In this Nioh 3 Yamagata Masakage (Horse) Boss Battle Guide, we will detail all the tips and tricks needed to defeat Yamagata. You face Yamagata Masakage again later, but this time he fights while riding a horse. The battle can feel chaotic at first because he moves constantly, mixes melee and ranged attacks, and switches into a dangerous fire state. If you stay patient and manage your Ki and Ninjutsu properly, this fight becomes very manageable once you are around Level 50 or higher.
Yamagata Masakage (Horse) Boss Battle Guide – Nioh 3
This version of Yamagata appears in “A Fiery Invasion” (Mission Level 43) and has only one health bar. He uses a large sword for close combat, a bow for ranged pressure, and can ignite himself to enter a fire-based phase.
Bringing the right setup makes a big difference. Dual Ninja Swords work very well here, especially with a Ninja-focused build. Equip Shuriken, Shrapnel Bomb, and Uncanny Bubble, since he is weak to water. Having at least 15 points in Skill will help increase your Ninjutsu effectiveness and make your ranged damage more meaningful.
How to Defeat the Boss
In his standard phase, he rides around attacking with sword swings and arrows. Because he is constantly moving, landing hits can feel tricky. The safest approach is to dodge diagonally forward to the left when he attacks. This usually positions you behind him, where he has fewer options to hit you. From there, perform a short combo and then disengage.
Between your melee attacks, throw one or two Shuriken to maintain pressure while your Ki recovers. The key is to never empty your Ki bar. Always keep enough Ki to dodge, especially since he can quickly turn and counterattack. If he attempts a grapple, react the same way, dodge forward-left to slip behind him. He rarely threatens you from directly behind, so that is your safest zone during this phase.
Play patiently. Deal damage in small bursts, rebuild Ki, and repeat.
Fire Phase
After some time, he enters a powered-up fire state. The screen changes color, his body ignites, and his attacks become more aggressive. He leaves flames on the ground as he rides, so avoid standing in his path. Some of his jump attacks create expanding circles of fire, and all melee hits now cause burn damage. His bow also fires multiple arrows instead of single shots.
This phase is more dangerous and less predictable, so shift your strategy. Focus on staying far away and dodging backward to maintain distance. At long range, the only consistent threat is his arrows, which are easy to avoid by moving sideways.
This is the moment to use the Ninjutsu you saved earlier. Only throw your Ninjitsu when he charges directly toward you. If he is riding across the arena sideways, don’t waste them, as you will likely miss. Avoid going in for melee attacks here, as the risk is much higher and the fire effects can quickly punish mistakes.
Your goal during this phase is survival first, damage second. Minimize mistakes and wait it out.
The fight becomes simple once you understand the rhythm. During his normal phase, go in with melee attacks and build up Ninjutsu pressure. During his fire phase, step back, play safely, and use ranged tools while avoiding unnecessary risks. After about a minute, he returns to normal, and the pattern repeats.
That is all for this guide. Additional Nioh 3 guides are linked below:
- Nioh 3 Takeda Shingen Boss Battle Guide – Human and Monster Form, How to Defeat
- Nioh 3 Great Tengu Boss Battle Guide – How to Defeat
- Nioh 3 Otoroshi Boss Battle Guide – How to Defeat
- Nioh 3 Beginner’s Guide – Tips and Tricks to Becoming a Samurai
- Nioh 3 Best Weapons Guide – All Weapons, Best Weapons
- Nioh 3 Summoning Guide – How to Summon Friends, Benevolent Graves
This concludes our Nioh 3 Yagamata Masakage (Horse) Boss Battle Guide. If you want to add anything to this guide, feel free to use the comments section below.
