A detailed guide chock-full of references on Strikes, Grips, Links, Exodia Arcanes and many builds to help find the right Zaw for you. Arguably the best weapons in the game at the moment, you’re missing out if you haven’t put the effort into forging one by now.
Intro
Once again surprised with the lack of documentation here, a clanmate and I have taken it upon ourselves to help clarify and streamline the process of crafting your personal Zaw. Melee weapons have always been the best weapons in the game (if you have the mods) and adding modular options to the weapon class has only cemented them into that spot further.
In almost every case, a Zaw is statistically superior to the other weapons of its type. Add the fact that every Strike has a 3-star Riven Disposition and can equip unique Arcane Enhancements, and your primary and secondary are sure to collect some dust. Though the grind to construct a Zaw may seem daunting, it absolutely is worth the effort to make your own.
This guide is here to help you find your perfect combination of Strike, Grip, and Link. Keep this page open as you read through to help you find your ideal Zaw.
Hok’s Anvil
A blacksmith selling his wares in exchange for Ostron standing. Here you will purchase and assemble your Zaw parts.
Speaking to Hok allows you to:
- Exchange Ostron standing for Strikes, Grips, Links and Exodia Arcanes.
- Preview Zaw builds.
- Gild your Zaws for stat boosts once they reach level 30. (Strikes do not grant Mastery until the Amp has been gilded and leveled to 30 again.)
- Donate Zaws you no longer need in exchange for Ostron standing.
- Rename Zaws and non-Zaw weapons for a 15p fee.
- Purchase a pre-built Zaw with Platinum consisting of random parts that are shuffled daily. (This can include parts exclusive to Operation: Plague Star.)
Strikes
- Name: Balla
Type: Dagger / Staff
Damage: 68 Base, 5%, 60%, 35%
Speed: +0.083
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Cyath
Type: Machete / Polearm
Damage: 72 Base, 20%, 5%, 75%
Speed: +0.000
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Dehtat
Type: Rapier / Polearm
Damage: 68 Base, 10%, 50%, 40%
Speed: +0.083
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Kronsh
Type: Machete / Polearm
Damage: 86 Base, 70%, 30%
Speed: -0.067
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Mewan
Type: Sword / Polearm
Damage: 86 Base, 25%, 35%, 40%
Speed: -0.067
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Ooltha
Type: Sword / Staff
Damage: 72 Base, 10%, 40%, 50%
Speed: +0.000
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Plague Keewar*
Type: Scythe / Staff
Damage: 79 Base, 28%, 14%, 33%, 25%
Speed: -0.033
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 22%
- Name: Plague Kripath*
Type: Rapier / Polearm
Damage: 70 Base, 14%, 36%, 21%, 29%
Speed: +0.033
Critical Chance: 22%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Sepfahn**
Type: Nikana / Staff
Damage: 72 Base, 10%, 25%, 65%
Speed: +0.000
Critical Chance: 20%
Status Chance: 20%
- Name: Rabvee**
Type: Machete / Hammer
Damage: 86 Base, 60%, 5%, 35%
Speed: -0.067
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
- Name: Dokrahm**
Type: Scythe / Heavy Blade
Damage: 86 Base, 15%, 35%, 50%
Speed: +0.083
Critical Chance: 18%
Status Chance: 18%
* = Only purchasable from Nakak during Operation: Plague Star.
** = Added with Beasts of the Sanctuary.
Grips
The second part of your Zaw, determining a variety of stats as well as influencing the weapon type.
- Name: Peye
Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana
Damage: -4
Speed: 1.000
- Name: Plague Akwin*
Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana
Damage: -2
Speed: 0.950
- Name: Laka
Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana
Damage: +0
Speed: 0.917
- Name: Kwath
Type: Sword / Machete / Rapier / Dagger / Scythe / Nikana
Damage: +14
Speed: 0.850
- Name: Seekalla
Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer
Damage: -4
Speed: 1.000
- Name: Jayap
Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer
Damage: +0
Speed: 0.917
- Name: Plague Bokwin*
Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer
Damage: +7
Speed: 0.883
- Name: Kroostra
Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer
Damage: +14
Speed: 0.850
- Name: Shtung**
Type: Staff / Polearm / Heavy Blade / Hammer
Damage: +28
Speed: 0.784
- Name: Korb**
Type: Sword / Machete / Dagger / Rapier / Scythe / Nikana
Damage: +28
Speed: 0.784
* = Only purchasable from Nakak during Operation: Plague Star.
** = Added with Beasts of the Sanctuary.
Links
The final piece to add to your Zaw. Determines an overwhelming variety of stats.
- Name: Ruhang
Damage Bonus: +14
Speed Chance: – 0.067
Critical Chance: N/A
Status Bonus: N/A
- Name: Jai
Damage Bonus: -4
Speed Chance: +0.083
Critical Chance: N/A
Status Bonus: N/A
- Name: Ruhang II
Damage Bonus: +28
Speed Chance: -0.133
Critical Chance: N/A
Status Bonus: N/A
- Name: Jai II
Damage Bonus: -8
Speed Chance: +0.167
Critical Chance: N/A
Status Bonus: N/A
- Name: Vargeet Ruhang
Damage Bonus: +14
Speed Chance: -0.067
Critical Chance: 7.0%
Status Bonus: -4.0%
- Name: Ekwana Ruhang
Damage Bonus: +14
Speed Chance: -0.067
Critical Chance: -4.0%
Status Bonus: 7.0%
- Name: Vargeet Jai
Damage Bonus: -4
Speed Chance: +0.083
Critical Chance: 7.0%
Status Bonus: -4.0%
- Name: Ekwana Jai
Damage Bonus: -4
Speed Chance: +0.083
Critical Chance: -4.0%
Status Bonus: 7.0%
- Name: Vargeet II Ruhang
Damage Bonus: +14
Speed Chance: -0.067
Critical Chance: 14.0%
Status Bonus: -8.0%
- Name: Ekwana II Ruhang
Damage Bonus: +14
Speed Chance: -0.067
Critical Chance: -8.0%
Status Bonus: 14.0%
- Name: Vargeet II Jai
Damage Bonus: -4
Speed Chance: +0.083
Critical Chance: 14.0%
Status Bonus: -8.0%
- Name: Ekwana II Jai
Damage Bonus: -4
Speed Chance: +0.083
Critical Chance: -8.0%
Status Bonus: 14.0%
- Name: Vargeet Ruhang II
Damage Bonus: +28
Speed Chance: -0.133
Critical Chance: 7.0%
Status Bonus: -4.0%
- Name: Ekwana Ruhang II
Damage Bonus: +28
Speed Chance: -0.133
Critical Chance: -4.0%
Status Bonus: 7.0%
- Name: Vargeet Jai II
Damage Bonus: -8
Speed Chance: +0.167
Critical Chance: 7.0%
Status Bonus: -4.0%
- Name: Ekwana Jai II
Damage Bonus: -8
Speed Chance: +0.167
Critical Chance: -4.0%
Status Bonus: 7.0%
Arcanes
Arcane Enhancements exclusively for Zaws made available from Hok after reaching the rank of Kin with the Ostrons.
- Exodia Arcanes: Brave
Criteria: CHANNEL KILL
Chance: 100%
Effect: 1.25 / 2.50 / 3.75 / 5.00 Increased energy regen
Duration/Range: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 Seconds
- Exodia Arcanes: Valor
Criteria: CRITICAL HIT
Chance: 5% / 10% / 15% / 20%
Effect: 50% / 100% / 150% / 200% Increased channeling damage
Duration/Range: 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 Seconds
- Exodia Arcanes: Might
Criteria: FINISHER
Chance: 12.5% / 25% / 37.5% / 50%
Effect: 7.5% / 15% / 22.5% / 30% Lifesteal
Duration/Range: 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 Seconds
- Exodia Arcanes: Triumph
Criteria: STATUS EFFECT
Chance: 5% / 10% / 15% / 20%
Effect: 50% / 100% / 150% / 200% Increased Channeling damage
Duration/Range: 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 Seconds
- Exodia Arcanes: Hunt
Criteria: SLAM ATTACK
Chance: 20% / 30% / 40% / 50%
Effect: Pull in nearby enemies
Duration/Range: 6m / 8m / 10m / 12m
- Exodia Arcanes: Force
Criteria: STATUS EFFECT
Chance: 5% / 10% / 15% / 20%
Effect: Burst for 80% / 100% / 120% / 150% weapon damage
Duration/Range: 5m / 6m / 7m / 8m
- Exodia Arcanes: Contagion*
Criteria: AIR ATTACK
Chance: 100%
Effect: 100% / 200% / 300% / 400% projectile damage after 30m. Only procs after a bullet/double jump.
Duration/Range: Determined by gravity.
- Exodia Arcanes: Epidemic*
Criteria: SLAM ATTACK
Chance: 100%
Effect: Projects damaging wave that suspends enemies in the air, dealing Viral damage up to 33m away. Only procs after a bullet/double jump.
Duration/Range: 1s / 2s / 3s / 4s
* = Only purchasable from Nakak during Operation: Plague Star.
Recommended Builds Pt. 1
Combinations of Strike, Grip and Link and suggested mod loadouts. Builds marked with * are best-in-class and can not (currently) be statistically surpassed by any other weapon of its type. Stats presented are after Gilding.
- Sliita
Mods:
Type: Sword
Strike: Ooltha
Grip: Laka
Link: Vargeet Ruhang
Arcane: Exodia Valor
Comparison: Krohkur
Notes: Extremely reliant on keeping your combo multiplier up, but is thankfully offset by a stance with wide sweeps and generous movement. Berserker is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Ooltha.
- Parang*
Mods:
Type: Machete
Strike: Cyath
Grip: Peye
Link: Ekwana II Jai
Arcane: Exodia Valor
Comparison: Gazal Machete
Notes: A fast slash status-based weapon. Buzz Kill is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Cyath.
- Carranza
Mods:
Type: Rapier
Strike: Dehtat
Grip: Kwath
Link: Vargeet II Jai
Arcane: Exodia Valor
Comparison: Destreza
Notes: Another slash proc weapon due to Vulpine Mask having three combos with two guaranteed slash procs minimum. It will destroy any one target. Gladiator Might is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Dehtat.
- Pesh-kabz*
Mods:
Type: Dagger
Strike: Balla
Grip: Laka
Link: Ekwana II Jai
Arcane: Exodia Might
Comparison: Rakta Dark Dagger
Notes: Very fast combos with multiple viral and slash procs despite it’s 35% chance, but like any dagger will mainly rely on Covert Lethality. Doing so makes it the best candidate for wearing Exodia Might, healing you on Finishers. Drifting Contact is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Balla.
Recommended Builds Pt. 2
- Naginata*
Mods:
Type: Staff
Strike: Ooltha
Grip: Seekalla
Link: Ekwana Jai
Arcane: Exodia Valor
Comparison: Bo Prime
Notes: A staff focusing on large bleed procs from crits with quick multi-hit attacks. The stance is used for its forward combo, the right-click combo being for AoE and movement. Buzz Kill is your designated mod to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Ooltha.
- Laesio
Mods:
Type: Polearm
Strike: Cyath
Grip: Jayap
Link: Ekwana II Ruhang
Arcane: Exodia Triumph
Comparison: Lesion
Notes: Essentially Lesion but still a bit too far off without a godly Riven roll. Primed Fury or North Wind are your designated mods to replace in the event you obtain a riven for Cyath.
- Plague Langxian*
Mods:
Type: Polearm
Strike: Plague Kripath
Grip: Plague Bokwin
Link: Ekwana II Ruhang
Arcane: Exodia Epidemic
Comparison: Guandao
Notes: A personal favorite. This Zaw is all about utility and is essentially a swiss army knife. Since forging it, I’ve used it so much I actually feel terrible my dozens of other Rivens have collected dust since. Great status, innate Viral, spin-to-winning through each room, absolutely absurd range and the Arcane is an 0-cost energy Rhino Stomp that you can spam if you’re ever in a tight spot for some reason. My trusty tool for Focus farming. If you can secure a Riven with +Range, I urge you to slot it in place of Buzz Kill.
Original Link – Continuation of discussion
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