boss
Hydraulic Volt Crasher
This is a hammer with a very short range, but it shoots out little wispy plasma balls. If you hit someone with the actual hammer, it creates huge electricity arcs that attack that enemy and nearby ones as well.
It's too short to do much good against Plantera, Brimstone Elemental, etc. but does insane damage against the Destroyer and the Aquatic Scourge, even with the reduced damage they take against this. It's also good for large crowds like Pirates or similar invasions. Outside of those few scenarios, though, it's outclassed almost immediately by better weapons, such as the Biome Blade.
My ranking: #18
Matter Modulator
This is a weird magic weapon that does one of two things. If you just fire it, it spreads out and pierces infinitely, doing mediocre damage. But if it bounces off the ground or a wall, it 'smart bounces' towards the enemy and does higher damage.
So this is a 200 IQ weapon. Unfortunately, I didn't have 200 IQ. It's pretty decent, especially against worms or in tight spaces like the Brimstone Crag, but not good at all against flying enemies like The Twins.
My ranking: #20
Mounted Scanner
This weapon puts laser turrets on your head that never miss. It's strong and accurate and one of the best summon weapons you'll have for a long time. I used this for 5 or 6 bosses, often trying newer weapons and discarding them to come back to this. Good for other classes, too. Had a bug for a while where it would respawn after you died but not shoot unless you dismissed it and resummoned it, so I think a lot of people slept on it.
My ranking: #4
Gauss Pistol
This is a ranged weapon with a delay after shots. It leaves an orange orb that lingers in space for a second before shooting towards the enemy. It is annoying to use but has great damage; I kept trying to find better weapons to swap it out for but it kept having the best DPS for quite a while.
My ranking: #19
Frequency Manipulator
This weapon is much better than it seems at first. It's a very slow javelin. When it hits anything, it releases homing energy. Stealth strike makes the initial explosion that spawns beams bigger.
Using this for stealth strikes carries most of early hardmode, past Plantera to bosses like Leviathan & Anahita or Astrum Aureus. It's solid, homing damage and leaves most other rogue weapons in the dust.
My ranking: #2
Tier 3 - Jungle Schematic - Available after Plaguebringer Goliath
Galvanizing Glaive
Like a spear version of Gauss dagger. It shoots a small projectile with little damage, but hitting with the main spear has a chance of putting a giant energy ring on the enemy that does huge damage, making this essentially a true melee weapon. Unfortunately, the bosses after this are generally fast moving or ones you don't want to be close to, like Duke Fishron, Lunatic Cultist, and Moon Lord.
The sheer damage makes it worthwhile for finishing off enemies like Duke Fishron if you have a lot of health. And it is superb for farming Pumpkin Moon with several Pumpkings stacked on top of each other. Otherwise hard to use.
My ranking: #22
Gatling Laser
A magic weapon that's basically a faster, more powerful and easier-to-aim version of the laser machinegun. A staple for late hardmode spell casters, it it often recommended for all bosses up to and including Astrum Aureus and possibly even Moon Lord. One of the few Draedon Arsenal weapons to achieve widespread recognition.
My ranking: #8
Pulse Turret Remote
This is a sentry summon. It shoots arcing plasma pulses at enemies. It's not bad, but even sentry boosting equipment can't let you get more than one. So it's basically just one sentry contributing moderate DPS to fights. This leaves it to be fairly underwhelming.
My ranking: #23
Gauss Rifle
This is a neat ranged weapon that shoots beautiful helix plasma particles that cover a wide area, pierce, and do a lot of damage. It's a solid weapon and useful for multiple bosses, but not overpowered.
My ranking: #12
System Bane
This is a spiky ball, a category of rogue weapons. You toss it on the ground, and it shoots electricity. You'd think it wouldn't be that great in high mobility fights, but its reach is surprisingly far. Its stealth strike is great, and since spiky balls have a limit of how many can be 'out' at once, firing it as fast as possible will end up using a stealth strike for the first one every time. Great against ravager and even Lunatic Cultist.
My ranking: #15
Tier 4 - Underworld Schematic - Available after Providence, the Profaned Goddess
Pulse Dragon
Finally, melee gets something worthwhile. This is an excellent flail, shooting out two converging plasma arcs that cover the whole screen. Dominates the Sentinels of the Devourer completely, and good against Polterghast and Old Duke if you can aim well. Has some moderate use against Devourer of Gods, especially the worms, but there are better options there. Definitely the best melee Arsenal weapon.
My ranking: #7
Plasma Caster
This weapon isn't all that bad. It has a slow, powerful main attack and a more rapid right click attack. It has a lot of competition from weapons shortly later available like Aether's Whisper. Definitely not as good as Phantasmal Fury and other post-Polterghast weapons.
My ranking: #17
Snake Eyes
Cool little summons that move around the screen in a rectangle. Do steady damage, works well and even recommended up to and including Polterghast. Calamari's Lament is probably better against Devourer of Gods, but this summon is worth crafting.
My ranking: #11
Heavy Laser Rifle
I could never tell if this ranged weapon was good or not. Shoots an orange beam, hits for pretty high damage. I used it a lot but honestly I'm not sure how good it actually is. Telluric Glare has similar damage and pierces.
My ranking: #16
Wave Pounder
Wave Pounder, my beloved. This is the weapon that got me hooked on calamity. It's a bomb that does high damage, but it's secret is the stealth strike. It has a radius wider than the screen, possibly wider than the spawn radius, and shakes the whole screen. You can be in the dungeon with 23 enemies on the radar, and one stealth strike can wipe out all of them at once.
The delay in the explosions seem like it would be less effective against mobile bosses, but direct hits explode immediately while missing usually hits anyway. The best weapon against all the sentinels, and amazing against Polterghast. Even after Devourer of Gods it is exceptional in the buffed Moon events. Nothing compares to this glorious weapon.
My rating: #1
Tier 5 - Ice Schematic - Available after Devourer of Gods
Phaseslayer
What a cool weapon, and what a shame. This is a gigantic red laser broadsword that does high damage and shoots at energy projectiles. It's supposed to be a prototype of the Murasama (a giant red energy sword available after Jungle Dragon Yharon, not to be confused with Muramasa, the pre-hardmode Dungeon sword).
Unfortunately, it's very hard to use, as it does more damage the more you can flick your mouse around. You either have to mess with your computer settings or sprain your wrist to get this to work right.
My ranking: #21
Tesla Cannon
This is a very satisfying mage weapon to use. It's slow and does massive damage per hit. It chains and hits nearby enemies. Useful against Yharon but also is one of the best mage weapons against the Brimstone hearts in the Supreme Calamitas Fight.
My ranking: #5
Pole Warper
Useful against Yharon but not the mechs or Calamitas. Summons two little magnets that smash everything. It resurfaces in the endgame, though, as it is the best summon to use with Angelic Alliance and the best summon to enchant with the Hellbound Enchantment. Combining these (Hellbound pole warpers with Angelic Alliance) can kill any exo mech in seconds, making this possibly the best weapon in the Endgame (although the Rainbow Party Cannon is pretty good).
My ranking: #9
Pulse Rifle
Another solid weapon. Ranger endgame weapons really aren't that great, so the Pulse Rifle does a good job comparatively. It makes the Yharon fight straightforward and can do 30K damage vs Ares in the Exo Mech fight due to its ability to 'chain' damage (although Tyranny's End is better against Apollo/Artemis). Can be useful against Brimstone Hearts in the Supreme Calamitas fight but Surge Driver's right click does better.
My ranking: #10
Plasma Grenades
The only arsenal weapon not to use charge, since these are consumable. Fortunately one stack is enough to count as 'infinite' for the Luiafk mod I used.
These almost felt like a downgrade after wave pounder, due to the smaller area of effect, but they are still quite large. They are hard to aim for Yharon but do excellent damage, and are the go-to best weapon for Exo Mechs, and aren't bad against Soul Seekers and Brimstone Hearts in the Supreme Calamitas fight. Overall, a great weapon.
My ranking: #6
Overall rankings:
1. Wave pounder
2. Frequency Manipulator
3. Tracking Disk
4. Mounted Scanner
5. Tesla Cannon
6. Plasma Grenades
7. Pulse Dragon
8. Gatling Laser
9. Pole Warper
10. Pulse Rifle
11. Snake Eyes
12. Gauss Rifle
13. Pulse Pistol
14. Taser
15. System Bane
16. Heavy Laser Rifle
17. Plasma Caster
18. Hydraulic Volt Crasher
19. Gauss Pistol
20. Matter Modulator
21. Phaseslayer
22. Galvanizing Glaize
23. Pulse Turret Remote
24. Gauss Dagger
25. Star Swallower Containment Unit
