Best Nioh 3 Builds for Early and Mid-Game: A Beginner’s Guide

Starting your adventure in Nioh 3 can be overwhelming, but having the right build can make all the difference. Builds help you optimize your weapons, stats, and skills to handle the game’s challenges. In this guide, we’ll share the best early and mid-game builds for Nioh 3, perfect for both beginners and seasoned players.

What Is a Build in Nioh 3?

A build in Nioh 3 is a strategic combination of weapons, stats, skills, and Guardian Spirits tailored to your playstyle. Whether you prefer dealing massive physical damage, using elemental magic, or focusing on defense, Nioh 3 offers endless possibilities to customize your character.

With two main combat styles—Samurai and Ninja—and a wide range of weapons, you’ll find plenty of ways to experiment and create the build that suits you best.

Best Early and Mid-Game Builds

Here are some of the best builds for early and mid-game, designed around popular weapons in Nioh 3. These builds are ideal for players around Level 60 and provide a solid foundation to tweak and improve as you progress.

1. Axe Build (Samurai)

The axe is one of the most powerful weapons in Nioh 3, capable of dealing devastating damage. However, it’s slow, making it challenging to use against fast-moving enemies. This build balances defense, Ki regeneration, and elemental damage to overcome its weaknesses.

Build Components

• Primary Stats: Constitution and Strength.
• Weapon: Any axe with the “Imbue Element” effect (preferably water, fire, or wind).
• Guardian Spirit: Guhin (great for elemental damage and strong attacks).
• Secret Skills:
  • Defense Mastery II: Increases your defense.
  • Unshakable: Reduces damage taken while attacking.
• Martial Arts Skills:
  • Rumbling Earth: Delivers a powerful overhead attack with an area-of-effect shockwave.
  • Rumbling Earth II: Enhances the damage of the previous skill.

Tips

• Focus on blocking and dodging to manage your Ki effectively.
• Use Rumbling Earth to stagger enemies and create openings for heavy attacks.
• If you find an axe with the “Imbue Water” effect, pair it with a water-based Guardian Spirit for additional damage.

2. Switchglaive Build (Samurai)

The Switchglaive is one of the most versatile weapons in Nioh 3, allowing for quick attacks and seamless integration with Onmyo Magic. This build emphasizes elemental damage and defensive capabilities, making it ideal for players who enjoy a balanced playstyle.

Build Components

• Primary Stats: Skill and Magic.
• Weapon: Switchglaive with “Imbue Wind” or “Imbue Fire.”
• Guardian Spirit: Guhin or Kongojishi (both enhance elemental damage and defense).
• Secret Skills:
  • Roaring Dragon Deflect: Increases elemental damage after a successful block.
  • Defense Mastery II: Boosts your defense.
• Martial Arts Skills:
  • Cyclone Wind: Creates a whirlwind of attacks imbued with wind.

Tips

• Use the wind element to apply the Blustered status effect, reducing enemy physical damage.
• Pair quick attacks with Onmyo Magic to maintain pressure on enemies.
• For fire builds, use the Guardian Spirit Enko and the Arc of Chaos Fire skill for fiery ranged attacks.

3. Tonfas Build (Ninja)

The tonfas are among the best weapons for Ninja builds due to their speed and low Ki consumption. This build focuses on the water element, allowing you to apply the Saturated status effect, which increases the damage enemies take.

Build Components

• Primary Stats: Constitution and Strength.
• Weapon: White Bone Spirit Tonfa (with the “Imbue Water” effect).
• Guardian Spirit: Kusanagi (boosts water damage and Amrita bonuses).
• Secret Skills:
  • Attack Mastery II: Increases physical attack.
  • Ninjutsu Cultivation: Boosts Ninjutsu damage.
  • Wrathful Dragon: Enhances elemental damage after using Ninjutsu.
• Martial Arts Skills:
  • Heavenly Chain: Enables rapid follow-up attacks.
  • Demon Dance: Improves invulnerability during dodges.

Tips

• Use Ninjutsu to amplify your damage output.
• Leverage the speed of the tonfas to overwhelm enemies.
• Equip water talismans or spells like Uncanny Bubble to enhance your elemental capabilities.

4. Kusarigama Build (Ninja)

The Kusarigama is perfect for players who want range and versatility. This build focuses on wind-based attacks, allowing you to keep enemies at a distance while dealing significant elemental damage.

Build Components

• Primary Stats: Constitution and Skill.
• Weapon: Kusarigama with “Imbue Wind.”
• Guardian Spirit: Kurama Tengu (enhances wind damage and reduces damage taken).
• Secret Skills:
  • Aerial Strike: Increases mid-air attack damage.
  • Wrathful Dragon: Boosts elemental damage after Ninjutsu hits.
• Martial Arts Skills:
  • Whirlwind Wind: Imbues your weapon with wind and creates mini-tornadoes.
  • Deadly Mark: Lets you close gaps by pulling yourself toward enemies.

Tips

• Use aerial attacks to maintain distance and avoid enemy counters.
• Apply the Blustered status effect to reduce enemy physical damage.
• Equip wind talismans to further enhance your damage output.

Combining Builds in Nioh 3

To maximize your effectiveness, consider combining Samurai and Ninja builds that share similar stats. For example:

• Tonfas (Ninja) with Spears (Samurai): Both scale with Constitution and Skill.
• Switchglaive (Samurai) with Splitstaves (Ninja): Both scale with Magic and Intellect.

If your weapons don’t share stats, you can remodel them at the Blacksmith to match your build.

Having the right build in Nioh 3 can make your early and mid-game experience much smoother. Whether you prefer the raw power of the axe, the speed of the tonfas, or the versatility of the kusarigama, these builds are an excellent starting point.

Which build will you try first? Share your thoughts in the comments and start dominating the world of Nioh 3!