Like A Dragon: Ishinsends protagonist Ryoma Sakamoto on a life-changing journey centered on revenge. Along the way, there will be several samurai and numerous nefarious NPCs who want to end Ryoma once and for all. However, outfitting yourself withthe strongest weapons in Ishinwon’t be enough to guarantee Ryoma’s safety.
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Along with your weapons, Ryoma will need to don some extraordinarily resilient accessories to ensure he’s staying safe while cutting down anyone who stands in his way. Some accessories focus on armoring you with plenty of defense against bullets and blades. However, other accessories have more flexible uses and will be equally important on your journey.
10Red Headband
Series developer Ryu Ga Gotoku (RGG) loves to insert callbacks to their other games, even usingthe same character models from the Yakuza series in Ishin. In addition, the Red Headband is another item that may look familiar to series regulars, as the additional seven percent experience is a staple armor accessory effect.
While the headband won’t be the most defensively protective piece in your locker, it will ensure that you’re progressing from level to level quickly as you fill out your combat skills. Fully unlocking as many of your combat style upgrades as possible should be near the top of your list as you progress through the game.
9Fighting Spirit Emblem
While the logistics of wearing a headband andgaining immense defensive properties don’t make a lot of sense, the Fighting Spirit Emblem does an incredible job protecting you anyway. Clocking in at an extremely respectable 374 base Defense, the Fighting Spirit Emblem is a visually distinctive accessory with a great perk.
Just by wearing this headband, your Heat Gauge will charge up approximately seven percent faster, allowing you to fire off more of your powerful Heat Actions. Gaining Heat may seem minor, but with a myriad of incredibly potent Heat Moves to take advantage of, it’s worth investing in the ability to spam them more regularly.
8Unbridled Fury Gauntlets
Unlike the Fighting Spirit Emblem, the Unbridled Fury Gauntlets do logically offer quite a lot of protection for your arms. Unsurprisingly, these gauntlets clock in at 403 base Defense, surpassing the Fighting Spirit Emblem by a small amount.
These gauntlets are actually quite similar to the Fighting Spirit Emblem in overall effects as they also offer a seven percent boost to your Heat recharge rate. Though the defensive capabilities of both the gauntlets and the headband are not the highest, combining these two accessories for the stacking Heat restoration effects is a great idea.
7Spiny Spider Gauntlets
The Spiny Spider Gauntlets are incredibly terrifying both in name and in their immensely impressive defensive properties. 541 Defense is an outstanding amount to start with, but the boons don’t stop there, as these hardened gauntlets also can block bullets.
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If you’re not using the Swordsman style, then these gauntlets might be the only way you can reasonably expect to block your foes' ranged shots. Blocking bullets suits the visual appearance of these gauntlets and gives you some added flexibility when selecting how to approach a ranged combat situation.
6Divine Dragon Emblem
The Divine Dragon Emblem is another exceptional headband that exceeds expectations in terms of both defensive capabilities and intrinsic perk options. While the 397 Defense is a noticeable step down from the Spiny Spider Gauntlets, this Divine Dragon Emblem more than makes up for it with its perks.
The first of these potent perks reduces Heat consumption by seven percent whenever you use special moves, which is fantastic for dealing plenty of damage quickly. Leaning into your Heat Gauge, the second perk restores Heat by 15 per second when you’re at low health, ensuring you have a way to end the fight when you’re at the edge of defeat.
5Amulet Of The Gods
Another surprising headband steps forth to demonstrate its unusual abilities. The Amulet Of The Gods has yet another reduced base Defense at 368 but doesn’t leave you hanging when it comes to dealing damage. Every attack you receive will have five percent of its damage reflected at your attacker.
This effect is incredibly powerful as it offers you flat damage protection with its solid base Defense and hits back offensively with damage that depends on your opponent. The stronger the opponent is, the more powerful the reflected damage will be. This headband ensures that the toughest fights aren’t as close to ending your journey, and you can instead redirect the damage back to your enemy.
4Sakura Gauntlets
Sakura Gauntlets builds on the immense potential exhibited by the Amulet Of The Gods and turns up the heat with a nice little bonus. Firstly, its base 426 Defense is nothing to scoff at, offering one of the higher base ratings available. Secondly, the two perks of the Sakura Gauntlets are essential tools for the late-game battles that await you.
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Like Amulet Of The Gods, Sakura Gauntlets also reflect five percent of the damage taken. On top of this, you also receive an increased five percent resistance to all elemental attacks, further insulating you from devastating damage.
3Unbreakable Stance Gauntlets
Unbreakable Stance Gauntlets easily jump off the page as the overall best defensive accessory available in Like A Dragon: Ishin. With a great 518 base Defense, the numbers definitely start off in these gauntlets' favor. However, the real prize is the potent perk combination.
These gauntlets allow you to guard against blades – something you may notice is incredibly powerful in one-on-one sword combat. You’ll be brushing off swordsmen with ease, and you even gain a five percent resistance to all elemental damage. Enjoy this powerful combination as you walk the path of revenge.
2Brawler’s Binding
Brawler’s Binding gives Unbreakable Stance Gauntlets a run for their money, as both accessories are in the running for the best ways to defend against damage in Ishin. Brawler’s Binding easily outdoes all other accessories in base Defense, touting a massive 685 Defense rating to top the accessory charts.
Aside from the off-the-charts base Defense, you gain not one buttwoperks that each increase your defense by four percent. Only accounting for your Brawler’s Binding Defense, these perks bump your current Defense by at least another 50 points, an excellent amount to build the rest of your accessory set around.
1Purgatory
If you’relooking for something to do once you complete Ishin’s story, crafting all the best armor accessories will keep you busy, especially the breastplate, Purgatory. One of the most protective pieces of armor in terms of pure Defense rating, Purgatory has your back against all forms of damage but does offer one specialty.
Purgatory boasts the special perk that it guards against blades, giving you exceptional resistance against other katana users. Blades account for a significant portion of enemy damage, and any way to mitigate this powerful source of damage is exceptionally appreciated, particularly in one-on-one combat scenarios.
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