In the Elder Scrolls: Blades you will encounter all kinds of different enemies and it is important that you choose the correct weapon so you inflict the type of damage that will easily kill your foe. Weapons break down into 3 categories and the difference between these weapon types and the best weapon is as follows:
Daggers, Swords
Deal Slashing Damage
Axes
Deal Slashing Damage
Hammers, Maces
Deal Bashing Damage
Weapons in this category are Daggers, Hand Axes and Light Hammers. These weapons attack very fast and have great deal combos, their downside is they deal low damage and have the weakest critical strikes. The advantage of using Light Weapons is they allow you to also weild a shield as they are one handed.
Iron Dagger
Damage: 18
Gold Cost: 330
Iron Hand Axe
Damage: 18
Gold Cost: 330
Iron Light Hammer
Damage: 18
Gold Cost: 330
Steel Dagger
Damage: 27
Gold Cost: 737
Steel Hand Axe
Damage: 27
Gold Cost: 737
Steel Light Hammer
Damage: 27
Gold Cost: 737
Weapons in this category are Greatswords, Battleaxes and Warhammers. Although they attack slowly and get little benefit from combo attacks they make up for it by dealing the most damage, with strong critical strike hits. Heavy Weapons also have the highest block rating since you will not be able to use a shield as two hands are required to wield the weapon.
Iron Battleaxe
Damage: 30
Gold Cost: 440
Iron Greatsword
Damage: 30
Gold Cost: 440
Iron Warhammer
Damage: 30
Gold Cost: 440
Steel Battleaxe
Damage: 45
Gold Cost: 990
Steel Greatsword
Damage: 45
Gold Cost: 990
Steel Warhammer
Damage: 45
Gold Cost: 990
Rueful Axe
Damage: 119
• Does 128 damage to stamina.
• Reduces target’s maximum Health by 22.
• Does 20% more damage to skeevers, Wolves, and Bears)
Weapons in this category are Longsword, War Axes and Maces. Of the three weapon types available these are the most flexible as you can wield them with one hand and shield or as a two-hand weapon for extra damage.
Iron Longsword
Damage: 26
Gold Cost: 385
Iron War Axes
Damage: 26
Gold Cost: 385
Iron Maces
Damage: 26
Gold Cost: 385
Steel Longsword
Damage: 38
Gold Cost: 862
Steel War Axes
Damage: 38
Gold Cost: 862
Steel Maces
Damage: 38
Gold Cost: 862
Watcher’s Longsword
Damage: 48
Hero Pack
Bloodthirst
Damage: 93
• Restores Health by damage done, up to 2 points (if health is full, repairs by 1 instead).
Exemplary Glass Longsword of Arcing
Damage: 142
• Does 29 shock damage to health and magicka.
Majestic Orcish Mace of Frost (Legendary)
Damage: 118
• Does 25 Frost Damage to Health and Stamina.
• Reduces Target’s Maximum Health by 20.
• Converts up to 18 physical damage done to fire damage.
Based on the stats the best weapon in The Elder Scrolls: Blades is the Watcher's Longsword. This S-Tier weapon is acquired from the Hero Pack, it is a very quick sword that you can also use for chaining combos for additional damage.Other weapons you may want to consider are the Longsword and Greatsword which are both A-Tier weapons.
Check out our Enemy Weaknesses and Resistances page to find what the most effective weapons are againt the various enemies.