WEAKNESSES: Lack range not very good at blocking incoming attacks Dual Swords STRENGTH: All-rounder good DPS armor type matters little The katana gameplay in Nioh 2 translates from years of similar games with katanas in them, so they're definitely a great starting point. All in all, they're wonderful, versatile weapons and are usually the standard starter choice for people who have no clue what to expect. Depending on your playstyle, you can choose to go with light or heavy. They also have no strict armor requirement. Katanas scale with Heart and Skill, making them great pairings with dual swords and hatchets. They're not very useful for guarding against incoming attacks, but they do a good amount of damage to break the enemies' guards. They thrive in all three stances, letting you dish out some amazing combos, and have fairly strong attacks. They're the classic weapon, era-appropriate for your roleplay needs (if any), as well as providing a good combination of style and substance. In essence, while it isn't the entirety of your focus, it IS a hugely influential part of your kit while you tackle the various oddities in feudal Japan. Some can be used up close, while some require you to be at a certain range. Some favor the use of magic over ninjutsu, while some favor ninjutsu over magic. Some weapons thrive with heavy armor, while some are useless without a lighter one. Your ninjutsu, your magic, elemental imbuing, status imbuing, armor burden - everything gets taken into account when making your build around a weapon. The weapon plays a central role in all of that, and it is complemented by everything else. The rest of the combat depends heavily on the situation - your stance, the enemy's attributes, your build, etc. As experienced players would know - weapons are only half the battle. If you feel confident and want to try something a little harder, dual swords is a good option in place of single sword.Whether it's your first rodeo, or you're a veteran returning from the original Nioh looking for some tips, this is the right place to get a comprehensive breakdown of each weapon class, and their strengths and weaknesses. The increased skill stat associated with dual swords also helps your Ki Pulse and using special abilities of light equipment, in addition to increasing the effectiveness of guns. Dual wielding swords offers faster, slightly less deadly attacks that are good for fighting multiple enemies simultaneously. If one sword is good, two swords are better, right? Well, maybe, maybe not. These are basic abilities you absolutely have to master if you want to survive at all in Nioh. Sword is an excellent starter option so you can learn the low and mid stances and focus on first defending, then striking when the moment is right as an opponent's stamina is drained. The trusty single sword is a good all around choice when first trying out Nioh as it has a balance between defense and offense, and the heart boost gives bonus Ki (the Nioh equivalent of stamina for chaining together more attacks and dodges before tiring out). It's a big decision, but not an irrevocable one Sword Bonus: Heart + 1 Need more help with this ultra-hard hack and slasher? Check out our beginner's survival guide here. The associated stat is also tied to that class of weapon, so in the beginning of the game you will have an edge with that weapon type.īelow we cover the five choices available and which option to pick based on how you intend to play the game. So what's the point of a preferred weapon? Besides changing your starting options, William earns a stat boost based on your choice.