Nioh 3 is a demanding action RPG if you rush in without understanding the basics. The open-world design gives you freedom, yet combat and progression punish careless decisions. This walks you through the most important systems you should understand early so the game feels fair, controllable, and far more enjoyable instead of overwhelming. This Nioh 3 Beginner’s Guide details all the tips and tricks you need to kickstart your journey.
Beginner’s Guide – Nioh 3
If you are a complete beginner in Nioh 3 and haven’t played any of its prequel games, then this guide is for you. The following guide shows all tips and tricks.
Fix Your Controls Before Anything Else
Before diving too deep into combat, it is highly recommended to adjust your controller layout. If you are using a controller, switching from control type A to either type E or F makes a noticeable difference. These layouts feel closer to earlier Nioh games and are much easier to use once fights get hectic.
With the default layout, many special moves require awkward inputs that force you to move the analog stick and press attack buttons at the same time. Since movement is already happening on the stick, this often leads to missed inputs. Control types E or F solve this by moving special attacks to cleaner button combinations using L1 with square or triangle, making combat actions more controlled and reliable.
These layouts also separate style switching and burst counters. This makes switching between Samurai and Shinobi forms more intentional and prevents mistakes during intense fights. If you prefer to stay in Control Type A, at least enable the option that separates style switching from burst counters. This reduces accidental switches and keeps your combat flow stable.
Stats and Weapon Scaling
Your stats shape everything in Nioh 3: how much damage you deal, what gear you can wear, and how effective your playstyle feels. One of the most beginner-friendly changes in Nioh 3 is free respeccing. You can reset both your stats and skill trees at any shrine without spending anything, giving you the freedom to test weapons, abilities, and playstyles without risk.
Each stat supports certain weapons in both Samurai and Shinobi forms. When assigning points, the game clearly shows which weapons benefit from that stat. This matters a lot. Using a weapon that does not scale with your main stat leads to noticeably lower damage, even if the weapon seems powerful on paper.
If you build heavily into Magic, weapons that benefit from Magic scaling will perform far better than unrelated ones. Ignoring this connection between stats and weapons makes combat slower and harder than it needs to be, especially in the early hours.
Early on, spreading your points evenly across attributes is usually the safest option. This helps you meet gear requirements and keeps your build flexible while you’re learning the systems. Most early-game power still comes from higher-level gear rather than heavy stat specialization.
Constitution, Stamina, and Other Stats
Some stats improve survival, while others improve combat efficiency. Constitution raises your maximum health and helps you survive mistakes. Heart controls your Ki pool and recovery rate, directly affecting how long you can stay active in combat.
Stamina helps with equipment weight and slightly improves health, making it easier to wear heavier armor without sacrificing mobility.
Strength focuses on breaking enemy Ki, opening them up for stronger follow-up attacks. Skill supports ninjutsu and technique-based combat, making it ideal for Shinobi-oriented builds.
Intellect improves Ki recovery and effect duration, while Magic boosts Onmyo abilities and spell-based effects.
Since respecs are free, you don’t need to overthink these choices early. A balanced stat spread lets you test different weapons and playstyles before committing to a specific build.
Toughness and Agility
Two values you should constantly keep an eye on are toughness and agility. Toughness controls how easily enemies can interrupt you. If this value drops too low, even weak hits will break your flow and leave you open. Keeping toughness at 100 or above makes combat feel far more stable.
Agility is affected by how heavy your gear is. Lighter equipment allows faster movement and lower Ki usage when attacking or dodging. If your gear becomes too heavy, Ki drains quickly, and fights become exhausting.
The goal is balance. Strong armor is useful, but pushing weight too high early often causes more problems than it solves.
Early Gear Choices
Nioh 3 throws loot at you constantly, and most of it won’t matter early on. During your first playthrough, the game is effectively teaching you systems rather than testing perfect builds.
Instead of worrying about every bonus stat, focus on basic numbers. For armor, higher defense and proper toughness matter most. For weapons, raw attack power and correct stat scaling are what you should prioritize.
True gear optimization comes much later. Early on, replacing weaker items with stronger ones is enough.
Ki Management
Ki controls everything you do. Every swing, dodge, and block costs Ki, and running out leaves you stunned and exposed. Many beginners struggle simply because they ignore their Ki bar.
Each stance has a purpose. High stance deals heavy damage but drains Ki quickly. Mid stance offers balance and safety. The Low stance uses the least Ki and allows fast movement. Charging in without adjusting your stance or watching Ki almost always leads to punishment.
Winning fights is less about raw damage and more about controlling how and when you spend energy. Running out of Ki can be dangerous, but Nioh 3 gives you several ways to recover instead of getting trapped.
Guardian Spirit abilities can be activated even when your Ki bar is empty. Using them instantly breaks stun-locks and gives you space to recover. These abilities can also interrupt animations, allowing you to reset fights before taking heavy damage.
Shinobi players have access to a mist-style dodge that doesn’t consume Ki. It can be used right after attacks, but it requires very precise timing because the invincibility window is short. Samurai players rely more on stance switching through Flux mechanics, which restore Ki during combat. On top of that, Frost Moon follow-up attacks trigger automatically whenever Ki is recovered, including after stance changes, letting you regain energy and strike back at the same time.
The Ki Pulse
The Ki Pulse is the most important mechanic to learn early. After attacking, pressing the pulse button R1 at the right moment recovers much of the Ki you just spent. This allows you to keep pressure on enemies without exhausting yourself.
Once you understand the timing, combat flows better. You can attack, recover, reposition, and continue fighting with confidence. Mastering this single system makes Nioh 3 feel less harsh and far more responsive.
Improving Visibility with Camera Settings
Better awareness can change how fights feel. There’s a camera distance option hidden on the second page of the camera settings. Increasing it pulls the camera back and lets you see more of your surroundings.
This makes it easier to track enemies approaching from the sides and reduces surprise hits during combat. While optional, many players find this adjustment extremely helpful.
Button Mashing
Nioh 3 does not reward nonstop attacking. Every move has recovery time, and enemies are built to punish overcommitment. Instead of long combos, short attack sequences work best.
Landing a few hits, performing a Ki Pulse, moving away, and then re-engaging creates a safer rhythm. Combat feels slower at first, but this approach leads to more consistency and fewer deaths.
Blocking – Smart Early Defense
Dodging looks flashy, but blocking is often safer early on. Blocking reduces incoming damage and uses less Ki than panic dodging. While grabs can’t be blocked, most normal attacks can.
As you learn enemy patterns, dodging becomes more useful. Until then, blocking gives you breathing room and helps stabilize difficult encounters.
Weapon Familiarity
Some of the strongest combat abilities are tied to weapon familiarity. Certain weapons dropped from Crucibles come with unique martial arts that cannot be unlocked any other way. These weapons are easy to recognize thanks to the red skull icon beside their names.
At first, these abilities only work while the weapon is equipped. To unlock them permanently, you need to increase the weapon’s familiarity by keeping it equipped during combat. You don’t need to actually fight with it; having it equipped, even as a secondary weapon, is enough.
Once an ability is unlocked, you must manually assign it. Many moves share the same input by default, which can cause conflicts. Visiting the customization menu allows you to choose which skill activates with each button combination. Without doing this, some unlocked skills may never activate in combat.
Exploring the World
Exploration plays a huge role in your progression. Important upgrades, skill points, and abilities are hidden throughout the open world, and skipping exploration means missing out on long-term power.
Floating objects attached to balloons are especially valuable. You can spot them visually and hear them nearby. Knocking them down rewards you with skill points and unlocks unique abilities for both Samurai and Shinobi. Many important techniques are obtained this way, making exploration well worth the effort.
Making Map Completion Easier
Each sub-region of the map has its own progression level that increases as you explore, fight enemies, open chests, and complete objectives. When a region reaches level four, all points of interest are automatically revealed on the map.
This system makes it easier to fully clear areas and ensures your exploration always contributes to progression rather than feeling wasted.
Permanent Bonuses
Titles are a major source of permanent stat improvements. As you meet certain conditions during gameplay, you unlock titles and gain prestige points. These points can be spent on passive bonuses like reduced Ki usage, improved damage, better defense, or higher drop rates.
Blessings add another layer of bonuses and can be activated at shrines. Kodama blessings focus on general benefits such as healing efficiency and item drops, while other statues improve performance inside Crucibles. Early on, boosting elixir drop rates is one of the most helpful choices for staying alive.
Hidden Rewards Around the World
Some encounters that look like ambushes can be avoided completely. When a clone appears, watch its emote carefully. Performing the same emote causes it to disappear and drop rewards without a fight.
Certain wells also hide useful items or Kodamas. Breaking the rock blocking the well reveals whatever is hidden inside. Since Kodamas are tied to permanent upgrades, it’s always worth checking these locations.
Loot Goblins
Loot goblins are small enemies with shells on their backs. If you defeat them before they escape, they drop a large amount of gear, often more than tough enemies. Keeping an eye out for them is an easy way to improve your equipment quickly.
Using Set Bonuses
You don’t need a complete armor set to benefit from set bonuses. Many sets offer useful effects with just two or three pieces equipped. You can view these bonuses directly from the item menu using the set bonus option.
This allows you to mix and match gear freely instead of locking yourself into a single set. Early partial bonuses are usually versatile and work well with many different builds, making them ideal for beginners.
That is all for this guide. Additional Nioh 3 guides are linked below:
Abdullah is a mobile-focused gamer who enjoys PUBG Mobile and WCC3, with a growing interest in PC titles like PUBG PC and Valorant. He enjoys writing helpful guides to make challenging game moments easier for players.
