I've sorted the weapons within each category Best -> Worst with ties being decided arbitrarily.

IMO it is better to have a slow but hard hitting weapon in this game. At least that is what fit my playstyle; get in, hit a couple of times, dodge out of range of their retaliation, repeat. Thus I played with a 2H Mace for most of the game with a blood stealing 1H / Offhand for backup. It only takes 4 hits with a fully upgraded blood stealing offhand to fully restore your blood from empty.

I really only used 3 abilities most of the time; Spring, Autophagy, and Blood Cauldron (tho Abyss is just as viable) Everything else you can dump into passives imo, especially +Endurance.

This setup allowed me to easily defeat the Sewer Beast (Fergal Bansha) which a lot of people seem to have trouble with. I honestly never used the ranged weapons even after upgrading them to chemical / incendiary, but this is your game - play it how you want to :)

People usually recommend upgrading the Pump Action Shotgun with Incendiary and Joe's Semi Auto with Chemical damage (or the Pistol Parabellum if you are doing a Not Even Once run)

If you prefer to play with a 1H Primary, seriously consider Louise's Machete - it is just below top tier in raw damage but has the fastest attack speed and lowest stamina cost of any other option for that slot... of course you would have to embrace a "good" person to get it...

Source: (Pembroke) Requires embracing Dr Tippets, his key will unlock the chest in the Morgue's Basement

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Booth Digby

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Rodney Grader

Source: (Docks) in the Hideout above / across from Harriet Jones's room in the Sewer Skal's Sanctuary

Source: (Whitechapel) Requires embracing Joe Peterson, his key will unlock the chest in his house which MUST be looted before sleeping

Source: (Docks) In the hallway just before confronting William Bishop

Source: (Pembroke) In the sewers accessed during "A Rat in the Hospital" mission in Ch2

Source: (West End) In the sewers near Louise Teasdale

Source: (West End) Obtained via the achievement "Bloody Roots"

Source: (Pembroke) Acquired when embracing Newton Blight

Source: (West End) Acquired when embracing Louise Teasdale

Source: (Pembroke) Requires embracing Rakesh Chadana, his key unlocks the chest in his tent

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Seymour Fishburn

Source: (Pembroke) Acquired when embracing Clay Cox

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Archer Woodbead

Source: (West End) Acquired when you defeat Doris Fletcher, unmissable

Source: (Whitechapel) Near the objective of Barret Lewis' investigation mission

Source: (Pembroke) On a table just before Dr. Reid's new office

Source: (Pembroke) In a locker in Dr. Reid's new office, DLC required

Source: (Docks) Acquired when you defeat William Bishop, unmissable

Source: (Southwark) Very first weapon you acquire, unmissable

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Giselle Paxton

Source: (Pembroke) Acquired when embracing Gwyneth Branagan

Source: (Pembroke) Requires embracing Thoreu Strickland, his key opens one of the cabinets upstairs next to Dr Reid's new office

Source: (Whitechapel) Acquired when embracing Cristina Popa

Source: (Pembroke) Morgue Basement, near the corpse of Samuel Connor

Source: (West End) On a table upstairs in the Ascalon Club

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Sabrina Cavendish

Source: (West End) Acquired when embracing Charles Jerome Albright

Source: (Whitechapel) Acquired when you defeat Vincent Sheen, almost unmissable

Source: (Whitechapel) On a table in the Priwen headquarters visited during Thelma Howcroft's investigation mission

Source: (West End) Reward for completion of Charlotte Ashbury's investigation mission

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Ichabod Throgmorton

Source: (Southwark) Very first offhand you acquire, unmissable

Foreword: Double Barrel Shotguns use 2 shells per shot giving you half as much ammo and only 1 shot per reload while doing the listed amount of damage

Source: (West End) In one of the houses which you must visit as part of the storyline

Source: (Docks) Found on the way to confront William Bishop

Source: (Pembroke) Can be purchased from Milton Hooks, or acquired when embracing him

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Edwina Cox

Source: (West End) Upstairs in the Temple Garden Shopping area north of the Reid Mansion

Source: (Whitechapel) Acquired when embracing Harry Peterson, or upon resolution of his investigation mission after embracing Joe Peterson

Source: (Pembroke) In a locker in Dr Reid's new office, DLC required

Source: (West End) Acquired when embracing Clarence Crossley

Source: (Docks) Acquired when you defeat Jimmy Barlow, unmissable

Source: (Docks) Acquired when embracing Tom Watts

Source: (Whitechapel) Acquired when embracing Albert Palmer

Source: (Southwark) Your very first gun, unmissable

If you think I missed something or have constructive feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. Otherwise, remember to thumb up and favorite if you found this information useful.