5 Best Skills to Get in Nioh 3

Nioh 3 has finally made its debut, and it seems players are thoroughly enjoying the hell out of this beautiful action RPG. As the third installment of the titular series, we find ourselves in an open-world alternate Warring States and Heian Periods of Japan, fighting yokai and exploring the beautiful landscape of the game.

Nioh 3 offers two different combat systems that work seamlessly with each other as you play as Tokugawa Takechiyo. With these two combat systems, Samurai Style and Ninja Style, you can acquire skills to help you on your journey, and here are the 5 best skills to get in Nioh 3.

5 Best Skills in Nioh 3

Nioh 3 skills are unlocked by finding items called Samurai and Ninja’s Locks, both of which grant one skill point through their respective half of the skill trees. There are two different combat styles you can switch between, and skills help you personalize your build. Certain skills are important to prioritize, which help build a foundation for your build, no matter what path you choose.

1. Deflect (Samurai-Style Skill)

Deflect is a timed parry ability for all Samurai weapons. Deflecting lets you restore ki and increases your Ninjitsu and Arts gauges. This is definitely an essential skill to focus on in the early game, as you are pretty limited with weapons and skills. This is also one of the first skills you acquire when you start the game, and it can really help you out as you fight yokai.

2. All Three Stance Variations (Samurai-Style Skill)

High, Medium, and Low stances for your weapons are pretty important. High stance is a slower, stronger attack pattern, Medium stance balances your defense, while Low stance is quick, with minimal Ki costs. Mastery involves using stance-switching (Flux) during Ki pulses to maximize Ki recovery, a crucial technique for sustained, high-efficiency combat. 

3. Evade (Ninja-Style Skill)

Evading at the last second regains Ki and increases your Ninjitsu and Arts gauges. It also provides a lot of invulnerability frames during that animation. This is another skill that helps build upon skills that you will be able to unlock later on during your playthrough, and practicing Evade definitely helps your personal skills.

4. Footstool Jump (Ninja-Style Skill)

Footstool Jump lets you jump off enemies’ heads. Though this is a common skill, the animation is pretty cool, and it’s a really easy skill to unlock and obtain early on in the game. This Ninja-skill is efficient and is another skill you can obtain early on. You can use this skill to obtain Ochoko Cups, an item that can be used to summon other players, which can be pretty handy.

5. Cicada Shell (Ninja-Style Skill)

Cicada Shells are items that let you do a timed counter that places you behind the foe. If you fail to time a dodge, block, or parry, this acts as another form of defense that puts you in a position to hit enemies from behind. Mastering this skill can give you a huge advantage during fights, especially during your early game.

Nioh 3 Positive Reception

Nioh 3 made its full launch today, and it seems people are loving this historical Japanese-inspired soulslike. The game is incredibly beautiful and masterfully crafted, with so much content that works well together between the separate Samurai and Ninja combat systems, and the dozens of skills and abilities you can unlock to personalize your character. Nioh 3 has garnered a mostly positive reaction from fans and critics alike, so don’t miss out on this beautiful game that’s available to play on PlayStation and PC.