When I started playing Rise of the Ronin on PS5, I didn’t think too much about weapon builds. I just picked what looked cool and fought my way through missions. But once I got to the boss fights, things changed. Buy Rise of Ronin on PlayStation 5 for the cheapest prices
Bosses had huge health bars, faster attack patterns, and could break your rhythm in a second.
After a few brutal losses, I realized I needed a better approach. Not just better weapons, but actual builds.
If you’re new to the game or just looking for more efficient ways to handle boss fights, here are five weapon builds that worked for me.
Why Weapon Builds Matter in Boss Fights?
Bosses in Rise of the Ronin aren’t just stronger versions of regular enemies. They hit harder, have multiple phases, and punish mistakes fast. Most of them also come with a Ki bar (their stamina), and the real key to beating them is managing that. Not just hacking away at their health.
A proper weapon build helps you:
- Drain Ki efficiently
- Land high-damage follow-ups
- Survive longer
- Adapt when the fight changes pace
And by “build,” I don’t just mean picking a weapon you like. It’s your main weapon, your sub-weapons, the armor you wear, and the skills you invest in. Once I started looking at it that way, boss fights became a lot more manageable and way more fun.
The 5 Best Weapon Builds for Bosses
These are the setups I found most effective.
PS: I’ve tested these across different missions and boss types.
1. Odachi + Katana (Balanced Bruiser Build)
This is the build I used the most.
The Odachi is slow, but it hits like a truck and does serious Ki damage. I usually open fights with it, using big swings to pressure the boss early. Once things speed up, like when a boss enters their second phase, I switch to the Katana. It’s faster, safer, and lets me stay mobile.
I always keep a Rifle for ranged pressure and a Handgun to chip away Ki from a distance or interrupt attacks. Add some skills for Ki recovery and healing on parry, and this build becomes both strong and reliable.
If you’re unsure what to start with, this one covers a bit of everything.
2. Katana-Only (Duelist Build)
There’s something very satisfying about fighting a boss with nothing but a Katana.
This build is all about timing. You rely heavily on Counterspark (perfect parries) to punish the boss, drain their Ki, and follow up with a critical strike. It took me a while to get good at this, but once I started reading enemy attacks better, it became one of my favorite ways to fight.
I keep a Handgun equipped just in case, but most of the work is done up close. For armor and skills, I focus on Ki management, critical hit damage, and anything that rewards clean play.
This one’s best if you enjoy fast-paced, reactive combat and don’t mind a learning curve.
3. Naginata Build (Reach & Control)
The Naginata surprised me. I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did.
It has great reach, and its wide, sweeping attacks make it easier to hit both bosses and nearby mobs. Against bosses who like to move around a lot, the extra range helped me stay just outside danger while still dealing steady Ki damage.
I pair it with a Rifle for long-range support and sometimes use the Grapple Rope for mobility. It’s not the flashiest build, but it gave me room to breathe, especially in fights where I needed to control space more than anything else.
If you’re still getting used to the game’s combat flow, this is a solid choice.
4. Rifle + Handgun (Pure Ranged Build)
When I got tired of dying up close, I built this setup. And, to be honest, it has saved me more than once.
The idea is simple: keep your distance, break the boss’s Ki bar from afar, and only move in when it’s safe. I use the Rifle to start the fight, then switch to the Handgun when I need quicker follow-up shots.
For this build to work, you need armor and skills that boost reload speed, ammo capacity, and critical hit chance. You’ll also need to stay mobile and avoid getting cornered.
It’s great for players who want to control the pace and take fewer risks. Just don’t forget to equip a melee weapon as backup.
5. Katana + Rifle (Versatile All-Rounder)
This is the build I recommend to anyone who doesn’t want to commit to a single style.
The Katana gives you reliable close-range options, while the Rifle gives you ranged control. You can shift between them based on the boss’s behavior. Close in when they’re open, back off when they get aggressive.
Stat-wise, this build doesn’t demand much specialization. I spread points between Dexterity and Intellect and picked skills that help both melee and ranged damage. It’s flexible, adaptable, and works in just about any situation.
This was the first build that really made the game click for me.
How to Build Smarter for Bosses
Your weapon is important, but it’s just part of the picture. If you want your build to really work, you need to line up your stats, gear, and skills around it.
- If you use heavy weapons like Odachi, invest in Strength
- If you prefer fast weapons like the Katana, go for Dexterity
- For rifles and handguns, prioritize Intellect
For armor, pick sets that match your needs. For example, faster Ki recovery for melee builds or improved reload speed for ranged ones. Accessories help too. I usually look for ones that boost damage when Ki is full, healing on perfect parry, or reduced stamina loss.
And the good news? You can respec. So don’t stress about getting everything right the first time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re new to the game or just looking for a little more edge in boss fights, give one of these setups a try. You’ll feel the difference pretty quickly.
And if it doesn’t click right away, tweak it. That’s part of the fun.