What's the point of Katanas?

[WTFantastico]

They're seemingly one of the slower weapons, with underwhelming reach and width, and take longer to take defensive action than most other weapons.

Beginning Senshin stance takes a long time, and considering how short the movement is during its combo, finding the time to initiate it during combat close enough to enemies to reach them without being hit in return is rare. Even still, once the Senshin combo begins, cancelling it into a block or spirit guard is even clunkier, making it feel unsuited to any enemy which doesn't stagger with basic attacks. Swap cancelling just means you have to commit more time to setting up the stance all over again, making for an even slower weapon.

So what's the point? What's the edge this weapon has over every other? Because the more I use it, the more it feels like it has no use.

[Griever]

IMO it's the GOAT weapon for 1 on 1 encounters (as it should be).
Like every other weapon, if you focus exclusively on Katana and the combos, you can be a God. And I believe it's the weapon with the most combos in the game as it has the added Senshin stance which is very destructive.

I think every weapon is good in this game, depends what you like.
Personally I hate large swords the most (what you begin the game with).
They are slow, clunky, and the combos aren't good.

Personally my main weapon is the Axe as a Berserker, and Katana as a Breaker.
Also this might be wrong by Katana for me with right build DESTROYS break meter of enemies faster than any other weapon.

[Kashra Fall]

The senshin stance is actually pretty darn strong "If" and only if you're good at timing your parry attacks. If you time it right, you get a damage buff, iframes and access to a powerful counter move of your choice, which lands you right back into the stance.

[SpeedFreak3]

Afaik Senshin Stance parries enemiy attacks with your own, so it is far better against those enemies that don't get staggered easily and stay relatively close. If you time your attacks right you only need to jump out of Senshin Stance if the eneny uses an unblockable attack.

[WTFantastico]

Ahh, alright, that would change things pretty significantly. Appreciations.

[⭕TheSodaman]

Katana can feel pretty clunky at first. It does offer a variety of moves and elements to use, albeit - a number of them are weak in their own right, being either MP expensive for what they do.

Where if not for Senshin Stance, I would probably not like katana in SoP.

Rough example of Senshin Stance in play with enough Parry recovery effects to keep going while intentionally lowering my stats just so that the fight could play out longer:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2959142028

[A]

Katanas are super strong for burst combos, max MP + senshin stance and whatever ♥♥♥♥ you put on all your senshin stance ability slots is fantastic. Granted, I don't spam katanas nowadays because as you said, they're too slow. I've gravitated to daggers or fists but I still use katanas at times.