The Ninja Gaiden series is about a twentieth-century Ninja who puts his well-honed ancient fighting skills to the test against modern weapons. Ryu Hayabusa's unbending sense of honor guides the storyline as he ventures to America to avenge his murdered father. However, when he arrives, he discovers someone named "The Jaquio" plans to unleash an evil and powerful demon to take over the World.
Players fight through the chapters to ultimately reach the Boss and slice them into ribbons. Ryu has used many weapons over the long-running franchise to claim victory and some were more powerful than others. Here are the best weapons he has used.
Updated On January 25, 2022, By William Quick: Ninja Gaiden remains one of the most difficult games ever to be released on the NES. From that reputation spawned a series that has gone through numerous transformations with a number of powerful weapons to wield. We've updated this list to include only the very best.
10 Incendiary Shuriken
Incendiary Shurikens are specially used by Ryu Hayabusa. They resemble harmless little knives until you realize the amount of damaging power they possess. These small throwing knives have grenades attached to them with a pin that can be set as a timer, and they are designed to explode after impaling their target. The blast is always strong enough to kill off lesser enemies and is useful against flying ones.
Unfortunately, anyone more powerful than them simply bats the knives away. But they're still useful in a pinch when you are surrounded and need to flee from enemies.
9 Falcon's Talons
Falcon's Talons are every bit as ferocious as you think. They consist of protective gauntlets with sharp "talons" to shred opponents to ribbons. The blades are massive, extending far out from the gloves, and (as if this wasn't overkill enough) they come with bladed foot attachments as well.
With a sharp knife fitted to each finger and toe, this increases the cutting range with savage brutality. Their high defense and speed also make them extremely valuable.
8 Dark Dragon Blade
The Dark Dragon Blade is the sister blade to the True Dragon Sword - which is the only weapon that can destroy it. Carved from evil, dark dragon bones by fiends, it grows in power with each kill - even if just nearby - making it one of the strongest weapons in the game. To spite its high damage, however, it often knocks Ryu off balance as he swings it, leaving him open to attacks.
The size of the blade also makes it seem clunky and cumbersome, making some players feel like this mythic sword isn't worth the hassle to wield.
7 Blade Of The Archfiend
The Blade of the Archfiend is an evil sword that is just as powerful as the Dragon Sword and was given only to the strongest of the Black Spider Ninja Clan. It's said that the blade was forged from the charred remains of an iron meteorite and then breathed upon by the Archfiend, trapping some of its evil magic inside it. When used alone, this evil magic reacts to the use and causes an "electric" effect on the blade.
When wielded together with the True Dragon Sword, their combined power is almost limitless. To spite this, they still have a very limited range and a heavy swing.
6 True Dragon Sword
The Dragon Sword is Ryu's powerful primary weapon. Handed down in the Hayabusa Ninja Clan for generations, it is said to be carved from a dragon's fang. This sword then becomes the True Dragon Sword (its ultimate form) when fitted with the Eye of the Dragon.
This new evolution is brimming with power and is so strong, it can cut anything. Although it only has an average strike range, it makes up for it with the most diverse combo list as well as ones that deal massive damage, especially when used with Ninpo.
5 Lunar Staff
While sharp weapons are a popular weapon for those working in espionage, sometimes it's better to go with something less messy. This is where the Lunar Staff comes into play and Ryu is happy to give it a whirl. It joined the potential arsenal as part of the Hurricane Pack DLC.
Because the staff is blunt, it has lower damage output but gets its power from being balanced. It's relatively fast but has great range and sweeping strikes to keep multiple enemies at a distance.
4 Unlabored Flawlessness
Sometimes the most power comes from places you didn't even expect because of how weak they appear. The Wooden Sword is notoriously one of the worst weapons that Ryu can ever wield, and most players would understandably try to forget about it. However, if you're willing to spend the time and effort, it can transform into the Unlabored Flawlessness.
This large oar-looking weapon is built to dish out damage. Its weight may slow you down but makes up for it with its long reach.
3 Eclipse Scythe
A good rule of thumb is that the scarier a weapon looks, the more dangerous it can be. Historically speaking, ninjas have had access to some very deadly tools and equipment with some of them making their way into Ryu's hands. While there may be some liberties taken with the Eclipse Scythe, any ninja would feel fearsome holding it.
It has one of the highest damage ratings in the game and is extremely effective at taking out tough boss enemies and for crowd control despite its slow attack rate.
2 Vigoorian Flail
When you're backed into a corner, it'll feel tempting to equip whatever you can and lash out in every direction. This was one of the most appealing aspects of combat in the God Of War series and this comes through in the Vigoorian Flail which lives up to its name.
Based on the idea of bladed-nun chucks, this flail offers solid damage at tremendous speeds. All you need to do is get close enough to enemies, so you can unleash hell.
1 Kitetsu
Of all the weapons that have existed in reality and gaming, the sword is one of the most recognized and balanced. With the right amount of training, a sword can be adapted to any situation which is why it's a good choice for working ninja. Ryu has plenty of swords to choose from, and a great choice would be the Kitetsu.
This demonic blade is built for speed and combos while dishing out decent damage. Through mastery, you can cause the Kitetsu to split into two blades, doubling its power.