Longsword

Lore & Background

In the broader Warhammer setting, the longsword sits at the heart of the Empire's martial identity. It is what the Empire's soldiers carry into the endless campaigns against the Chaos warbands, the Beastmen, and the ever-spreading Skaven. It is unglamorous, dependable, and utterly lethal in the hands of someone who has learned to read the rhythm of a fight—the moment when a horde's surge falters, the split-second a Stormvermin's guard drops. In Vermintide 2, that same reliability translates into a weapon that rewards commitment: each swing is a deliberate, high-impact strike that asks the player to choose their moment, not just react to the noise.

In Their Own Story

The corridor stank of rat-gut and old blood. Karl Franz felt the familiar cold of the longsword's pommel against his palm as he drew it, the steel catching the guttering light of a single torch. Ahead, the clicking was already there—hundreds of small, wet sounds pressing through the dark like a tide. He shifted his grip, felt the blade's weight settle into his shoulders, and let out a breath that fogged in the cold. No shield. No second chance. Just the long, honest edge and the grey shapes closing in from every side. He stepped forward and swung—not a wild chop, but a measured arc that caught the first rat in the throat and carried through into the next. The blade sang, and for a moment, the dark receded.

Reader's Guide

The Longsword occupies the two-handed weapon slot and is available to nearly every hero in Vermintide 2. Because it is two-handed, equipping it means forgoing a Shield, so your defensive options shift to dodging, blocking with the weapon itself, or relying on your hero's active ability for survivability. Mechanically, the Longsword trades attack speed for higher per-hit damage compared to lighter options. Its wide, committed swings make it effective against single large targets—bosses, elites, and the occasional rat-ogre—where a single well-timed strike can deal a meaningful chunk of health. In co-op play, it shines when your team is focused on a priority target: while your ranged or shield-carrying allies keep the horde at bay, the Longsword user steps in for the heavy, decisive blow. For build purposes, the Longsword pairs well with relics and gear that boost melee damage, critical strike, or attack speed, since its slower base tempo benefits from those multipliers. It is a solid, flexible choice for players who prefer a straightforward, high-impact melee playstyle over the faster, more technical options—a blade that asks you to commit, and rewards you when you do.

Did You Know?

• The Longsword is one of the most universally available weapon types in Vermintide 2, equippable by the vast majority of heroes, making it a default choice for new players—and a surprisingly deep one for veterans who lear
• Because it is a two-handed weapon, it occupies the same slot as the Battleaxe, meaning a hero must choose between the sword's balanced, arcing strikes and the axe's heavier, more punishing cleaving power.
• In the broader Warhammer setting, the longsword is the archetypal weapon of the Empire's common soldier, contrasting with the more exotic arms of Chaos or the dwarven great-axes—it's the weapon of a man who trusts his tr
• Equipping the Longsword forecloses the Shield slot, so players must rely on their hero's dodge, active ability, or team support for defensive coverage—there is no hiding behind a slab of wood, only the edge and the nerve