What skills you end up getting in the roguelike Archero 2 may be down to chance, but as long as you know their pros and cons inside and out, you can fashion a potent, weapon-bolstering combo out of whatever options that come your way.

Here are some of Archero 2’s weapon options and the best skills to make them even better.

Your original weapon and one of the most important in the game. The right power-ups can help you shoot harder, faster and with greater coverage. And it’s suited for both close-range and long-distance attacks.

Strengths: Flexible, balanced and easy to learn

Weaknesses: Some archery skills may clash with one another, and you have to stand still to shoot

Available skills: Swift Arrow, Front Arrow, Rear Arrow, Split Shot, Lightwing Arrow, ATK Increase and ATK SPD Increase

Best suited for: All dungeon types

Orbs deal continuous damage to enemies within range and are particularly powerful when paired with fire and ice effects – or even the ability to drain enemy health to restore your own.

Strength: Deals continuous damage on the move

Weakness: Limited range

Available skills: Ice Circle, Bolt Circle, Fire Circle, Poison Circle, Vampiric Circle, Rotating Beam Circle and Circle Boost

Best suited for: Survival and defence levels

Your battle companion that automatically locks on to and attacks monsters. You can dial up your firepower with multiple sprites and add-on effects such as burning or freezing, whereas King Sprites are capable of more powerful area attacks.

Strength: Automatic, powerful attacks with customisable buffs

Weakness: One sprite can only do so much – you’ll need a few to make the biggest impact

Available skills: Laser Sprite, Venom Sprite, Flame Sprite, Ice Spike Sprite, Lightning Sprite, Sprite King and Sprite Boost

Best suited for: Any level you’re brave enough to take on

Pick up a bottle and wreak havoc on the battlefield. You might summon a meteor shower, bring on the thunder, create a shield of invincibility or massively boost your attacking speed.

Strength: Explosive and novel effects – you never know what you’re going to get

Weakness: You have to wait for potion bottles to spawn before triggering them, so they can rarely be stacked

Available skills: Invincibility Potion, Meteor Potion, Frostbite Potion, Strike Potion and Frenzy Potion

Best suited for: Room and defence dungeons

These fantastic weapons only appear under certain conditions, but their attacks are automatic and uninhibited by terrain or distance. Power them up to deal greater damage – and even turn them into laser cannons.

Strengths: Awesome combat visuals, automatic attacks, powerful when levelled up

Weakness: A full upgrade requires stacked effects and that means no small amount of luck!

Available skills: Instant Strike, Assault Strike, Beam Strike, Flying Sword Shower, Blade Potion and Pursuit Tracking

Best suited for: Room levels and boss battles

Got your battle plan all drawn up? Try your luck and see where you land in Archero 2.