There are a lot of weapons in Nioh 2, so what should players be using for their playthrough?

In Nioh 2, there is a lot of build variety afforded to players due to its massive selection of equipment; the most important aspect of a player's loadout is their weaponry. It's wonderful that there are so many options, but that can also make it difficult to make a selection; its kind of like visiting the library to look for a book except all the books are deadly and your choice is a matter of life and death - fun stuff. 

In any case, no one wants to be stuck because they couldn't decide on whether their player should use certain equipment or not; there is no need to worry, however, because I have you covered. I present to you a list of the top 11 Nioh 2 weapons, along with instructions on how to get them.

11. Shuten Doji's Club

Shuten Doji's club, the first entry on the list, is a hammer fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" and "Gain Amrita (Strong Attack)" effects; the former lets the weapon inflict the corruption status debuff which causes enemy to take 35% extra ki damage. Because Shuten Doji's Club is classified as a Yokai Weapon, players' attacks fill up a Sentience Gauge that will increase melee damage dealt to enemies by 30% for a time once it's full.

The observational player will recognize that, while Axes and Hammers share the same weapon category in the inventory, the two weapons have different icons; this is because they have different specialties with the Axes doing 25% more damage to HP than Hammers and the Hammers doing 25% more damage to Ki than Axes.  They have the slowest attack speed of all the different weapon types, but they also deal the most damage per hit and, by using skills like Rage, this damage can be increased even further. Shuten Doji's Club is undoubtedly one of the hardest hitting weapons in the game; however, players must be careful in choosing when to attack or else they will get punished.

The weapon itself along with the smithing text cannot be acquired until late game as a drop from Shuten Doji in either the Main Mission "The Mausoleum of Evil" (or any other mission where he appears); however, Shuten Doji's Club is added into the loot pool after it is dropped for the first time.

What makes Shuten Doji's Club great: 

• Its fixed effect lets players get Amrita from strong attacks, triggering effects that depend on Amrita absorption. 
• The Axe/Hammer is the hardest hitting weapon in the game and has a skill set that increases its damage output. 
• Shuten Doji's Club is a Yokai Weapon which means it will temporarily have its damage boosted when the Sentience Gauge is filled.

10. Demon's Axe 

If you're looking to deal a ton of damage per hit, then you aren't going to find a more suitable weapon than the Demon's Axe; it comes fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" and "Pleiades (Enemy Killed)" effects, with the former having already been explained and the latter temporarily increasing the speed at which the Amrita Gauge fills after an enemy is killed.  

It's already been touched upon that Axes deal 25% damage to HP, so it should come as no surprise that the Demon's Axe hits a great deal harder than most hammers; it also just so happens to be a Yokai Weapon which means that, whenever the Sentience Gauge is filled, the weapon will deal an additional 30% melee damage to enemies.

Its smithing text can be found as a drop from the Yoki, a rather common enemy that players will face; the weapon itself is randomly dropped by enemies as loot. 

What makes the Demon's Axe great: 

• Its fixed effect increases the speed at which the Amrita Gauge is filled, though only after an enemy is killed. 
• The Axe/Hammer is the hardest hitting weapon in the game and has a skill set that increases its damage output. 
• The Demon's Axe is a Yokai Weapon which means it will temporarily have its damage boosted when the Sentience Gauge is filled.

9. Radiant Flame 

If an experienced player were asked to describe the Dual Hatchets in a single sentence, then they would probably say that "they're easy to use but hard to master". The Radiant Flame hatchets are fixed with the "Imbue Fire" effect which lets players inflict the scorched status effect that deals damage over time to enemies and, with skills like Chain Hurl II and Advancing Storm, it can be applied to enemies rather quickly. 

The main strength of the Dual Hatchets is its ability to strike from a distance, allowing players to adopt a more mobile, hit-and-run sort of playstyle; but there are skills like Greased Lightning and Demon Undercut that can be used at close-range should an enemy manage to close the distance. That being said, while the Dual Hatchets can be absolutely terrifying in the hands of a master, the average player will probably be better of picking a more conventional weapon.

The smithing text can be acquired mid game as drops from Tokichiro, Shibata Katsuie, and Daidara Bocchi in the Main Missions "The Two Faces of Hospitality", "Ruin Draws Near", and "The High-spirited Demon". The weapon itself, however, is dropped randomy by enemies as loot from mid-game onward. 

What makes the Raidiant Flame great; 

• Its fixed effect lets players inflict the Scorched status ailment which deals damage over time.
• The Dual Hatchets have an unconventional skill set that can be overwhelmingly powerful when used properly.

8. Rotten Rope Cutter 

If you're planning a Ninjutsu build, then you can't go wrong with the Rotten Rope Cutter as the Kusarigama scales with dexterity; it comes fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" effect and is a Yokai Weapon like most of the entries thus far. The Kusarigama can deplete Ki with attacks using its weight; when combined with the 35% extra Ki damage that enemies afflicted with the corrupted status ailment take, this becomes rather noticable. That is to say nothing about the temporary 30% increase to melee damage that all Yokai Weapons get.

The move set of the Kusarigama is pretty good, with blazing fast, multi-hit combos in low stance, wide, sweeping combos that offer crowd control in mid-stance, and devastating combos in high stance that are surprisingly fast. It is also worth mentioning the existence of the Reaper skill that can shred entire health bars under the right circumstances. That being said, despite the speed, power, and versatility the weapon has to offer, the recovery time after attacking will give an enemy plenty of time to retaliate if players aren't careful. In short, the Kusarigama gives players more room for error than Axes and Hammers while being less difficult to use than the Dual Hatchets. 

The smithing text can be acquired in the early game as a drop from the boss in the Main Mission "The Viper's Sanctum". The Rotten Rope Cutter itself is randomly dropped by enemies as loot from early-game onward. 

What makes the Rotten Rope Cutter great: 

• The Kusarigama is easily one of the most versatile weapons in the game. 
• Like all Yokai Weapons, filling the Sentience Gauge will increase its damage output.

7. Ippon-datara's Odachi 

Now at #7 on the list, we have Ippon Datara's Odachi; it comes fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" and "High Active Skill Damage" effects. The Odachi, by itself, is one of the most threatening weapons in the entire game; with OK attack speed, a relatively long reach, and high damage, Ippon Datara's Odachi becomes rather scary after it receives the 30% increase to melee damage whenever the Sentience Gauge is filled up.

The Odachi is great at breaking through an opponent's guard and, with skills like Moonlit Snow and Moonlit Snow Redux, the weapon cuts through enemies like a hot knife through butter. It is a simple weapon to use; that being said, while it's hard to go wrong with the Odachi, it can get a bit repetitive and there are better weapons available.

Its smithing text can be found as a drop from the Ippon-datara, a somewhat common Yokai that players will face often. The weapon itself can be found as random loot.

What makes Ippon Datara's Odachi great: 

• The Odachi has long reach with a high damage output.
• The skill set of the Odachi is simple to use and complements the weapon's strengths.
• Like all Yokai Weapons, filling the Sentience Gauge will increase its damage output

6. Weathered Bone and Bleached Twig 

If you're the type of player that enjoys a fast-paced and aggressive playstyle, then the Weathered Bone and Bleached Twig Dual Swords may be what you're looking for; they come fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" and "Ki Pulse Bonus" effects with the former having already been explained and the latter increasing the amount of Ki that players can recover on a Ki pulse.

The Dual Swords have an incredibly high attack speed at the cost of dealing less damage than other weapons; however, they are great at applying status debuffs and skills like Sign of the Cross, Water Sword, and Wind Storm can deal an insane amount of damage. That being said, there are better weapons that can fill the same role.

Its smithing text can be found as a drop from Imagawa Yoshimoto in either the Main Mission "The Hidden Monsters of Okehazama" or the Side Mission "Imagawa Diehard". The Weathered Bone and Bleached Twig Dual Swords themselves, however, are dropped randomly as loot from early game onward.

What makes the Weathered Bone and Bleached Twig great:

• The Dual Swords are fast and excel at applying status debuffs.
• The skills Sign of the Cross, Water Sword, and Wind Storm can deal a ton of damage.
• Like all Yokai Weapons, filling the Sentience Gauge will increase its damage output.

5. Tokagemaru 

If you're a player that likes a balanced playstyle, then Tokagemaru may be the weapon for you; it comes fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" and "Increase Attack (Enemy Killed) with the former having already been explaining and latter temporarily boosting the player's damage output after they kill an enemy. 

The Sword strikes a balance between attack speed and damage output; furthermore, it also happens to be the weapon with the most skills in the game. Iai Quickdraw is a skill that can deal a ludicrous amount of damage and the Night Rain skill is great for applying status effects; the Sword is a weapon that anyone can pick up and use well, but its true strength is found in its skill set. 

Its smithing text can be found as a drop from Imagawa Yoshimoto in the Main Missions "The Hidden Monsters of Okehazama" or the Side Mission "Imagawa Diehard" and Saito Toshitatsu in the Side Mission "The Point of No Return". The weapon itself can be found as random loot.

What makes Tokagemaru great: 

• The sword strikes a fine balance between attack speed and damage output. 
• It has the largest skill set in the game, with Iai Quickdraw and Night Rain being superb.
• Like all Yokai Weapons, filling the Sentience Gauge will increase its damage output.

4. Bonepile Spear 

If you are a player looking for a weapon that is relatively quick, deals a lot of damage, and has exellent reach, then the Bone pile Spear may be what you want; it is fixed with the "Imbue Corruption". It is also a Yokai Weapon; hmm, I think I'm starting to recognize a pattern here. 

Anyway, the Spear's skill set is rather solid; it provides options for mobility, crowd control, and knockdown recovery. It is a weapon that manages to be effective, versatile, and stylish all at the same time; with skills like Rainbow Ruse, Fatal Thrust, and Spear Flourish, it is easy to keep pressuring opponents.

Its smithing text can be acquired as drops from any boss in boss in the SOARING region, meaning Imagawa Yoshimoto in Side Mission "The Point of No Return", the Kamaitachi in the Main Mission "The Mysterious One Night Castle", and Saito Yoshitatsu in the Side Mission "The Point of No Return". The weapon itself can be found as random loot. 

What makes the Bonepile Spear great: 

• The Spear has a modest attack speed, a long reach, and a high damage output.
• It has a respectable moveset that lets players keep pressure up on enemies. 
• Like all Yokai Weapons, filling the Sentience Gauge will increase its damage output.

3. Twin Dragon Tonfa

At #3 on the list, we have the Twin Dragon Tonfa; they are fixed with the "Imbue Fire" effect that lets players inflict the scorched status ailment on enemies to deal damage over time.

The Tonfa is a powerful weapon that rapidly drains Ki with its quick attacks; its true strength, however, is its ability to inflict status effects and open enemies up to a grapple by draining their Ki with attack chains using the Demon Dance skill. This is particularly helpful in the NG+ cycles where enemies get a lot tankier; additionally, players can automatically evade attacks during the recovery period of a dodge in low stance with the Prescience passive skill. When combined with the Tonfa's modest blocking capabilities, the weapon can be rather scary and frustrating to deal with.

Its smithing text can be acquired in the Main Missions "The Two Faces of Hospitality" as a drop from Tokichiro, "Ruin Draws Near" as a drop from Shibata Katsuie, and "The High-spirited Demon" as a drop from Daidara Bochi. The weapons themselves can be found as random loot.

What makes the Twin Dragon Tonfa great: 

• The Tonfa has a blistering fast attack speed and specializes in draining enemies' Ki.
• The Demon Dance skill(s) let the Tonfa easily apply status debuffs. 

2. Tsuchigumo Clawed Fists

The Tsuchigumo Clawed Fists are easily one of the best weapons in the entire game, fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" effect; and they are also a Yokai Weapon. Given the existence of skills like Beyond Infinity that can trivialize bosses and the fact that Fists and Claws allow players to chain skills into other skills, it should come to nobody's surprise that they are considered overpowered.

The difference between the Fist weapons and the Claw weapons is the exact same as the difference between the Axes and Hammers; because enemies afflicted with the corrupted status ailment take an additional 35% Ki damage and because melee damage is increased by 30% whenever the Sentience Gauge is filled up, the Tsuchigumo Clawed Fists wind up dealing 10% more damage to Ki and 55% more damage to HP than Fists whenever they are in an Awakened state.

Its smithing text can be acquired as a drop from Saito Yoshitatsu in the Side Mission "The Point of No Return". The weapons themselves can be found as random loot.

What makes the Tsuchigumo Clawed Fists great: 

• The Fists/Claws have a fast attack speed and can chain skills together. 
• Beyond Infinity is a skill that can trivialize the game. 
• Like all Yokai Weapons, filling the Sentience Gauge will increase its damage output.

1. Seething Dragon 

If you're a player looking to create an Onmyo Magic build, then the Seething Dragon will probably be your best friend; it comes fixed with the "Imbue Corruption" and "Faster Ki Recovery (Enemy Killed)" effects, the former of which has already been explained and the latter of which increases the recovery speed of a Player's Ki after they kill an enemy.

Once they get the hang of it, the mechanic of the Switchglaive that lets players change stances and extend their combos at the same time becomes really powerful.  The skill set of the Switchglaive is also pretty great; for example, Whirling Blade allows players to deflect projectiles back at enemies which is incredibly useful in the NG+ cycles. When combined with the power of Onmyo Magic, the Switchglaive is really hard to beat. 

Its smithing text can be acquired as a drop either from Saito Yoshitatsu in the Side Mission "The Point of No Return" or from Imagawa Yoshimoto in the Side Mission "Imagawa Diehard". The weapon itself can be found as random loot.

What makes the Seething Dragon great: 

• The Switchglaive is versatile and can extend combos through stance changes.
• The Whirling Blade skill lets players deflect projectiles back at enemies. 
• Like all Yokai Weapons, filling the Sentience Gauge will increase its damage output.

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