Ghost of Tsushima is Sucker Punch's open-world samurai action game set during the 1274 Mongol invasion of Tsushima Island. The Director's Cut on PC includes the Iki Island expansion and the Legends co-op multiplayer mode. Combat revolves around four sword stances, each effective against specific enemy types, combined with stealth ghost weapons for a samurai-or-assassin playstyle choice. The game's guiding wind system replaces traditional waypoints with environmental cues, creating one of the most immersive open-world navigation systems in gaming.
Your choice of weapons defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Weapons Rankings
| Weapon | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakai Katana | S | All playstyles — it's your only melee weapon | Your main weapon throughout the entire game, upgraded at sword smiths using supplies and predator hides. |
| Half Bow | A | Combat archery, quick headshots on unarmored enemies | A short-range bow ideal for quick shots mid-combat. |
| Longbow | A | Stealth kills, long-range engagement before melee | A long-range bow that deals heavy damage per shot with slow draw speed. |
| Kunai | B | Interrupt-based combat, Ghost builds | Throwable daggers that deal quick damage and stagger enemies mid-attack. |
| Sticky Bombs | B | Group fights, Mongol camp clearing | Explosives that attach to enemies and detonate after a short delay. |
S-Tier: Sakai Katana
Your main weapon throughout the entire game, upgraded at sword smiths using supplies and predator hides. At max upgrade it deals significantly more damage per hit. The katana changes stance behavior entirely, making upgrades feel meaningful beyond raw numbers.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | All playstyles — it's your only melee weapon |
| Key Mechanic | stance system |
| Recommended Role | Stone Stance |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Sakai Katana: Pairs naturally with Stone Stance thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Half Bow
A short-range bow ideal for quick shots mid-combat. Concentration allows slow-motion aiming for headshots. The explosive arrow and fire arrow ammo types add AoE options. Faster draw speed makes it better for combat than stealth.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Combat archery, quick headshots on unarmored enemies |
| Key Mechanic | guiding wind navigation |
| Recommended Role | Water Stance |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Half Bow: Pairs naturally with Water Stance thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Longbow
A long-range bow that deals heavy damage per shot with slow draw speed. Armor-piercing arrows can one-shot most enemies from stealth. Helmet-piercing upgrade lets you headshot even armored Mongol leaders from across the camp.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Stealth kills, long-range engagement before melee |
| Key Mechanic | ghost weapons |
| Recommended Role | Wind Stance |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Longbow: Pairs naturally with Wind Stance thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Kunai
Throwable daggers that deal quick damage and stagger enemies mid-attack. Upgraded kunai deal enough damage to kill weakened regular enemies outright. With the right charm setup, you can carry up to 7 and they restock from kills.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Interrupt-based combat, Ghost builds |
| Key Mechanic | resolve system |
| Recommended Role | Moon Stance |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Kunai: Pairs naturally with Moon Stance thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Sticky Bombs
Explosives that attach to enemies and detonate after a short delay. Deal massive AoE damage and can kill groups clustered together. The Black Powder Bomb upgrade massively increases the blast radius and damage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Group fights, Mongol camp clearing |
| Key Mechanic | Legends co-op mode |
| Recommended Role | Ghost Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Sticky Bombs: Pairs naturally with Ghost Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Izuhara
- Half Bow → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Longbow → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Sakai Katana → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Weapons Tips
- Always upgrade your primary weapon before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your weapons to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Observing Mongol leaders (spying from hiding) counts toward stance unlocks without fighting — prioritize this early
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Ghost of Tsushima Guides
- Ghost of Tsushima Ghost of Tsushima Overview
- Ghost of Tsushima Best Builds
- Ghost of Tsushima Tier List
- Ghost of Tsushima Walkthrough
- Ghost of Tsushima Beginner's Guide
- Ghost of Tsushima Tips & Tricks
- Ghost of Tsushima Combat Guide
- Ghost of Tsushima Boss Guide
- Ghost of Tsushima Maps & Locations
- Ghost of Tsushima Crafting Guide
- Ghost of Tsushima Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Ghost of Tsushima, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Weapons Guide — action game with similar mechanics
