Katana (weapon type)

Katana, also known as ninja swords, dark blades, and knife, is a group of weapons in many Final Fantasy games. The most prominent katana is the Masamune. Recurring katana are: Kotetsu, Kikuichimonji, Ashura, and the Muramasa. Muramasa and Masamune are the two most powerful, though the Masamune is usually idolized as the strongest.

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While specifically a backsword, a form of sword not unlike that of a saber, in the Final Fantasy series, katana are presented a unique series of weapon, exotic blades, swift enough to attack in the blink of an eye or having mystical powers.

In games which have classes, katana are often reserved for Japanese-styled classes, such as the Samurai, Parivir, and Ninja. Installments that bear item descriptions and lore often note that katana are not of game's world, originating from faraway lands that are reminiscent of Japan; other games have accessible locations where katana and other oriental weaponry are hinted to stem from.

Final Fantasy
There are swords only equippable by the Warrior, Thief, and Red Mage classes that possess an icon resembling a katana. These are high-ranking weapons obtainable later in the game.


 * Scimitar
 * Falchion
 * Sasuke's Blade
 * Ashura
 * Kotetsu
 * Kikuichimonji
 * Murasame
 * Masamune

Final Fantasy III
The Dark Knight and Ninja classes can equip katana, which are called dark blades. Murakumo can only be equipped by Dark Knights, while Muramasa can only be equipped by Ninjas.


 * Ashura
 * Kotetsu
 * Kiku-Ichimonji
 * Masamune
 * Murakumo (3D)
 * Muramasa (3D)

Final Fantasy IV
Edge can equip two katana at a time.


 * Kunai
 * Ashura
 * Kotetsu
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Murasame
 * Masamune
 * Sasuke's Katana (GBA)
 * Mutsonokami (GBA)

Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-
Edge returns as the sole user who can equip two katana at a time.


 * Ashura
 * Kotetsu
 * Kiku-ichimonji

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Edge, Gekkou, Zangetsu, Izayoi, and Tsukinowa can equip katana.


 * Kunai
 * Kodachi
 * Kogarasu
 * Crimson Cherry
 * Ashura
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Boltslicer
 * Kotetsu
 * Murasame
 * Masamune
 * Mutsunokami
 * Sasuke's Katana (Dummied)

Final Fantasy V
Katana can be wielded by Freelancers and Samurai. They deal damage based on the attacker's Strength stat, and they are among the few weapons which can score critical hits.


 * Ashura
 * Wind Slash
 * Osafune
 * Kotetsu
 * Kiku-Ichimonji
 * Murasame
 * Masamune
 * Murakumo
 * Mutsunokami (GBA)

Final Fantasy VI
Cyan can equip katana, also known as "Knife". Katana enable the Bushido and Runic commands, although Cyan cannot use Runic and Celes cannot equip katana.


 * Ashura
 * Kotetsu
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Kazekiri
 * Murasame
 * Masamune
 * Murakumo
 * Mutsunokami
 * Zanmato (GBA)

Final Fantasy VII
Sephiroth wields a very long katana called the Masamune, which has become his trademark weapon. Cloud also has two katana named Murasame and Yoshiyuki, and a Masamune replica (called the Masamune Blade; but it cannot be used as a weapon) that can be obtained at the Gold Saucer's Speed Square.

Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-
Katana (Male), as per his name, wields a katana, as does the non-player character Elfé.


 * Murasame
 * True Murasame

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Kadaj uses Souba as his weapon. The Souba is a katana with two reinforced parallel blades, set a small distance apart from each other. When Kadaj turns into Sephiroth he wields his iconic Masamune.

Final Fantasy X
Auron wields heavily stylized blades referred to as katana.

Final Fantasy X-2
Katana are used by the Samurai dressphere. Yuna uses the Spider's Kiss and Rikku uses the Katana, weapons previously wielded by Auron, while Paine has a unique unnamed katana. When in the Dark Knight dressphere, Rikku uses the Masamune.

Final Fantasy XI
Katana are one-handed blades used by Ninja, who are capable of dual-wielding them. In higher levels, dual-wielded katana are capable of impressive damage over time and moderately strong Weapon Skills. Great katana, the two-handed variants of this weapon, are the main weapon for Samurai, although Ninja can also equip a select few of them.

Great katana deal high damage but have high delay. The strength of the great katana comes from the versatility in its Weapon Skills. Most great katana Weapon Skills are strategically placed all around the skillchain chart, making it skillchain-friendly with other weapon types. This works well with the Samurai because they can unleash Weapon Skills and skillchains faster than any other job.

Final Fantasy XII
Katana can be used after being unlocked on the License Board. They are valued for their combo ability, which can be enhanced by the Genji equipment, and it is second only to the one of the ninja swords.

The damage formula for katanas is:
 * $$DMG = [ATK * RANDOM(1..1.125) - DEF] * [1 + STR * (Lv+MAG)/256]$$

Due to the weight put on user's Strength and Magick Power, but also user's level, recommended katana user is Vaan.

In the International Zodiac Job System, only the Bushi can equip katana.


 * Kotetsu
 * Osafune
 * Kogarasumaru
 * Magoroku
 * Murasame
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Yakei
 * Ame-no-Murakumo
 * Muramasa
 * Masamune
 * Masamune I (International version)

Final Fantasy XV
Katana is a not a weapon type, but appear as distinguishable swords marked by their aesthetic. According to the item lore of the Masamune, katana are not originally of the nation of Lucis and originate from a faraway and unknown land. Thus they are most likely weapons culturally adopted by Lucis in reverence of their technical design and for having been wielded by the Lucian king known as The Warrior. Cor Leonis wields both a katana and a wakizashi for his respective Primary and Secondary Arms, and has a fighting style that makes proper use of them.


 * Kotetsu
 * Kikuichimonji
 * Masamune
 * Katana of the Warrior

Final Fantasy Tactics
Katanas can be equipped by the Samurai, Onion Knight, Sword Saint, and by Celia's Assassin job. Each Katana has a specific Iaido ability. There is a chance of a katana will break when its respective Iaido ability is used in battle.


 * Ashura
 * Kotetsu
 * Osafune
 * Murasame
 * Ama-no-Murakumo
 * Kiyomori
 * Muramasa
 * Kiku-ichimoji
 * Masamune
 * Chirijiraden

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Katana are the weapons of choice for Assassins and Ninja, and thus are cheaper at Cyril and Muscadet. The ultimate katana is the Masamune 100.


 * Ninja Knife
 * Murasame
 * Ashura
 * Petalchaser
 * Osafune
 * Kotetsu
 * Heaven's Cloud
 * Kikuichimonji
 * Mythril Epee
 * Nosada
 * Charfire
 * Silkmoon
 * Masamune
 * Masamune 100
 * Zanmato

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
A new job, the Parivir, is the third class to equip katana, along with the returning Assassins and Ninjas.


 * Kunai
 * Murasame
 * Ashura
 * Osafune
 * Kotetsu
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Ama-no-murakumo
 * Nosada
 * Adazakura
 * Ragetsu-Denbu
 * Masamune
 * Zanmato
 * Sumihomura
 * Hyakushiki-Masamune

Final Fantasy Type-0
Jack wields a katana as his weapon of choice. He moves slowly, but his attack is powerful and fast.


 * Katana
 * Kiki-ichimonji
 * Nagamitsu
 * Black Widow
 * Murasame
 * Imperial Blade
 * Dragonslayer
 * Kotetsu
 * Mythril Blade
 * Demonslayer
 * Rapture
 * Conqueror
 * Muramasa
 * Bushido Blade
 * Mutsunokami
 * Genji Blade (ultimate weapon)

The Final Fantasy Legend
Two katana appears, both classified as swords.


 * Katana
 * Masmune

Final Fantasy Legend II
Three katana appear classified as swords.


 * Katana
 * Muramas
 * Seven

Final Fantasy Legend III
There are three katana. The Muramas is classified as a sword, while the Masmune and Emperor are classified as Mystic Swords.


 * Muramas
 * Masmune
 * Emperor

Bravely Default
Katana is a type of weapon.


 * Ise-no-Kami
 * Nodachi
 * Osafune
 * Raikiri
 * Kotetsu
 * Kiku-Ichimonji
 * Masamune
 * Muramasa
 * Mutsu-no-Kami
 * Ama-no-Murakumo

Bravely Second: End Layer
Katana appear as a type of weapon. They originally hailed from the land of Wa, a legendary island nation that disappeared a long time ago.

Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)
Katana is a type of weapon. Garland, Firion, Bartz and Sephiroth can equip them.


 * Katana
 * Nodachi
 * Uchigatana
 * Warblade
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Murasame
 * Heike's Blade
 * Kazekiri
 * Heaven's Cloud
 * Piggy's Stick
 * Lufenian Katana
 * Genji Blade

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
Katana return as weapons, and now are also available to Warrior of Light, Cecil, Kain, Gilgamesh, Cloud, Squall, Vaan, and Lightning.


 * Katana
 * Uchigatana
 * Nodachi
 * Warblade
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Yasha
 * Heike's Blade
 * Murasame
 * Onimaru
 * Kazekiri
 * Suzaku
 * Heaven's Cloud
 * Genji Blade
 * Piggy's Stick
 * Lufenian Katana
 * Hardwood Katana

Final Fantasy All the Bravest
Katana can be equipped by the Samurai, Ninja, and Auron.

List of katana:
 * Homura
 * Ichigeki
 * Kagenui
 * Kiku-ichimonji
 * Kotetsu
 * Masamune
 * Murakumo
 * Nanatsusayanotachi
 * Yoshiyuki

Final Fantasy Explorers
Katana use katana abilities. As a two-handed weapon, a katana cannot be dual wielded. Freelancer, Ninja, and Samurai can equip katanas.


 * Ashura
 * Kotetsu
 * Murasame
 * Kikuichimonji
 * Muramasa
 * Daitsuren
 * Mutsunokami
 * Art of War
 * Masamune
 * Heaven's Cloud