Nioh 3 Guide for Boss: Boss List, Rewards and Each Combat Tips

Nioh 3 has epic gameplay with powerful bosses in the story mode, making it even more fun. But facing these Nioh 3 bosses can feel brutal, with each fight testing your skill, timing, and patience. That’s why we bring you this guide, which covers every top boss, their deadly attacks, and the best combat tips on how to beat each of them. So, keep leveling up, sharpen your skills, and dominate the bosses easily.

 

Looking for a way to always play Nioh 3 without being tied to your PC? Then the best solution is to play Nioh 3 with OSlink. Through OSlink, you can take the battlefield anywhere, streaming Nioh 3 directly to your mobile and playing remotely even when you’re away from your PC. Keep grinding, level up, and become stronger to ready for battle anytime, anywhere, without missing a single fight!

Yamagata Masakage

Yamagata Masakage is the first boss you face in the main story. He wields a great sword and uses heavy combo attacks. He can stab, grapple, spin, and deal splash damage for extra damage.

 

Main Story Mission: Escape from Hitokoto Slope (Level 1)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Palisade Breaker Lv. 2

• Rosewood Tonfa Lv. 2

• Longbow Lv. 2

Combat Tips:

• Attack While Recovering: The boss takes longer to recover after heavy attacks. Dash behind him to deal extra damage.

• Focus on Boss’s Ki: Watch the blue Ki bar under HP. When Ki gets low, the boss gets stunned, and uses this chance to deal massive damage.

• Watch Red Attacks: Red attacks are deadly. Learn their timing and dodge or counter quickly.

• Trick Him Into Combos: Bait him to start a combo, dodge to avoid it, then dash behind him and deal heavy attacks for high damage.

Jakotsu-baba

Jakotsu-baba is a large monster with long snake-head tentacles. She uses wide sweep attacks that deal heavy damage.

 

Main Story Mission: The Hamamatsu Incident (Lv. 14)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Iron Switchglaive Lv. 15

• Simple Talons Lv. 15

• Tanegashima Matchlock Lv. 15

• Ninja’s Locks

• Smithing Text: Twin-Snake Helmet

Combat Tips:

• Deal Lightning and Wind Damage: Jakotsu-baba is weak to Lightning and Wind. Use martial arts like Tempestuous Calamity for Wind and Uncanny Bolt for Lightning damage.

• Target the Amrita Crystal: During the Dark Realm Phase, an Amrita Crystal appears on her head. Focus attacks on it to deal massive damage.

• Attack from Behind: Avoid her sweeping tentacle attacks and dash behind her to deal more damage with Ninja Style weapons.

Baba Nobuharu 

Baba Nobuharu is a large boss who uses a huge axe and a tail for critical damage. He also uses water attacks that cause big splash damage.

 

Main Story Mission: The Battle of Futamata Castle (Lv. 39)

Recommended Weapon: White Bone Spirit Tonfa (Tonfa Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Leather Cestuses Lv. 44

• Genin’s Splitstaff Lv. 44

• Hand Cannon Lv. 44

• Demon of Mino’s Charm

• Samurai’s Locks

Combat Tips:

• Attack from Behind: His heavy attacks are slow. Dodge and move behind him to deal extra damage.

• Avoid Tail Attacks: When his tail lifts, dodge quickly to avoid the sweep.

• Keep a Safe Distance: Use Ninjutsu from range and stay away from his water splash attacks.

Yamagata Masakage (Yokai/Horse) 

Yamagata Masakage is a boss in Nioh 3 who fights on a horse. He uses a sword and bow for fast combo attacks. In his fire phase, he shoots flaming arrows that cause burn damage.

 

Main Story Mission: The Battle of Mikatagahara (Lv. 43)

Recommended Weapon: Spear (Samurai Style)

Rewards:

• Crimson General’s Armor

Combat Tips

• Bait His Attacks: The best way to deal damage is to bait him into using his combo, then quickly dodge and counter.

• Avoid Red Attacks: Red attacks are very dangerous. Dodge immediately.

• Keep Distance in Fire Phase: When burning phase starts, stay far and dodge arrows sideways.

• Use Water Damage: He is weak to water during the fire phase. Use Samurai arts like Uncanny Bubble and Water Shuriken to deal extra damage.

Takeda Shingen (Human Version)

Takeda Shingen (human form) is one of the Nioh 3 bosses like samurai who uses a burning heavy spear. He deals strong sweep and combo attacks.

 

Main Story Mission: The Battle of Mikatagahara (Lv. 43)

Recommended Weapon: Kusarigama (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Basket Blade & Boar Cutter Lv. 51

• Potsticker Spear Lv. 51

• Samurai’s Locks

• Smithing Text: Basket Blade & Boar Cutter

• Smithing Text: Potsticker Spear

Combat Tips

• Attack During Recovery: He has a long recovery after attacks. Use this time to deal big damage from behind to take the advantage from Ninja Style.

• Avoid Guardian Spirit Attacks: If he plants his spear in the ground, dodge quickly to evade from Guardian Spirit Attacks.

• Fight at Mid Range: Keep a safe distance and use Kusarigama to deal steady damage.

Takeda Shingen (Yokai Version)

Takeda Shingen’s Yokai form is much harder than his human form. He uses ground slams with burn damage, fires energy orbs, and performs wide grapples that hit a large area

Main Story Mission: The Battle of Saigagake (Lv. 50)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Kongojishi

• Osafune Kanemitsu Lv. 55 (+1)

• Fuma Ninja Plated Headband Lv. 55 (+1)

• Samurai’s Locks

• Samurai’s Text ×2

Combat Tips

• Attack from Behind: After his ground slams, dodge forward-left and attack his back.

• Break the Horn: In the Dark Realm, target his horn for big damage. Use Ninjutsu like Kunai and Shuriken from range to deal damage.

• Avoid Ground Slams: Watch his slam attacks closely and roll quickly to stay safe.

Great Tengu

Great Tengu is a bird demon with wings and deals melee damage with swords. It also uses wind blast, flying rush, and ground spells to deal gust damage.

 

Main Story Mission: The Age of Clans Begins (Level 53)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Crescent Moon Kusarigama Lv. 59

• Mino Veteran’s Gauntlets Lv. 59

• Samurai’s Locks

• Great Tengu Soul Core

Combat Tips:

• Keep Mobility: Great Tengu flies and attacks, so always stay mobile to dodge attacks.

• Use Fire Attacks: Great Tengu is weak to fire damage. Use Ninjutsu like Uncanny Flame or Shrapnel Bombs for advantage.

• Watch Staff Attacks: If Great Tengu plants its staff on the ground, dodge quickly to avoid lightning attacks.

 

Otoroshi

Otoroshi is a big boss that attacks with claw swipes, ice blasts, and ground icicles to deal freeze damage.

 

Main Story Mission: Black Feather Sanctuary (Level 69)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Shugendo Hermit Hatches Lv. 72

• Archer’s Hakama Lv. 72

• Ninja’s Locks

• Otoroshi Soul Core

Combat Tips:

• Stay Behind: Dash to avoid attacks and try to attack from behind to deal extra damage with Ninja Style.

• Target Otoroshi’s Chest: During the Dark Realm Phase, Otoroshi shoots bird projectiles from its chest. Dodge these projectiles and use Ninjutsu like Kunai or Shuriken to deal more Ki damage.

Ibaraki Doji

Ibaraki Doji is a giant oni that attacks with sword combos, electric spins, and projectile phases to deal shock damage.

 

Main Story Mission: Heian Befouled (Level 80)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Mantra Sword Lv. 80

• Onmyo Hunting Hakama Lv. 80

• Ibaraki Doji Soul Core

• Ninja’s Locks

Boss Strategy and Combat Tips:

• Attack from Behind: Ibaraki Doji takes time to recover after attacks. Dash behind her to deal extra damage with Ninja Style.

• Stay Away During Dark Realm Phase: Avoid engaging during her Electric Phase. Stay back until she returns to normal.

• Strike When Ki Runs Out: When Ibaraki Doji depletes her Ki, she slows down and kneels. This is the best time to unleash heavy combo attacks for maximum damage.

Kajiwara Kagetoki

Kajiwara Kagetoki is a human boss who wields two axes for melee and throwing attacks. He can also summon creatures like wolves, flies, and bunnies for different types of attacks.

 

Main Story Mission: Subterfuge at the Abandoned Shrine (Level 83)

Recommended Weapon: Samurai Sword (Samurai Style)

Rewards:

• Dual Bloodstained Cleavers Lv. 91 (+1)

• Shinto Priest’s Hakama Lv. 91

• Handbook/Texts

• Ninja’s Locks

Combat Tips:

• Keep Moving in Circles: When Kagetoki summons creatures, keep moving in circles to avoid getting hit.

• Avoid Boomerang Axe Attacks: Watch his boomerang axes and step away quickly when they are thrown.

• Bait Him with Your Ai Companion: Use your summoning seal to overwhelm Kagetoki and deplete his Ki. This is the best time to attack and deal heavy damage.

Minamoto no Yoritomo 

Minamoto no Yoritomo is a winged boss who attacks with swords, wind projectiles, red rushes, and shockwaves to deal blow damage.

 

Main Story Mission: A Cause Too Great (Level 86)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Beardcutter Lv. 94

• Lord Kamakura’s Bow Lv. 94

• Samurai’s Locks

• Smithing Texts

Combat Tips:

• Use Hit-and-Run Tactics: While the boss flies, stay mobile and attack with Ninja Style.

• Deal Damage from Safe Distance: Use Ninjutsu like Shuriken, Uncanny Flame, and Shrapnel Bombs to deal damage safely.

• Play Defensively in Dark Realm: During the Dark Realm phase, Minamoto becomes aggressive and continuously launches wind slashes. Keep dodging to survive.

• Avoid Red Attacks: His red attacks are fast ground strikes. Learn the dodge timing or use your Spirit Skill to counter them.

Takasugi Shinsaku

Takasugi Shinsaku is a gunner who attacks with pistol shots and revenant katana combos for ranged and melee damage.

 

Main Story Mission: The Sweet Sound of Strings (Level 100)

Recommended Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja Style)

Rewards:

• Seventh Sword Tonfa

• Crucible Sasumata

• Weathered Bone and Bleached Twig

• Bloodstained Blade

• Taifu Cestuses

Combat Tips:

• Run and Dodge: Takasugi is very fast. Stay mobile and dodge every attack to avoid damage.

• Use Ninjutsu: Use arts like Shrapnel Bomb, Uncanny Flame, and Shuriken to deal more damage from a safe distance.

• Use Ibaraki Doji Summoning Seal: Activate the seal at the start of the battle to deal extra damage and deplete his Ki quickly, creating a window for heavy attacks.

Best Tips to Face Nioh 3 Bosses

These tips work with all Nioh 3 bosses and are great for both Ninja or Samurai Style battles.

 

• Always Level Up Key Stats: Prioritize Heart, Strength, and Skill to increase attack speed and damage.

• Keep Your Ki Full: Always maintain your blue Ki bar. Don’t attack when it’s empty; dodge and run to refill.

• Deplets Boss Ki Fast: Attack wisely to deplete the boss’s Ki. Then use heavy attacks or grapples for bigger damage.

• Always Avoid Red Attacks: Whenever you see the boss glow red, dodge quickly to the side to stay alive.

• Hit Behind with Ninja Style: This is a one of the  Nioh 3 cheese strategy for all bosses. With Ninja-style weapons, you deal extra damage from attacking the enemy’s back.

• Use Ninjutsu Safely: Throw Shuriken, bombs, or flame from a distance. Use elemental weaknesses like fire, water, or lightning.

Conclusion

With the best combat tips from the Nioh 3 bosses guide, you can now be prepared to face any boss easily, even on your first attempt. See how each boss’s strategy works and how to fight them effectively without any trouble, keeping your progress in the main story quick. And keep playing through OSlink to play the game remotely on your mobile, enjoying epic battles anytime, anywhere you want.