Isn't Isonade technically the best starting spirit?

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

Emphasis on starting. I thought it was kind of garbage at first, but when I respec'd I changed my mind. Since you get the other 2 later any way, it doesn't matter too much, but the +1 spirit is going to be useful no matter what build you run, whereas skill/strength can end up a waste if you respec into a build using the other. I know it's only 1 insignificant point, but if you really want to min-max and be flexible, shark-senpai would be the best choice, no?

On another note, picking Spear/Sword would probably be best as starting weapons given that their stats are universally useful, as well.

[Talon Rose]

I do like that I was corrected as to what the 'best' spirit was when the definition of 'best' I was given was..min-maxing! So a thing that nobody but people who already played the game would knowingly pursue.
As in people who don't need the help.
As in not the new players who don't know the combat system and would benefit massively from ta-dah - Kato's bonuses!

[Xero]

Kato is the best STARTING spirit. By starting, I mean that this is your first time playing the game. Kato can save you from a situation that's gone FUBAR thanks to all it offers.

[Lv 20 Bolting Bot]

İlk olarak Xero tarafından gönderildi:

Kato is the best STARTING spirit. By starting, I mean that this is your first time playing the game. Kato can save you from a situation that's gone FUBAR thanks to all it offers.

Meh, don't think it makes a difference in the first couple of missions any way. Enemies in the first region aren't hard enough for Kato's strengths to really shine. You can beat pretty much all of them by just walking out of range and poking them a bit between combos. Living weapon breaks early boss fights whether you use Kato or any other spirit. By the time the game gets rough, you'll have all 3 any way. And if you're having trouble in early areas, chances are Kato wouldn't save you. It's a lack of experience with basic game mechanics at that point.

[Akutare]

Kato has a lot of damage compared to the other two spirits and comes with some ki QoLs, but I would say they're both about equal to start out with but for different reasons. Isonade's heal makes it so you pretty much never have to use Elixers even if you mess up every now and then plus the ability to sense enemies makes it even easier to not take damage from not knowing an enemy is about to attack.

[Anatolius]

I've picked Kato because .. damage, obviously.
But when I saw stats they give I instantly switched to Daiba-Washi(now I use Itokuri) .. because luck.
I can always switch to required guardian spirit right before boss

[skyrimemailtest]

I took Isonade as the first spirit because it's a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ shark! Bam!

[FatesVagrant]

*Shrug* I gues? but you really don't need to min max stats in this, it isn't darksouls.
Besides low levels of investment in most stats are still usefull.