Nioh 3 – Best Samurai Builds

Samurai Build in Nioh 3 excel at close‑range combat with weapons like swords, dual swords, spears, axes, odachi, and switchglaives. This setup relies on Martial Arts skills, Stance switching, and Ki Pulses to recover stamina. Samurai builds scale based on the weapon type you choose. 

1. Best Samurai Sword Build 

Samurai sword build

This build focuses on Ki management, stance mastery, and burst damage with swords — one of the most versatile samurai weapons with reliable movesets in all stances.

1.1 Build Overview

Choosing the right Katana is key to maximizing damage and Ki efficiency. Swords are known for their balanced stance movesets and reliable combos, but lack strong crowd control and range.

1.2 Armor Sets — Best Choices

Crimson General’s Waistguard

Armour helps with defense, Ki sustain, and combat utility. These sets are best for sword builds as they boost both defense and sword play. 

Tip: Choose armor with Special Effects like Ki Recovery Speed, Guard Ki Recovery, Defense, and Melee Attack Ki Consumption reduction to boost Ki sustain and survivability.

1.3 Katana Martial Arts

Katana weapon martial arts

These are the best Martial Arts skills to equip on your sword build — they offer strong combos, burst damage, evasive counters, and aerial follow‑ups that work well with stance switching and Ki Pulsing:

1.4 Weapon Special Effects 

Swords excel when the weapon helps manage Ki and boosts offensive pressure. Here are the best weapon affixes:

1.5 Stat Priorities for Samurai Sword Build

Heart should be your primary focus to make your attacks stronger and keep Ki for combos. Stamina lets you wear better armor. Strength and Skill then round out damage scaling. These are the best stats to invest in for a Samurai Sword build:

1.6 Best Guardian Spirits

Kusanagi Guardian Spirit

Guardian Spirits provide passive boosts that complement your sword combat style. Kusanagi also comes with a Spirit Force Skill (e.g., Heaven’s Fire). This active ability can be unleashed once your Spirit Force gauge fills, dealing high damage and helping break enemy Ki or create openings.

1.7 Recommended Soul Cores

Soul Cores are special items that give summoning effects or talismans to further boost combat. These are strong fits for the sword build:

Place cores strategically — Yang for summoning help in boss fights and Yin for talismans that buff your attacks during long encounters.

1.8 Best Secret Skills

Secret Skill can be acquired by farming Secret Skill Texts from world loot(enemies, bosses, chests). Secret Skills complement your Samurai style and improve Ki management and damage:

2. Best Samurai Spear Build

Spear

The Samurai Spear build excels at mid‑range spacing, safe poke combos, crowd control, and sustained pressure. Spears allow you to attack from a good distance with well‑timed thrusts while maintaining defensive spacing. For this build, you’ll focus on Ki management, stance mastery, and Martial Arts follow‑ups that complement your reach and pressure.

2.1 Build Overview

Choosing the right Spear and supporting gear is key to maximizing pressure and Ki sustainability. Spears excel when you maintain proper spacing and use Ki Pulses to recover stamina and unleash follow‑ups.

2.2 Best Weapons for Samurai Spear Build

Bullhead Cross Spear

Spears are a versatile Samurai choice, shining at mid‑range thrusts and Martial Arts follow‑ups. Choose spears with Ki management effects, since Spears use a lot of Ki during long combos.

Spear weapons are solid choices for Samurai builds — because of their fixed special effects or overall utility.

2.3 Armor Sets — Best Choices

Armor helps not only with defense and survivability but also provides useful special effects like reduced Ki costs and improved Ki recovery. Pick sets that enhance your offensive and defensive balance:

2.4 Stat Priorities for Samurai Spear Build

Stats

Focus first on Heart, then Skill to enhance offense, followed by Constitution for scaling, and finally Stamina. Invest your points to balance Ki sustain, damage, and durability:

2.5 Best Martial Arts for Samurai Spear Build

Samurai gameplay

Spear Flourish is the priority Martial Art as it boosts offensive output by turning Ki recovery into attack pressure. These Spear Martial Arts are the most effective for mid‑range pressure, combo follow‑ups, and Ki Pulse synergy:

2.6 Samurai Core Skills (Style Skills)

Unlock these in the Samurai tree to support your spear combat and Ki sustain:

2.7 Weapon Special Effects

These effects are strong for spear builds because they directly improve attack efficiency and Ki management:

2.8 Best Guardian Spirits

Kusanagi Guardian Spirit

Kusanagi is the go‑to for maximizing offense and Ki sustain, while Shin‑Roku is an excellent defensive alternative. Guardian Spirits offer passive bonuses that complement your spear playstyle:

2.9 Recommended Soul Cores

Yoki’s Power Talismans are especially useful for bosses and elites, while Jakotsu‑baba adds ranged pressure. These Soul Cores provide useful offensive buffs and talismans that fit a spear build:

3. Best Samurai Axe Build

axe gameplay

This build focuses on high burst damage, staggering power, and heavy hits with the Axe — a weapon that trades speed for raw force. Since Axe attacks are slower and consume more Ki, this build emphasizes Ki management, heavy armor, and strategic use of Martial Arts to maximize damage output and survivability.

3.1 Build Overview

A good Samurai Axe build thrives on unleashing devastating strong attacks and Martial Arts to break enemy defenses and create openings.

3.2 Best Weapons for Samurai Axe Build

Nioh 3 axe combat

Prioritize Ki recovery speed, reduced Ki consumption, and high melee/strong attack damage affixes to make heavy Axe swings more sustainable. 

3.3 Armor Sets — Best Choices

Crimson General’s Waistguard

Armor affects your defense, mobility, and Ki management. The following sets are commonly recommended for Samurai Axe builds to support heavy offense and tankiness:

Tip: Aim for armor with reduced Ki consumption, Ki recovery speed, and damage reduction to offset the Axe’s high Ki cost.

3.4 Stat Priorities for Samurai Axe Build

Primary focus should be on Stamina, Constitution, then Strength and Heart to maximize burst potential and sustain. Focusing on the right stats ensures your Axe slams hard while letting you wear beefy armor and manage Ki effectively:

3.5 Best Martial Arts for Samurai Axe Build

Mad Spinner II Martial Art

These skills enhance the Axe’s damaging potential with powerful charge attacks, buffs, and evasive options. They come from the Axe Martial Arts tree and Samurai core skills:

3.6 Weapon Special Effects

For Axe builds, the best weapon affixes reinforce your heavy‑hit playstyle: Prioritize affixes that let you balance heavy hits with Ki sustainability.

3.7 Best Guardian Spirits for Samurai Axe Build

Guhin Guardian Spirit

Kusanagi is a strong primary choice for offensive builds, while Guhin offers sustain and reduced Ki costs. Guardian Spirits give powerful passive bonuses that synergize with the Axe’s offensive nature:

Guardian Spirit	Effects
Kusanagi	• Martial Art Damage +6.3% • Ki Pulse Recovery +10.8% • Increased Arts Proficiency Damage +6.9% • Spirit Force Charge (Martial Art) +11.0% • Fire Damage Reduction — boosts heavy Martial Arts offense.
Guhin (Alternative)	• Martial Arts Ki Consumption −8.4% • Damage Taken −4.2% • Strong Attack Break +11.0% • Faster Winded Recovery • Melee Damage vs Winded +8.4% — lowers Ki cost and bolsters defense.

3.8 Recommended Soul Cores

Shunobon Soul Core

Use Yang cores for summons and Yin for talismans that buff damage or apply status. Soul Cores enhance attack utility or grant powerful talismans:

4. Best Samurai Odachi Build

Odachi weapon build

This build focuses on wide‑sweeping attacks, heavy hits, and Ki damage — the Odachi excels at guard crushing, crowd control, and massive reach, but comes with slow attack speed and high Ki consumption. Because of this, strong Ki management, heavy armor, and carefully chosen skills are essential.

4.1 Build Overview

The Samurai Odachi build revolves around stamina‑powered swings, charged heavy strikes, and long reach coverage. Odachi’s slower animations and high Ki cost mean you need to invest in stats and gear that boost Ki recovery and heavy attack damage. Wide hits from Odachi help control space and clear groups of enemies, while strong stance Arts provide burst damage.

4.2 Best Weapons for Samurai Odachi Build

Rai Odachi

Choose Odachi weapons that have Ki Recovery Speed, Ki Pulse Recovery, and reduced Ki consumption to help sustain long combos and reduce the chance of going winded. These are confirmed Odachi weapons that work well with this build — many with strong fixed effects or useful bonuses.

4.3 Armor Sets — Best Choices

Crimson General’s Waistguard

These armor sets help boost defense, Ki sustainability, and Odachi effectiveness for wide‑swing and big combo builds.

Tip: Prioritize armor with Ki Recovery Speed, Low/Mid Attack Ki Consumption, Guard Ki Consumption, Melee Attack Ki Consumption, and Damage Taken (While Attacking) to improve uptime and survivability.

4.4 Stat Priorities for Samurai Odachi Build

Stats

These stats make your Odachi hits hit harder while letting you wear heavy armor and sustain long fights:

Since Odachi already has strong innate hits, focus first on Stamina → Strength, then top up Constitution and Magic to support survivability and talisman use.

4.5 Best Martial Arts for Samurai Odachi Build

Groundsweeper

These are the most effective Odachi Martial Arts and Samurai core skills confirmed to work well with Odachi sweeps and heavy combos.

4.6 Odachi Martial Arts

4.7 Weapon Special Effects

Odachi benefits most from special effects that help manage Ki and boost heavy hits:

4.8 Best Guardian Spirits

Guhin Guardian Spirit

Guhin is the consensus top choice for Odachi due to its reduced Ki consumption and damage mitigation, while Kusanagi is excellent if you prefer pure offensive punch. Guardian Spirits give passive buffs that complement Odachi’s slow, powerful swings:

4.9 Recommended Soul Cores

Use Yoki for big bosses and Jakotsu‑baba for extended fights, while Bloodedge Demon helps burst with summons. These Soul Cores give extra damage buffs, talismans, or summons that fit an Odachi playstyle:

5. Best Samurai Dual Sword Build

Dual Swords gameplay

This Dual Sword setup emphasizes high‑speed combos, continuous pressure, excellent mobility, and great Ki sustain. Dual Swords excel in fast multi‑hit strings and fluid stance transitions — letting you punish openings quickly and relentlessly.

5.1 Build Overview

Dual Swords are one of the fastest Samurai weapons, capable of chaining rapid attacks to break enemy Ki, sustain combos, and apply large amounts of pressure. They work best when supported by Samurai skills that improve Ki recovery and parrying, coupled with gear and Soul Cores that enhance offensive output and utility.

5.2 Best Weapons for Samurai Dual Sword Build

Choose weapons with Low Stance Martial Art Ki Damage, Strong Attack Damage, or Spirit Force Charge to maximize combo output and sustain. Dual Swords in Nioh 3 scale with Heart, Strength, and Magic, which lets them balance raw damage with Ki recovery and elemental/soul core utility.

5.3 Best Stats for Samurai Dual Sword Build

Leveling up

Start by investing in Heart for damage and Ki, then Stamina for armor, and Magic if you want to use talismans or elemental utility, with Skill/Strength rounding out your damage scaling. Dual Swords benefit from stats that help with Ki sustain, damage scaling, and talisman use:

5.4 Best Martial Arts for Samurai Dual Sword Build

Dual Swords Martial Arts

Dual Sword Martial Arts offer fluid combos, burst pressure, counters, and follow‑ups. Unlock these Samurai style skills and weapon arts for a complete rotation.

5.5 Armor Sets — Best Choices

Dual Sword builds benefit from armor that balances mobility and Ki management. 

Armor Set	Uses
Goichimonshu Set	Great for Dual Swords as it provides weapon scaling and Ki management bonus.
Wayfarer Set	Good property spread and Ki sustain effects.
Flexible Samurai Sets	Use medium or mixed armor with Ki recovery and reduced Ki cost effects. Use Two-piece and Four-piece bonuses to help scale Dual Swords.

5.6 Best Guardian Spirits for Samurai Dual Sword Build

Guhin Guardian Spirit

Guhin is the go‑to choice because it lets you keep up fast Martial Arts and combos without burning Ki too fast, while Kusanagi can be used if you want extra offensive punch with Spirit Force gains. Guardian Spirits give key passive bonuses that reinforce your fast combo playstyle.

Guardian Spirit	Effects
Guhin	• Martial Arts Ki Consumption −8.4% • Damage Taken −4.2% • Strong Attack Break +11.0% • Faster Winded Recovery • Melee Damage vs Winded +8.4% — Excellent for reduced Ki costs, survivability, and combo flow.
Kusanagi (Alternative)	• Martial Art Damage +6.3% • Ki Pulse Recovery +10.8% • Increased Arts Proficiency Damage +6.9% • Spirit Force Charge +11.0% — Solid offensive option that increases Spirit Force gains and Martial Art damage.

5.7 Recommended Soul Cores

Shunobon Soul Core

Use Yang cores (like Bloodedge Demon) for burst and summons, and Yin cores (like Jakotsu‑baba or Infernal Oni‑bi) for talisman bonuses that support sustained offense. Dual Swords leverage Soul Cores to buff damage, grant talismans, or summon powerful assistance. 

Soul Core	Role / Use
Bloodedge Demon Soul Core	Yang: elemental damage & revenant bonus + Summoning Seal attack. Yin: Carnage Talismans for heavy damage bursts.
Jakotsu‑baba Soul Core	Water Familiar Talismans — adds ranged utility and status buildup.
Infernal Oni‑bi Soul Core	Fire Talismans — imbues swords with fire and Burn buildup.
Yoki Soul Core	Power Talismans — huge temporary attack boosts.

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