Summary
The world ofRise of the Ronintakes you through a world filled with some ofthe most ferocious bossesand challenging encounters during Japan’s Bakumatsu period. While your katana may be your trusty companion, you will quickly realize that there will be times when a well-placed shot from afar can turn the tide of battle.
Combat revolves around two primary weapon categories, with melee weapons used for close-quarter combat and ranged or sub-weapons that allow you to take down enemies from a distance. The following are the best ranged weapons Rise of the Ronin has to offer, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and how they can complement your uniquecombat style in the game.
7Bayonet
This is the onlyweapon type in the gamethat can be used for both close-quarter combat or long-range engagements simultaneously. It features a short blade conveniently attached to the tip of a long rifle, which allows you to seamlessly switch between ranged lethality and brutal close-quarter strikes.
Due to its duality, you can use this weapon to defeat opponents by stabbing and shooting at them without having to switch between primary and secondary weapons. It has three primary combat styles-theMumyo-ryu,Kiheitai Style, and theFrench Training, which you can unlock together with combo moves specific to it by defeating opponents wielding it.
Using the weapon to shoot enemies does not actually use up any of your rifle ammo.
6Revolver
Rise of the Ronin elevates the revolver beyond a simple ranged weapon. It is a fast, short-range pistol that interrupts enemy attacks or finishes off weakened foes in close quarters (which sometimes happens in a short cutscene).
The revolver excels at speed, so you can quickly switch between the revolver and your primary weapon for a fluid combat style. You can also use the revolver tocounterspark an enemy’s attackand create the perfect counterattack sequence.
5Fire Pipe
This is a special flamethrower that you can actually get to invent in the game. The weapon allows you to spray a powerful jet of flames at enemies during battles, and it causes a negative burning status that deals damage over time. It can also clear certain blockades, opening new paths or flushing out hiding enemies.
You can acquire the fire pipe by interacting with an NPC by the name of Igashichi Iizuka — an ambitious and talented engineer after you complete theLocating A Camera mission.Depending on the bond level you achieve with him, he will give you access to this weapon and some of his other inventions.
Even though you get this weapon after reaching the first bond level with Igashichi, you still have to complete theA Lucky Find Put to Use questto use it.
4Rifle
This is one of the most powerful ranged weapons in the game with the ability to take down some of the lower-tier enemies with a successful shot to the head. The rifle is ideal for strategic long-range take downs, which can help you thin enemy ranks before you can engage them in close combat.
A good combat tipis to aim for headshots when hitting enemies for maximum damage, but keep in mind that it is loud, so expect to draw some attention when using it. The weapon also deals significant damage but is slower than the revolver in terms of draw time and reloading, so you may want to account for this when you are engaging a larger group of enemies.
3Bow And Arrow
For a game with the open-world historical setting of Rise of the Ronin, the use of a bow and arrow is to be expected, and with good reason. This is a sub-weapon designed for silent takedowns from a distance while effectively damaging opponents, which is especially useful if you prefer stealth in your gameplay.
Unlike firearms, arrows shot from the bow can be retrieved from fallen enemies, making ammo management less of a concern. Keep in mind that arrows may have less power and speed compared to rifles, depending on the range and area of contact with your opponent.
Bows can be obtained as rewards from side quests, hidden stashes or purchased from vendors such as the Black Marketeer.
2Shuriken
Shurikens are small, fast-throwing projectiles that are perfect for interrupting enemy attacks or applying status effects like poison or bleed depending on the specific type of Shuriken equipped. While they don’t do much damage, these weapons excel at dealing additional damage or finishing off low-health enemies.
They can also be used to keep an enemy’s key meter under pressure and, you can unlock additional skills with them to gain access to special moves or increase the overall damage dealt. You can first gain access to them during the course ofThe Setting Sun missionif you take your time and loot around the area.
1Earthenware Ball
The Earthenware Ball is a throwable projectile that can be used to hold different forms of pre-crafted explosives, such as firebombs, or flashbombs. They can also be thrown without any powder to distract opponents from their specific locations.
The weapon will allow you to switch between all the different types of bombs you have available mid-combat, and you may combine it with other ranged attacks to create devastating attack sequences. You can also modify its ammunition to add certain effects to make it more useful during an open conflict situation.
To equip any powder ingredient to craft explosives in the ball, you first have to unlock theCraft Bolstering Itemsskill.
