Nioh 3's Demon of Pride: When 'Recommended Level' is a Suggestion, Not a Rule, Mate!
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Nioh 3's secret Demon of Pride boss is a brutal challenge that laughs at your recommended level, demanding players be far stronger or incredibly skilled to overcome its water-based attacks and tricky moveset, with great rewards for those who prevail.
Right, listen up, because Nioh 3 just dropped a boss that feels less like an enemy and more like a pop quiz designed by a mischievous deity who thinks 'recommended levels' are merely a polite fiction. We're talking about the Demon of Pride, the game's first *secret* boss, and trust me, calling it a 'toughie' is like calling a dragon's fiery breath a 'bit warm.'
Now, before we dive deeper into how to tackle this watery menace, a massive shout-out to Ford James over at Polygon for originally plumbing the depths of this secret fight, giving us the initial intel. It's always good to have a starting point when you're about to wrestle with something that feels like it crawled out of a glitch in the space-time continuum, isn't it?
So, picture this: you're merrily adventuring through Nioh 3, probably around level 53, feeling all chuffed with yourself for surviving 'The Age of Clans' mission. You've just bested the Great Tengu (congrats, by the way!) and snagged yourself a new Guardian Spirit, the Kurama Tengu. This furry friend isn't just for show, mate; it's your ticket to a spirit vein that, surprisingly, zaps you back to the Warring States period, specifically the Iinoya region. Now, head east, find the Sengan Waterfall shrine, climb to the base, and there it is: a ghostly apparition ready to kick off a brawl that'll make you question your life choices. The game *suggests* you're ready at level 53, but my internal wizardry, which occasionally pulls accurate futures out of digital tea leaves, reckons you'll want to be closer to level 90 for this particular dance. Bloody hell, that's a jump, isn't it? It's like the devs dared us to try and pull off a high-level magic trick with a broken wand. If you're a glutton for punishment and think you can out-skill the level difference, more power to you, but fair warning: one mistake, and you're toast.
So, what's this Demon of Pride's deal, then? Well, it's a bit of a water mage, sending out a barrage of ranged water-based attacks. This means two things for the clever gamer: first, stack up on that water resistance gear like it's going out of fashion. Secondly, and perhaps counter-intuitively for a ranged attacker, you'll actually be better off sticking to it like digital glue. Get in close, make it regret its life choices, and deny it the space to cast its wet-and-wild spell-slinging. On the flip side, this beastie *hates* electricity. So, if you've got weapons imbued with lightning, or ninjutsu that crackles and zaps, now's the time to unleash your inner Zeus. As if that wasn't enough, the Demon of Pride gets a proper temper tantrum in the second half of the fight, turning even more aggressive. This is where your Living Artifact comes in handy – save it, unleash it, go full invulnerable, Ki-unlimited chaos, and try to finish it before it finishes you.
Now for the tricky part: its moveset. This thing is a proper digital menace. Its signature move, the homing water bubble, is a zig-zagging nightmare that requires Jedi-level reflexes to dodge. But here's a cheeky tip: if you've got a ranged attack of your own, you can actually *destroy* it mid-air. Take that, you watery menace! It'll also summon up to five more predictable (thank the digital gods!) water bubbles above its head, sending them your way in waves. They still hurt, mind you, so don't get complacent.
Burst attacks are present and accounted for, naturally. While you *can* use Style Shift Burst Break, the timing on this demon's particular bursts is so frustratingly precise, you might end up breaking your controller before you break its guard. My advice? Rely on your Guardian Spirit Burst Break. It's more forgiving on the timing and smacks the boss for a bit of extra damage to boot. Watch out for its arching back zoom across the floor – that's a quick reflex check that'll send you to the spirit world if you're not careful.
Up close, it's got a nasty habit of performing various arm sweeps, dragging them along the floor. Sometimes, it'll chain a rapid succession of these. Don't get greedy; wait for the full sequence to end, because it *might* just finish with a massive water bubble slam that causes a shockwave. And, of course, there's the classic stomp attack, which, mercifully, is easily evaded. It's almost like it throws in one easy move just to mess with your head after all the other chaos.
So, you've done it. You've battled through the aquatic onslaught, dodged the zig-zags, zapped it with lightning, and emerged victorious, probably dripping with digital sweat. What do you get for your troubles? The Demon of Pride soul core, which is pretty neat. Slot it into your Yang position and you can summon the Demon itself, or put it in Yin for its trademark water bubbles. Plus, you'll unlock the "Death From Above Water" Transformed Art, which gives your hatchets some fresh, wet, aerial flair. Pretty sweet rewards for a fight that felt like trying to perform an ancient ritual during a typhoon, wouldn't you say?
It's these kinds of hidden challenges, the ones that laugh in the face of your current level and demand genuine skill and strategic thinking, that make these Soulslike experiences truly sing. The Demon of Pride isn't just a boss; it's a test, a puzzle, and a bloody good reason to tinker with your build and truly master the game's mechanics. Go on, give it a crack, mate, and tell me what you reckon!
Tags: Nioh 3, Boss Fight Guide, Soulslike, Action RPG, Gaming Tips
Original article: Polygon