Ghostwire: Tokyo is a first-person action-adventure set in a supernaturally emptied Tokyo where 99% of the population has vanished, leaving their spirits behind. You use Ethereal Weaving — hand gestures that channel elemental magic (wind, water, fire) — to fight Visitors, hostile spirits from Japanese folklore. The core exposure mechanic rewards aggressive play by letting you rip out enemy cores for instant kills after weakening them. Between combat encounters, you explore a stunningly detailed open-world Tokyo, cleanse torii gates to expand your map, and collect the spirits of vanished citizens.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Weaving | S | Wind Weaver, Balanced Weaver | Rapid-fire projectile attack — the bread and butter of combat. |
| Water Weaving | A | Water Specialist | Close-range horizontal slash that hits all enemies in a wide arc. |
| Fire Weaving | A | Fire Blaster | Slow-charging explosive blast dealing 400+ damage on direct hit with splash damage. |
| Talismans | B | Stealth Exorcist, All builds | Consumable items with various effects: Stun (freezes enemies for 5 seconds), Exposure (instantly exposes all cores in radius), Concealment (temporary invisibility), and Decoy (distracts enemies). |
| Spirit Bow | B | Balanced Weaver | Unlocked mid-game, the bow fires homing spirit arrows that deal moderate damage and auto-track targets. |
S-Tier: Wind Weaving
Rapid-fire projectile attack — the bread and butter of combat. Fast enough to stunlock weaker enemies and large enough energy pool for extended fights. Charged shots pierce enemies in a line. Functionally your assault rifle equivalent.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Wind Weaver, Balanced Weaver |
| Key Mechanic | Ethereal Weaving combat |
| Recommended Role | Wind Weaver |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Wind Weaving: Pairs naturally with Wind Weaver thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Water Weaving
Close-range horizontal slash that hits all enemies in a wide arc. Deals 150 damage per swing to every target hit. Charged water attack creates a massive wave that travels forward. The best crowd-control tool against groups of 3+.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Water Specialist |
| Key Mechanic | spirit collection |
| Recommended Role | Water Specialist |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Water Weaving: Pairs naturally with Water Specialist thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Fire Weaving
Slow-charging explosive blast dealing 400+ damage on direct hit with splash damage. Fully charged shots create a small explosion affecting nearby enemies. The highest single-target damage but smallest energy pool — save for tough enemies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Fire Blaster |
| Key Mechanic | torii gate cleansing |
| Recommended Role | Fire Blaster |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Fire Weaving: Pairs naturally with Fire Blaster thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Talismans
Consumable items with various effects: Stun (freezes enemies for 5 seconds), Exposure (instantly exposes all cores in radius), Concealment (temporary invisibility), and Decoy (distracts enemies). Craftable from materials found throughout Tokyo.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Stealth Exorcist, All builds |
| Key Mechanic | yokai encounters |
| Recommended Role | Stealth Exorcist |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Talismans: Pairs naturally with Stealth Exorcist thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Spirit Bow
Unlocked mid-game, the bow fires homing spirit arrows that deal moderate damage and auto-track targets. Lower DPS than weaving but requires no aiming skill. Useful against fast-moving aerial Visitors that dodge weaving attacks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Balanced Weaver |
| Key Mechanic | core exposure system |
| Recommended Role | Balanced Weaver |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Spirit Bow: Pairs naturally with Balanced Weaver thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Shibuya Crossing
- Water Weaving → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Fire Weaving → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Wind Weaving → 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.
- Core pulling restores elemental energy for the type you used to expose it. Pull cores constantly — it's both an instant kill AND your primary energy recovery method.
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Ghostwire: Tokyo Guides
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Ghostwire: Tokyo Overview
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Best Builds
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Tier List
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Walkthrough
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Beginner's Guide
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Tips & Tricks
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Combat Guide
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Boss Guide
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Maps & Locations
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Crafting Guide
- Ghostwire: Tokyo Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Ghostwire: Tokyo, 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
