Nioh 3 Best Weapons Guide: Samurai and Ninja Tier List

Nioh 3 pushes Team Ninja’s brutal action-RPG formula even further with its deep weapon system, split between traditional Samurai tools and agile Ninja gear. This guide ranks the best Nioh 3 weapons in separate Samurai and Ninja tier lists to help you pick the perfect weapon type for your playstyle.

 

How weapon types work in Nioh 3

Nioh 3 divides melee weapons into Samurai and Ninja categories, each with unique move sets, scaling and role in combat. Samurai weapons focus on reach, power and traditional katana skills, while Ninja weapons emphasize speed, mobility and synergy with Ninjutsu tools.

Weapon performance also depends on stances: High, Mid and Low stance unlock additional moves and change risk–reward.

• High stance: maximum damage and Ki break, but high Ki consumption and slower recovery.

• Mid stance: balanced defense and offense, great for blocking and learning enemy patterns.

• Low stance: fastest attacks and dodges, ideal for light weapons and evasive players.

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Best Samurai weapons in Nioh 3 (Samurai Weapon Tier List)

Samurai weapons include Katana, Dual Swords, Spear, Axe, Odachi, Switchglaive and Cestus. Below you’ll find the Samurai-only tier list based on early meta, community feedback and major guides.

S-Tier Samurai weapons

Axe
The Axe is one of the strongest choices for raw damage and Ki break in Nioh 3. Its heavy swings stagger most enemies and punish openings, especially in High stance where damage multipliers are highest.

• Strengths: huge damage per hit, excellent posture break, strong synergy with High stance burst windows.

• Weaknesses: slow startup and recovery, punishing if you whiff against fast yokai or human bosses.

Switchglaive
Switchglaive returns as a top-tier hybrid weapon, blending medium reach, stance-based transformations and strong scaling with magic-focused builds. You can swap between short, mid and extended forms on the fly, letting you adapt instantly to enemy range and patterns.

• Strengths: very flexible, great with Onmyo builds, excellent at controlling mid-range and punishing whiffs.

• Weaknesses: technical to master, requires good stance and form management to outperform simpler weapons.

A-Tier Samurai weapons

Cestus (Fist weapons)
Cestus are aggressive, close-range weapons that excel at shredding Ki and keeping constant pressure on enemies. They fit perfectly in Low and Mid stances with flurries of fast punches and mix-ups.

• Strengths: very fast combos, great Ki damage, ideal for players who like to stay in the enemy’s face.

• Weaknesses: extremely short range, bad positioning or greedy combos are punished hard by bosses.

Dual Swords
Dual Swords remain a fan-favorite Samurai weapon for their fluid combos and high DPS against single targets. They benefit from stance switching, with Low stance for safe pressure and High stance for burst damage.

• Strengths: top-tier single-target DPS, smooth combo strings, strong when you know boss openings.

• Weaknesses: short to medium range, heavily Ki-dependent and unsafe against large groups if you overcommit.

Spear
Spear is the safest Samurai weapon for many players thanks to its excellent range and poking tools. It shines at spacing, crowd control and punishing enemies from a safe distance.

• Strengths: long reach, very good against aggressive bosses and mobs, strong Mid stance control moves.

• Weaknesses: weaker point-blank than Cestus or Dual Swords; you must learn spacing to avoid getting cornered.

B-Tier Samurai weapons

Katana (Sword)
The Katana is the most balanced weapon in Nioh 3 and can carry you through the game with solid fundamentals. It has reliable parries, good Ki Pulse rhythm and useful skills in every stance.

• Strengths: perfect learning weapon, flexible move set, strong defensive options.

• Weaknesses: generally outclassed in raw damage, range or Ki pressure by more specialized weapons.

Odachi
Odachi is a huge greatsword-style weapon that hits hard and covers a wide arc. It’s excellent for punishing big openings and dealing with groups when you manage your timing.

• Strengths: strong damage and range, good at breaking guard and hitting multiple enemies.

• Weaknesses: slower and less flexible than Axe or Switchglaive in the current meta.

Samurai weapons tier table

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Best Ninja weapons in Nioh 3 (Ninja Weapon Tier List)

Ninja weapons focus on speed, aerial options, and synergy with Ninjutsu and mobility. Main Ninja types include Ninja Sword, Dual Ninja Swords, Tonfa, Talons, Kusarigama, Hatchets and Splitstaff.

S-Tier Ninja weapons

Talons (Claws)
Talons are currently considered one of the strongest Ninja weapons thanks to their extreme speed and aggressive playstyle. They excel at staying glued to targets, chaining combos and abusing staggered enemies.

• Strengths: lightning-fast attacks, strong aerial options, great for high-skill players who want non-stop offense.

• Weaknesses: very short range, punishing if you misjudge distance or dodge timing.

Tonfa
Tonfa are a classic Nioh weapon returning as a top pick for posture and Ki destruction. They shine when you hit from the sides or back, stacking pressure until enemies crumble.

• Strengths: insane Ki damage, great synergy with Ninjutsu and guard breaks, rewarding parry-based gameplay.

• Weaknesses: needs positioning and matchup knowledge to fully exploit; weaker if you just mash from the front.

A-Tier Ninja weapons

Dual Ninja Swords
Dual Ninja Swords are the hyper-fast variant of Dual Swords, tuned around speed and evasiveness. They work extremely well in Low stance, weaving in and out of danger while dealing consistent chip damage.

• Strengths: incredible attack speed, strong against slow bosses and human enemies.

• Weaknesses: short range, heavily punished by wide AOE or long weapons if you mistime your dodges.

Hatchets
Hatchets allow you to swap between close-range melee and throwing attacks at medium distance. This makes them a unique choice for players who like a mobile, hit-and-run playstyle.

• Strengths: good mid-range control, strong charged throws, great with mobility and Ninjutsu setups.

• Weaknesses: raw melee DPS is lower than Talons or Tonfa; requires patience and good positioning.

Ninja Sword
The Ninja Sword is the most “standard” Ninja weapon, comparable to a lighter Katana. It’s an excellent entry point for players transitioning from Samurai builds into Ninja-focused play.

• Strengths: balanced, easy to learn, smooth move set for both Mid and Low stance.

• Weaknesses: doesn’t reach the same ceiling as Talons or Tonfa in high-level play.

B-Tier Ninja weapons

Kusarigama
Kusarigama combines a sickle and chain for versatile crowd control and tricky spacing. In the right hands it can dominate groups and highly mobile enemies.

• Strengths: excellent at controlling space, punishing whiffs and kiting enemies.

• Weaknesses: high execution curve, punishes mistakes; less beginner-friendly than other Ninja weapons.

Splitstaff
Splitstaff is a technical hybrid weapon that can extend and shift its range depending on stance and skills. It’s very powerful once you understand its unique animations and stance transitions.

• Strengths: flexible range and strong combos in advanced setups.

• Weaknesses: difficult to master and generally weaker early on than straightforward Talons or Tonfa.

Ninja weapons tier table

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Best starting weapons in Nioh 3

If you’re just starting Nioh 3 or writing for new players, highlight these beginner-friendly weapons as your top recommendations.

• Best starter Samurai weapon: Katana or Spear

  • Katana teaches core mechanics like blocking, Ki Pulse and stance switching without overwhelming you.

  • Spear offers safe range and is very forgiving in early bosses and mobs.

• Best starter Ninja weapon: Ninja Sword

  • Ninja Sword is the most accessible Ninja option, giving you speed and mobility while keeping a readable move set.

• For experienced Nioh players:

  • Recommend Axe or Switchglaive for Samurai, and Talons or Tonfa for Ninja if they want to jump straight into meta-strong weapons.

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Samurai vs Ninja: which weapon style should you pick?

Samurai weapons are better if you prefer structured combat, clear spacing and more traditional Souls-like gameplay. Ninja weapons shine if you enjoy aggressive, evasive playstyles with lots of mobility, Ninjutsu tools and combo pressure.