Sometimes the Nioh 2 DLC hits you with that feeling of, alright, who turned the difficulty slider up while I wasn’t looking. Enemies hit harder, Yokai start acting like they’ve had a double espresso, and suddenly your comfy base game setup feels like it forgot how maths works. That is why DLC builds need to be sharper, tougher and a bit unhinged in the best possible way.
What follows are the builds that can stand the pressure. They aren’t gimmicks, they’re builds that carry you through Darkness in the Capital, The First Samurai and the Depths without making you question your life choices.
Build 1: The Fists Bruiser
A pure aggression build that feels like hitting things with two angry meteors.
Core Stats
Focus on Strength, Stamina and Constitution. This keeps your fists hitting hard while tanking enough to stay in trouble without instantly regretting it.
Weapon Setup
- Fists or Clawed Fists with high Ki damage rolls
- Secondary: Switchglaive for ranged pressure if a boss gets jumpy
Armour and Sets
- Iga Jonin mixed with Sudama Trickster or Susano
- Aim for Untouched Melee Weapon, Melee Damage versus Yokai and high Toughness
- Quick Attack Damage boosts help the build snap harder
Soul Cores
- Enki for gap closing
- Ippon-Datara for brutal stagger
- Kasha for sustained pressure
Playstyle
Sprint at whatever moves. Stay glued to targets, punch through Ki, then cash out with Grapples. It feels reckless but in the DLC that works surprisingly well.
Build 2: The Switchglaive Onmyo Monster
This one is for the players who love turning their loadout into a small science experiment. The Switchglaive scales like it wants you to get a PhD in damage stacking.
Core Stats
Dump points into Magic, then mix in Skill and Constitution until your armour stops feeling like paper.
Weapon Setup
- Corrupted or Purity Switchglaive
- Elemental rolls make the whole build click
- Secondary weapon barely matters since this thing does most of the heavy lifting
Armour and Sets
- Onmyo Austerity plus Grace of Tsukuyomi if you can reach it
- Look for Anima Boost, Elemental Damage and Active Skill Damage
Soul Cores
- Namahage for raw attack
- Gaki for Anima gain
- Otaki-Maru for elemental burst damage
Playstyle
Apply elements, keep your talismans rolling and delete Ki bars with mid stance Switchglaive chains. It is the closest the game lets you feel like a storm wearing armour.
Build 3: Odachi Tank with Too Much Ki Pressure
Big sword, bigger attitude. This setup plays like someone dared you to make patience a weapon.
Core Stats
Constitution, Strength and Stamina. Put enough points here and you become one of those bosses who refuses to fall over.
Weapon Setup
- Odachi with high Ki damage
- Rolls like Melee Damage versus Zero Ki bosses make a dramatic difference
Armour and Sets
- Tatenashi mixed with Susano
- You want Toughness capped and Damage Taken reductions stacked enough to feel slightly illegal
Soul Cores
- Gozuki for free crowd control
- Kasha for burn pressure
- Lesser Umi-Bozu for Ki sustain
Playstyle
You break Ki like it owes you money. Keep mid stance flowing, watch for openings and punish shattered enemies with heavy finishers. It is slow, deliberate and weirdly calming.
Build 4: The Naginata Sickle Dodgy Speed Demon
If you prefer moving like the floor is made of lava, this is where the fun is.
Core Stats
Skill, Courage and Heart. The build lives on mobility and Ki efficiency.
Weapon Setup
- Naginata Sickle with Active Skill Damage
- Secondary: Dual Swords for human bosses who panic when pressured
Armour and Sets
- Master Swordsman or Grace of Susano
- Prioritise Dodge Ki Reduction, Active Skill Damage and Melee Damage from behind
Soul Cores
- Kasha again because she is elite
- Yoki for burst Anima
- Shuten Doji for emergency big damage
Playstyle
Circle enemies, hit weak points, get out. It rewards players who don’t enjoy getting touched by anything larger than a beetle.
Build 5: Yokai Shift Hybrid for Endgame Depths
A chaotic blend of melee and Yokai Shift that thrives in the final DLC.
Core Stats
Split between Magic, Strength and Constitution. You need both survivability and Anima gain.
Weapon Setup
- Any main weapon with high Anima Charge
- Corrupted variants shine here
Armour and Sets
- Seven Scourges or Yomi pieces
- Grace of Oyamatsumi works well for survivability
Soul Cores
- Otaki-Maru for elemental clearing
- Ippon-Datara for guard breaks
- Gaki for Anima economy
Playstyle
Switch in and out of Yokai Shift whenever the timing feels right. It turns boss fights into a rhythm game where you juggle Anima, burst counters and openings.
Seven Swords Takeaway
DLC content in Nioh 2 tests whether your build has real structure behind it. You can’t drift through encounters hoping your gear will carry everything. That is why these setups focus on clean damage scaling, Ki pressure and the ability to stay alive during the DLC’s mood swings.
