What reference do you tend to follow? The manga, the anime or the console game release?

Ok, I am having a new cosplay plan that I will be doing in casual this winter.
The thing is, I don't just want to pull random clothes from my closet,do the same hairstyle and call it "[insert character name] cosplay" so I decided that it would be a good idea to work on her props so I would at least be recognizable.

And so I started gathering references. I have the anime's PSP game and there was a good reference picture...only,her weapon looks a little different from what it is in the anime.
I got confused so I thought that maybe it would be a better idea to follow the manga instead since the manga is the original design of the artist/author of the anime.
To my surprise, the design in the manga and the anime is distinct.
Not much but then you can really tell that it is different.

My point is, I want to make the most accurate props I could but first I need to have the correct references also.
It would really feel more accomplishing if people can say "That's not bad" rather than "That's not how it is".

So, to propmakers and cosplayers, which reference works best for you?
The one in the anime or the one in the manga?