Skills in Nioh are used to perform stronger attacks, infusions or other types of magic. There are 6 types of skills available in the base game: Sword Skill, Spear Skills, Axe Skills, Kusarigama Skills, Ninja Skills and Onmyo Magic Skills and they are subdivided into Active, Passive or Jutsu. Their vast variety and application in many combat situations make them an indispensable part of character progression. You can view and edit the current assignments from the Skill Customization screen.
The DLC added Odachi Skills and Tonfa Skills. These are available in the PC "Complete Edition" by default.
The weapon skills available in Nioh are affected by the stance you take (Low, Mid or High). They are learned using Samurai Skill Points, which are earned either by increasing Proficiency with a weapon, leveling stats like Strength or Body or by using the locks of hair Items. Once learned, skills become part of the flow of combat as they are assigned to a specific button press and/or sequence, known as Command. Some skills are independent of weapon, like Grapple, Flux and Ki Pulse skills.
Many skills cannot be unlocked until after you've completed certain missions. For instance many skills require you to complete the Way of The ---- Dojo missions.
The Way of The Novice missions become available from the dojo after completing the 'The Spirit Stone Slumbers mission' (Mission Level = 19)
The Way of The Adept missions become available from the dojo after completing the 'The Ocean Roars Again mission' (Mission Level = 38)
The Way of The Veteran missions become available from the dojo after completing the 'The Iga Escape mission' (Mission Level = 70)
Mystic Samurai Skill missions become available from the dojo after completing the 'Immortal Flame mission' (Mission Level = 96)
Mystic Ninja and Onmyo Magic missions become available from the dojo after completing the 'A Defiled Holy Mountain' (Mission Level = 120)
Mystic Samurai Skill missions require 500000 Proficiency for that weapon. The Mystic Ninja / Mystic Magic missions require 20 in Dexterity / 20 in Magic.
Skills Information
Jutsus are supportive items and abilities such as Shuriken, Powders and Talismans. They are divided into 2 categories: Ninjutsu which are the weapon based arts, and Onmyo Magic which are elemental and spiritual realm arts. Each Jutsu has a cost that goes towards your Ninjutsu capacity and Onmyo capacity. You may only equip jutsus that have a total cost equal or lesser than their respective capacity.
Jutsus are unlocked from the Learn Skills screen. Ninjutsu are learned from the Ninja Skills section and cost Ninja Skill Points to learn and Onmyo Magic are learned from the Onmyo Magic Skills section and cost Onmyo Magic Skill Points to learn.
Sword Skills
Swords are particularly good for their balance of speed, power and range. The Sword Skill tree incorporates improvements to Ki.
Skill | Description | Rank Required | Samurai Skill Points Required | Skill Type | Command | Prerequisite |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grapple | Grapples an enemy who is out of Ki, then follows up with equipped weapon. | - | 1 | Active | ![]() opponent out of Ki |
- |
Kick | Mid or low stance skill. A following move from a combo attack. Causes huge Ki damage. | - | 2 | Active |
|
Grapple |
Indomitable Spirit: 1 | When your health drops to 30% or lower, your Ki recovery speed increases by 20%. | - | 4 | Passive | N/A | Kick |
Indomitable Spirit: 2 | When your health drops to 30% or lower, your Ki recovery speed increases by 10%. | Adept | 5 | Passive | N/A | Indomitable Spirit: 1 |
Indomitable Spirit: 3 | When your health drops to 30% or lower, your Ki recovery speed increases by 10%. | Veteran | 6 | Passive | N/A | Indomitable Spirit: 2 |
Purify Yokai Realm | Activates when you recover the maximum amount of Ki from a Ki Pulse. Purifies the defilement clinging to you and your vicinity. | - | 0 | Active | Ki Pulse | - |
Flux | Changing to another stance on a successful Ki Pulse increases the amount of Ki recovered. | - | 1 | Active | Ki Pulse / Stance | Purify Yokai Realm |
Flux II | Increases Ki recovery when you switch stances during Flux. | Novice | 2 | Active | Ki Pulse / Stance | Flux |
Flash Attack | Performs a quick attack when switching weapons after a Ki Pulse. | Adept | 3 | Active | Ki Pulse / Weapon | Flux II |
Iai Quickdraw | Pronounced "ee-eye." Can be used only when a sword is sheathed. Gathers power while keeping your sword in its scabbard for a quick-draw and rapid strike. |
- | 3 | Active | Hold R1+O | - |
Iai Quickdraw: II | Allows you to accumulate much more power. | Adept | 3 | Active | Hold R1+O | Iai Quickdraw |
Iai Quickdraw: III | Immediately puts you in Iai stance when Ki Pulse succeeds. | Veteran | 4 | Active | Hold R1+O | Iai Quickdraw: II |
Night Rain | Unleash a barrage of quick slashes | Veteran | 4 | Active | Hold R1+O | Iai Quickdraw: III |
Tiger Sprint | Dash forward with sword in sheath before striking | Veteran | 4 | Active | Hold R1+O | Iai Quickdraw: III |
Sword Ki | Disperses Ki from your sword to stun surrounding enemies. | - | 3 | Active | L1+Triangle | - |
Relentless I | Ki +5 | Novice | 5 | Passive | N/A | Sword Ki |
Relentless II | Ki +3 | Adept | 6 | Passive | N/A | Relentless II |
Relentless III | Ki +2 | Veteran | 7 | Passive | N/A | Relentless III |
Quadrisect | While a Living Weapon is active, hold Triangle to quickly slash at surrounding enemies. | - | 3 | Active | ![]() Hold |
- |
Sword of Discernment | Stuns the enemy by bashing them with the sheath, then follows up with a downward slash. | Novice | 3 | Active | L1+Square | Quadrisect |
Morning Light | After getting knocked down, press Triangle to attack while getting up | Veteran | 3 | Active | ![]() |
Sword of Discernment |
Sword of Meditation | Performs a powerful attack with a wide opening | Veteran | 4 | Active | L1+Triangle | Morning Light |
Swallow's Wing | Follows up a combo with slash while stepping back. | - | 2 | Active | ![]() mid combo |
- |
Swallow's Wing II | Alters backwards movement when wearing light armor. | Novice | 3 | Active | Dodge | Swallow's Wing II |
Ki Pulse: Heaven | High stance skill. Activates when you recover full Ki from a Ki Pulse. Raises the damage caused by your next attack. | - | 1 | Active | Ki Pulse | - |
Living Water: Heaven | Enables Ki Pulse to trigger via dodging in High Stance | - | 5 | Active | Dodge | Ki Pulse: Heaven |
Morning Moon | High stance skill. Following a combo attack, jumps and slices the enemy. | - | 2 | Active | ![]() mid combo |
- |
Flowing Shadow | Perform three rapid attacks while circling around the enemy. | Veteran | 3 | Active | L1+Triangle | - |
Ki Pulse: Man | Mid stance skill. Activates when you recover full Ki from a Ki Pulse. Raises the damage caused by your next attack. | - | 1 | Active | Ki Pulse | - |
Living Water: Man | Mid stance only. Enables you to use Ki Pulses even when dodging | - | 3 | Active | Dodge | Ki Pulse: Man |
Water Shadow | Mid stance only. parries an enemy's attack, then places you behind them. | Novice | 2 | Active | L1+Triangle | Living Water: Man |
Water Shadow: II | When Water Shadow succeeds, allows you to slice attack with an extra button press. | Adept | 3 | Active | L1+Triangle | Water Shadow |
Leaf Glide | Mid stance only. Parries an opponent's attack and then closes in on them. | - | 2 | Active | L1+Square | N/A |
Haze | Mid stance skill. Parries an enemy attack, neutralizing it. | - | 1 | Active | L1+Square | Leaf Glide |
Haze: II | When Haze succeeds, allows you to thrust attack with an extra button press. | Novice | 3 | Active | L1+Square | Haze |
Tempest | Mid or low stance skill. Breaks the opponent's guard, then uses your guard to knock them to the ground. | - | 1 | Active | Guard Break | N/A |
Backwave | Mid stance skill. Guards just before an incoming hit to knock the attacker off balance. | Novice | 3 | Active | L1 | Tempest |
Backwave II | Follows up Backwave with Tempest | Adept | 4 | Active | L1 | Backwave |
Ki Pulse: Earth | Low stance skill. Activates when you recover full Ki from a Ki Pulse. Raises the damage caused by your next attack. | - | 1 | Active | Ki Pulse | - |
Living Water: Earth | Low stance only. Enables you to use Ki Pulses even when dodging. | - | 1 | Active | Dodge | Ki Pulse: Earth |
Heaven Flash | Low stance skill. Following a combo attack, kicks an enemy up, then slices down. | - | 2 | Active | X+Forward Mid Combo |
Tempest |
Swift Step | Maneuver behind opponent in Low Stance after combo | Adept | 3 | Active | X+Forward Mid Combo |
Heaven Flash |
Sword of Salvation | Reduces Ki consumption when dodging with a sword equipped as your main weapon | Mystic | 7 | Mystic Art | N/A | Cleared Mission "Zen and Sword are One" |
Sword of Execution | Increases damage dealt when attacking an enemy from behind with a sword | Mystic | 7 | Mystic Art | N/A | Cleared Mission "Zen and Sword are One" |
Melee Mastery | Melee Weapon Attack increase | Veteran | Passive | N/A | Cleared Mission "The Way of the Warrior: Veteran" | |
Deadly Eye | Ranged Weapon Attack increase | Veteran | Passive | N/A | Cleared Mission "The Way of the Warrior: Veteran" | |
Fatal Fists | Bare-handed Attack increase | Veteran | Passive | N/A | Cleared Mission "The Way of the Warrior: Veteran" |
- Anonymous
oh i know dojo is cleared mission! unlock i see good story nioh
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
does the passive skills add up for all weapons or just for the one special weapon i upgraded?
how about skill drops, like izuna drop?
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