The best weapons and armor in Like a Dragon: Ishin!

By Jacky Last updated Feb 21, 2023

Find the best weapons and armor in Like a dragon: Ishin! It is not an easy task. The latest story from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio is a riveting adventure packed with punches. Between the main chapters, side stories, and several different optional modes (including one that’s like a dungeon crawl), you’ll end up embroiled in combat quite often.

Regardless of the difficulty you choose to play, make sure you always carry with you ishinThe best weapons and armor are vital. This guide shares several different gear options worth pursuing, as well as their locations or the items you’ll need to craft them.

How crafting works in Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Pretty early on in the main story, you’ll gain access to a blacksmith vendor, which basically unlocks crafting in Like a dragon: Ishin!. You can create new weapons and equipment from scratch, using both crafting items and money. That being said, the elaboration in ishin it’s similar to crafting in Monster Hunter, in the way that you’ll need the old weapon in the tree in order to craft the new one. (All of this is displayed on the blacksmith’s crafting screen, including the exact list of items and the ones you’ll need, so you don’t need to worry about keeping a notebook handy.)

Additionally, you can use different types of hammer to upgrade equipment, improving its rarity and, as a result, its base damage or defense stats. As for the blacksmith, he can also donate equipment to improve the shop, which translates into some benefits. I recommend parting with the equipment that has low stats or buying the cheaper ones from the arms dealer. It will take longer, but at least you won’t mistakenly donate a weapon that you could have used to make a new katana or weapon later on.

Image: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega via Polygon

As for where to find craft items in Like a dragon: Ishin!, simple: They are everywhere! You can find them as loot during battles; inside pots; such as rewards for completing Battle Dungeons, side stories, and bonuses; or fulfilling orders in Another Life and having pet dogs that will bring you items from time to time.

Of all the above, Battle Dungeons tends to be a bit more useful; once completed, you can see the list of possible items that can drop. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get just the one you need, but at least you know there’s a guaranteed chance you’ll find it in that specific dungeon at some point.

Two samurai clash swords in Like a Dragon: Ishin!

The best weapons in Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Decide on the best weapons in Like a dragon: Ishin! It can be difficult, as it will depend on your playstyle. Some favor elemental attacks, which you can get from other pieces of gear or through Trooper Card abilities, while others focus on specific items, like the heat gauge.

My recommendation, especially during the early chapters of the main story, is to focus on whatever deals more damage than what you’re currently using. Once you start to get deeper into the game’s combat, especially if you plan on taking on Battle Dungeon, that’s when you’ll want to focus on elemental attacks or a few options like the Health-recovering Skink Lizard. for a percentage of the damage dealt to enemies.

Here are the best weapon options in Like a dragon: Ishin! to get you to the middle of the game:

Eternal Gold (Katana)

Perk: Charges the Heat Gauge 7% faster and also charges it 15% faster while drunk.
How to get Eternal Gold: You can get one after a boss fight in Chapter 6 of the main story, but it can also be crafted. To do the latter, you will need 1 Gold Dust, 5 Precious Steel, and Radiant Drunkard.
Because it’s great: Keeping your heat gauge charged most of the time will allow you to frequently perform heat actions and special attacks, which not only deal more damage but can also cancel upcoming attacks from enemies.

Juzu-maru (Katana)

Perk: Adds the poison element.
How to get Juzu-maru: You can get the sword later in the main story, or just go ahead and craft it much earlier. You will need 1 Sinister Prayer Beads, 10 Precious Steel, 5 Scrap Silver, and the Yaksha Sword.
Because it’s great: Poison is usually the only status ailment you can use against almost any enemy, passively dealing damage over time to them.

Skink Lizard (Katana)

Perk: Recovers health by 8% based on damage dealt to the enemy.
How to get Skink Lizard: To craft it, you will need 1 Obsidian Chunk, 10 Precious Steel, 5 Silver Scrap, and the Yaksha Sword.
Because it’s great: Being able to recover health based on damage is a great bonus overall. You’ll need to be more aggressive than usual to get the most out of it, and I also recommend upgrading the weapon and making sure you have the abilities of the related fighting style in check, making sure you’re dealing as much damage as possible. , which in turn will increase the amount healed per hit.

Masamune (Katana)

Perk: Charges the heat gauge 7% faster
How to get Masamune: You will need 1 Jet Black Belt, 10 Gold Chunks, 5 Platinum Filings, and Eternal Gold.
Because it’s great: Like Eternal Gold, keeping your heat gauge charged most of the time will allow you to perform heat actions and special attacks frequently, which not only deals more damage but can also cancel upcoming attacks from enemies.

Lightning Needle (Special)

Perk: Add the thunder element.
How to get the Lightning Needle: You can get a great version of this during a boss fight in chapter 12 of the main story. But to craft it beforehand, you will need 1 Jet Black Belt, 10 Sturdy Lumbers, 5 Driftwood, and Cross Spear. (Remember that this also requires the Knowledge of the Spear ability from the Wild Dancer tree.)
Because it’s great: The thunder element is a great elemental attack, but also, this spear does a lot of damage and has a really useful Heat action attack that you can use while engaging an enemy. If you keep your heat gauge charged, you will be able to parry multiple attacks by doing this. Sure, it’s repetitive, but effective.

Double Flash (Gun)

Perk: 40% chance to fire two shots at once.
How to get Double Flash: 1 lovely doll, 10 small wind-up devices, 10 mechanical parts and the double punch.
Because it’s great: Rate of fire isn’t the strength of many weapons, but getting a chance to double-shot once in a while can counteract that flaw.

Cherry Blossom (Gun)

Perk: Increases the effects of elemental attacks by 150%.
How to get cherry blossom: You will need 1 Elegant Hair Ornament, 10 Worn Cogwheels, 5 Exquisite Cogwheels, and the Winds of Winter.
Because it’s great: Using elemental bullets in your weapon is a great way to deal with tough enemies. Increasing that damage by 150% is a excellent way to do it.

Ryoma wields a katana on a rainy night in Like a Dragon: Ishin!

The best armor in Like a Dragon: Ishin!

Unlike weapons, not all armor categories in Like a dragon: Ishin! it has a lot of options. Most of the gear I’ve been using was dropped during the side stories or during the main story chapters.

Likewise, I recommend equipping whatever you can find, at least early on, just to start building up Ryoma’s defense stats. From there, you can focus on gear that doubles that defense or increases other aspects of the character, like Heat Gauge usage.

Here are the best armor options in Like a dragon: Ishin! to get you through the middle of the game:

Loincloth (Breastplate)

Perk: Increases the power of Brawler’s attacks by 90%.
How to get loincloth: You’ll get a “Better” rating version of this as you progress through the main story missions in chapter four.
Because it’s great: The Brawler fighting style can be a hard sell when it comes to swords, spears, and firearms from enemies, but it’s hard to ignore the speed of their attacks. Making sure you hit harder is crucial, and as an advantage, this fighting style is the one that allows for the use of special weapons. Having something like the Lighting Needle spear along with this perk can be a great way to strengthen your potential.

Brawler’s Binding (Sheath)

Perk: Increases defense by 8% on top of your base defense.
How to get Brawler union: You will need 1 Crimson Pearl, 10 Vermilion Cloth, 5 Fine Silk Cloth, and 1 Firefighter’s Breastplate.
Because it’s great: Brawler’s Binding might not have the bells and whistles of other armor on Like a dragon: Ishin!but if you need some defense, especially on the higher difficulties, crafting and upgrading this piece of gear will give you that much-needed protection boost.

Celestial Garment (Breastplate)

Perk: Reflects 5% of incoming damage and increases resistance to elemental attacks by 5%.
How to get Celestial Outfit: You will need 1 Ancient Amulet, 10 Vermilion Cloth, 5 Fine Silk Cloth, and 1 Herbalist’s Binding.
Because it’s great: As skilled as you are, you’re bound to get hit sometimes, so being able to reflect that damage is key, even if the percentage might seem low. You will be doing damage even when you are not attacking. And if the enemy attacks you with elemental attacks, you will have additional protection for them as well.

Hidden Blade Gauntlets (Gauntlet)

Perk: It reflects 5% of incoming damage and also makes a good Assassin’s Creed reference.
How to get Hidden Blade Gauntlets: You will need 1 Broken Awl, 10 Beast Tail, 5 Fine Horsehair and the Holy Wood Gauntlets.
Why they’re great: This is a great partner for Celestial Garb, as it buffs the percentage of damage taken that reflects off enemies.

Iron Gauntlets (Gauntlet)

Perk: It can protect against blades.
How to get Iron Gauntlets: You can get a pair by completing Substory 18: The Reclusive Son, or by crafting. To make the latter, you will need 1 Iron Scrap, 10 Beautiful Pelt, 5 Wild Silk, and Wooden Gauntlets.
Why they’re great: If you are used to raising your guard to defend against sword attacks, this perk will ensure that you block them. If they’re a heavy hit, your defense might break, but you’ll still protect yourself from that. Of course, if you are attacked from the sides or from behind, don’t expect to be so lucky.

Divine Dragon Emblem (Headband)

Perk: Reduces Heat Gauge consumption by 7% when using special moves. Additionally, while at low health, the heat gauge charges at 15 per second.
How to get the Divine Dragon Emblem: You will need 1 Eye of the Dragon (you can get one by completing Substory 20: Can I Quote You on That? in Chapter 7), 15 Vermilion Cloth, 10 Fine Silk Cloth, and the Iron Hachigane.
Because it’s great: Reducing the consumption of the heat gauge is a great way to ensure that you won’t have to wait as long to pull off another special move. But also, charging him faster while at low health also adds an additional source of Heat Gauge. It’s a high risk, high reward scenario as you don’t want to be low on health all the time, but the benefit is worth it: the special moves hit hard and can interrupt enemies often.