NIN Merits 2026

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone had input on the degrees of viability in the various NIN Merits. Ive read a few things from different time periods where opinions have changed - so I'm curious if anyone has some thoughts or opinions for 2026.

A few things extra questions around it I'm having:

How imapctful is Subtle Blow Effect Increase?
What Element might be most popular for modern end game content, if any?
Does Sange really help out with TP Generation? Does it impact enemy TP Generation much / Does it impact enmity?
Does Magic Accuracy or Mag attack bonus only impact your offensive ninpo, like Katon or Hojo?

Thank you!

Subtle Blow caps at 50%. So whether the merit category will help you or not at all deepends on how much you already have. NIN gets 27% via traits and can get 10% more from a spell, and there is lots of equipment that gives it. It is unlikely you really need the merits to get it capped.

If you want to merit a single element I'd choose it based on the skillchains you do rather than specific content.

I don't know about how Sange/Daken affect TP gain. All I can tell you is that it doesn't give TP to the enemy.

Magic accuracy affects all* spells that target an enemy unless that spell is specifically exempted. This includes all Ninjutsu and bard songs. Elemental weapon skills also depend on magic accuracy and attack.

Magic attack does not affect spells which don't deal damage.

Sick Thank you Alhanelem thats extremely helpful o7 Looks like I need to figure out a bit more on my skill chains before I can decide.

A common tactic with the elemenal ninjutsu is to "spin the wheel." That is, you cast them in the order of the elements. Each elemental ninjutsu lowers the target's resistance to the next element in the cycle. This is also just more effective for ninjutsu than black magic because all the elemental ninjutsu of the same tier have the same potency, unlike black magic where spells are learned at different levels and have different base damage

Ice > Fire > Water > Lightning > Earth > Wind > Ice

or in ninjutsu

Hyoton > Katon > Suiton > Raiton > Doton > Huton > Hyoton

This seems like reverse order but basically when you hit with one element you're aligning the target with that element, making it weaker to the next one in the chain. (This is specific to the elemental ninjutsu you don't do this with black magic)

Ahh yeah I noticed the debuff creates a bit of a chain thanks for laying that out, its helpful!

Seeing all of the buffs to like Innen's magic bursts, and the merits buffing Ninjutsu it seems like theres a big emphasis on Ninja being this sort of... Magicburst/skill chain junkey - but I dont know how effective it is. I dont see a ton of equipment going hard on ninjutsu ranks or elemental damage on the wiki(s) - but it seems like theres some intent there anyways for it to do big magic bursts despite being a melee. Its kinda neat at the very least!

Just keep in mind you need quite a lot of inventory space for tools to spin the wheel. It can be quite effective though.