Suda51 is one of the most eclectic developers in gaming, churning out acquired taste after acquired taste over a decades long career. As niche as Suda51, he’s managed to garner a cult status thanks to his penchant for stylization, deep love for the medium, and ability to play on interconnectivity in a way most video games fail to. No More Heroes and its sequel, Desperate Struggle, embody the best of Suda51’s design philosophy and their recent Nintendo Switch re-releases have made the games more accessible than ever.
Set in a world where assassins are commonplace, No More Heroes has a very unique sense of style that leans into the inherent violence that makes up so many video games. Travis Touchdown is a bloodthirsty main character and his Beam Katanas cut through hundreds in both No More Heroes games. Travis has a bunch of different Beam Katanas you can unlock across No More Heroes and Desperate Struggle if you put in the work.
Blood Berry
The Blood Berry is the default Beam Katana in both No More Heroes and Desperate Struggle, although it’s designed very differently in both games. In No More Heroes, the Blood Berry is Travis’ weakest Beam Katana and you’re expected to replace it as soon as you can. The Blood Berry has low damage output, drains battery relatively quickly, and has the longest recharge time in the game.
The Blood Berry in Desperate Struggle is another matter entirely and can comfortably stay equipped the entire game. While the Blood Berry’s range isn’t too crazy when the Ecstasy Meter is unfilled, it has the highest damage amount in Desperate Struggle and can string together some truly deadly combos. The Beam Katana still has a lackluster battery and will need to be recharged often, but Blood Berry cuts through No More Heroes 2s hardest bosses like butter.
Tsubaki & Tsubaki Mk-II
After defeating Death Metal in the first No More Heroes and gaining access to Santa Destroy, you’ll be able to visit Naomi’s Lab to buy new Beam Katanas and Part Enhancements. The first Beam Katana you can purchase is the Tsubaki, which is available as soon as Naomi’s Lab is unlocked. The Tsubaki is ostensibly a stronger version of the Blood Berry with a more durable battery, costing LB$98,000.
Naomi will develop a second iteration of the Beam Katana called the Tsubaki Mk-II after defeating the first game’s Rank 6 boss, Holly Summers. The Tsubaki Mk-II costs LB$148,000, but has incredible range and deals heavy damage that casually rips through mobs. While the Tsubaki Mk-II isn’t the overall best Beam Katana in NMH1, it’s strong enough to get you through the end of the first game.
Tsubaki Mk-III/Camellia Mk-III
The Tsubaki Mk-III is the best Beam Katana in the first No More Heroes and can be purchased from Naomi’s Lab for LB$498,000 after defeating the Rank 3 boss, Speed Buster. Unlike other Beam Katanas, the Tsubaki Mk-III has an unlimited battery which removes the need to charge – allowing you to pull off non-stop combos from enemy to enemy. Fast and strong with long range, there’s no reason not to use the Tsubaki Mk-III once you unlock it.
Curiously enough, the Tsubaki Mk-III makes a comeback in Desperate Struggle under a brand new name, the Camellia Mk-III. The Camellia Mk-III can be purchased from Naomi’s Lab at the start of the game for LB$50,000. It goes without saying, but the Camellia Mk-III being available so early means it naturally isn’t as strong as it once was. While the Beam Katana is still quite fast and has infinite stamina, the Camellia Mk-III is noticeably weaker when it comes to damage output.
Peony
The Peony is available for purchase at Naomi’s Lab after you beat the Rank 25 boss, Charlie Macdonald. The Peony is the single longest Beam Katana in Desperate Struggle, with an almost ridiculous range that’ll cut through enemies far away from Travis. The main downsides to the Peony are that it’s quite slow and costs a total of LB$300,000 to purchase – which is more than most will earn in an average playthrough of No More Heroes 2.
The Peony does have its uses and is incredibly fun to play around with, but it’s far from an essential purchase. The Beam Katana tends to be impractical for boss fights, best used against waves of enemies who are rushing towards Travis.
Rose Nasty
Rose Nasty is the overall best Beam Katana in Desperate Struggle and is automatically unlocked as part of the story after defeating the Rank 8 boss, New Destroyman. Travis dual wields the Rose Nasty, using two Beam Katanas in conjunction with each other. While Rose Nasty doesn’t have infinite stamina, it has an incredibly sturdy battery.
Not just that, Rose Nasty hits hard and fast, allowing you to seamlessly chain full combos from enemy to enemy. Maxing out Travis’ strength makes Rose Nasty especially deadly as well. While the Blood Berry is still the best Beam Katana to use against Desperate Struggle’s bosses, Rose Nasty is the most fun to actually play around with.