For starters, get whatever you enjoy with the following caveat. Also, it depends on what types of levels you want to do and what monsters you are having a hard time with.

Certain monsters are strong/weak to certain damage types. So, you would want two specialized damage types so no monsters are resistant to your attacks. So, for example, if you have a Glacius and Barbarous Thorn Blade you'll be strong against Beasts, Fiends, Constructs, and Undead. You'll deal neutral damage against Slimes and Gremlins. If you were to only carry elemental weapons instead (brandish, divine avenger) then you'd have a much harder time with beasts and gremlins, and a slightly tougher time with fiends.

This guide is extremely useful to read - http://wiki.spiralknights.com/Swordmaster_Guide

Of the swords you have, I would definitely upgrade the brandish to 4* unless you want to change status infliction (use whatever status you like it really doesn't matter that much). I'm not sure what you mean by "Scarble swordie thingi" but I'm guessing Sealed Sword. In which case, upgrade that to avenger/faust if you like it more than the brandish. I think the Avenger is better than the faust unless you already have other elemental swords.

I would then look into getting a piercing sword (flourish or twisted snarble barb) since they make beasts and fiends significantly easier. After that, add a shadow sword (acheron or faust) so you have a specialized weapon for each damage type.

As for the calibur, if you love the charge attack, then it is worthwhile to upgrade it. I know some people take it for Vanaduke, and I can see it being useful in crowded situations (to replace a nitronome for a swordie). However, since it is normal damage type, you can do better if your focus is on swords (which it seems to be based on armor and shield).

I would toss the cutter unless you really like how it attacks. I have one and it really isn't all that useful and other swords do more damage and have better charge attacks.

I will say it again though. Use whatever you enjoy since it is all about having fun.

EDIT: good point on the gun fradow. Yea, you might want shadow sword before a piercing sword.

Calibur for all purpose monster smacking. Or go piercing/shadow sword, with an elemental gun. Elemental gun, because sword have to cover distance to fight puppies/polyps/howlizters. Elemental is effective against all but polyps, and is neutral to them.

There are stations at the beginning of each floor. Even with 2 weapon slots, there is no reason not to have multiple swords. Just work 2-3 of them to 4* and swap them out as needed. Sometimes you'll want to bring 2 swords, others sword and gun, and maybe others sword and bomb.

Piercing guns are sub-par compared to piercing swords, except blitz needle on vanaduke. Callaha is for pure gunners who doesn't want to use a sword of any kind. Blitz has the loss of mobility and such.

Gremlins dodge, so biohazard/umbra would take more skill in hitting, nevermind the explosion utlity, or ricocheting shots, which is the entire point of alchemers.

There are differing opinions on the usefulness of weapon slots. Consensus is that you can easily maintain one weapon slot if you farm RJP, and that if you change with a mouse wheel, a simple up/down slide will let you access all 3 weapons. Not saying that three weapons are a must, but it is defiately useful, whether to heat an extra weapon, or to bring utility/another special type weapon.

well, having two specialized swords is by no means a waste of money since they make the game a lot easier in T3 and even in T2. In T1 and T2 you can get away with attacking monsters with weapons they are resistant against, but in T3 it'll likely get you killed.

If you refuse to get a second sword ever, then I'd have to disagree with bopp. I think what you want is leviathan blade since it will deal neutral damage to all types. Since why carry a sword that deals inferior damage to two monster types for all time. The piercing swords have a huge drawback in that they deal pure pierce. So against slimes and constructs it'll be extremely slow. And really, I wouldn't want to plink away at them with just an alchemer. Shadow avoids that drawback due to split damage, but then you're weak against one of the hardest monsters in the game (devilite) and the alchemer won't do squat with their dodging. If I thought you were going to eventually buy a second sword, then I'd agree with bopp's advice since it'll hold you over until you build the second sword.

I can tell you this though. Once you get to T3 and start selling the mats you collect for 2-5k each (sun silver and volcanic iron, for example, sell for within that range but obviously fluctuate) EDIT: I'll say I typically get one of these expensive mat per run outside of FSC ENDEDIT: you'll realize you can get 2-3 swords fairly quickly. Also, if you buy those materials with tokens (if you don't care about your tokens) than you can convert those to crowns right now. Obviously T3 isn't just rolling in crowns, but the payout is higher than whatever you are playing now. Throw in the few rare awesome drops like a iron lockbox or 3* weapon and you can sell those for a decent profit to speed things up (obviously not guaranteed to drop).

Oh, and I'm not suggesting purchasing a 3rd weapon slot, only that you have a weapon to change out since it makes a huge difference.

@bopp's reason for the gun - Elemental guns are strong against gun puppies and howlitzers, and neutral against polyps. They are a common monster with ranged attack that are sometimes hard to kill with swords. If you used a pierce gun then it'd be weak against gun puppies and polyps. If you used a shadow gun it'd be weak against howlitzers. So, elemental guns have no drawbacks against common ranged attackers.

Blumiland, if your loadout is one sword and one gun, then it's a good idea to make the gun elemental and the sword piercing or shadow (or normal), not the other way around. This arises from two asymmetries in the game.

* First, swords can have difficulty against turrets, so you want your gun to handle turrets. All three kinds of turrets in the game are either vulnerable or neutral to elemental damage. This is why elemental-gun-with-normal-sword was one of Mohandar's suggestions; elemental is disproportionately good on guns.

* Second, gunshots can be dodged much more easily than sword swings. Demonicsothe mentioned this. For example, with a piercing sword and an elemental gun, you'll use your gun against undead, constructs, and slimes, none of which are good at dodging. With a shadow sword and an elemental gun, you'll use your gun against undead, constructs, and fiends; this is less good, because fiends can dodge.

I echo the other posters' suggestions that you consider getting a third weapon slot sometime. It may not be as expensive as you think, because people use their unwanted ME to buy weapon slots upgrades for resale in the 150-200 CE range, which is much cheaper than the retail price of 250 energy. If you play SK multiple times per week, on Tier 2 or Tier 3, then your income per month is high enough that a weapon slot upgrade is easily affordable.

Another weapon means another slot? You got something mixed up. You can have as many weapons as you want, in your inventory/arsenal. To be able to use multiple weapons in a floor is the point of extra slots.

There is really no situation in any T1 depths that require guns. Just whack away with your sword and aim in the general direction of the enemies.

Actually, I do have a handgun guide (see here), but it's not as developed as my sword guide. I hope that you've also checked out the Gunslinging Guide on the wiki. Anyway, your elemental gun choices are:
* Nova Driver: no status, but extra raw damage
* Storm Driver: shock (bad against quicksilvers)
* Magma Driver: fire (bad against oilers)
* Hail Driver: freeze (I've found it hard to use, because it can unfreeze)
* Polaris: shock and big knockback (which can be great or terrible)
The most popular ones are probably Nova, Storm, and Polaris. Certainly the "safest" choice is Nova --- there's nothing wrong with doing lots of damage. As a sidearm for sworders, Polaris may be the most popular.

Also, just for your information, the game developers are actively considering changing the Argent Peacemaker to pure elemental. But they seem to be taking their time about it.

Acheron, BTB, and elemental gun is a grrreat arsenal. Just one thing:

"The Polaris has higher damage and speed then the Nova and Storm, I guess that's my pick."

Are you basing this on the wiki data? They're scant, but Nova is 205, whereas Polaris is 190. The Polaris projectiles are extremely slow. If the target monster can be knocked back, then it will be knocked back, perhaps out of range, so that you don't land all three hits. In contrast, the alchemers have ricochets that can do a pretty big amount of damage, if aimed carefully.

I'll let any gunners who are reading fill in the details here. In the meantime, you might want to search the forums and watch some YouTube videos of Polaris. I'm not saying that you shouldn't get Polaris; I'm saying that the argument you gave above doesn't seem right.

Edit: Are you basing this damage/speed thing on the statistics bars, that are displayed on the items? Those statistics bars are notoriously inaccurate. Basically you should ignore them.

Yes, Polaris is popular as a sidearm for sworders, because sworders tend to use guns against turrets, which can't be knocked back. It is not popular as a gun for gunners. Do yourself a favor and search the forums for "Polaris alchemer". You will find several threads discussing their relative merits. You may decide that Polaris is right for you, or you may not.

Actually, if you're tired of thinking about these issues, then just go ahead and get Polaris (or any of the other guns we've discussed). At some point you have to stop thinking and just start doing. In the grand scheme it doesn't matter much.

Pulsar costs so much cause it costs 15 twin run tokens. I suggest just doing the runs yourself. I got mine yesturday.