best weapons in nioh 2

The world of Nioh 2 is unforgiving, demanding not just skill and patience, but also a deep understanding of its complex combat systems. At the heart of this mastery lies the choice of weapon. With eleven distinct weapon types, each offering unique mechanics, skills, and playstyles, selecting the right armament can define your journey through the Sengoku period. This guide delves into the arsenal, highlighting the standout weapons that can elevate your gameplay from mere survival to demon-slaying dominance.

Table of Contents

Understanding Weapon Mechanics

Top Tier Weapon Choices

Fists: The Pinnacle of Aggression

Splitstaff: Versatile Mystic Power

Switchglaive: Stance Dancing Mastery

Odachi: Overwhelming Reach and Power

Kusarigama: Crowd Control and Versatility

Building Around Your Weapon

Conclusion: Mastering Your Choice

Understanding Weapon Mechanics

Before ranking the best, one must grasp what makes a weapon excel in Nioh 2. Effectiveness is not merely about raw damage. Key factors include move set diversity, unique mechanics like the Switchglaive's stance-switching attacks or the Fists' Unbroken stacks, skill tree potency, synergy with the game's Ki Pulse system, and performance against both human and yokai enemies. The best weapons offer a powerful, engaging playstyle that remains effective through all difficulties, from the first mission to the depths of the Underworld.

Top Tier Weapon Choices

The Nioh 2 arsenal allows for powerful builds with any weapon, yet certain choices consistently rise to the top due to their exceptional mechanics and damage potential. These weapons provide tools for nearly every combat scenario, often defining the meta for advanced play.

Fists: The Pinnacle of Aggression

Introduced in the first DLC, the Fists revolutionized aggressive play. Their core mechanic, Unbroken, increases damage with consecutive hits, rewarding relentless offense. This weapon boasts incredible mobility, rapid attacks that decimate enemy Ki, and skills like Beyond Infinity that deliver devastating multi-hit combos. The Fists excel at applying status effects and maintaining pressure, making them arguably the strongest weapon for melting boss health bars. Their playstyle is demanding, requiring precise Ki management and positioning, but the damage output is unparalleled.

Splitstaff: Versatile Mystic Power

A fellow DLC addition, the Splitstaff is a yokai-hunting marvel. Its unique trait is its extendable attacks, granting exceptional range on certain skills and combos. This allows for safe, powerful pokes and wide sweeps ideal for crowd control. Skills like Shin Crusher deal massive Ki damage to yokai, while Dragon Dance is a multi-hit powerhouse against larger targets. The Splitstaff scales well with Courage and Magic, fitting seamlessly into powerful Onmyo magic builds. Its versatility in handling groups, breaking horns, and dealing sustained damage makes it a top contender for all content.

Switchglaive: Stance Dancing Mastery

The Switchglaive is the weapon of choice for elegant, flowing combat. Its signature mechanic is the Switch Stance attack, which allows seamless, damaging transitions between low, mid, and high stances. This not only looks spectacular but builds a unique damage buff. It scales primarily with Magic, enabling potent hybrid builds. The Switchglaive offers fantastic range in high stance, speed in low stance, and balanced moves in mid. Mastering its transitions allows for constant offensive pressure and adaptability, making it exceptionally powerful in the hands of a practiced user.

Odachi: Overwhelming Reach and Power

For players who favor raw power and range, the Odachi is a premier choice. Its long reach allows you to strike enemies safely, and its heavy attacks deal tremendous damage and Ki break. The Odachi's Moonlit Snow skill is legendary, a three-part slash that is one of the highest damage attacks in the game. Furthermore, its skill tree includes parries and a unique stance-swapping double attack. It scales strongly with Strength and Stamina, fitting well into heavy armor builds. The Odachi simplifies many encounters by out-spacing threats and breaking guards with sheer force.

Kusarigama: Crowd Control and Versatility

A returning favorite, the Kusarigama remains a tool of exceptional control. It uniquely combines the fast, slicing attacks of the sickle with the long-range, sweeping strikes of the weighted chain. This gives it an answer for every range. Skills like Whirlwind and Blade Spin are exceptional for clearing groups of weaker enemies, while Reaper devastates stationary targets. It is the premier weapon for applying elemental or poison/paralysis buildup rapidly. While it requires careful management of its disparate ranges, its versatility and crowd control capabilities keep it firmly among the best weapons.

Building Around Your Weapon

Selecting a top weapon is only the first step. True power in Nioh 2 comes from building your character around it. This includes allocating stats to match the weapon's scaling, choosing armor sets that complement its playstyle (like Master of Illusion for Switchglaive or Bishamonten's Grace for Fists), and selecting Guardian Spirits and Soul Cores that enhance your strengths. For instance, pairing the Odachi with the Brute spirit allows for easy interruption of enemy attacks, while using Ippon-Datara soul core with Fists extends combos. Your chosen Ninjutsu and Onmyo Magic should also support your weapon, providing buffs, healing, or ranged options to cover its weaknesses.

Conclusion: Mastering Your Choice

The best weapons in Nioh 2 are those that resonate with your preferred approach to combat and whose mechanics you enjoy mastering. The Fists offer unmatched aggressive potential, the Splitstaff provides magical versatility, the Switchglaive rewards technical stance play, the Odachi delivers overwhelming force, and the Kusarigama ensures total battlefield control. Each can carry you through the most challenging content the game offers. Experiment in the dojo, invest in their expansive skill trees, and synergize your entire build around your chosen arm. Mastery of your weapon is the true key to conquering the darkness of Nioh 2.

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