How to Get a Weapon in Gothic 1 Remake: Your Complete Survival Guide to Arming Yourself in the Colony

Note: This guide is based on preview builds and the original Gothic. Locations and stats may change in the final release. Check in-game for updates.

The moment you wake up in the Colony in Gothic 1 Remake, you have nothing but the rags on your back, and a world that wants you dead. Wolves, molerats, and even the smallest scavenger can tear you apart in seconds. Unlike modern RPGs, there is no gentle tutorial or hand-holding; your first real challenge is simply finding a weapon. This guide walks you through every safe (and slightly less safe) way to arm yourself, from a humble pickaxe to a stolen guard’s sword, so you can survive long enough to actually play the game. The remake launched today (June 5, 2026) and stays true to the original’s brutal difficulty, use these steps to get a fighting chance.

The Pickaxe, Your First Tool for Survival

Your very first weapon can be found minutes after leaving the Exchange Point. On the road to the Old Camp, look for an abandoned mine entrance. The pickaxe is lying right at the mouth of the mine, easy to spot if you keep your eyes open.

• Stats: 7 damage, requires 5 Strength, two-handed Sharp weapon.
• Where to find it: The abandoned mine on the road between the Exchange Point and the Old Camp.

Key tip: Talk to Diego, the first NPC you meet. If you question him repeatedly, he will tell you to search that mine. He also escorts you to the Old Camp, killing enemies along the way, you still earn XP for his kills. So even if you grab the pickaxe, stick with Diego for a safe trip.

What it is good for: The pickaxe is slow but gets the job done against lone molerats and juvenile scavengers if you time your dodges. It is a two-handed weapon, so you cannot use a shield, but it hits hard enough to discourage early threats.

The Rusty Sword, Your First Proper Melee Weapon

Once you have the pickaxe, your next target is a significant upgrade: the Rusty Sword. It is stuck in the ground on the far side of a hanging bridge, past the mine path. Some descriptions call this location a small cave-like alcove; regardless, you will recognize it by the sword jutting out of the earth.

• Stats: 10 damage, requires 5 Strength, one-handed Sharp (faster than the pickaxe).
• Guardian: A molerat that can kill you in two bites.

Two proven strategies:

1. Fight it head-on: Use the pickaxe with a dodge-and-swing rhythm. Back away after each swing, take one swing, then retreat again. Patience is key. The molerat’s attack has a short range, so stepping back at the right moment will leave it vulnerable.
2. Lure and grab: Lure the molerat away from the sword, then sprint to the sword, equip it (or stow your pickaxe and equip the sword), and fight with the faster weapon. This is riskier but faster.

Bonus: A second Rusty Sword may spawn near the arena in Old Camp (behind the metal gate on the right). Worth checking if you miss the first one.

Early Alternatives, Bows, Old Swords, and Quest Rewards

If you want to expand your arsenal beyond the rusty blade, several other early-game options are available. Below is a quick-reference breakdown:

Old Sword

• Stats: 12 damage, requires 10 Strength
• Location: Found underneath a hanged man after defeating the first Juvenile Scavenger patrolling the path to Old Camp.
• Tip: The scavenger is tough, use hit-and-run tactics. Worth the extra Strength investment.

Bow

• Stats: 3 damage, ranged
• Location: Obtainable at the Goods Exchange (Exchange Zone). Sneak into a shack, grab a key from a chest, then use it to unlock a cage in the lower area.
• Tip: Great for kiting enemies from a safe distance. Even low damage is better than no ranged option.

Withered Axe

• Stats: 13 damage, requires 7 Strength
• Location: Earned by completing “The Vanished Warder” side quest from Sly in Old Camp. Find Nek’s body in a cave outside the South gate, guarded by three molerats.
• Tip: Bring a weapon or a good kiting strategy. The axe is a solid mid-point between the Rusty Sword and the next tier.

Craftable/Purchasable Options

• Crude Sword (20 damage, 20 STR), crafted at the smithy in Old Camp.
• Skip’s Battle Sword (33 damage, 13 STR), bought from a merchant later in Old Camp.
• These require more investment but are worth saving for.

The Risky Route, Luring Enemies into Guards

For the truly desperate or the cunning, there is a high-risk, high-reward tactic: lead hostile creatures, molerats, scavengers, even orcs, toward camp guards outside the ruined tower near the Old Camp.

How it works: If a guard dies in the fight, you can loot a Guard’s Sword (32 damage, requires 12 Strength) from their corpse. This is a massive power spike early on, making short work of most enemies.

Caution: This is unreliable and dangerous. Guards are tough, but so are the enemies. You might die multiple times before it pays off. Use only if you are stuck and have a good escape plan.

Alternative: You can also try luring enemies into Diego during his escort run, he is strong, and you still get XP. The same principle applies: if Diego dies, you can loot his weapon, but you will lose his protection.

Stay Sharp, Survive the Colony

In Gothic 1 Remake, that first weapon is not just gear, it is the difference between a quick death and a chance to explore. Start with the pickaxe, upgrade to the rusty sword, then branch out to bows, quest axes, or even stolen guard swords as you grow stronger. The colony is ruthless, but now you have the knowledge to survive its opening hours. Stay sharp, watch your stamina, and remember: sometimes the best weapon is the one you trick someone else into getting for you.