weap·on / n. 1. Thing designed, used, or usable for inflicting bodily harm. 2. Means for gaining the advantage in a conflict. [OE]
Sometimes it's tough to get all the weapon types straight: who can use them, what good they are, etc. Here's an index of the stuff for ya! Each weapon will have the games it's in, followed by who can equip/use it in that game. The "Crossover" weapons can be found in the Item list.
Strong weapons which miss often and sometimes give random damage.
Crossovers: Battle Axe, Ogre Axe, Poison Axe, Rune Axe
For the really physical fighters, this does the trick!
Crossovers: None
Possibly the weirdest weapon in the game, keeping with the North Pole theme, Geomancers use bells to attack. How it damages the enemy is beyond me. In FFTA, it makes a bit more sense, as bells can be used to call animals. See also Instruments.
Crossovers: Earth Bell, Giyaman Bell, Rune Bell
These sports balls can hit flying enemies with the greatest of ease, and eventually pack quite the wallop!
In MQ, a powerful weapon which can also blast open doors, but it comes in limited amounts. In 12, a long-range weapon that dispenses random damage.
Crossovers: None
A really weird weapon, in 3 people hit other people with it and in Tactics they read out of it. O_o I guess the enemy really didn't like what they were saying!
Crossovers: None
A strong weapon which can attack from the back row.
Crossovers: Full Moon/Engetsu, Rising Sun
Long-range weapons with some nice effects. In TA there are two "levels" of bows, and Tactics also has crossbows, which Squires can also equip.
Crossovers: Artemis Bow, Killer Bow, Yoichi Bow
Fairly useless weapons except for Relm's "Sketch" ability.
Crossovers: None
They're usually used by people who have great strength already, so they only raise accuracy or add effects.
Crossovers: Cat Claw, Dragon Claw, HellClaw, Kaiser Claw
Brute force gets 'em every time.
Lulu uses living Cait Sith, Moogle, Moomba, PuPu, Cactuar, and OnionKid dolls to help inflict magical damage on the enmey. Kawaii!
A cuisinary weapon! Maybe s/he should just make them eat his/her cooking...
AKA maces. This weapon can attack from the back row, but it's still fairly weak and has no special advantages. Sometimes gives random damage.
Crossovers: Morning Star, Scorpion Tail
Smack an enemy with a flute, woo! See also Instruments.
This class of weapons includes darts, cards, and dice. Setzer uses them with deadly efficiency.
Crossovers: None
This unique weapon resembles a sword with a trigger. If the trigger is pressed at the right moment, the damage is doubled.
Crossovers: None
The best long-range weapon in the series. Barret's guns are Gatling guns, Vincent's are handguns, Irvine's and the ones from Tactics are rifles, and Laguna's is a machinegun.
Crossovers: None
Basically another type of axe. The Flails from Tactics are sometimes called Hammers.
Crossovers: Thor Hammer
Strangely enough, these bags are the most expensive weapons in the game! They're powerful, can be equipped regardless of Job, and have some nice effects like Regen.
Crossovers: None
A weird weapon, bards use this to attack the enemy, usually causing them to be confused or fall asleep. See also Instruments.
Crossovers: Dream Harp, Lamia Harp
A long-range weapon that randomizes the damage dealt.
This heavy weapon inflicts mucho damage on one unlucky enemy at a time.
Crossovers: None
This category includes bells, harps, flutes, and the deadly Fell Castanets!
Kiros's blades are more like extensions of his hands. They can slice and dice with the best of them. I'm told that the real name of this weapon is Katar (from Soul Calibur) but Engrish strikes again (actually one of the only occurences of it in FF8).
Crossovers: None
Powerful Oriental weapons with Japanese names. They can be held in two hands for greater damage. They're sometimes interchangable with Ninja Swords.
Crossovers: Ashura, Heaven's Cloud, Kikuichimoji, Kotetsu, Masamune, Murasame
A general-purpose weapon which sometimes has surprising effects.
Crossovers: Air Knife, Assassin Knife, Mage Masher, Main Gauche, Orichalcon
A strange weapon, it causes positive status to whoever it hits!
Cait Sith commands his Mog better with different colored megaphones.
Crossovers: None
Special knives which only Ninjas can use; they cause status like Stop and Death.
Crossovers: See Katanas.
One of the most useless weapons in the entire series, except in 8 where it's like any other weapon. 'Nuff said.
Crossovers: None
Weapons with long range.
The only long-distance weapon in the game, for magic users. Not bad.
Stronger than Staffs but don't give as much magical help.
Crossovers: None
Persian silks and gossamer threads do more damage than you'd think!
Crossovers: None
Time to "farm" them monsters!
Although these can't be equipped on anyone (except for Yuffie in 7), they are thrown for great damage during battle.
Crossovers: Shuriken, Pinwheel
Morphers can use the souls of captured enemies to attack other enemies with, brrr!
Basically all spears are Wind-elemental. The Dragoon's Jump command is most effective when using spears.
Crossovers: Blood Spear, Gungnir, Holy Spear, Partisan, Trident, Wind Spear
Weak weapons which raise magic power.
Crossovers: Sage Staff
Usually the most powerful weapons in the game. They can be used with two hands, or with one in each hand for great versatility.
Crossovers: Ancient Sword, Blood Sword, Coral Sword, Defender, Excalibur, Excalipur, Flame Sword, Ice Brand, Long Sword, Ogre Nix, Ragnarok, Rune Blade, Save The Queen, Sleep Sword, Ultima Weapon
This weapon can attack from the back row and can inflict some nice damage. In 5 this was used to tame animals.
Crossovers: Chain Whip, Flame Bute, Save The Queen