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The corner of Nioh 3 is all the weapon types it has, and just like its predecessors, the arsenal is packed here. There are a total of 14 weapons to get, each with different movesets for both styles and several abilities to unlock. Yet, since there are so many of them, it can be a bit difficult to keep track of all of them, which is why we’ve made a list of all the weapon types in the game, as well as how you can unlock the last ones.
All Weapon Types in Nioh 3
As we said above, there are 14 weapons in Nioh 3, seven for Samurai, and seven for Ninja. While some are the same for both styles and share similar moves, the truth is that all of them are pretty different, especially in terms of scaling. Here are all the weapons you can obtain:
| Weapon | Style | Scaling |
|---|---|---|
| Swords | Samurai | Heart, Strength, Intelligence |
| Dual Swords | Samurai | Heart, Strength, Magic |
| Spears | Samurai | Constitution, Heart, Skill |
| Odachi | Samurai | Stamina, Strength, Magic |
| Axes | Samurai | Constitution, Stamina, Strength |
| Switchglaives | Samurai | Skill, Intelligence, Magic |
| Cestuses | Samurai | Heart, Stamina, Strength |
| Ninja Swords | Ninja | Strength, Skill, Intelligence |
| Dual Ninja Swords | Ninja | Heart, Intelligence, Magic |
| Kusarigama | Ninja | Constitution, Skill, Magic |
| Hatchets | Ninja | Stamina, Skill, Intelligence |
| Tonfa | Ninja | Constitution, Strength, Skill |
| Talons | Ninja | Heart, Stamina, Intelligence |
| Splitstaves | Ninja | Strength, Intelligence, Magic |
Despite all weapons having specific stats they scale with, remember that you can unlock the Remodel option, which allows you to change the stat scaling, so you technically can use any weapon regardless of your build. However, not all weapons allow the Remodel option, at least during your first playthrough, so make sure to lock those weapons so you don’t disassemble them by accident.
How To Unlock Every Weapon
When starting the game, you’ll have access to Swords, Dual Swords, Spears, Axes, and Odachi as Samurai, and Ninja Swords, Ninja Dual Swords, Kusarigama, Tonfa, and Hatchets as Ninja. However, there are still four more weapons to unlock.
The first you’ll obtain, either randomly or after beating the first Crucible boss, are the Switchglaive and Talon for Samurai and Ninja, respectively. The last two will become available after defeating Baba Nobuharu. However, some players have also mentioned that these two weapons can become available early through random drops or by crafting them if you have the right smithing text. Yet, if that doesn’t happen, they are guaranteed drops from the abovementioned boss.
Weapon Tier List
With all the weapon types out of the way, we know that many Nioh 3 players want to equip the best around, which is why we did a tier list of our own. However, as a quick disclaimer, we always consider the best weapon to be the one you are more comfortable with, but since tier lists are something we all need to make an informed choice, at least when starting the game, here’s ours:
| Rank | Weapon |
|---|---|
| S | Switchglaive, Sword, Dual Ninja Swords, Talons |
| A | Spear, Tonfa, Odachi |
| B | Ninja Swords, Cestuses, Axe, Kusarigama |
| C | Dual Swords, Splitstaff, Hatchets |
The reasoning behind our tier list and all rankings is based on each weapon’s damage and ease of use. For instance, of our S-Rank Weapons, the Switchglaive is, by far, the best in the game, due to how versatile it is in terms of range and damage potential, and it does not have too many complicated combos. The sword starts slow, but once you unlock several skills, it becomes an excellent Samurai weapon. For Ninja, Dual Ninja Swords and Talons are perfect, especially for those running a build that focuses on elemental damage or status ailments.
A-Rank Weapons aren’t bad by any means, but they all have a few points that work against them. The Spear is great, but its damage doesn’t come close to the ones above. The Tonfa can be pretty destructive, but its moveset is a bit more complicated, and the Odachi’s only downside is the speed, despite its destructive power.
B-Rank Weapons should usually be avoided, unless you really like their moveset. Ninja Swords, for instance, have limited moves compared to the Samurai counterpart. Cestuses, while great, are nowhere near as useful as Talones, and the Axe feels slower than the Odachi, making it hard to use in boss fights. The Kusarigama has some interesting moves, but its damage and reliance on closing in on some targets make it a bit clunky to use.
Lastly, the C-Rank Weapons are the ones we consider the weakest. Samurai Dual Swords have low damage, and the moveset feels a bit slow compared to the Ninja ones. Splitstaves, while great in terms of damage and range, have a somewhat boring moveset, and the Hatchets’ playstyle only shines when you unlock Mythic skills, and by that time, you likely already have your build planned out.
Still, it’s up to you to pick which one is the best weapon type for you in Nioh 3, and in the end, nothing’s stopping you from trying them all out. You can always change the stat scaling if you wish, so don’t let that stop you from experimenting with this arsenal.
