Complete Nioh 3 Guide: How to Get a Strong Start?

Nioh 3 Guide: Understanding Basic Combat Principles

Alright, let's start the Nioh 3 Guide by looking at the basic combat principles. You have two bars, one white and one blue. The first one, like always, is your health. The second one, which is blue, is your Ki, or stamina, which goes down when you sprint, jump, attack, block, or dodge.

Important Points About KI:

1. If your Ki hits zero and you get hit, you get staggered.

2. Until your Ki meter refills to half, you can't move.

3. Don't worry too much, this problem applies to all your enemies too, and the same Ki rules work for them.

The Effect of Lowering Enemies' Ki on Your Attacks:

1. When regular enemies' Ki meter hits zero, they stagger and can be grappled.

2. Stronger enemies get grappled when their max Ki bar hits zero. It's not just the regular Ki meter that matters.
   If you can understand this difference, you can have better fights and defeat your enemies more easily.

Switching Combat Modes Between Samurai and Ninja with Dual-Stance

Continuing the Nioh 3 Guide, we get to the interesting and new Dual-Stance part, which is the center of attraction and the core of the game. You have two combat modes: Samurai and Ninja. Each one has its own techniques, weapons, and specific mechanics. You can choose one based on your playstyle, or choose one based on the boss mechanics or the area you're in.

Features of Samurai Combat Mode:

• Mainly used for face-to-face combat.

• Has less mobility compared to Ninja.

• Higher equipped load for wearing heavy armor.

• Has the Deflect (parry) mechanism.

How Does the Arts Gauge System Work in Samurai Mode?

On the bottom right, you have a part called the Arts gauge. When you attack enemies or when you defend, it fills up. When it's full, your next martial art or strong attack gets powered up, and you can land a great, long combo on your enemies.
One thing you should pay attention to in Samurai combat mode is the red part of your Ki, which shows how much you've used. When you stop your attacks, it refills. When your meter is full, you need to press R1/RB to execute your perfect Ki pulse, and almost all your used Ki gets refilled.

Features of Ninja Combat Mode:

Unlike Samurai combat mode, which is known for heavy movements and high Ki consumption, Ninja mode is very agile, fast, and operates with attacks that use less Ki. In this combat mode, you need to get behind enemies to double the damage you deal to them.

• No way to recover Ki in this form.

• Doesn't purify Yokai realms.

• Less Ki consumption as compensation.

Using Ninjutsu Mode:

In Ninja mode, you have 3 Ninjutsu slots that you can fill using abilities you get from the Skill tree. You can fill all the ninjutsu gauges completely and simultaneously by attacking enemies.

How Do We Progress Our Character in Nioh 3?

To level up your character in the game, you need to get Amrita and do this at the shrines placed in different parts of the map. You can get Amrita by killing your enemies and looting different areas in the open world.

Suggested Synergy Combos:

• Spear + Kusarigama: Both scale with Constitution and Skill.

• Sword + Dual Ninja Swords: Both scale with Heart and Intellect.

• Odachi + Split Staff: Both scale with Strength and Magic.

Mandatory Stats:
You have two stats, Constitution and Heart, that you must level up both. Even if your chosen weapon stats don't align, you should invest some points in them because they are the base increases for your life and stamina.
A suggestion I can give you is to raise Constitution and Heart to 20 or 25 for builds you focus on less.

Simplest Stat Distribution:

• Constitution and Heart: 20-25 each.

• Primary stat (your weapon's highest scaling): As much as you can.

• Secondary stat: 15-20.
  A positive point is that you can reset your stats anytime you want without any cost.

Equipment and Loot System

Continuing the Nioh 3 Guide, we get to the Equipment and Loot system part, which is divided into several main categories:

1. Samurai weapons

2. Ninja weapons

3. Ranged weapons

4. Head/Torso/Arm/Leg/Foot armor

5. Samurai accessories

6. Ninja accessories

7. Usable items

8. Spirit guardians

9. Soul Cores.
   They also have a 4-tier rarity classification:
   White: Common
   Yellow: Uncommon
   Blue: Rare
   Purple: Epic

Auto-Equip System in Nioh 3

This system helps you automatically use the highest level weapon and armor for a specific agility. Actually, agility determines your Ki consumption when attacking and dodging.

Soul Cores and Onmyo Magic

Soul Cores are items that are sometimes dropped by enemies, which you can equip to unlock their summon or related Onmyo magic.
Yang Position: Equip the Soul Core to unlock the summon item - you summon a yokai that throws its attacks and disappears.
Yin Position: Gives you Onmyo magic - usually a buff or offensive spell.
Yang Soul Cores also give you stats if you meet the minimum Stat requirements. Leveling up Yin Magic slots opens more and more slots for Onmyo magic.

Recommended Early-Game Soul Cores:

Koma-Tachi Core: Massive damage in an AOE, bonus When damage, and reduced dodge Ki consumption.
Sudama Core: Grants eight Thunderstorm Shot talismans that summon three overhead lightning strikes.

Best Battle Strategy Against Enemies, Especially Nioh 3 Bosses
Every player has their own playstyle, and the developers have beautifully made it possible for everyone to play and progress based on their interest. But there are a few general methods we suggest you definitely do:

1. Switching between Ninja and Samurai: In Nioh 3, you face different types of bosses, each with their own system and mechanics. Some have heavy attacks, some have high mobility. So, the technique you use for one boss might not work for the next. Therefore, switching between Ninja and Samurai combat modes can really help you defeat bosses.

2. Don't rush in fights with bosses: Some mistakenly think the game is a hack and slash and you can finish bosses with a barrage of attacks, but you shouldn't rush. Boss mechanics can get very complex.

3. Battle Priorities for Bosses:
   Lower the boss's Ki meter if possible.
   When the Ki meter is zero, spam attacks in Ninja mode.
   When max Ki hits zero, Grapple.
   Watch out for wake-up attacks.
   For Dark Realm phases, go to Ninja mode and dodge until they leave.

Our Final Recommendation in the Nioh 3 Guide

If you're a fan of the souls-like genre, this game is completely suitable for you and you can have an amazing experience. This game is full of little details and various points that make you search every corner of it. Don't be afraid to test and experiment because all progressions can be reset without cost.
I hope this Nioh 3 guide has been able to help you have a very strong start and you can get a good experience from the time you spend in this game.