Ghost of Yotei Weapon Tier List 2025: Best Builds & Combat Styles

Ghost of Yotei revolutionizes samurai combat with its innovative weapon-based system that replaces traditional stances. Players can wield up to five distinct melee weapons simultaneously, switching between them mid-combat to exploit enemy vulnerabilities.

Weapon choice becomes critical as every enemy type has specific weaknesses, making tactical selection essential for efficient combat. The Katana stands as the SS-tier weapon due to its perfect balance of speed, power, and versatility, while Dual Katanas offer overwhelming aggression and Kusarigama provides unparalleled versatility.

This guide explores the definitive weapon tier list and optimized builds to help you master Ghost of Yotei's combat system.

Ghost of Yotei Weapon Tier List 2025

Weapon Acquisition Methods

Before diving into the tier list, here's how to obtain each weapon:

• Katana: Starting weapon, available from the beginning of the game
• Dual Katanas: Unlocked by completing the "Twin Blades" quest in the Yotei Grasslands
• Kusarigama: Found by locating the Weapon Sensei in the northern part of the Yotei Grasslands region
• Yari Spear: Acquired by defeating the "Spear Master" boss in the Teshio Ridge area
• Odachi: Obtained by completing the "Heavy Burden" side quest in the mountain region

S-Tier Weapons: The Elite Choices

The Katana claims the top SS-tier position as the ultimate weapon, delivering perfect balance across speed, power, and versatility. It masters light attacks, heavy slashes, and Perfect Parry techniques.

Katana Key Stats:

• Damage: 85/100
• Speed: 90/100
• Versatility: 95/100
• Defense: 88/100

The Katana's unique triple just-timed focus attack functions as a free, high-spirit-cost ability, granting a significant combat edge. Perfect Parry is a defensive technique that deflects attacks at the precise moment, creating openings for devastating counters.

The Dual Katana secures its S-tier status by surpassing the regular Katana in speed and efficiency, particularly dominating Yari-wielding enemies with unmatched aggression.

Dual Katana Key Stats:

• Damage: 80/100
• Speed: 95/100
• Versatility: 75/100
• Defense: 70/100

The Dual Katana's Dual Tempest Strike is an advanced skill that unleashes two consecutive unblockable attacks, making it feel overpowered against any opposition.

S-Tier Build Recommendations:

• Swift Ronin build: Focuses on Dual Katana with light armor, attack speed boosts, and critical chance/bleed effects for agile hit-and-run tactics
• Strongest Parry Counter build: Uses Katana with charms that boost damage, resolve gain, and trigger special effects from successful Perfect Parries
• Katana excels at chaining Perfect Parries while pairing naturally with Yumi longbow for ranged elimination and Oni's Flame for area control
• Dual Katana lands rapid hits while maintaining defensive readiness for counterattacks and parries

A-Tier Weapons: Specialized Powerhouses

The Kusarigama earns an impressive 90/100 score as a highly versatile weapon that truly excels at breaking enemy shields.

Kusarigama Key Stats:

• Damage: 75/100
• Speed: 85/100
• Versatility: 95/100
• Range: 70/100

Kusarigama is a chain-sickle weapon that allows Atsu to grapple enemies from distance for silent takedowns, making it shine in stealth scenarios. The Kusarigama transforms into a god-tier weapon when fully upgraded with a complete skill set, especially in later campaign stages and fits perfectly in specialized Crowd Controller loadouts that mix weapon styles to dominate encounters against multiple enemies.

The Yari spear scores 85/100, specializing in maintaining distance while delivering consistent damage through sweeping attacks and superior reach.

Yari Spear Key Stats:

• Damage: 70/100
• Speed: 80/100
• Range: 95/100
• Control: 90/100

Yari spear is a long-reaching polearm that lets Atsu strike from a safe distance, effectively controlling engagement pace and minimizing risk. Its Typhoon Kick ability lets you kick enemies away, forcefully creating significant space for crowd control. The Yari spear specializes in countering and interrupting enemy attacks while pushing enemies considerable distances.

B-Tier Weapons: Situational Effectiveness

The Odachi holds B-tier status as a situational weapon that sacrifices speed for devastating raw power.

Odachi Key Stats:

• Damage: 95/100
• Speed: 50/100
• Stagger: 90/100
• Defense: 85/100

Odachi is a massive two-handed sword that punishes enemies hard when it connects, becoming the go-to choice against heavily armored brutes and larger foes. However, its sluggish speed makes it less effective against faster, more agile enemies who easily evade its telegraphed swings.

The Odachi's true strength lies in its exceptional stagger damage, which breaks through enemy defenses, with upgrades that increase this effect against all weapon types. The weapon-changing mechanic involves strategically switching to Odachi when heavily armored enemies appear to unlock its full potential.

Odachi Skill Tree Priority:

1. Heavy Stagger upgrades
2. Power Attack enhancements
3. Defense penetration skills
4. Combo finisher improvements

Dual Katana Build: The Aggressive Storm

Core Combat Philosophy

The Dual Katana thrives on overwhelming aggression and relentless pressure. This weapon excels at landing rapid strikes while maintaining the flexibility to counter and parry, making it perfect for players who favor high-speed combat.

Dual Tempest Strike serves as the build's cornerstone, granting two unblockable attacks. The technique delivers a nine-hit combo that progressively builds stagger damage, culminating in a final unblockable strike that inflicts major damage.

Key Combat Mechanics:

• Dismantles spear-wielding enemies through continuous assault
• Ideal for hit-and-run tactics with light armor and attack speed boosts
• Maintains room for counterattacks and parries during aggressive sequences
• Disarming mechanic allows you to strip enemies of their weapons and immediately hurl those fallen blades at other foes

Essential Charms & Synergies

Charms transform the Dual Katana from powerful to unstoppable by amplifying damage and sustaining your assault. The combination of three specific charms creates a powerful synergy that boosts damage while maintaining spirit generation.

Recommended Charms:

• Charm of Furious Attacks: Major Charm that increases Dual Katana's Tempest Strike damage (Purchase from Taro the Scavenger merchant)
• Charm of Confident Strikes: Grants +1 spirit when you stagger an enemy with the Katana
• Charm of Takemikazuchi: Major Melee charm providing significant benefits to general melee combat
• Charm of Homusubi: Utility Charm that adds strategic depth, potentially enhancing perfect parries or dodges
• Charm of Mount Yotei: Reduces all damage taken and provides healing when damaged (Found in Yotei Grasslands Reliquary Puzzle)

Armor Selection & Skill Tree Focus

Your armor choice determines how long you can sustain the Dual Katana's relentless assault. Armor of the Undying provides an excellent early-game foundation with balanced defensive properties.

Dual Katana Skill Tree Priority:

1. Dual Tempest Strike (most critical unlock)
2. Attack speed enhancements
3. Combo extension skills
4. Spirit cost reduction for special attacks

Recommended Armor Sets:

• Dragonfly Armor set with Darkest Hour Hat and Onryo Mask ("Blades on a Stream" outfit)
• Armor of the Undying for early-game foundation

Cross-Skill Recommendations:

• Heavenly Slash from standard Katana tree
• Complete Assassination skill tree for utility
• Diversify across all trees for maximum power

Kusarigama Build: The Unconventional Controller

Weapon Mechanics & Acquisition

The Kusarigama is obtained by finding the Weapon Sensei in the northern part of the Yotei Grasslands region. This unique weapon transforms into a 'god-tier' tool when fully upgraded with a complete skill set, especially during later campaign stages.

Kusarigama is a chain and sickle weapon offering both close-quarters combat and mid-range attacks for maximum adaptability. Its primary strength lies in exceptional versatility, making it highly effective for breaking enemy shields.

Kusarigama Skill Tree Priority:

1. Grappling hook enhancements
2. Shield-breaking techniques
3. Sweeping attack improvements
4. Chain combo extensions

Stealth-Focused Ninja Shinobi Build

The Kusarigama's grappling hook ability allows for silent takedowns from distance, making it perfect for stealth-focused playstyles. Its chain and sickle design adapts to various stealth situations.

Stealth Applications:

• Pull enemies from shadows for silent elimination
• Use environmental grappling for vertical positioning
• Chain assassinations with specialized armor
• Remain undetected even on lethal difficulty

Ghost Build Components:

• Stealth and assassination approach
• Outfits and charms that improve detection reduction
• Enhanced assassination damage
• Crowd control while maintaining stealth

Optimal Charm & Armor Combinations

Primary Armor Sets:

• Crimson Kimono: Enables chain assassinations (acquired in Sakuru Woods, Teshio Ridge)
• Nine-Tail Armor: Enhances quickfire weapon damage and status effect duration (obtained in 'Blood on the Snow' quest)

Essential Charms:

• Charm of Masaka: Provides healing when using smoke bombs (Enduring Hold Shrine challenge)
• Stealth-focused charms for detection reduction
• Quickfire enhancement charms

Optimal Loadout:

• Kusarigama as primary weapon
• Kunai as Quickfire weapon for silent ranged kills
• Smoke Bomb for escape and strategic repositioning

Katana Build: The Balanced Duelist

Technical Combat Approach

The Katana's balanced speed and power make it the most versatile weapon for mastering both offensive and defensive techniques. This versatility allows players to adapt to any combat situation.

Technical Combat Key Points:

• Perfect Parry: More forgiving timing window than other weapons
• Reactive Defense: Ideal for defensive combat styles
• Precision Timing: Focus on parries and dodges rather than brute force
• Adaptive Play: Superior against multiple enemy types
• Counter-Attack Focus: Create openings for devastating counters

Perfect Parry is a defensive technique that deflects attacks at the precise moment, creating openings for devastating counters. The Katana's ability to perform perfect parries against multiple enemy types makes it the most reliable weapon.

Advanced Techniques:

• Triple Just-Timed Focus Attack: Functions as a free, high-spirit-cost ability
• Heavenly Slash: Powerful charged attack consuming Focus Nodes
• Recommended pairing with Yumi longbow and Oni's Flame

Charm & Skill Optimization

The Katana skill tree should be prioritized first, with Heavenly Slash and perfect parry enhancements as the most critical skills to unlock early.

Katana Skill Tree Priority:

1. Heavenly Slash (cornerstone offensive skill)
2. Perfect Parry enhancements
3. Counter-attack damage boosts
4. Spirit generation improvements
5. Combo fluidity skills

Charm Synergies:

• Charm of Confident Strikes: Grants +1 spirit when staggering enemies
• Charm of Takemikazuchi: Major Melee charm for general combat benefits
• Charm of Homusubi: Utility Charm for strategic depth
• Charm of Mount Yotei: Reduces damage taken for close-quarters defense

Cross-Skill Development:

• Diversify into other skill trees beyond melee
• Unlock top skills across all trees for maximum power
• Focus on skills that complement technical playstyle

Early Game vs Endgame Loadouts

Early Game Build Strategies

The Katana is the most reliable early-game weapon due to its perfect balance of speed, power, and versatility. Early game builds should focus on the Katana skill tree first, with Heavenly Slash being a priority skill.

Essential Early-Game Gear:

• Armor of the Undying: Balanced defensive properties for aggressive play
• Charm of Mount Yotei: Reduces all damage taken for learning combat mechanics
• Charm of Confident Strikes: Creates sustainable combat loops

Early Game Skill Priorities:

1. Katana skill tree fundamentals
2. Assassination skill tree for utility
3. Basic defense and evasion skills
4. Ranged weapon proficiency

Recommended Loadout:

• Katana as primary weapon
• Yumi longbow for safe engagement
• Basic armor with balanced stats
• Focus on learning Perfect Parry timing

Endgame Optimization

Endgame builds should focus on weapon specialization and charm synergies, with the Katana remaining SS-tier due to its perfect balance. The Kusarigama transforms into a god-tier weapon when fully upgraded with a complete skill set.

Advanced Endgame Equipment:

• Dragonfly Armor set with Darkest Hour Hat and Onryo Mask ("Blades on a Stream")
• Crimson Kimono build: God Tier for stealth with stealth-focused charms
• Nine-Tail Armor: Ultimate ninja build with Kunai and Kusarigama

Endgame Skill Completion:

• Complete all skill trees
• Focus on top skills across all trees
• Master weapon-specific advanced techniques
• Optimize charm combinations for synergy

Specialized Endgame Builds:

• Perfect Parry Killer: Katana with damage/resolve gain charms
• Stealth Assassin: Crimson Kimono with stealth enhancements
• Aggressive Storm: Dual Katana with attack speed and critical boosts
• Crowd Controller: Kusarigama with area control charms

Combat Style Comparison Table

Weapon Type	Primary Strength	Ideal Playstyle	Best For	Difficulty Level
Katana	Balanced	Technical Duelist	All-Round Performance	Medium
Dual Katanas	Aggressive Pressure	High-Tempo Assault	Single Target Domination	Hard
Kusarigama	Versatile Control	Flexible Tactics	Crowd Control/Stealth	Medium
Yari	Long Range	Defensive Poking	Keeping Distance	Easy
Odachi	Raw Power	Heavy Hitter	Large Enemies	Hard

Ghost of Yotei's weapon system offers remarkable diversity, with each weapon catering to different playstyles and combat preferences. The Katana remains the most balanced choice for technical duelists, while Dual Katanas excel at aggressive pressure tactics. Kusarigama provides unmatched versatility for stealth and crowd control specialists.

Early game strategies focus on fundamental mechanics and basic charm combinations, while endgame optimization requires mastering weapon specialization and advanced charm synergies. Ultimately, the best weapon depends on your preferred combat approach—experiment with different builds to discover which style resonates with your playstyle and enhances your journey through feudal Japan.