The original Yakuza 2 looked great and played alright for its time, but has aged quite roughly since its 2008 release. This prompted Sega's RGG Studio to remake it in 2017, leading to Yakuza Kiwami 2. The resulting game looked and played better than ever before, while still retaining all the crazy sequences that made the original such a fan favorite.
Still, there are a lot of combat sequences this time around. If the goons on the streets don’t get Kiryu, then the game’s hero, the new Bouncer Missions will. If Kiryu somehow survives those, the bosses will likely make short work of what’s left. Luckily, with these weapons, the player can even the odds. It just takes a little elbow grease and a bit of know-how.
Updated August 22, 2022, by David Heath: Playstation owners with a PS Plus account can now rejoice, as Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 were added to the service on August 16th, 2022. So, players can now download and play those games for free. They're some of the best entries in the series, and thus make for a great introduction to the world of Yakuza. Kiwami 2 is a particular standout with its improved graphics, expanded settings, and wild side activities. As such, this article has been updated with 3 additional weapons to track down and make Kiwami 2's harder encounters much more of a breeze.
13 High-Voltage Stun Gun
This testing taser only has 6 uses in its slot, yet each hit delivers a nice 56 points of damage. Not to mention it does exactly its name describes: it stuns with a powerful electric shock, leaving foes stuck in place for further hits or a full-on combo.
It might be just the tool a player needs to open up the harder bosses for offense, or break through the harder sections in the Story Mode or Bouncer Missions. Getting it is pretty straightforward too. Players can either cough up ¥60,000 at Beam in Chapter 6 onwards, or beat up Convenience Store Hunter Saito while going through the Street Bosses. He'll offer it up on a platter afterwards.
12 Iron Spear
The Spear weapons tend to be slow, but they can be handy in dealing with groups. Break out the Iron Spear, and any foes will be driven back, eating 72pts in damage in the process. It has 24 uses in its slot before breaking too, so it can take a fair amount of punishment. Plenty of time to get the right Heat Actions going with it.
Unfortunately, getting it is a bit of a gamble. Literally. It costs ¥700,000 from the Dragon Palace. That's the in-game casino, meaning the player has to earn enough pegs from blackjack, roulette, or oicho-kabu among other games first. It's either that or beating the Kali Stick Festival Bouncer Mission on Normal difficulty. It depends on whether a player fancies their luck or their skills more.
11 Dragon Iron Fists
These are some hard-hitting brass knuckles that do 84 points of damage to whomever they hit. They only have 48 uses before they need to be repaired, but that should be more than enough to handle the game’s goons. Unfortunately, getting them means beating the "Between A Rock & A Hard Place" Bouncer Mission on Legend difficulty.
Alternatively, players could buy them from Tatsu the Weapons Dealer after beating his substory and reaching Chapter 16. For an alternative, players can get their hands on the GBHG (Gary Buster Holmes Gauntlets) by getting first place in the Tournament of Darkness. They’re 20 points weaker, but they don’t break!
10 Illegal Poison Kodachi
Alongside its 64pt damage output, the Illegal Poison Kodachi also stuns its foes. Swipe it a couple of times, and the goons will be left open for a Heat move, Rush combo, or any other trick up Kiryu’s sleeve. As an added bonus, it doesn’t break. Players can use it right to their heart’s content without having to go back to Kamiyama.
The peddler of pugilistic props gets the last laugh though. This knife only becomes available after Kiryu sells him ¥2 million worth of stuff. Then it costs an additional ¥5 million to buy. With that in mind, it's a good thing Yakuza Kiwami 2 has the Hostess mini-game from Yakuza 0. Kiryu will need to have Yuki and company working overtime to get this treat.
9 Silhouette Katana
Katanas are usually pretty solid weapons to get in Yakuza Kiwami 2, and in video games in general. The Silhouette Katana is one of the easier ones to get, costing ¥3 million from the Ebisu Pawn Shop in Kamurocho. It’s that or beating the "Eternal Twilight" Bouncer Mission on Legend Difficulty to get it for free.
Given the difficulty involved in the latter, players might be better off just coughing up the cash. The Silhouette Katana does a solid 64 in attack power, with just 12 uses before it breaks. Still, it’s a stress-free way to get a hard-hitting weapon to use while unlocking some other bits of gear on this list.
8 Albatross Akagi’s Club
With 72pts of attack power and 24 uses, this golf club gives Kiryu the strength he needs to power drive opponents into the parking lot. He just needs to beat Albatross Akagi himself to get it. To do that, Kiryu has to get 290 points or more on the Advanced Course at the Sotenbori Golf Center.
Even getting that far requires beating the Center’s Closest to the Pin game on the Intermediate Course. If Kiryu goes above and beyond and gets 400+ points, they’ll also unlock the Golden Shaft Club. This one paralyzes foes, but only does 56pts of damage and breaks after 6 uses. With that in mind, players should just stick to beating Akagi and nab his 3-wood from him.
7 Smuggled Modified Tonfa
Sure, Kiryu could just beat the game, start a Premium Adventure, and raise ¥5 million for a Yinglong Tonfa. It takes 88pt-sized chunks out of foes without any extra effects. However, with the Smuggled Modified Tonfa, he can take an 8-point reduction in return for a tonfa that doesn’t break and toasts his foes.
All it takes is selling ¥1.4 million’s worth of stuff to Kamiyama, then coughing up another ¥4 million. It does drain a bit of health to use, which is the trade-off for having a good tonfa that Kiryu can use on a fresh game slot.
6 Magic Katana
Speaking of which, the Magic Katana has the same pros and cons that the Smuggled Modified Tonfa has. It drains health to use while being unbreakable and burning enemies. It even does the same amount of damage at 80 points. The katanas generally have a better move set than the combos too, so it might be worth grabbing. It's certainly the closest players will get to recreating the Japan-only Yakuza Ishin samurai game.
Sadly, the player already has to be a pro at the game to get it. They have to beat the "Pandemonium" Bouncer Mission on Legend Difficulty to grab it. This involves beating an everlasting horde of enemies and the notorious Amon Clan all in one go. Still, that would be quicker than the next katana on the list.
5 Photon Blade RG
Not to be confused with the Photon Blade W, the RG is an honest-to-goodness Star Wars-esque lightsaber. It has the same perks as its Kali Stick-based W version, in being an unbreakable, 88-point damage dealer. Only it’s easier to get. Players just need to beat the game, start a Premium Adventure slot, then buy the weapon for ¥5 million.
The W version requires selling ¥3 million’s worth of junk to Kamiyama, then buying it for ¥6 million. That’s a lot of effort though when the RG is ¥1 million cheaper, doesn’t require buying & selling a bunch of stuff, and has a better move set. The RG comes in especially handy for powering through those Bouncer missions too, so it’s a very handy tool for completionists.
4 Dragon Sticks
Kali Sticks are cool and all, but there’s a much better set of sticks than the Photon Blade W. The Dragon Sticks have the exact same stats as the W and the RG, while being much easier to obtain. Players simply need to sell the equivalent of ¥900,000 in bits & bobs to Kamiyama, and the Dragon Sticks can be bought for ¥700,000.
Alternatively, if Kiryu has places to be, he can beat Ukyo the Bridge Guard on Iwao Bridge in Sotenbori as part of the Street Bosses mini-game. It’s a nice and breezy way to get the best sticks for practicing Kiryu’s Taiko drumming on some fools.
3 Demon Blade Muramasa
Excluding single or double-use weapons like Hand Grenades and Rocket Launchers, the Muramasa is the 2nd strongest weapon in Yakuza Kiwami 2. It does 96 points of damage with each of its 36 uses before it needs to be fixed again. Getting it isn’t difficult either, just very convoluted. In short, Kiryu has to completely use up the worst katana in the game to get the best one.
The player first has to get the Kiwami Demon Blade. They can do this by beating the "Noxious Smell" Bouncer Mission on Legend difficulty, beating one of the Nouveau Riche guys, or buying the DLC. Then they have to completely use up the Demon Blade until it needs fixing. Once fixed, it becomes the Muramasa. Sounds simple, right? It is…except the Demon Blade has to be used 99 times before it breaks, and it only does 8 points of damage. At least the player will have plenty of time to see that sweet triple-slash Heat move from the unreleased Yakuza Kenzan and Ishin games.
2 Demon Blade Myogetsu
If going through all that trouble for the Muramasa sounds like too much, there is a backup. The Demon Blade Myogetsu is less durable with just 12 uses before it breaks. It's also half as strong as the Muramasa with 64 damage points taken with each swing. That's still a respectable number, and better than swinging for eight points 99 times. Especially as it also inflicts burn damage too.
So, what's the catch behind it? There is none. No Bouncer Missions, Street Bosses, or Premium Adventure required. Just cold, hard cash late into the game. The player has to wait until around Chapter 12 in the Story Mode for it to be accessed, then wait further until Chapter 16 to buy it from Beam for a cool ¥3 million. If only Mr Shakedown from Yakuza 0 could come in and provide a payday.
1 DRAGON-SP
The DRAGON-SP is one of Yakuza Kiwami 2's best weapons, if not THE best. This gun has the power of a Hand Grenade at 100 points per shot, and it never runs out of bullets. It essentially turns the Heavy Attack button into a win button with each press. There’s no real catch to the weapon either. Kiryu doesn’t have to use up the Modded Model Gun or beat every Bouncer Mission on Legend difficulty twice over.
The DRAGON SP can be bought from Kamiyama for ¥5 million after beating the game and starting a Premium Adventure. The Photon Blade RG may help finish those Bouncer Missions in style, but if the player would rather just get them and the other difficulties over and done with ASAP, there’s no choice to make. At the same price, the SP is an absolute bargain.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.