Which weapons should you choose in Rise of the Ronin?

Like most Team Ninja RPGs, Rise of the Ronin lets you pick two main weapons that you can swap between during combat. Using a pair of weapons that synergizes well is the key to success in Rise of the Ronin, so you should take your time and choose wisely.

You’ll be prompted to choose your starting equipment during the tutorial of Rise of the Ronin before you embark on your first mission with your Blade Twin. Don’t worry, you won’t be locked into these weapon types for the entire game, they’re just your starting weapons. You can loot and craft new gear throughout your journey, so don’t be afraid to pick something that looks cool.

All Weapon Types in Rise of the Ronin Explained

There are nine melee weapon archetypes in Rise of the Ronin. You can equip two of them simultaneously.

• Katana
• Saber
• Paired Swords
• Polearm
• Spear
• Odachi
• Greatsword
• Bayonet
• Oxtail Blade

There are also long-range weapons like rifles, revolvers, and bows, but those are equipped in different gear slots and you don’t get to choose any during the tutorial section of the game. Each weapon has a drastically different playstyle with multiple combat styles to learn, and using a weapon that you’re comfortable with will make some of the game’s harder fights a bit more bearable.

The Katana is the most straightforward weapon on the list, acting as the traditional sword option with a standard moveset. If you prefer faster attacks and don’t want to get stuck in attack animations for too long, then the Paired Swords are the way to go. If you’re a Dual Blades main in Monster Hunter, you’ll feel right at home with these. The Saber is similar to the Katana, but it focuses more on stabbing rather than slashing.

The Polearm lets you perform wide, sweeping attacks and allows you to keep your distance from enemies during combat. It’s powerful too, but slower than the swords. If you want to double down on keeping your distance from enemies, then the Spear is an excellent choice because it specializes in stabbing and poking from afar.

If you’re into Berserk or Dark Souls, then you’ll want to use one of Rise of the Ronin’s bigger weapons like the Odachi. The Odachi is a Japanese longsword that delivers devastating chopping attacks. There’s also the Greatsword, which is the western equivalent to the Odachi. Greatswords perform slow, sweeping swings that will deal massive posture damage to your opponents, making them easy to stagger. Oxtail Blades are similar to these two weapon types, but they have a slightly different moveset.

The Bayonet is the most unique option in Rise of the Ronin’s arsenal. Even though it’s a rifle, you’ll use it as a melee weapon and swing it around like a bat. Depending on the combat style you’re using, it can perform wide, sweeping attacks like a Naginata or poke enemies like a Spear. You can also hold the attack button during melee combos to fire off quick shots to add some ranged damage into the mix.

Best Weapon Combos in Rise of the Ronin

If you ask me, then two weapon combinations stand well above the rest in Rise of the Ronin. The first is a Katana paired with either an Odachi or Greatsword. The Katana is a versatile, well-rounded sword that can be used in any situation. When you encounter resilient enemies with a strong defense, however, you can swap to the Odachi or Greatsword to wear down their Ki meter and open them up for attack.

The second-best weapon combo is a Bayonet and Paired Swords. The Bayonet is a shockingly versatile weapon that fills multiple roles once you unlock each of its combat styles, and it’s capable of dealing high damage and quickly wearing down enemies’ Ki meters as well. It struggles when faced with rapid-fire strikes and high pressure, though, so that’s where the Paired Swords come in. With this weapon combo, you’ll be prepared for any type of encounter with any of the game’s factions.

Of course, the best overall weapon combination in Rise of the Ronin is the one you’re most comfortable with. This game has a remarkably complex combat system, so you’ll want to find weapons with movesets that fit your playstyle. That way, you can focus more on timing your Counterspark parries, restoring stamina with Ki Flashes, and swapping combat styles to maintain the upper hand during battle.