Everything You Need to Know About Ninja Weapons

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Plus, find out where to buy your own authentic ninja weaponry

Co-authored by Gabriele Culot and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: June 11, 2026 Fact Checked

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Common Ninja Weapons

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Female Ninja Weapons

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What are ninjas?

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Usage of Ninja Weapons

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Buying Authentic Weapons

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Ninja vs. Samurai

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Tips

Ninja weapons are versatile and can be used defensively and offensively. When ninjas were still operating, they had a vast arsenal of weapons that they used for assassinations, infiltration, and other secret missions. Nowadays, ninja weapons are even more diverse. In this article, we delve into weapons that were used by ninjas, explain how they were used, and even dig into weapons that were used by female ninjas.

Popular Ninja Weapons

Shuriken (Throwing Stars)
Fukiya (Blowguns)
Kunai (Throwing Knives)
Ninjatō (Short Sword)
Katana (Long Sword)

Section 1 of 6:

Common Ninja Weapons

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Ninjatō (Ninja Sword) A ninjatō is a short, straight sword that is suitable for slicing and stabbing. The 40 cm blade made the ninjatō an efficient weapon for close combat. Since it’s small and easy to handle, Ninjas used the ninjatō to attack their enemy’s vital points.^{[1]
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- When a ninja was captured, they often used the ninjatō to end their lives. This was to avoid revealing confidential information.
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Katana (Sword) Katana were a common sword used by ninjas. Although the katana is often associated with samurai, it was used by ninja in a variety of situations because of its sharp, tough blade. The ninja katana is shorter than a samurai’s, increasing speed and making it easier to maneuver in tight spaces.^{[2]
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- Historical Weapons Expert Gabriele Culot adds that besides the Katana, there's also Tachi, which is a longer version of the Katana.^{[3]
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A tantō is a small dagger that ninjas used in close-quarters combat. The sharp blade is capable of piercing through armor, while the small size makes it useful as a utility blade. The small stature also made the tantō useful for piercing through gaps in armor.^{[4]
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Shuriken (Throwing Stars) Shuriken are one of the most iconic ninja weapons. They are sharp stars that are thrown by ninjas, often with extreme accuracy and force. These versatile weapons were extremely useful for stealth attacks, as they allowed for lethal moves from a distance.^{[5]
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- Sometimes, ninjas coated their shuriken with poison to ensure a hit was lethal.
- Shuriken were sometimes used to slash and stab in close combat situations.
- Shuriken, also called ninja stars, are the most popular ninja weapon in the world.
Kunai were a popular weapon used by ninjas. A kunai is a small, knife-shaped object with a hilt and guard. Despite the notion in popular culture that kunai were thrown to damage or incapacitate enemies from afar, ninjas actually used them to dig and anchor objects.^{[6]
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Fukiya (Blowguns) Fukiya, also known as blowguns, are a stealthy weapon that ninjas used to take down enemies without being noticed. Fukiyas fire darts or small shards of metal that are typically coated with poison. These projectiles are usually fired from a distance to avoid being spotted. Skilled ninjas were able to accurately use a fukiya from vast distances.^{[7]
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- When a fukiya is fired, it is extremely quiet, which meant enemies who were hit by it were often unaware of the ninja before they were incapacitated.
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Bō-Shuriken (Stick Shuriken) Bō-Shuriken are small metal spikes that were often thrown by ninja. They were typically used as a secondary weapon, being thrown when an opportunity to hit the enemy arose. Due to their tiny frame, they are easy to control. But, the tiny frame also makes them harder to throw, as any rotation can result in inaccuracy.^{[8]
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- Bō-Shuriken are usually single or double-pointed.
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Kusarigama (Chain-Sickle) A kusarigama, also known as a chain sickle, consists of a sickle, which is a small scythe-like weapon, and a weight at the end of a long chain. Ninjas used kusarigama for close-quarters combat and long-distance situations, as the chain added versatility and made for attacks that were beyond the enemy’s prediction.^{[9]
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- A kusarigama was also useful for constraining enemies and defending against their swords.
The makibishi (foot spikes) are elusive ground spikes that were used to slow down pursuing enemies by piercing their feet. When used strategically, ninja were able to control enemy actions and keep them out of the picture to facilitate raids, assassinations, and escapes without major interference.^{[10]
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Smoke Bombs Smoke bombs are a classic ninja tool. In sticky situations, like an escape or distraction, ninjas would slam smoke bombs on the ground to create an instant cloud of smoke that helped conceal their movements and reshape the battlefield. The smoke would blind and confuse enemies, which ninjas would use to their advantage defensively and offensively.^{[11]
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- Smoke bombs helped contribute to the misconception that ninjas are supernatural beings, as they would often disappear in a cloud of smoke by throwing a smoke bomb and running into the night.
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Concealed Spikes Ninjas would often conceal spikes in their feet, arms, and other areas of their body. These concealed spikes were useful for situations that called for close combat, as the spikes added a lethal slicing effect when used on the feet and fists.
- These spikes would sometimes be attached to wearable items, resulting in weapons like shukō, which are spiked leather arm rings.^{[12]
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Section 2 of 6:

What weapons do female ninjas use?

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Neko-te (Cat Claws) Female ninjas, known in Japanese as kunoichi, used finger sheaths called neko-te. A neko-te features metal claws that are extremely sharp. These sharp, catlike claws were typically coated in poison, serving as an effective weapon that could incapacitate an enemy with a swipe.^{[13]
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- Kunoichi would typically slip on one or multiple neko-te and quickly swipe at the enemy when they were close.
Tessen were foldable steel fans that were used to take down enemies with blunt force. They were also used to defend from attacks, specifically darts and knives. Due to their foldable nature, they could be hidden in plain sight by being sheathed into a piece of clothing.^{[14]
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Kunoichi used long, sharp hairpins called kanzashi that could be hidden in their hair. These hairpins could be sharpened and used to attack vital points of an enemy’s body. They were also often dipped in poison, which assisted in delivering a fatal blow when used.^{[15]
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Section 3 of 6:

Who were the ninja?

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Ninja were agents employed for espionage, infiltration, and assassination. Ninjas were spies who were highly skilled in the art of stealth and guerilla warfare. They were thought to have been poor peasants who used their wits to protect themselves from samurai. To be a ninja, going on counterintelligence operations was a requirement. They typically involved infiltrating enemy territory and covertly gathering intelligence.^{[16]
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- Ninjas are thought to have originated from the mountain regions of Honshu, Japan’s largest island.
- The ninja operated until the Edo period (1603-1868) when peace led to their natural decline. But, they are rumored to be active today, just underground.
- Their stealthy assassinations were carried out with an extensive arsenal of weapons, each of which was versatile and suitable for various offensive and defensive situations.
- In pop culture, they have the reputation of silent, stealthy killers.

Section 4 of 6:

How were ninja weapons used?

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Ninjas used their weapons flexibly, as many were multipurpose. Ninjas often planned their attacks ahead of time with extreme precision and adaptability. Depending on the situation, different weapons would be used in order for a mission to be successful. Ninjas would also pair their weapons with the environment to their advantage, with some ninjas even using their weapons to scale walls.^{[17]
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- Some situations would call for distant attacks using a fukiya, while others would call for a close, lethal attack using ninjatō or neko-te.
- Ninjas underwent rigorous training with their weapons at secret camps across Japan.^{[18]
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Section 5 of 6:

Where to Buy Authentic Ninja Weapons

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Buy weapons from reputable shops or custom sword builders. To get your hands on authentic ninja weapons, it’s best to buy from reputable shops like Pure Blades or Blade HQ. You can also buy your weapons from Amazon, just check that the seller is reputable by looking for good reviews. For an authentic ninja weapon that’s customized to you, find a custom sword builder online, check their reviews and products, and reach out to them to set up an order.
- Check with your local laws to make sure you can carry a ninja weapon, as different states have different rules on the legality of carrying knives, blades, and other sharp weapons.^{[19]
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Section 6 of 6:

What’s the difference between ninja and samurai?

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Samurai were elite warriors bound by codes, while ninjas were free spies. Ninjas didn’t belong to one particular class. Nor were they required to abide by a stringent set of rules. Samurai, on the other hand, had to follow a strict code of conduct called Bushido, in which they adhered to principles of honor, discipline, and loyalty. They both served lords, but Samurai primarily protected them, while ninjas often carried out their orders. ^{[20]
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- Samurai weren’t as stealthy as ninja. They often fought in the open and were disciplined swordsmen.

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In Japanese, male ninjas are called “shinobi.” Female ninjas are called “kunoichi.”

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Gabriele Culot
Historical Weapons Expert

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Everything You Need to Know About Ninja Weapons

Popular Ninja Weapons

Steps

Common Ninja Weapons

What weapons do female ninjas use?

Who were the ninja?

How were ninja weapons used?

Where to Buy Authentic Ninja Weapons

What’s the difference between ninja and samurai?

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Everything You Need to Know About Ninja Weapons

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