10. Granite Mallet
Granite Mallet:
- Damage type: Strike
- Attack Damage: 15
- Slots: Pulverizing Barrage + one free slot
The granite mallet is one of the weakest weapons in the entire game; it’s one of the first few weapons that you can make. It might seem weird that the weakest weapon in the game is getting a mention, but there’s a reason for this.
The Granite weapon set has synergy with the Thunderous Hunter’s Garment, which features a significant multiplier boost to the base stat of the Granite weapon. In addition to this, the armour set adds an important multiplier to the skill effects on the weapon. With both the armour effects and weapon effects working in conjunction, the granite weapon sets are actually a strong contender, as the skills that they boost are actually some of the strongest ones in the game.
What Granite Mallet excels at:
- Synergy with the Thunderous Hunter’s Garment, which makes it able to contend with other end-game options.
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something
- It looks pretty basic, but when properly built, it’s a very solid build option, which makes the contrast interesting: a weak-looking weapon that hits very hard.
How to get a Granite Mallet:
This is a weapon that you can craft once you reach a certain point in the game. This is an early-game weapon that’s very easy to get.
9. Granite Sledgehammer
Granite Sledgehammer:
- Damage type: Strike
- Attack Damage: 27
- Slots: Master Miner, Pulverizing Vortex + one free slot
The granite sledgehammer is one of the weakest weapons in the entire game; it’s one of the first few weapons that you can make. It might seem weird that the weakest weapon in the game is getting a mention, but there’s a reason for this. This is the companion weapon to the Granite Mallet, which has the same synergy as its counterpart.
The Granite weapon set has synergy with the Thunderous Hunter’s Garment, which features a significant multiplier boost to the base stat of the Granite weapon. In addition to this, the armour set adds an important multiplier to the skill effects on the weapon. With both the armour effects and weapon effects working in conjunction, the granite weapon sets are actually a strong contender, as the skills that they boost are actually some of the strongest ones in the game.
What the Granite Sledgehammer excels at:
- Synergy with the Thunderous Hunter’s Garment, which makes it able to contend with other end-game options.
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something
- It looks pretty basic, but when properly built, it’s a very solid build option, which makes the contrast interesting: a weak-looking weapon that hits very hard.
How to get a Granite Sledgehammer:
This is a weapon that you can craft once you reach a certain point in the game. This is an early-game weapon that’s very easy to get.
8. Shooting Star Sickle
Shooting Star Sickle:
- Damage type: Slash
- Attack Damage: 124
- Slots: Two-legged Sweep + one free slot
The Shooting Star Sickle features a nice, new, pristine-looking scythe that provides a damage bonus against bipedal enemies. The weapon features 15% increased damage to bi-pedal enemies, making it an ideal option against bi-pedal opponents, which actually encompass many, namely Spectres, Rabbits, Pigs, and some bosses.
When used specifically against bipedal enemies, it’s actually relatively strong, as the 15% damage boost is pretty significant; however, against other enemies, there are stronger options. Sakuna features a mixture of multiple kinds of enemies, so the overall effectiveness isn’t as ideal as a higher damage option. That said, if the goal is to hunt something bipedal specifically, it is a valid and good option to consider if higher-damage weapons are not available.
What Shooting Star Sickle excels at:
- High base damage against bipedal enemies
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something
- It’s one of the better-looking weapons. very sharp-coloured and clean-looking
How to get Shooting Star Sickle:
This is a weapon that you can craft once you reach a certain point in the game. The recipe needs jade, which needs to be collected. The weapon isn’t really difficult to craft, so it’s a pretty good option to consider.
7. Steel Mallet
Steel Mallet:
- Damage type: Strike
- Attack Damage: 128
- Slots: Secret Technique + one free slot
The steel mallet is a staple, high-damage weapon that you can craft easily by trading rice with the capital. It’s the counterpart to the Steel Sledgehammer and has one of the highest base damage levels available up until you reach the point in the story where you gain access to the Hoshidama weapons.
This is a straight-forward weapon that has a skill that increases the base damage based on the number of enemies destroyed. It falls short because there are other scythe options that offer more value than straight damage, such as a higher critical chance or increased effects for clothing, which puts other options at a more competitive edge comparatively.
What the steel mallet excels at:
- High base damage
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something
- It’s a straight-forward weapon that boosts damage the more enemies you defeat—nice and simple.
How to get a steel mallet:
This is a weapon that you can craft once you reach a certain point in the game. The recipe needs steel, which you can trade for from Tama.
6. Light Paper Fan
Light Paper Fan:
- Damage type: Strike
- Attack Damage: 120
- Slots: All or Nothing, Undead Avenger + 1 slot
The Light Paper Fan may look like a joke weapon, but it’s actually pretty strong. Featuring a critical damage boost with the "All or Nothing" ability, it’s one of the few critical damage-boosting abilities in the game!
This weapon works well with critical-based abilities like the Iaido or Swallow Slice, making it one of the best weapons in the game (because these abilities are one of the best). Sure, it might not have the highest damage value, but the best thing about Sakuna is that if you grow some rice, you’ll end up with a higher stat, which adds to overall damage dealt, so abilities and modifiers are really where it’s at!
What the Light Paper Fan excels at:
- Boosting a ton of critical damage
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something that boosts a specific drop rate, such as textile, ore, or meat
- It’s one of the few weapons that can boost critical damage, so it’s always going to be useful!
How to get a light paper fan:
As you progress through the story, you will unlock the Light Paper Fan Recipe, which requires the Paper Fan (also crafted) to make.
5. Gold Rake
Gold Rake:
- Damage type: Pierce
- Attack Damage: 210
- Slots: Luck Bearer, Fortune Finder + 1 free slot
The Golden Rake is a farming weapon designed to help you gather stuff. It features an increased amber drop rate and the ability to find more stuff (literally). It’s a great weapon to be used with other collection equipment and spirit bouges to seriously ramp up the gains from hunting random mobs.
There’s a lot of grinding in Sakuna: Rice and Ruin, so you’ll appreciate every opportunity you get that improves those chances!
What Gold Rake excels at:
- Dealing a ton of raw pierce damage
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something that boosts a specific drop rate, such as textile, ore, or meat
- It’s one of the few farming weapons that can help out with some of the grind in this game!
How to get the Gold Rake:
As you progress through the story, you will unlock the Gold Rake Recipe, which requires gold ore to craft.
4. Gold Iron
Gold Iron:
- Damage type: Strike
- Attack Damage: 113
- Slots: Tailor Made + 1 free slot
The gold iron is an interesting weapon that boosts the effects of the armour that Sakuna has on. This can be used to combo with a number of different armours to boost effects on the armour piece, such as increases in boosts during a specific weather condition, increases in farming effects, or even boosts to certain skills.
This is a flexible weapon that doesn’t directly have much value by itself as the damage isn’t outstanding, but its weapon effect, Tailor Made, is definitely unique and worth mentioning as some surprising and interesting combinations can be put together.
What gold and iron excel at:
- Interesting combinations
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something
- It’s a unique weapon that has a unique effect, which allows for some interesting combos after stacking effects.
How to get gold and iron:
As you progress through the story, you will unlock the gold iron recipe, which requires gold ore to craft.
3. Steel Sledgehammer
Steel Sledgehammer:
- Damage type: Strike
- Attack Damage: 240
- Slots: Secret Technique + one free slot
The steel sledgehammer is a staple high-damage weapon that you can craft easily by trading rice with the capital. It’s one of the best weapons available until you reach the point in the story where you gain access to the Hoshidama weapons.
This is a straight-forward weapon that has a skill that increases the base damage based on the number of enemies destroyed.
What the steel sledgehammer excels at:
- High base damage
- One spare spirit bough slot so you can slot in something
- It’s a straight-forward weapon that boosts damage the more enemies you defeat—nice and simple.
How to get a steel sledgehammer:
This is a weapon that you can craft once you reach a certain point in the game. The recipe needs steel, which you can trade for from Tama.
2. Scythe of Hoshidama
Scythe of Hoshidama:
- Damage type: Slash
- Attack Damage: 150
- Slots: Omizuchi’s Ruin, Armor Breaker, + 2 free slots
The scythe of Hoshidama is one of the strongest weapons in the game. It’s an integral part of the story, and you can’t miss getting it. This weapon is great for dealing pure damage with its armour-piercing ability, and you actually need to use it to beat a specific boss. This is the paired weapon of the Hoe of Hoshidama—you actually get both of them at the same time!
The weapon comes with two free slots, so you can socket whatever spirit bough you see fit, allowing for a lot of different customization options.
What Scythe of Hoshidama excels at
- Dealing a ton of raw slash damage
- Having two spirit bough slots allows you to customize the weapon to your liking.
- The weapon holds sentimental value due to its role in the story.
How to get the scythe of Hoshidama:
This is a weapon that you get before the end of the game, so you just need to keep progressing!
1. Hoe of Hoshidama
Hoe of Hoshidama:
- Damage type: Slash
- Attack Damage: 285
- Slots: Omizuchi’s Ruin, Armor Breaker, + 2 free slots
The Hoe of Hoshidama is one of the strongest weapons in the game. It’s an integral part of the story, and you can’t miss getting it. This weapon is great for dealing pure damage with its armour-piercing ability, and you actually need to use it to beat a specific boss.
The weapon comes with two free slots, so you can socket whatever spirit bough you see fit, allowing for a lot of different customization options.
What Hoe of Hoshidama excels at:
- Dealing a ton of raw slash damage
- Having two spirit bough slots allows you to customize the weapon to your liking.
- The weapon holds sentimental value due to its role in the story.
How to get Hoe of Hoshidama:
This is a weapon that you get before the end of the game, so you just need to keep progressing!
