Nioh 2 offers remarkable freedom in how you shape your character. While there’s no single best build for every player, certain approaches consistently produce more powerful, efficient, and adaptable warriors. This guide breaks down how to create a character that can handle anything the game throws at you, whether you’re focused on high-level play, New Game Plus, or simply dominating the battlefield.
Choose the Right Starting Weapon and Guardian Spirit
Your initial weapon choice does more than decide early-game movesets. It also sets your starting stat boosts, which can shape your build direction.
- Switchglaive or Odachi suit magic or strength-heavy builds respectively, offering reach and power.
- Dual Swords and Tonfa favour agility and ki management, ideal for nimble melee combatants.
- Guardian Spirits also affect your build. Feral types boost dodging and ki recovery, Brute types provide staggering strength, and Phantom types favour ranged or magical playstyles.
Choose based on your long-term focus rather than early-game comfort.
Key Stats for the Best All-Round Build
While you should always tailor stats to your preferred weapon and armour type, an optimal build usually prioritises:
- Constitution (HP and heavy armour scaling) – keeps you alive longer and allows for more protective gear.
- Courage (Ki recovery speed) – vital for sustained offence and defence.
- Heart (Ki and Sword scaling) – essential for katana or versatility-focused characters.
- Magic or Dexterity – depending on whether you favour Onmyo or Ninjutsu. Both provide buffs, ranged tools, and enemy debuffs that make tougher fights manageable.
Aim for at least 10–15 in both Magic and Dexterity for access to useful tools even if they’re not your main focus.
Weapon Scaling and Stamina Management
Weapon stats scale differently based on your attributes:
| Weapon | Primary Scaling | Secondary Scaling |
|---|---|---|
| Katana | Heart | Skill |
| Axe | Strength | Stamina |
| Tonfa | Courage | Skill |
| Switchglaive | Magic | Skill |
Using a weapon that complements your chosen stats lets you maximise damage and efficiency. Always keep stamina (Ki) at the core of your build. Even powerful characters fall quickly if they can’t maintain pressure or defend themselves.
Magic, Ninjutsu and Passive Perks
Onmyo magic and Ninjutsu are not just optional extras. They give you:
- Sloth and Weakness Talismans to cripple bosses.
- Elemental buffs to exploit enemy resistances.
- Shurikens and bombs for spacing and punishing.
Invest in their skill trees early to unlock passive boosts like faster scroll use, increased capacity, and enhanced durations. These can change the tide of battle far more than raw damage alone.
Optimise Gear and Set Bonuses
Late-game power spikes often come from gear synergy, not just stats.
- Focus on sets with bonuses that match your style. For example, the Master Archer set boosts ranged play, while Tatenashi is excellent for tanky builds.
- Familiarity is key. Fully bonded weapons deal significantly more damage.
- Use the Blacksmith to reforge gear, inherit traits, or soul match to boost level and effectiveness.
Keep an eye on weight. Staying in the Green or Yellow armour load zones ensures your dodging and ki regen remain viable.
Soul Cores and Yokai Abilities
Soul Cores shape your Yokai Abilities, which act as powerful bursts of damage or utility.
- Choose Souls with bonuses that enhance your core stats or resistances.
- Favour cores with low attunement costs so you can equip more and trigger abilities often.
- Don’t neglect Yokai Shift either. Each form has unique uses: Feral for mobility, Brute for power, Phantom for zoning and magic.
Fuse and purify cores regularly to enhance their power and reduce corruption risks.
Endgame: Depth and Customisation
In Dream of the Demon and higher difficulties, builds must adapt to increased enemy aggression and damage.
- Custom set bonuses via Smithing Texts allow fine-tuning to your playstyle.
- Clan bonuses and Titles grant further stat boosts.
- Use the Tea House and Hidden Teahouse rewards to refine gear and unlock prestige points.
It’s here that truly powerful characters are made. Fine details like attack buffs on dodge, elemental damage boosts, or lifesteal effects can push a good build into elite territory.
The Seven Swords takeaway
The strongest character in Nioh 2 is not necessarily the one with the highest raw stats, but the one built with synergy, adaptability, and purpose. Prioritise stamina management, gear synergy, and intelligent use of magic or ninjutsu. Lean into the strengths of your chosen weapons and never overlook the tactical advantage of buffs, debuffs, and yokai powers. With careful planning, you’ll not only survive Nioh 2’s toughest challenges but control them.
