Nioh 3: Don't Get Punted! Your Early Game Skill Survival Guide
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Dive into Nioh 3's intricate skill system with Jeff's guide, focusing on essential early-game Samurai, Ninja, and Common skills to help you survive and thrive against aggressive Yokai, all while navigating the game's challenging skill capacity mechanics.
Right, so you've just dived headfirst into Nioh 3, eh? Probably got your backside handed to you by a particularly grumpy Yokai within the first five minutes. Don't worry, mate, it happens to the best of us – myself included, after a 'small' incident involving a portal spell and a rather large, angry badger. But here's the thing about Nioh: it's not just about mashing buttons and hoping for the best. It's about cunning, strategy, and knowing exactly which mystical trinket or ancient technique to employ. And that, my friends, brings us neatly to skills.
Our ever-observant mates over at Polygon, specifically Ford James, have been digging deep into the early game, offering some cracking insights into the skills that can genuinely turn the tide. So, let's unpack their findings, add a dash of Jeff's patented wisdom (and perhaps a bit of gentle skepticism for the grind), and make sure you're not just surviving, but actually *thriving* in feudal Japan.
**The Skill Scroll Breakdown: Passive Power-Ups**
Now, before we get stuck in, a quick heads-up: skills in Nioh 3 are entirely passive. No, you don't 'cast' these; think of them more like permanent enchantments or character upgrades that enhance your existing abilities. They're distinct from the flashy martial arts and ninjutsu, which are your active, button-mashing delights. You'll find these skills split into three categories: Samurai, Ninja, and Common. The first two are, predictably, locked to their respective styles, but Common skills are fair game for everyone. Also, watch out for 'Mastery' type skills – you can only equip one of those at a time, forcing some truly painful choices, like picking your favourite biscuit from the packet. Impossible, I tell you!
Most of these juicy bits of ancient knowledge require finding specific 'Secret Skills Texts' first, so you can't just rock up and equip everything from the get-go. And speaking of equipping everything, you're also limited by skill capacity. Ah, the eternal struggle! You find all these shiny new skills, feel like a proper digital wizard, and then realise you can't equip half of 'em. Classic dev move, forcing us to actually *think* about our builds. But fear not, there are ways to expand your mystical arsenal, which we'll get to.
For now, let's eyeball some of the top picks from the first couple of regions. Credit for the original detailed scouting report goes to Ford James at Polygon.
**Common Sense (and Common Skills)**
These are your bread-and-butter enhancements, available to all styles. They often lay the groundwork for a solid build, no matter your primary preference. And honestly, sometimes, mate, the simplest spells are the most potent.
* **Period Attack Mastery II (Cost: 4)**: Increases Attack by a solid 12. Just slap on more damage, job done. Found in a chest in the Iinoya enemy base, requiring a creative drop through a roof. Old school exploration, eh? * **Panacea Curefast (Cost: 5)**: Boosts Life restored by elixirs by 15%. Because nothing ruins a good boss fight like running out of healing. This is basically a digital first-aid kit upgrade, found in a chest after completing the Tenryu River enemy base. Absolutely vital for those prolonged brawls. * **Repel Expert (Cost: 5)**: Extends the window for a successful Style Shift Burst Break. Crucial for staying alive and countering those aggressive Yokai. It's like widening the window on your shield spell – invaluable when things get hairy. This little gem is in a chest in the Funaokayama enemy base. * **Vigorous Spirit (Cost: 5)**: Applies Auto Life Recovery as long as your Life is above a certain threshold. Ah, the dream! Passive healing. It's like having a tiny, invisible healing familiar following you around, patching you up after every skirmish. Find it on a corpse near Matsuo-taisha shrine in Sagano, after a bit of a scenic drop.
**The Way of the Warrior: Samurai Skills**
If you're leaning into the stoic, front-line brawler vibe, these Samurai skills will fortify your resolve and sharpen your blade. They often focus on defense, Ki management, and turning the tide when things look grim.
* **Running Water (Cost: 2)**: Enables you to perform a Ki Pulse by dodging. This one's an absolute game-changer. Ki management in Nioh is like juggling flaming swords, and this makes it so much smoother. It's like the devs accidentally gave us a 'cheat code' for stamina, tucked away in a chest in the Hamamatsu crucible after some platforming wizardry. * **Recoup (Cost: 5)**: Allows you to recover a portion of Ki expended when guarding by performing a Ki Pulse. More Ki management! See a pattern here? Nioh loves to punish sloppy play, so anything that helps you keep your stamina up and ready for action is golden. This is hiding in a cave near the Castle Town East shrine in Hamamatsu. * **Indomitable Spirit (Cost: 6)**: When your life drops to 30% or lower, your Ki recovery speed increases by 25%. The ultimate comeback mechanic! When you're on the ropes, feeling like you're about to be sent back to the last shrine, this kicks in. It's like finding a secret reserve of magical energy when all hope seems lost. You'll find it in a chest in Lake Hamana, within Horie Castle.
**Shadows and Shenanigans: Ninja Skills**
For those who prefer a more agile, stealthy, and generally trickier approach, Ninja skills offer a wealth of options for confounding enemies and striking from the shadows. Who needs brute force when you've got cunning, eh?
* **Backstab Life Siphon (Cost: 5)**: Restores Life when you deal damage to an enemy from behind. If you're going for that shadowy assassin vibe, this is your bread and butter. Slice 'em from behind, get some health back – efficient, deadly, and a bit cheeky. Tucked away in a cave in Maisaka Village, after you've drained the lake (because of course you have). * **Pufferpuss Technique (Cost: 4)**: After a successful Evade, an illusion of a Scampuss will appear for a moment, grow spikes across its body, and attack your enemy. Bloody hell, this sounds amazing! An illusionary Scampuss with spikes? That's the kind of chaotic magic I can get behind. Perfect for adding a bit of unexpected 'oomph' to your dodges, found on a corpse north of the Horiike of Arashiyama shrine. * **Butterfly's Grace (Cost: 3) & Aerial Strike (Cost: 5)**: Reduces damage taken from attacks while in mid-air by 10% and increases mid-air attack damage by 7% respectively. These two together? Chef's kiss! Fly around like a ninja ballet dancer, dodging damage and dishing it out. It's like learning to control gravity itself, or at least how to fall with style. Butterfly's Grace is in a chest south of Mount Kurama, while Aerial Strike is on a corpse east of Hamamatsu Post shrine. * **Yokai Banisher (Cost: 4)**: Performing Mist within the Yokai Realm will remove the realm from that area. Now THIS is clever. Not just fighting Yokai, but actively clearing their nasty puddles. Tactical brilliance! This handy skill is a reward for defeating the Great Tengu in the intro to the Heian period. Smash 'em, clear the goo, jobs a good 'un.
**Expanding Your Mind (and Skill Capacity)**
So, as I mentioned, you'll hit a wall with skill capacity. You can unlock far more skills than you can equip, which is a classic Nioh move to make you agonise over your choices. But fear not, digital wizards, you *can* expand your potential.
* **Warrior's, Samurai's, or Ninja's Texts**: These straightforward items, found all over the shop (boss rewards, chests, corpses), will increase their respective skill categories by one. 'Warrior's Texts' are for your Common skills, naturally. * **Memorandums**: These are a bit trickier. You'll need *four* of a specific type (e.g., four Samurai Memorandums for one Samurai skill capacity upgrade). You can snag these from the ever-present Sudama merchants for two Yokai Teardrops apiece (fair dinkum, those little gremlins drive a hard bargain!), or by completing all the exploration goals in each region. So, not only do you need to find the skills, but you've got to earn the right to *use* them all. Classic Nioh, making you work for it!
And there you have it, folks. A peek into Nioh 3's early game skills that'll hopefully stop you from rage-quitting faster than I can miscast a teleportation spell. Remember, Nioh is a game about experimentation and mastering its complex systems. Don't be afraid to try different combinations, swap things around, and find what truly clicks with your playstyle. Go forth, brave warriors, and may your Ki never run dry!
*Credit: This analysis builds upon the valuable insights originally published by Ford James on Polygon.*
Tags: Nioh3, ActionRPG, TeamNinja, GamingGuide, Builds
Original article: Polygon