Nioh 3 - Best weapons for Samurai and Ninja

Weapon variety in Nioh 3 is the best it’s ever been in a Nioh game, but that also means your weapon choice is now more difficult as a result. Let us help you make sense of your available options.

Image credit:Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo.

For as many weapon types as you’re going to end up with in Nioh 3 , the game actually starts off pretty tame. That’s because Team Ninja decided to lock certain weapons away early on, in order to limit your choices in the early stages.

This was necessary here not just because it creates a smoother initial curve, but also because you play as two characters in this game - Samurai and Ninja. Each style has access to unique weapons, so you can see how it could be overwhelming.

Fret not, however, because this guide will walk you through what to expect, and how to make informed choices.

If you played a Nioh game in the past, you’ll no doubt be familiar with many of the weapons in Nioh 3. Over the years, sequels and DLCs have added new weapons, all of which you’ll find in this latest addition.

Your available options are split between Samurai, and Ninja. Some weapons are locked to one over the other, but a few have copies that effectively work the same way - even if their stat considerations and skill trees remain unique to each style.

Before we get into specifics, a few things to keep in mind:

• Every weapon scales differently with the different core stats (Constitution, Heart, Stamina, Strength, Skill, Intellect, and Magic). In the level up screen, the game will show which equipped weapons will be affected when you invest points in any given stat. Under the Affected Weapon Types section , you’ll see which weapon(s) will be impacted, denoted by a yellow highlight.

• Each weapon type scales with three Core Stats , with the first (primary) having the most impact, and third the least. You should really only focus on the Core Stat that primarily affects your weapon of choice, considering the secondary at most. The third typically has a minimal effect that isn’t worth worrying about. You can always quickly test their impact by investing a point without committing.

• Your weapon choices aren’t permanent , and you can easily switch to any other weapon type after the initial picks. Indeed, you’ll notice that the loot you get covers a wide range of weapons, so there’s no need to worry about locking yourself out of one or the other.

Image credit:Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo.

• Samurai Weapon Scaling Cheat Sheet
• Ninja Weapon Scaling Cheat Sheet
• Best Samurai Starting Weapon
• Best Ninja Starting Weapon
• Best Samurai Secondary Weapon
• Best Ninja Secondary Weapon

Samurai weapon scaling cheat sheet

Samurai weapon scaling cheat sheet

Best Samurai starting weapon

Picking a Samurai weapon is one of the first choices you’re going to be asked to make in Nioh 3. We recommend picking the Sword (katana) as your first weapon. The traditional sword remains the most versatile, and it’s absolutely the best option for new players, and anyone trying to get a feel for combat in Nioh 3.

It has the lowest reach out of any of the starting options, so you’re going to need to be a little closer than you might expect, until you can accurately judge the operative distance. Swords make up for their short range by offering fast attacks that don’t consume much stamina, and some of the skills you unlock down the line will effectively allow you to shut down enemies for extended periods of time - provided you have the stamina (Ki) for it.

If you’re after something with a longer range, the Odachi would be our other recommendation. Its reach is among the longest, and compared to the Spear and Axe, it deals more damage. It’s also slow, but it delivers impressive damage in a wide arc.

The Odachi works best with heavy armour because of how slow many of its attacks are. You’re going to need something to protect you while you wait for your attacks’ windup to finish. Because of how fast combat is in Nioh 3, the Odachi is mainly recommended for veteran players, as new players will feel unable to keep up with enemies, if they don’t know their way around such a slow weapon.

Best Ninja starting weapon

Shortly after you pick your Samurai’s starting weapon, the game will ask you to pick a similar option for the Ninja. Because of the way the class is designed, it’s best to go for something that complements the Ninja’s incredibly light movement and agility.

We recommend starting out with the Kusarigama , one of the fastest and most satisfying weapons in the game. It has impressive reach to boot, but becomes particularly impressive when you unlock skills that let you launch yourself off of enemies, roleplay as Scorpion from Mortal Kombat by hooking enemies and pulling them towards you, and grabbing enemies midair to air-combo them.

Used effectively, the Kusarigama is exceptional at draining enemy stamina (Ki) , leaving them stunned and unable to attack, and opening them for a fatal blow at the end of your combo. You’ll have a lot of fun with it.

The more boring, but technically better option for the Ninja would be the Dual Swords . Series veterans know how devastating Dual Swords can be, but this particular iteration emphasises their fastest attacks to better fit within the Ninja style.

Dual Swords have more combo potential compared to the other starting options, but they also require a bit more patience early on while you wait to unlock the more advanced skills. If you’ve spent any time using Dual Swords in earlier Nioh games, you’ll be surprised by how more fun they can be here when used with the Ninja.

Image credit:Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo.

Much later into Nioh 3, you’re going to unlock the ability to equip a second weapon for each style. In other words, you can now theoretically carry four weapons, two for Samurai, and two for Ninja.

Your choice of a second weapon is more important here than in past games. Where previously it was common wisdom to equip a second weapon just for the stats and bonuses it offers, these now are less emphasised.

You will continue to benefit from having a second weapon equipped, even if you never intend to use it , but Nioh 3 really wants you to actually play with your backup weapons. Our goal here is diversity of gameplay, so our recommendations will nudge you towards expanding your options in combat.

Best Samurai secondary weapon

Deeper into the game, the Samurai will have access to Axes, Switchglaives, and Cestuses. Depending on which weapon you went with at the start of the game, your secondary option should ideally complement that. Think of it as adding a function that your main option either can’t do, or can’t do well.

We suggest going with the Switchglaive for your backup weapon. You’ll notice that most of your later weapon unlocks scale with different Core Stats than your primary options, which frees you up to consider them for their gameplay utility, not their statistical significance.

The Switchglaive is an incredibly versatile weapon that takes two forms, one designed for close-range, while the other is best for longer ranges. It’s good at extending your own reach, but it’s also a fun weapon in its own right because of the way it transforms.

You can link together attacks from both its forms to deliver incredible damage at a fairly moderate stamina (Ki) cost, and it has enough depth that you may even decide to make it your primary option, assuming you take the time to learn its intricacies and invest in its skill tree.

Best Ninja secondary weapon

The Ninja, too, gets a few more options in their weapon choice. The list is made up of Tonfas, Talons, and Splitstaves. Though our goal remains the same here - adding versatility to your kit, we’re going the opposite direction with our Ninja pick.

The Kusarigama already has the range and speed handled, so we’re going with a more damaging option that adds a bit of oomph to our repertoire. Our pick here is the Tonfas , a pair of sticks that… if you stick with them (sorry!), they can even turn into a pair of guns.

The Tonfas are fun because of the raw damage they bring to the fight. They’re slower than the Kusarigama, but you’re going to love the way they smack and bonk enemies each time you use them. Because of their attack arc, Tonfas are fantastic at breaking Yokai weak points, which deals a big hit to their KI, and, in some cases, prevents them from being able to perform certain attacks.

Stick with them, and they suddenly gain some ranged capabilities that let you fire off shots at enemies like they’re pistols. Now, this obviously doesn’t turn them into full-on guns, but you’ll be surprised how many of your combos end with a backwards dodge as you fire off a couple of shots.

For more on Team Ninja’s latest, catch up on our list of essential Nioh 3 gameplay tips , and all the options and settings you should change before playing .

Nioh 3

PS5 , PC

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