Choosing the Right Ninja Weapon in Nioh 3 Strengths and Weaknesses
This guide is a single, continuous, in-depth resource for players who want to understand every Nioh 3 ninja weapon: what each weapon does best, where it struggles, how hard it is to master, and how to build around it. It blends practical combat tactics, build templates, and boss-focused strategies so you can pick a weapon that fits your playstyle and get the most out of it. I used multiple up-to-date references and community-tested experience to expand on the core mechanics and to make the recommendations actionable.
How Ninja Weapons Differ from Samurai Weapons
Nioh 3 separates combat into two complementary forms: Samurai and Ninja. Ninja weapons emphasize mobility, rapid combos, and ninjutsu synergy rather than the heavy single-hit power or long reach that many Samurai weapons provide. Playing Ninja is about exploiting openings, repositioning quickly, and layering ranged or utility ninjutsu with weapon combos to create stagger windows and critical opportunities. If you prefer darting in and out, backstabbing, and combo flow, the Ninja roster will reward that approach. This distinction affects weapon choice, stat investment, and the kinds of skills you prioritize.
How I Rate Strength, Weakness, and Difficulty
Each weapon is evaluated across three axes: strengths (what it does best), weaknesses (where it struggles), and difficulty (how steep the learning curve is). Strength and weakness consider raw damage potential, stagger capability, range, and synergy with ninjutsu. Difficulty factors in combo complexity, spacing demands, stamina management, and reliance on precise timing or stance switching. Use these ratings to match a weapon to your time investment and the content you want to tackle.
Ninja Sword — The Reliable Baseline
Strengths: The Ninja Sword is the most approachable Ninja weapon. It offers fast, precise pokes, consistent combos, and excellent recovery. It’s ideal for learning stance transitions and timing because its moveset is intuitive and forgiving. The sword’s speed makes it excellent for baiting and punishing telegraphed attacks, and it pairs well with short-range ninjutsu that add burst or utility. Nioh 3 ninja weapons that are easy to pick up often start here.
Weaknesses: It lacks the heavy stagger or burst of larger weapons and can struggle against heavily armored bosses unless you invest in elemental infusions or specific skill nodes. Close-range reliance means positioning mistakes are punished. Against enemies that require long, armored phases to break, the sword’s per-hit damage can feel slow.
Difficulty: Low to medium. New players can learn the basics quickly; mastery requires practice with stance cancels and ninjutsu timing.
Build tips: Prioritize the sword’s primary scaling stat (often Skill or equivalent), stamina, and a few passive nodes that extend combo length. Equip ninjutsu that adds short-range burst or mobility—shadow-step or elemental shuriken are excellent complements. For boss fights, use short combos to bait counters and finish with a heavy when the boss is staggered.
Dual Ninja Swords — Pressure and Flow
Strengths: Dual Ninja Swords excel at relentless pressure and combo variety. Their speed and recovery let you maintain offense and punish mistakes. They shine when you can chain light attacks into stance transitions and use ninjutsu to extend combos or add ranged hits. For players who like to keep enemies off-balance, dual swords are a top choice.
Weaknesses: They demand close proximity and careful stamina management. Their damage per hit is lower, so fights with long armored phases can be tedious unless you stack critical or elemental damage. Wide-swing bosses or enemies with long reach can punish aggressive dual-sword play.
Difficulty: Medium. Basic combos are intuitive, but mastering stance transitions and stamina economy is essential.
Build tips: Invest in attack speed and combo potency stats. Skills that restore stamina on hit or extend combo windows are invaluable. Rings or gear that increase critical damage make each hit count. Use hit-and-run tactics against AoE-heavy foes and bait big attacks before committing to a full combo.
Tonfa — Defensive Counters and Guard Breaks
Strengths: Tonfa are deceptively aggressive defensive tools. They offer quick jabs, sweeping attacks, and strong guard-break potential. Tonfa users can alternate between blocking/parrying and fast counters, making them excellent against shielded or defensive enemies. Their guard-break moves are particularly useful in fights where you need to open up a stubborn foe.
Weaknesses: Tonfa lack reach and raw burst. Against enemies that punish close-range approaches or have long-range attacks, Tonfa players must be patient and rely on counters rather than sustained aggression.
Difficulty: Low to medium. Accessible for beginners but requires good timing to capitalize on counters and guard breaks.
Build tips: Balance defensive stats with attack power. Prioritize skills that enhance counter damage or reduce recovery after blocks. Consider gear that improves guard or reduces stamina cost for blocking. In boss fights, use Tonfa to bait heavy attacks, block or parry, then punish with a fast combo.
Kusarigama — Range Control and High Skill Ceiling
Strengths: Kusarigama is the most mechanically unique Ninja weapon, combining a sickle for close-range slashes with a chain for mid-range control. This hybrid allows you to switch between zoning and aggressive grappling, control space, and set up multi-hit combos that exploit stagger. Kusarigama is exceptional at interrupting enemy movement and creating stagger windows.
Weaknesses: It has a steep learning curve. Effective use requires mastering the chain’s range, timing the switch between chain and sickle, and predicting enemy movement. Missed chain hits leave you vulnerable, and fast, unpredictable foes can make the chain unreliable.
Difficulty: High. Kusarigama rewards practice and precision.
Build tips: Invest in stats that boost both range and damage. Unlock skill nodes that increase chain hitbox and reduce recovery. Use ninjutsu that extends reach or adds follow-up projectiles to cover missed chain hits. In boss fights, use the chain to interrupt long recovery frames and follow with sickle combos for heavy damage.
Dual Hatchets — Brutal Aggression
Strengths: Dual Hatchets bring raw aggression to the Ninja roster. They trade some speed for heavier hits and better stagger potential than other dual-wield options. Their combos are brutal at close range and can quickly overwhelm enemies when executed correctly.
Weaknesses: Less nimble than other Ninja weapons and vulnerable to wide-swing bosses or enemies with long reach. Heavy combos drain stamina quickly, so overcommitment is risky.
Difficulty: Medium to high. Forgiving in short fights but demanding in longer encounters.
Build tips: Prioritize strength-like scaling and stamina. Skills that reduce recovery or increase stagger are valuable. Pair with ninjutsu that boosts damage or adds short-range burst to finish staggered foes.
Splitstaff — Reach and Battlefield Control
Strengths: The Splitstaff blends reach with combo variety. It offers safe pokes, sweeping attacks, and the ability to control space while maintaining mobility. Splitstaff is excellent for players who like to keep enemies at bay while delivering consistent damage.
Weaknesses: It lacks the raw burst of heavier weapons and can be outpaced by extremely fast foes. Combos are longer and require precise spacing to avoid whiffing.
Difficulty: Medium. Approachable but requires spatial awareness.
Build tips: Invest in stats that improve reach and combo damage. Unlock skills that extend attack range or add follow-up strikes. Use sweeping attacks to hit multiple phases or to interrupt adds while maintaining distance.
Sharp Talons — Critical-Focused High Risk High Reward
Strengths: Sharp Talons are the most aggressive, high-risk, high-reward option. They emphasize mobility, critical hits, and rapid multi-hit combos. Talons excel at exploiting weak points and delivering massive burst when you land critical windows.
Weaknesses: Extremely fragile in sustained fights. Talons require perfect timing and positioning; mistakes are punished severely. They are less effective against heavily armored foes or bosses with few openings.
Difficulty: High. For players who want to master timing and critical mechanics.
Build tips: Maximize critical chance and damage. Use skills that restore stamina on critical hits and increase critical multipliers. Pair with ninjutsu that buffs critical chance or adds follow-up attacks. In boss fights, wait for clear windows and commit to short, high-damage bursts rather than prolonged engagements.
Stance, Ninjutsu, and Synergy
Nioh 3’s Ninja weapons are tightly linked to stance and ninjutsu choices. Low stance often gives safer pokes and faster recovery; mid and high stances trade safety for damage. Ninjutsu fills gaps: ranged shuriken for zoning, shadow-step for repositioning, and elemental ninjutsu for bypassing armor. Always pair a weapon with ninjutsu that complements its weaknesses: Kusarigama benefits from range-extending ninjutsu, while Talons need critical-boosting ninjutsu. Switching stances mid-combo is a core skill that multiplies damage potential across many Ninja weapons.
Practical Boss Strategies by Weapon
Ninja Sword: Wait for recovery frames; use short combos and back off. Use elemental ninjutsu to bypass armor phases.
Dual Ninja Swords: Bait big attacks, dodge, then unload. Use stamina-restoring skills to maintain pressure.
Tonfa: Block or parry to create openings; use guard-break moves to punish shielded bosses.
Kusarigama: Use the chain to interrupt and reposition; follow with sickle combos for heavy damage.
Dual Hatchets: Force stagger and commit to heavy combos during openings.
Splitstaff: Keep distance and use sweeping attacks to hit multiple phases or adds.
Talons: Wait for critical windows and commit to short, high-damage bursts.
How to Choose Based on Difficulty and Time Investment
If you want a low barrier to entry, start with Ninja Sword or Tonfa. If you enjoy aggressive, combo-heavy play and are willing to learn, try Dual Ninja Swords or Dual Hatchets. For players who want a unique mechanical challenge, Kusarigama and Sharp Talons offer the deepest payoff but require the most practice. Consider the types of bosses you face: if many fights involve long armored phases, favor weapons that can apply elemental damage or have strong stagger potential. If you prefer mobility and hit-and-run tactics, choose weapons with fast recovery and good ninjutsu synergy.
Sample Builds and Progression Paths
Beginner Ninja Sword Build (early game): Focus on the sword’s primary scaling stat, invest in stamina and a few passive nodes that increase combo length. Equip elemental ninjutsu for armor phases and a mobility ninjutsu for repositioning. Use light armor to keep agility high.
Aggressive Dual Hatchets Build (mid game): Invest in strength-like scaling and stamina. Unlock skills that increase stagger and reduce recovery. Use rings that boost stagger and critical. Pair with ninjutsu that adds short-range burst to finish staggered foes.
Kusarigama Control Build (specialist): Invest in range and skill scaling, unlock chain reach nodes, and use ninjutsu that extends chain hitbox. Prioritize passive nodes that reduce chain recovery and increase sickle follow-up damage.
Talons Critical Build (high skill): Maximize critical chance and damage, use skills that restore stamina on criticals, and equip gear that increases attack speed. Pair with ninjutsu that buffs critical chance or adds follow-up attacks.
Minimal Quick Reference
Ninja Sword: Fast, versatile, easy to learn.
Dual Ninja Swords: High pressure, stamina-heavy, rewarding.
Tonfa: Defensive counters, guard-break utility.
Kusarigama: Range control and heavy payoff, steep learning curve.
Dual Hatchets: Aggressive stagger, high commitment.
Splitstaff: Reach and control, safe mid-range play.
Sharp Talons: Critical-focused, high skill ceiling.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Players often overcommit, ignore stamina, and fail to adapt ninjutsu to the weapon. Avoid these by practicing short combos, using evasive maneuvers, and tailoring your ninjutsu loadout to each boss. Don’t assume a weapon is “bad” because it’s hard—many weapons scale dramatically with skill and the right build. Practice stance cancels and learn to retreat after a three- to five-hit string to avoid fatal openings.
Efficient Practice Routine
Set up controlled practice runs against minibosses or training dummies. Focus on one mechanic at a time: stance switching, chain timing, or critical windows. Record which attacks consistently whiff and adjust spacing. For Kusarigama and Talons, dedicate time to learning range and timing before attempting high-difficulty content. Use short sessions to drill specific transitions until they become muscle memory.
When to Switch Weapons Mid-Run
Switch when a boss’s mechanics expose your weapon’s weakness (e.g., long armored phases) or when a new weapon unlocks a skill that counters the current challenge. Hybrid loadouts—using Samurai weapons for heavy stagger and Ninja weapons for mobility—are powerful when a fight has multiple phases. Don’t be afraid to respec and experiment; small changes in skill nodes or ninjutsu can transform a weapon’s viability.
Endgame Considerations
In endgame content, small optimizations matter: perfect stance cancels, precise ninjutsu timing, and gear that complements your weapon’s niche. Weapons that were mediocre early can become top-tier with the right skill nodes and gear. Focus on maximizing your weapon’s primary scaling stat, refining your rotation, and optimizing accessories for critical or stagger where appropriate.
FAQ
Q: Which Ninja weapon is best for beginners? A: The Ninja Sword and Tonfa are the most forgiving. They teach timing and spacing without punishing mistakes too harshly.
Q: Is Kusarigama worth learning? A: Yes, if you enjoy mechanical depth. Kusarigama rewards practice with exceptional control and stagger potential, but it has a steep learning curve.
Q: Are Dual Ninja Swords better than Dual Hatchets? A: They serve different roles. Dual Ninja Swords favor sustained pressure and speed; Dual Hatchets favor stagger and heavier hits. Choose based on whether you prefer speed or stagger.
Q: How important is ninjutsu for Ninja weapons? A: Very. Ninjutsu fills gaps in range, burst, and utility. Pair your weapon with ninjutsu that covers its weaknesses.
Q: Should I focus on critical builds for Talons? A: Yes. Talons scale best with critical-focused stats and skills that amplify critical damage and restore stamina on crits.
Q: When should I switch weapons mid-run? A: Switch when a boss’s mechanics expose your weapon’s weakness or when a new weapon unlocks a skill that counters the current challenge. Hybrid loadouts can be very effective.
Practice Plan Overview
This step-by-step practice plan is built to turn raw familiarity with Nioh 3 ninja weapons into reliable, repeatable skill. It focuses on measurable drills, progressive difficulty, and targeted sessions for each weapon archetype so you spend practice time efficiently. Follow the schedule for 6–8 weeks depending on how much time you can commit, and track progress with simple metrics: consistency, stagger windows hit, combo completion rate, and survival on boss attempts. Use this plan alongside your favorite Nioh 3 builds and adjust the drills to match the weapon you want to master.
Weekly Structure and Time Commitment
Commit to four focused sessions per week plus one optional review run. Each session is 60–90 minutes and follows the same microstructure: warm-up, focused drill, application (mini-boss or boss phase), and cooldown review. If you can only do three sessions, extend the plan by a week; if you can do daily practice, rotate weapons to avoid burnout.
Warm-up (10–15 minutes): movement, basic combos, stance transitions.
Focused drill (30–40 minutes): weapon-specific mechanics and timing.
Application (15–25 minutes): miniboss or boss phase practice using the day’s focus.
Cooldown review (5–10 minutes): record metrics and note one improvement goal.
Week 1 Foundation: Movement, Stance, and Mist/Evade
Start by building the foundation every Ninja weapon relies on: mobility, stance control, and ninjutsu basics.
Warm-up: In a safe area, practice sprinting, rolling, and Evade timing. Do 5 minutes of pure movement—dodge through enemy attack animations or training dummies to build invincibility timing.
Drill: Pick the Ninja Sword for its forgiving moveset. Drill three light-attack strings, then cancel into Evade or Mist. Repeat until you can cancel without losing rhythm.
Application: Fight a miniboss focusing only on short combos and immediate retreats. Aim to complete 5 clean sequences (poke, combo, retreat) without dying.
Review: Track combo completion rate and how often you used Mist/Evade successfully.
Goal: make movement and stance switching automatic so you can focus on weapon mechanics later.
Week 2 Core Combos and Stance Cancels
Build on the foundation by practicing stance cancels and short-to-medium combos.
Warm-up: 10 minutes of stance switching with the Ninja Sword and Dual Ninja Swords—light, light, heavy, cancel to different stance.
Drill: Time-based sets: 5 minutes of repeating a 3-hit string, then immediately cancel into a different stance and finish with a heavy. Rest 1 minute; repeat 6 times.
Application: Use a miniboss or training area to practice baiting a single heavy attack, dodging, then performing the stance-cancel combo. Record how many times you land the full sequence.
Review: Note which transitions fail and why—spacing, timing, or stamina.
Goal: reliably chain stance cancels under pressure.
Week 3 Weapon-Specific Focus Blocks
Split the week into two focused sessions for different weapon archetypes and two mixed application sessions.
Session A (Dual Weapons): Dual Ninja Swords and Dual Hatchets. Drill multi-hit strings and stamina economy. Practice 10-minute intervals where you only use light attacks until stamina hits 40%, then retreat.
Session B (Hybrid Range): Kusarigama and Splitstaff. Drill chain reach and sickle follow-ups for Kusarigama; for Splitstaff, practice safe pokes and sweeping finishers.
Application Sessions: Fight two minibosses per session—one to practice pressure, one to practice range control.
Goal: identify which weapon archetype fits your reflexes and commit to one primary and one secondary weapon.
Week 4 Precision and Critical Windows
Focus on critical timing and exploiting weak points—especially important for Sharp Talons and critical-focused builds.
Warm-up: 10 minutes of target practice on enemies with exposed weak points. Use Talons to practice short burst windows.
Drill: Critical-only runs: attempt to land only critical hits for 15 minutes using positioning and backstabs. If you miss, reset and try again.
Application: Pick a boss with clear telegraphed attacks. Practice waiting for the exact recovery frame and then committing to a Talons burst. Record success rate.
Review: Track critical hit percentage and stamina after bursts.
Goal: convert critical windows into consistent, repeatable damage bursts.
Week 5 Advanced Mechanics and Ninjutsu Layering
Combine weapon mechanics with ninjutsu and advanced movement (air combos, Mist traps).
Warm-up: 10 minutes practicing aerial attacks and dodging while airborne.
Drill: Ninjutsu layering: pick two ninjutsu that complement your weapon (e.g., shadow-step + elemental shuriken). Practice initiating combos with a ninjutsu hit, then following up with a weapon skill that capitalizes on the stagger.
Application: Use a boss phase where elemental damage helps. Execute the ninjutsu-into-weapon rotation 10 times and measure how many times you break armor or stagger.
Review: Note which ninjutsu timings are too slow or too fast and adjust loadout.
Goal: make ninjutsu an integrated part of your rotation rather than an afterthought.
Week 6 Boss Simulation and Endurance
This week is about endurance and applying everything under fatigue.
Warm-up: Short movement and combo warm-up (10 minutes).
Drill: Endurance runs—fight three minibosses back-to-back using the same weapon and build. No respec between fights. Track deaths and time to clear.
Application: Attempt a full boss fight or a long boss phase. Focus on maintaining stamina, using Mist/Evade, and executing your practiced combos under pressure.
Review: Compare metrics from Week 1 and Week 6: combo completion, stagger windows hit, and survival rate.
Goal: ensure your practiced skills hold up in long, punishing encounters.
Ongoing Monthly Cycle: Rotate and Refine
After six weeks, rotate through a monthly cycle: two weeks of focused weapon practice, one week of hybrid experimentation, and one week of boss endurance. Each month, pick one new skill node or ninjutsu to integrate and test.
Drills by Weapon (Targeted Exercises)
Ninja Sword: 5-minute poke drills—approach, single poke, retreat. Repeat 10 times. Then 10 minutes of stance-cancel chains.
Dual Ninja Swords: Stamina-sprint sets—light attack until 50% stamina, then immediate retreat and Mist. Repeat 8 times.
Tonfa: Block-counter loops—block a heavy attack, immediately counter with guard-break skill. Repeat against minibosses until you land 8 clean guard-breaks.
Kusarigama: Chain accuracy sets—practice chain arcs on moving targets for 15 minutes, then close with sickle follow-ups. Use a training area with moving enemies.
Dual Hatchets: Stagger focus—practice heavy finishers after a single stagger. Repeat until you can land a heavy finisher within the boss’s recovery window 7/10 times.
Splitstaff: Spacing drills—practice mid-range pokes and sweeping finishers to avoid whiffing. Use a boss with adds to practice sweeping.
Sharp Talons: Critical burst drills—practice positioning for backstabs and weak-point hits. Limit each attempt to a 3-hit burst.
Metrics and How to Track Progress
Keep a simple practice log with these fields: date, weapon, session length, combo completion rate (0–100%), stagger windows hit, deaths, and notes. Review weekly and set one micro-goal for the next session (e.g., “land 3 full Kusarigama chain-to-sickle combos”).
Gear and Build Tuning During Practice
While practicing, keep gear simple and consistent so you can isolate skill improvements. Use one build for a week and only change one variable at a time (a ring, a ninjutsu, or a skill node). This isolates cause and effect so you know whether a change improved performance.
Troubleshooting Plateaus
If progress stalls for more than a week, try one of these interventions: slow down the drill tempo, reduce session length to avoid fatigue, or switch to a simpler weapon for two sessions to rebuild confidence. For stubborn mechanics (Kusarigama chain misses, Talons timing), record a short clip and review the exact frame where you fail—often spacing is the culprit.
Mental Approach and Focus
Practice with intention. Each session should have one measurable goal. Avoid mindless grinding; focused repetition with immediate feedback is far more effective. Use short breaks, and keep a positive, incremental mindset: small improvements compound.
Quick Recovery and Warm-Down Tips
After a tough session, do a 5-minute cooldown: run through a few safe combos, then write one sentence about what improved and one sentence about what to fix. This cements learning and prevents frustration.
Final Checklist Before a Boss Attempt
Weapon skill nodes unlocked for your rotation.
Ninjutsu selected to cover the boss’s weaknesses.
Stamina and defensive stats balanced for your playstyle.
Practice log reviewed for recent mistakes to avoid repeating them.
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