Kusarigama – Stats and Armor
Kusarigama Build
As described before, the Kusarigama covers a wide range with incredible speed and lengthy combos. In order to make the best use of that, though, you’ll definitely need to outfit William accordingly. The Kusarigama in Nioh is not a heavy weapon and therefore isn’t very useful for a heavy build thanks to the different use of stats. The main stats for the Kusarigama are:
- Dexterity
- Skill
- Heart
Dexterity is the primary stat for the Kusarigama and it also affects your Ninjutsu, making the Kusarigama the perfect weapon for Ninja builds as you can kill two birds (your weapon and the number of ninja tricks you can carry) with one stone. The issue with this stat is that it doesn’t do much else for you outside of boosting these parameters. You’ll sometimes get a decent Ki bonus, but not enough to warrant focusing solely on this stat.
Heart is your second major stat for the Kusarigama. It increases your Ki, allowing you to fight for far longer before having to back off, and increases your Life as well. Heart also boosts the power of your swords and bows. If you happen to have a sword as your secondary then this will definitely be a nice bonus.
Skill is the second stat that actually can boost the power of Kusarigama. However, its main purpose is to boost the special effects of weapons and armor as well as increase the power of dual swords and guns. Both guns and dual swords are great supplemental weapons for the Kusarigama. They rely on similar stats so you don’t need to spread your Amrita too thin, and their range and method of attack help to cover weaknesses of the chain and sickle. Dual swords are fast and close, and can easily break down an opponent, they’re also good at covering your sides and have a block/attack skill that can help in tight corners. Guns are powerful and can help whittle down a crowd before you jump into the fray. They’re loud, so they’ll attract attention, but taking out a strategic foe in one blast before going into battle is great.
As for armor, you’re going to want to rely on light options, with the Ninja sets being among the best. Ninja armor has bonuses that help manage Ki usage, using less for attacks and allowing for excellent mobility. When combined with the Kusarigama which already uses little Ki, you’re set for a swift build capable of steady attacking and maneuverability. Medium armor is okay if you feel that you absolutely need the extra protection, but heavy armor should be avoided. It eats up a lot of your Ki, and the Kusarigama isn’t very good when you’re only allowed a few swings. It’s lack of brute power compared to the likes of an axe or heavy sword, makes it a poor match for bulky gear.
