The Dragon Nikana is a powerful katana of Tenno design, acting as a direct upgrade of the 
Nikana.
Characteristics[]
This weapon deals primarily 
Slash damage.
Advantages
- Second highest base damage of all nikanas, behind
Nikana Prime.
- High critical chance and status chance.
- Innate and polarities.
Disadvantages
Comparisons:
- Dragon Nikana (Normal Attack), compared to Nikana (Normal Attack):
- Higher base damage per projectile (188 vs. 142)
- Higher total damage (188 vs. 142)
- Higher base critical chance (22.00% vs. 16.00%)
- Higher base status chance (22.00% vs. 16.00%)
- Higher average damage per tap (229.36 vs. 164.72)
- Higher burst DPS (229.36 vs. 151.04)
- Higher sustained DPS (229.36 vs. 151.04)
- Higher attack speed (1 vs. 0.91)
- Higher Mastery Rank required (8 vs. 4)
- Higher disposition (●●●●○ (1.15x) vs. ●●●○○ (0.95x))
- Dragon Nikana (Normal Attack), compared to Nikana Prime (Normal Attack):
- Lower base damage per projectile (188 vs. 198)
- Lower total damage (188 vs. 198)
- Lower base critical chance (22.00% vs. 28.00%)
- Lower base critical multiplier (2.0x vs. 2.4x)
- Lower base status chance (22.00% vs. 28.00%)
- Lower average damage per tap (229.36 vs. 275.61)
- Lower burst DPS (229.36 vs. 297.66)
- Lower sustained DPS (229.36 vs. 297.66)
- Lower attack speed (1 vs. 1.08)
- Lower Mastery Rank required (8 vs. 12)
- Higher disposition (●●●●○ (1.15x) vs. ●○○○○ (0.60x))
Acquisition[]
The Dragon Nikana's blueprint can be purchased from the Market.
| Manufacturing Requirements | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 5,000 |
 1 |
 75 |
 1 |
Time: 12 hrs | |
Rush:  35
| |||||
 Market Price: 275
|
 Blueprints Price: 30,000
| ||||
This weapon can be sold for 
5,000.
Notes[]
- Despite what its name suggests, Dragon Nikana is not a variant of the Nikana, so is considered its own weapon in regards to Riven Mods. In other words, Nikana Riven Mods cannot be equipped on the Dragon Nikana and vice versa.
- The default strikes of the Nikanas lash out quickly, but have noticeably longer delay before the next swing. This should be noted if you are particular about hit timing.
- Before Hotfix 13.0.1 (2014-04-10), the Dragon Nikana appeared alongside the normal Nikana in the Market with the same name as the regular version, causing some confusion due to its superior stats despite looking like an identical weapon. This has been changed to reflect the Dragon Nikana being a separate weapon.
- The Dragon Nikana was previously unlockable via Clan research, requiring the Nikana to the researched. Hotfix 13.0.3 (2014-04-10) removed the Dragon Nikana from the Tenno Lab, and a conversion blueprint was made available in the Market to allow Nikana users to upgrade to the Dragon Nikana.
Trivia[]
- This weapon is the first of its kind to have an enhancement prefix of Dragon.
- Though a Tenno weapon, "Dragon" is the second prefix, with "Dex" being the first, that doesn't follow the normal upgrade path, becoming Primes. Possibly due in part to the fact that neither are constructed with Orokin technology.
- The Dragon Nikana's scabbard colors are customized from the Attachments tab, rather than the main Appearance tab colors.
- The dangling strip by the scabbard is customized through the main Appearance tab, however.
Media[]
Dragon Nikana in Codex
Dragon Nikana's look as of 13.0.1
The Dragon Nikana's idle stance.
Let's Build Warframe - Dragon Nikana Build
A Gay Guy Plays Dragon Nikana, Possibly The Best Melee Weapon?
Warframe Dragon Nikana
Warframe Beta - Dragon Nikana (HD)(HUN)
Warframe Melee 2.0 Lets Build Dragon Nikana - Decisive Judgement Stance
Warframe Melee 2.0 Lets Build Dragon Nikana - Tranquil Cleave Stance
Warframe Dragon Nikana Pro Builds No Forma! Update 13-0
Warframe The Dragon Nikana Build Guide (U15.5.9)
Dragon Nikana Skins
Patch History[]
Update 26.0 (2019-10-31)
Actual patch notes made a mistake on old follow through.
- Damage increased from 85 to 188.
- Range increased from 1 to 2.5.
- Status Chance increased from 15% to 22%.
- Critical Chance increased from 15% to 22%.
- Slam Attack increased from 170 to 564.
- Slide Attack increased from 182 to 376.
- Parry Angle set to 55.
Update 21.0 (2017-06-29)
- Added custom leap attack animations for the Nikana.
- Fixed the sheath orientation on the Nikana when attacking.
- Fixed the Nikana sheath becoming unattached from your hand and flipped around when performing an air attack.
Update 20.1 (2017-04-05)
- Fixed Nikana weapons not being able to stealth-finish Infested Chargers.
Update 19.2 (2016-12-01)
- Fixed incorrect textures being used when equipping the Ryu Nikana Skin on the Dragon Nikana.
- Fixed a floating attachment when equipping the Ryu Nikana Skin on the Dragon Nikana.
Hotfix: The Silver Grove 3 (2016-08-23)
- Reduced damage of Nikana series in Conclave.
Update 17.2 (2015-08-19)
- Nikana series damage has been decreased in Conclave.
Update 17.1 (2015-08-12)
- The Dragon Nikana has been enabled for use in Conclave.
Update 16.3 (2015-04-09)
- Fixed attachments to the Dragon Nikana’s sheathe not displaying properly.
Update 16.0 (2015-03-19)
- Fixed the Dragon Nikana’s Hilt appearing as orange even with no color selected.
Hotfix 15.0.6 (2014-10-27)
- Fixed an issue with Nikana weapons using the wrong animation for jump slams.
Hotfix 14.10.3 (2014-10-15)
- Altered the Nikana jump roll transition time and animation to match the default roll.
Update 14.10 (2014-10-08)
- Fixed an animation hitch seen when performing a forward roll with the Nikana equipped.
Hotfix 13.3.1 (2014-05-15)
- Improved the tintability on the Dragon Nikana.
Hotfix 13.0.6 (2014-04-17)
- Fixed an issue with elemental effects not properly being displayed when the Nikana is sheathed.
- Fixed the accessory offsets on the Dragon Nikana and made them match that of the Nikana.
Hotfix 13.0.3 (2014-04-10)
- Removed the Dragon Nikana from Clan Research and added in a new conversion blueprint to the Market. This will allow users to upgrade their Nikana to the Dragon Nikana without having to first research said weapon.
- NOTE: The Dragon Nikana Blueprint requires a Mastery Rank of 8 to be used
- Improved the visuals on cloth accessories on the Dragon Nikana.
- Fixed an issue with the Nikana sheath acquiring accessories meant for the Nikana itself.
Hotfix 13.0.2 (2014-04-10)
- Fixed description for Dragon Nikana and touched up icon.
Hotfix 13.0.1 (2014-04-10)
- Fixed an issue where the DRAGON NIKANA appeared as the regular NINKANA.
Update 13.0 (2014-04-09)
- Introduced.
Last updated: Update 26.0 (2019-10-31)
See Also[]
- Nikana, the regular version and requisite ingredient of this weapon.
- Nikana Prime, the Prime version of the Nikana.
