KAIZEN Weapon & Fighting Style Tier List [RYU]

Updated on April 16: Added all weapons up to the latest Ryu update and reworked the entire tier list for PVP and PVE.

When considering the best weapon and fighting style in KAIZEN it’s all about PVP versus PVE. Both categories have either one or two options that are clearly the best so I’ll be analyzing which ones to skip and how do the late-game options compare to each other. Here’s my KAIZEN weapon and fighting style tier list and guide.

KAIZEN Weapon Tier List

The best weapon in KAIZEN is the Soul Split Katana dealing the best damage and having the strongest moveset. While SSK is best for PVP and PVE there are some great alternatives from the S and A-Tiers for both PVE and PVP. Combine these with the Weapon-focused Clans, Binding Vows and even CTs below for the best melee builds in the game. Let’s dive into more details below.

Combine this with our other Kaizen tier lists

All KAIZEN Weapons Ranked

Weapons	Rankings
Soul Split Katana Special Grade	PVP: S-Tier PVE: S-Tier • The best DPS and the best mobility out of all the weapons • Soul Vortex and Severing Draw give you so many movement options to catch up to opponents and keep applying pressure • They’re also great combo starters into Spirit Dissection which deals a ton of damage • Combines well with Cryofrost or Straw Doll for combos and Combo Binding Vow for damage
Yuta’s Blade Special Grade	PVP: S-Tier PVE: S-Tier • Feels similar to SSK but is weaker for PVP • It’s all about combo enders here since the knockback makes it hard to combo • That said you can catch people with the dash attack after any of the other moves knock them back
Taiyuken Sword Special Grade	PVP: S-Tier PVE: S-Tier • Weaker than SSK but about equal to Yuta • Solar Rampage is great for combos • The other two moves deal a ton of AOE burst damage • C is great for manual aim catching enemies and the range makes it the best move
Nyoi Staff Special Grade	PVP: B-Tier PVE: A-Tier • A lot of AOE damage here but due to the wind-ups and punish windows it’s a bit worse than other Special Grades • Still great damage for PVE
Blood Scythe Grade 1	PVP: A-Tier PVE: A-Tier • The best Grade 1 weapon • Great combo potential with some ranged poke with X • Really good for PVE farming too with the C • Strong against bosses • Lower than the Special Grades simply due to less DPS
Slaughter Demon Grade 4	PVP: S-Tier PVE: B-Tier • Actually an underrated option since the skill is so good • The stun and mobility on it is really strong in PVP • Plus, the damage you can do with the skill after an M1 combo is insane in PVP if you manage to stun-lock your enemy • Can be hard to land though
Spotted Nata Grade 2	PVP: B-Tier PVE: B-Tier • Just an overall decent weapon with boosted damage on M1s with weapon infusion • Fracture Pull can set up combos quite well
Cursed Spear Grade 1	PVP: B-Tier PVE: B-Tier • The spear has good single-target damage for bosses • It’s pretty decent in PVP too with the skewer rush grab
Jet Black Grade 2	PVP: B-Tier PVE: B-Tier • Has a nice damage follow-up after an M1 combo with X • Also has a nice combo set up with the pull form C • Very similar to Spotted Nata
Frost Fangs Grade 1	PVP: C-Tier PVE: C-Tier • The mobility is nice but the DPS and combos are lacking
Cursed Daggers Grade 1	PVP: C-Tier PVE: C-Tier • Similar to FF where the mobility in PVP is good but the damage just doesn’t cut it since the moves don’t combo well with M1s
Mantis Edge Grade 3	PVP: D-Tier PVE: D-Tier • Avoid
Emperial Sword Grade 4	PVP: D-Tier PVE: D-Tier • Avoid

KAIZEN Fighting Style Tier List

The best Fighting Styles in KAIZEN are easy to rank since there’s not that many yet. Mainly you’re choosing between Heavenly and Black Flash. Black Flash has higher base damage while Heavenly has better combo potential. As for the other two they’re just stepping stones from early to mid game. Let’s dive into the details of each one below.

Combine this with our other Kaizen tier lists

Fighting Styles	Notes
Heavenly Late-game Option 1	Best PVP fighting style • While Black Flash deals more damage on average Heavenly is better in two aspects • First, for PVP and PVE humanoid bosses it has a better great combo starter with X and extender with V • Second, Heavenly beats Black Flash on stamina use • So Heavenly is usually better since it allows you to continue your combos and therefore do more damage • To get V you need to roll for the Physical Heavenly Restriction binding vow Get from Toji raid on the outskirts of Shibuya.
Black Flash Late-game Option 2	Best PVE fighting style • Black Flash moves deal more damage than Heavenly by themselves • Therefore, you get more burst damage per move if that suits your playstyle better • That said, the Heavenly combo extender and stamina management IMO make it better
Cursed Fist Mid-game	• A stronger version of Divergent Fists that you will use to farm up to Black Flash or Heavenly

That’s it for my KAIZEN weapon and fighting style tier list and guide. Check out our KAIZEN codes for free rewards like Binding Vow spins which you’ll need a lot of to get Physical Restriction for Heavenly’s V move.