Understand the Core Paths to Power and Efficiency
Nioh 2’s Samurai Skill Tree plays a central role in your combat performance. Unlike Yokai or Onmyo skills, Samurai skills focus on refining weapon techniques, stamina (Ki) control, and stance mastery. The tree is sprawling, but not all paths offer equal value depending on your build, weapon of choice, or playstyle. Here’s a breakdown of the best Samurai skill trees and where to invest early, mid, and late game.
Core Focus Areas: What Makes a Samurai Skill Tree Strong?
Samurai skills affect all melee weapon types and influence how fluid and effective your combat feels. The best trees tend to offer:
- Faster Ki recovery and Ki Pulse improvements
- Better defensive counters (e.g. Flux, Water Shadow)
- Passive buffs to attack power or weapon proficiency
- Access to advanced stance mechanics
Best Overall Samurai Skill Trees
1. Ki Pulse and Ki Management Tree
This is arguably the most universally valuable skill path in the entire tree. Skills like Ki Pulse: Man, Ki Pulse: Heaven, and Flux II and III transform how long you can stay in the fight without running out of stamina. Combine these with Maniacs and Ki Recovery Speed passives for optimal flow.
Highlights:
- Ki Pulse: Man/Heaven/Earth
- Flux I, II, III
- Focused Spirit
- Second Wind
Why It Matters:
Mastery of Ki flow lets you stay aggressive and mobile. With Flux, chaining between stances restores Ki, creating a combat rhythm that punishes hesitancy.
2. Weapon-Specific Trees
Each melee weapon has its own subset of Samurai skills: Katana, Dual Swords, Spear, Axe, Kusarigama, Odachi, Tonfa, Switchglaive, Splitstaff, and Fists. These trees are essential for unlocking key combos, stance-specific attacks, and finishing moves.
Best Weapon Trees (depending on build):
- Katana: “Iai Quickdraw” line and “Backwave” for high single-target burst
- Dual Swords: “Sign of the Cross” and “Windstorm” for fast stance dancing
- Spear: “Twisting Spear” and “Chidori” give strong reach and control
- Odachi: “Moonlit Snow” offers brutal scaling and range
- Tonfa: “Demon Dance” enables relentless pressure and Ki damage
Why It Matters:
These trees unlock the moves that define how each weapon plays. Without these, your damage ceiling is far lower.
3. Passive Buff Tree
Often overlooked, this set includes core passives that enhance your survivability and consistency across all builds.
Key Skills:
- Damage Bonus (based on Constitution or Stamina)
- Attack Increase (while using a specific weapon)
- Life Increase and Toughness Boost
- Faster Weapon Proficiency Gain
Why It Matters:
These boost your base stats without relying on timing or stance execution, making them crucial for tough boss fights and sustained battles.
Honourable Mentions
- Ki Pulse: Water: Advanced players can gain immense speed from this.
- Relentless: Raises your Ki cap, helping with high-attack combo setups.
- Untouchable: Slight niche use but helpful for certain farming builds.
Skill Tree Tips
- Respec often. Nioh 2 gives you tools to reset your build, so experiment with different weapons and adjust your Samurai skills accordingly.
- Mix stance skills. Even if you favour mid-stance, grabbing a high-stance combo can help in pressure situations.
- Stack passives with gear. Combine skill bonuses with set bonuses for maximum effect.
Final Thoughts
The best Samurai skill trees aren’t just about raw damage. They shape how smoothly you fight, how long you can stay in combat, and how well you adapt to enemy types and environments. Prioritise Ki flow, refine your weapon combos, and pick passive skills that reinforce your strengths. The deeper your mastery of the Samurai skill system, the more fluid and dangerous your character becomes.
