Team Ninja’s classic action-adventure gameNinja Gaidenis a fan favorite, with many different versions that willall be included in theMaster Collection, which players can pick up while theywait for the next installmentin the series. One of those isNinja Gaiden Sigma, which removes somefeatures of the original while adding in some new playable characters and game modes.
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Of course, it wouldn’t be a ninja game without some classic weapons, andNinja GaidenSigmaincludes many cool and interesting ones to choose from. From swords to nunchucks, they each vary in their strengths and weaknesses, though nearly all of them can be effective in combat if used in the right way.
Updated July 01, 2025, by Jason Van Duine:There are a large variety of weapons that players can acquire throughout Ninja Gaiden Sigma, and while many are unique and interesting, there are plenty of seemingly simple weapons that can still do plenty of damage. Ninja Gaiden Sigma supplies its players with more than a dozen weapons to choose from. From melee to ranged weapons, there’s essentially enough to keep players on their toes throughout combat. With a large variety, knowing which are the best weapons in Ninja Gaiden Sigma is certainly a good idea for players.
16Spear Gun
The Spear Gun isn’t a completely useless weapon, though it doesn’t have quite as much of a purpose above water. It can be found in Chapter 11 of the game and is primarily used against underwater targets.
While it can be used on dry land, it isn’t very effective. On the plus side, there isn’t an ammunition limit on the gun.
15Nunchaku
These classic melee weapons are a nice addition to the game, though don’t serve quite as much of a function as some other weapons. Players can pick up these nunchucks in Chapter 4 on a dead body.
They’re fast, but unfortunately, serve little-to-no practical use in the game. The Vigoorian Flail is very similar in design to the Nunchaku, but is far more deadly than their nunchuck counterpart.
14Peluda Tail
This might primarily be a grappling hook, but it can be used as a ranged weapon to a devastating effect.Wielded by Rachel, they can be shot during combat to deal a decent amount of damage.
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They can also very easily stun enemies. The Peluda Tail doesn’t have much use in combat aside from this, ranking it lower than the other weapons.
13Kitetsu
The Kitetsu sword is interesting in the way that it affects the player, even if it doesn’t translate toSigma. Players can find this weapon in the arena where they fight Doku for the second time.
It’s a cursed sword, and it will eat away at Ryu’s life while he wields it. The only way to prevent this is to continue killing enemies. However, this feature doesn’t seem to take effect inNinja Gaiden BlackorSigma. Otherwise, it’s a decent slashing weapon with good strength, speed, and range.
12Incendiary Shuriken
The Incendiary Shuriken is one of two different kinds of shurikens that players can acquire throughoutNinja Gaiden. It can be thrown like any other shuriken, though the Incendiary Shuriken is fitted with a small explosive that can be detonated. They can first be found in the Monastery in the display exhibit case, though can also be found later throughout the game.
The main advantage of the Incendiary Shuriken is its potentially deadly explosion. Its explosive properties are enough to instantly kill most lesser enemies and are most useful in taking down the purple lesser Quetzalcoatl and other flying enemies. However, the detonation doesn’t happen right away, and if players aren’t careful, they might end up taking some of the damage as well. The Incendiary Shuriken also doesn’t do much to bosses or higher-level enemies.
11Woodmill Shuriken
Both kinds of shuriken can be useful, so it may really come down to player preference as to which one is better. The Windmill Shuriken, which can be found in Han’s bar as a reward for completing Ayane’s challenge, has many advantages that the Incendiary Shuriken doesn’t, making the challenge a worthy investment.
The Windmill Shuriken can fly at high speeds and can hit enemies multiple times. It also can’t be blocked very easily by any humanoid enemies. Finally, it can deflect other shuriken and does a decent amount of damage, making it extra-useful. The main disadvantage is its slower throwing rate.
10Bow
The bow inNinja Gaidenis an effective ranged weapon, made only stronger midway through the game. There are multiple arrow types that the player can use: the basic arrow, an explosive arrow, and an armor-piercing arrow. This makes the weapon useful in most combat situations. The player can carry up to 15 of each arrow type and 45 arrows in total.
The bow also has a relatively fast cooldown, allowing the player to fire 1-2 arrows per second. Plus, the bow eventually gets replaced with the superior strongbow, allowing it to carry the weapon’s strength at greater distances. The only real downside is that the bow is essentially useless during boss battles.
9Plasma Saber
A call-back to the classic lightsaber weapon fromStar Wars, the Plasma Saber is a futuristic sword that players can find by collecting all 50 Golden Scarabs inSigma.
In terms of gameplay, it’s remarkably similar to the Dragon Sword, which means that it’s quick and powerful. However, for players looking for a similarly powerful yet more immersive weapon, the Dragon Sword may be a better choice.
8Dragon’s Claw & Tiger’s Blade
As fans ofNinja Gaidenknow, Dragon’s Claw and Tiger’s Blade are two katanas that are wielded together. InSigma, they can be found in Chapter 3 in a small room leading away from the foyer of the Airship.
They’re not quite as nimble as some of the other weapons, though their high speed and damage make up for it. They’re great weapons for crowd control and are one of the few weapons that can be upgraded to level 4.
7War Hammer
The War Hammer is a slow weapon, and may not be as simple or effective as other weapons in the game. That being said, it doesn’t mean that it’s worth completely discounting.The War Hammer is difficult, but it’s a weapon that requires great skill to handle, so anyone able to work up such a skill will find it a blast to use.
It also features many moves that other weapons lack. These include the Steel Severer move, which is the fastest heavy weapon attack in the game, and Flaming Torrent, which deals an incredible amount of damage.
