The opening hours of Nioh 3 can feel like walking into a samurai film where everyone except you knows the choreography. One moment you’re comfortably dispatching bandits, the next a Yokai turns you into a cautionary tale in about six seconds.
That can be frustrating, but it is also what makes Nioh so rewarding. Every defeat teaches something useful. A missed dodge, an overextended combo, or forgetting to recover Ki usually has an obvious lesson attached.
The early game is not about chasing legendary weapons or finding the perfect build. It is about building habits that will carry you through the rest of the adventure. Once those fundamentals click, even bosses that seemed impossible suddenly become manageable.
Here are the most important early game tips that will make your journey much smoother.
Learn Ki Pulse Before Anything Else
If there is one mechanic that separates Nioh from other action RPGs, it is the Ki Pulse.
After attacking, a portion of your stamina glows white. Pressing the Ki Pulse button at the right moment immediately restores much of that Ki, allowing you to continue attacking or dodge safely.
Ignoring Ki Pulse is like driving a sports car while forgetting second gear exists.
Spend your first few missions focusing less on winning fights and more on mastering the timing. Eventually it becomes muscle memory, and combat suddenly feels far more fluid.
Good Ki management lets you:
- Attack more often
- Dodge safely
- Block without exhausting yourself
- Punish enemies after they miss
Many new players think they need stronger weapons. More often than not, they simply need better Ki management.
Don’t Fight Every Enemy Head On
Nioh rewards observation far more than blind aggression.
Before charging into a group:
- Look for archers on rooftops.
- Spot hidden Yokai lurking around corners.
- Lure individual enemies away.
- Use ranged weapons to thin groups.
The game constantly encourages careful engagement rather than heroic charges.
If three enemies notice you at once, there is a good chance something has already gone wrong.
Experiment With Every Weapon
Your starting weapon choice is not permanent.
Every weapon feels dramatically different.
Some players immediately click with:
- Katana
- Odachi
- Spear
- Dual Swords
- Kusarigama
- Axe
- Tonfa
- Splitstaff
- Fists
A weapon that looks average on paper may completely suit your personal rhythm.
Spend time trying each one before committing upgrade materials.
The best weapon is almost always the one that feels natural.
Don’t Ignore Blocking
Souls veterans often dodge everything.
Nioh asks you to rethink that habit.
Blocking is extremely powerful and can save your life against many fast enemy strings.
It does consume Ki, so blocking endlessly is dangerous, but using it intelligently often feels much safer than attempting several perfect dodges.
Many difficult encounters become surprisingly manageable once you mix blocks with movement.
Change Combat Stances Frequently
Every weapon has multiple stances for a reason.
Low stance offers:
- Fast attacks
- Cheap dodges
- Excellent mobility
Mid stance provides:
- Strong defence
- Reliable counters
- Balanced attacks
High stance delivers:
- Heavy damage
- Greater Ki cost
- Stronger stagger potential
New players often stay in one stance for entire missions.
Instead, treat stance switching as part of every fight.
Fast enemy?
Use Low stance.
Need reliable defence?
Switch to Mid.
Large Yokai exposed after an attack?
That is High stance territory.
The combat becomes much deeper once stance changes become second nature.
Upgrade Shrines Whenever Possible
Shrines do much more than refill health.
They let you:
- Level up
- Recover healing items
- Prepare abilities
- Manage resources
Unlocking nearby Shrines reduces frustrating corpse runs and makes exploring much less risky.
Whenever you discover one, activate it immediately.
Future you will be extremely grateful.
Spend Your Amrita Regularly
Holding huge amounts of Amrita feels satisfying.
Losing it seconds later absolutely does not.
Level up whenever possible instead of carrying enough Amrita to fund several upgrades.
Progress locked inside your character is always better than progress sitting on the ground waiting to disappear.
Prioritise Survivability Early
Big damage numbers are exciting.
Actually surviving long enough to deal them is even better.
During the opening hours, focus on:
- Maximum health
- Ki
- Ki recovery
- Equipment weight management
Being able to survive an extra hit often provides more value than slightly increasing your attack.
Dead characters have terrible damage output.
Replace Equipment Constantly
Unlike many RPGs, early equipment becomes outdated very quickly.
Do not become emotionally attached to a sword simply because it carried you through the first mission.
Compare:
- Attack
- Defence
- Armour weight
- Special bonuses
Small upgrades add up quickly during the opening chapters.
Gear is meant to be replaced often.
Learn Enemy Patterns Instead of Trading Hits
Most Yokai have clearly defined attack sequences.
Rather than trying to overpower them:
- Watch their animations.
- Learn recovery windows.
- Wait patiently.
- Punish safely.
Many enemies feel unfair until you recognise their rhythm.
Once that happens, they become surprisingly predictable.
Explore Every Corner
Hidden rewards are everywhere.
Take time to investigate:
- Side paths
- Rooftops
- Hidden caves
- Locked shortcuts
- Treasure chests
Exploration often rewards players with:
- Better equipment
- Upgrade materials
- Kodama
- Useful consumables
The shortest route is rarely the most rewarding one.
Rescue Every Kodama
Finding Kodama is always worth the effort.
These tiny green spirits improve the benefits you receive from Shrines and make future missions easier.
Because their bonuses accumulate over time, collecting them early pays off throughout the entire game.
If you hear faint chirping nearby, start searching.
One is probably hiding behind something surprisingly obvious.
Use Yokai Abilities Frequently
Many players save Yokai abilities for emergencies.
Instead, use them regularly.
They can:
- Interrupt dangerous attacks
- Break enemy Ki
- Create breathing room
- Finish weakened opponents
If you never use them, you are effectively ignoring one of the strongest parts of the combat system.
Complete Side Missions Early
Side missions are not just optional distractions.
They often provide:
- Amrita
- Equipment
- Upgrade materials
- Practice against familiar enemies
More importantly, they help reinforce combat mechanics without dramatically increasing difficulty.
Think of them as practical training rather than filler.
Don’t Panic During Boss Fights
Bosses are designed to overwhelm you initially.
Instead of focusing on victory immediately, spend your first attempt observing.
Notice:
- Attack timing
- Recovery windows
- Dangerous grab attacks
- Safe healing opportunities
Many players defeat a boss within two or three attempts simply because the first fight became a learning experience.
There is no shame in studying your opponent.
Samurai have been doing exactly that for centuries.
Keep Equipment Weight Under Control
Heavy armour is tempting because larger defence numbers look comforting.
However, excessive weight slows dodging and drains more Ki.
Finding the right balance between protection and mobility is far more important.
If your character suddenly feels sluggish, check your equipment load before assuming the game has become harder.
Save Rare Materials
Early upgrade materials are surprisingly valuable.
Avoid investing heavily into equipment that you will replace within the next hour.
Save rarer resources until you find weapons or armour that genuinely suit your preferred playstyle.
Your future self will thank you when a weapon you actually love finally drops.
Final Thoughts
Nioh 3 rewards patience far more than perfection. The opening hours can feel intimidating, especially if you’re expecting to brute force every encounter, but that is rarely the winning strategy. Success comes from learning systems, experimenting with weapons, and gradually becoming more confident with Ki management, stance switching, and enemy patterns.
Eventually, something strange happens. The Yokai that flattened you earlier becomes an easy warm up. The boss that seemed impossible starts leaving obvious openings. Even the toughest missions become less about survival and more about style.
That moment is what makes Nioh so addictive.
Stick with it. Learn from every defeat. Before long, you’ll be wondering how the game that once felt brutally unfair somehow became one of the most satisfying action RPGs you’ve ever played.
