Developer Team Ninja did a phenomenal job of creating balanced weapon combos for Nioh 2, even if some are considered better than others. Having said that, the best weapon combo is the one that suits your style. A combo might work well for you while it doesn't for someone else. A Spear and the Kusarigama, two polarizing weapons, could be your most lethal combo.
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Primary scaling, secondary scaling, and tertiary scaling have a significant impact on a weapon's damage. We recommend having a specialized character. Spend points on stats that pertain to each weapon. Today we will be exploring the best Nioh 2 weapon combos.
Updated December 2nd, 2022 by Hilton Webster: The appeal of Souls games is seemingly endless, and Team Ninja are some of the best in the industry for it. The Nioh games are extravagant and fast, with the sequel almost closer to the combo frenzies of Devil May Cry than Dark Souls. That said, weapon combos are still essential to success, and some synergize incredibly with each other.
13 Splitstaff and Tonfa
Across the 11 weapon types in Nioh 2, Splitstaff is undeniably one of the most unique. Somewhere between the Spear and Kusarigama, it boasts incredible range, extendable attacks and all-around versatility. Tonfa, introduced in the original game, are almost as unusual. Rather than focusing on raw damage, they're all about overwhelming your enemy's ki with absurdly fast combos.
As such, each weapon makes up for the shortcomings of the other. The Splitstaff has great range, but can struggle with close range where Tonfa excel. Meanwhile, Tonfa only work up close and aren't heavy damage dealers like the Splitstaff. With both of them coming with a high Courage scaling too, they balance each other out perfectly.
12 Fists and Sword
Much like Tonfa, Fists are all about speed. There key difference though is that instead of dancing all around your opponent, you pummel them into submission. They're fast and brutal, and ki management is even more essential with them than other weapons, but they dole out serious damage. On the other hand, the Sword is more of an everyman's tool, giving you a wide variety of abilities but no single mastery.
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Rather than fortifying against weaknesses, the combo of Fists and Sword simply gives you more versatility. Fists can get you into a battle fast with a great starting advantage, while Swords can give you a bit more distance and raw damage on ki-depleted enemies. Both weapons share a Heart and Strength scaling, meaning you'll get massive returns when used together as well.
11 Odachi and Dual Swords
The Odachi is one of the most fun weapons in Nioh. Though it may just seem like a slow but high damage weapon, it's much more. The big draw to the Odachi is how you can build its own combos to flow seamlessly between stances, ravaging enemies with surprising speed. Dual Swords are the opposite, with incredibly high speed and low damage, but with much less skill required for proficiency.
Together though, they're a powerhouse. Because of how the Odachi switches between styles, ki management becomes even more important, but consequently lets you switch into Dual Swords mid-combo with a high pool of ki and still dish out a dizzying barrage of blades. The combo almost lets you attack infinitely, and keeps you covered at the mid and close-range. The two weapons also scale with Heart and Strength, giving even higher damage boosts.
10 Dual Swords and Sword
Dual Swords and a Sword might seem like a nonsensical combo, but the fact that they are similar weapons and rely on the same stats make them noteworthy. The Sword has a primary scaling of Heart, a secondary scaling of Skill, and a tertiary scaling of Strength. This makes the weapon a close match to the Dual Swords, which use the same stats in a different order.
Since both weapons have almost the same reach, the combo loses points. With that said, you can't go wrong with this weapon selection since many players focus their stats on one weapon anyways.
9 Spear and Odachi
Both the Spear and Odachi rely on the Strength stat to increase their damage. Strength is primary scaling on the Odachi, and Strength is secondary scaling for the Spear.
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Since these are both long-reach weapons, it could be said that they are similar. Players usually look for weapons that complement one another. Having the same weapon type can be a disadvantage on the battlefield. However, being able to outreach your opponent is invaluable, and with good ki management the Odachi can truly pull off some impressive combos.
8 Kusarigama and Dual Swords
This weapon combo is beneficial for players because both weapons make use of the Skill and Strength stats. The damage of both the Kusarigama and the Dual Sword increases slightly with Strength. Strength is useful for equipping heavy armor, so this is a great combo if you want a tankier build.
Furthermore, these weapons both improve with the Skill stat. Skill makes your Ninjitsu power stronger and improves your Ki Pulse. Do we need to give you more reasons to explain why the Kusarigama and the Dual Swords work well together?
7 Sword and Dual Hatchets
Chances are if you are using a Sword and Dual Hatchets build, you'll want to use light armor. Both the Sword and Dual Hatchets improve with the Skill stat. The Sword improves moderately with Skill, and the Dual Hatchets improve drastically with it.
Dual Hatchets are comparable to the Dual Swords, so it's a matter of preference. Dual Hatchets can be thrown, so it gives you better reach than the combo of a Sword and Dual Swords.
6 Kusarigama and Dual Hatchets
The Kusarigama is a fun, unique weapon traditionally used in Japan. This antiquated weapon receives bonus scaling with the Dexterity stat. Kusarigama also improves from the Skill stat, which is the Dual Hatchets' primary scaling.
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Given that the Kusarigama is a challenging weapon to master, but is lethal if you can, it deserves a high placement on this list. We highly recommend you try this duo, you won't be disappointed.
5 Switchglaive and Dual Swords
The Switchglaive and the Dual Swords are a deadly combination that we highly recommend you try. Just don't be tempted to spread your character's stats out. It is proven that having a specialized character will help you to progress through this arduous game.
The Switchglaive has broad strokes, and the Dual Swords are effective up close and personal. Also, the Switchglaive works well with the Magic stat, which can benefit you with Talismans. Both weapons make use of the Skill stat, making this an effective combo to have in Nioh 2 as they'll ensure you aren't spreading yourself too thin.
4 Axe and Tonfas
The Axe and the Tonfas are two reliable weapons in Nioh 2. They both use the Courage stat for scaling. The Axe uses Courage as well as Constitution for secondary scaling, and the Tonfas use Courage as primary scaling with Constitution as secondary scaling.
Although they aren't the most powerful, their swing speed is above average, and they deliver significant damage per second. The sheer DPS makes this combo more powerful than most others on this list.
