I have a confession, choom: I am addicted to katanas. Not in a 'collect them and gently dust them' way. In a 'Sandevistan goes brrr, limbs go flying, and I cackle like a cyberpsycho' way. In 2026, Cyberpunk 2077 has been patched, rebalanced, and expanded by Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty, but my love for sharp, glowing rectangles of murder has not changed. The following ranking is based on the classic eight katanas every V eventually trips over, stabs with, or sells by accident. Stats can shift with patches, but the vibes? The vibes are eternal.
| Rank | Katana | Why I care |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Standard Katana | It exists. |
| 7 | Cocktail Stick | Purple and petty. |
| 6 | Black Unicorn | Witcher crossover flex. |
| 5 | Satori | Crit damage go brrr. |
| 4 | Tsumetogi | Shock and awe. |
| 3 | Jinchu-Maru | Kerenzikov blender. |
| 2 | Scalpel | Sandevistan surgery. |
| 1 | Byakko | The apex blade. |
8. Standard Katana
The standard katana is the beige sedan of melee weapons. It comes in four other variants — 2020 Arasaka, Military, Neon, and Training — and they all have the same stats. I find it dropped from enemies, in chests, or from any weapon vendor who sells katanas. It is the first blade I ever picked up in Night City, and I immediately felt like a discount samurai. It works. It kills. It just does not make me feel special.
7. Cocktail Stick
Bright purple, toy-like, and absolutely rude. Its effect says it 'looks like a toy, cuts like a laser.' Max damage is around 140, which is not winning any damage contests. You find it during the quest Automatic Love. Inside the Clouds Club, go to the make-up room and look beside Evelyn's jacket. I grabbed it while pretending I was there for business. I was not.
6. Black Unicorn
This is the Witcher 3 promotion katana. It is black, covered in symbols from the other game, and it is the easiest katana to obtain. Go to the main menu, look in the bottom right corner, select 'My Rewards,' and connect your account to GOG. I did it in 2026 and it still worked. It is not a damage monster, but it is a conversation piece. 'Oh, this old thing? Just a little interdimensional crossover. No big deal.'
5. Satori
Satori is an Iconic Weapon with a risky effect: it reduces base damage but increases Crit Damage five times. The highest damage is 270 before that trade-off, so if you have high Crit Chance, this blade deletes health bars. You find it during the main quest The Heist, on the AV landing pad with T-Bug, sitting inside the vehicle. I almost missed it because I was busy panicking. Grab it.
4. Tsumetogi
Tsumetogi is an Iconic Weapon that slightly increases Electrical damage, grants a small chance to apply Shock, and makes non-standard attacks deal more damage. It can do up to 290 damage, which is excellent. Find it during the side quest Pisces. When Maiko meets with the Tyger Claws boss, the katana appears on a stand in the meeting room. Pick it up after the meeting ends. I felt like I was stealing from a PTA meeting, but with more swords.
3. Jinchu-Maru
Jinchu-Maru is another Iconic Weapon, and its effect is absurd: gain 100% Crit Chance while Kerenzikov is active, the last strike in a combo deals double damage, and it doubles damage against enemies with twice your current Health. It does up to 285 damage. Obtain it during the main quest Play It Safe by killing Sandayu Oda, its owner. Loot his body. I did it. I felt bad for exactly four seconds.
2. Scalpel
Scalpel is one of the best weapons in the game, period. It increases Electrical Damage, and while Sandevistan is active it increases Crit Chance by 50% and hits apply Bleeding. That combination turns me into a buzzing, bleeding-inducing blender. Get it after completing the side quest Big in Japan. To unlock that quest, talk to Dennis in Afterlife after Act 2. He gives you work, and that work eventually leads to this beautiful piece of medical malpractice.
1. Byakko
Byakko was added in the 1.5 update, and in 2026 it is still the best katana in the game. Its effect says it is perfectly balanced, allowing you to jump to the enemy and attack with full force, while its incredible sharpness increases bleeding chance. That means extra melee range, leap attacks, and more Bleeding. It is Wakako Okada's legendary katana, so you must complete all her side gigs. There are eight quests before the ninth and final quest, Professional Widow, where V finally gets the blade. Worth it. I would do it again. I would complain the whole time, but I would do it again.
So there you have it: my completely biased, deeply unprofessional, and absolutely correct ranking of Cyberpunk 2077 katanas. If you are playing in 2026 with Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty, some numbers may have shifted, and Dogtown may tempt you with new toys, but these eight blades remain the heart of any self-respecting melee build. Now go forth, and remember: a katana is not a plan. It is a lifestyle. 🗡️😎