List of Lightning Returns : Final Fantasy XIII weapons The following is a list of the weapons in " " . Lightning has a variety of weapons in her arsenal . She can wield different types of weapons , but they all effectively perform the same in battle . The gunblades function like regular swords and do not fire projectiles . Weapons can be upgraded from the after the player has defeated the final boss . Weapons can be upgraded at forges for a small fee and various materials . Most of these materials can either be bought at the or obtained from defeated enemies , although the best materials are only available as enemy . It is not possible to upgrade weapons to their maximum values because each item can only be upgraded a set number of times . While it may be possible to can maximize some of stats of a specific weapon , it will never be possible to maximize every parameter . Upgrading a weapon the first time earns the achievement . Upgrading a weapon thirty times earns the achievement . One can also downgrade weapons , but this will not refund the materials used to upgrade them although it does " refund " the number of upgrades . Downgrading can therefore be considered as the backup plan in case one upgrades a weapon the wrong way . Swords . The gunblade icon is reused as the icon for swords . There are several subtypes of swords : gunblades , swords , katana , axes , and sickles . Obtaining the ultimate equipment earns the achievement . Long swords provide a modest boost to both strength and magic . All long swords come with + 5 ATB speed . Heavy blades provide a big boost to strength at the expense of magic . Bewitched blades provide a big boost to magic at the expense of strength . Katanas provide the greatest boost to strength , but do not boost magic and have a - 15 ATB speed penalty and are equipped with the Hard Hitter auto - ability , which increases the likelihood of interrupting an enemy . Great Swords . Greatswords provide boost to HP with moderate and equal offenses . Staves . Staves have a - 15 ATB speed penalty and - 40 % decrease in stagger power . To compensate , they cast magic much faster and are equipped with the Strong Finale + 10 % auto ability , which increases the damage of finales by 10 % . Staves are best used for Styles which heavily rely on casting spells , as when Lightning is equipped with a staff her spellcasting pose changes to the swiftest of all . Rapiers . Swift rapiers provide a modest boost in magic and little strength . They have increased ATB speed and are equipped with the Blindside auto ability , which bolsters the effects of certain attacks when hitting an enemy from behind . Cursed Rapiers provide a modest boost in magic and little strength . They are good for debuffing , as they are equipped with Status Ailment Damage + xxx % and Status Ailment Duration + xx % . Spears . Spears provide a great boost to stagger power and have relatively great offenses . They turn the ability Beat Down to Jump , which has increased damage and stagger power . Dual - Blades . All dual - blades hit twice per action . They provide relatively equal offenses to other weapons , but have - 50 % strength and - 55 % stagger power . To compensate , every physical attack that can be performed in the air hits twice . They come equipped with Precise HP restore + x % , which restores HP whenever the player times a hit perfectly .