Nioh 2 is Team Ninja's soulslike action RPG set in Sengoku-era Japan, where you play as a custom half-yokai warrior. The combat system is among the deepest in the genre with three stances per weapon, ki pulse mechanics, yokai abilities through Soul Cores, and Burst Counters that punish enemy special attacks. Nine weapon types each play completely differently, and the loot system rivals Diablo in its depth with set bonuses, tempering, and soul matching. The endgame Dream of the Nioh difficulty and Depths of the Underworld provide hundreds of hours of min-maxing for dedicated players.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switchglaive | S | Magic builds, versatile playstyle, beginners | A transforming weapon that shifts between scythe (High), glaive (Mid), and sword (Low) forms with stance changes. |
| Odachi | A | Strength builds, large yokai fights, range advantage | A massive two-handed sword with the longest melee range. |
| Dual Swords | A | Speed builds, combo-focused playstyle, human boss fights | The fastest weapon type with low ki cost per attack. |
| Tonfa | B | Ki-breaking builds, human bosses, aggressive playstyle | Short-range weapons that excel at ki damage and combo extensions. |
| Fists | B | Anima builds, Soul Core spam, DLC content | DLC weapon with a martial arts moveset including kicks, punches, and grapples. |
S-Tier: Switchglaive
A transforming weapon that shifts between scythe (High), glaive (Mid), and sword (Low) forms with stance changes. Each form has completely different movesets. Scales primarily with Magic, making it the go-to for Onmyo builds. Its versatility and Magic scaling make it the most recommended first weapon.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Magic builds, versatile playstyle, beginners |
| Key Mechanic | ki pulse |
| Recommended Role | Switchglaive Mage |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Switchglaive: Pairs naturally with Switchglaive Mage thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Odachi
A massive two-handed sword with the longest melee range. High Stance attacks deal enormous damage but are slow. The Moonlit Snow combo (High Stance quick attack chain) is one of the highest DPS combos in the game. Scales with Strength.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Strength builds, large yokai fights, range advantage |
| Key Mechanic | yokai shift |
| Recommended Role | Odachi Strength |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Odachi: Pairs naturally with Odachi Strength thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Dual Swords
The fastest weapon type with low ki cost per attack. Sign of the Cross is a charged quick-draw slash dealing massive burst damage. God of Wind combo chains endlessly for sustained DPS. Scales with Skill stat.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Speed builds, combo-focused playstyle, human boss fights |
| Key Mechanic | stance switching |
| Recommended Role | Dual Swords Agility |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Dual Swords: Pairs naturally with Dual Swords Agility thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Tonfa
Short-range weapons that excel at ki damage and combo extensions. Demon Dance in Mid Stance dodges while attacking. Kannagi skill deals massive ki damage that can break any enemy's guard. Scales with Courage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Ki-breaking builds, human bosses, aggressive playstyle |
| Key Mechanic | soul core system |
| Recommended Role | Tonfa Ki Breaker |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Tonfa: Pairs naturally with Tonfa Ki Breaker thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Fists
DLC weapon with a martial arts moveset including kicks, punches, and grapples. Built-in dodge frames on many attacks. Excellent Anima generation from rapid hits. The Limitless skill chain extends your combo indefinitely while maintaining i-frames.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Anima builds, Soul Core spam, DLC content |
| Key Mechanic | burst counter |
| Recommended Role | Fists Anima Build |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Fists: Pairs naturally with Fists Anima Build thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Weapons Progression Path
The order you should acquire weapons as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Sashimi Village
- Odachi → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Dual Swords → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Switchglaive → 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.
- Ki Pulse into stance switch (R1+stance button) recovers MORE ki than a regular ki pulse — always stance switch during combos
- Check our tier list for how weapons rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Nioh 2 Guides
- Nioh 2 Nioh 2 Overview
- Nioh 2 Best Builds
- Nioh 2 Tier List
- Nioh 2 Walkthrough
- Nioh 2 Beginner's Guide
- Nioh 2 Tips & Tricks
- Nioh 2 Combat Guide
- Nioh 2 Boss Guide
- Nioh 2 Maps & Locations
- Nioh 2 Crafting Guide
- Nioh 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Nioh 2, 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
