If you have put serious time into Nioh 2, you already know the game does not hand you its best toys up front. Some of the most powerful and stylish combat techniques sit behind obscure boss drops, dojo fights, and NPC duels that are easy to miss if you are just pushing the main path. This guide pulls all of those hidden skills into one place, explains how to unlock them, and offers a few honest thoughts on which ones are actually worth the grind.
What Hidden Skills Are and Why They Matter
Hidden skills are weapon techniques that do not appear naturally in the skill trees. You earn them as rare drops from specific enemies or one off encounters. They tend to fall into three camps. Flashy but situational, quietly overpowered, or so good they end up redefining how a weapon feels.
They matter because they often bring things normal skills do not. Faster ki damage, better gap closing, unique animations that ignore guard, or combos that slot neatly into high stance pressure. If you enjoy squeezing every ounce of depth out of combat, these skills are essential.
How Hidden Skills Drop
The game never explains this clearly, so here is the practical version.
- Hidden skills drop randomly from specific human enemies or bosses
- Difficulty does not matter, although higher difficulties feel more generous
- Luck and Item Drop Rate help, but patience helps more
- You must land the killing blow, summons do not count
If a skill refuses to drop, you are not bugged or doing it wrong. You are just playing Nioh.
Sword Hidden Skills
Izuna Drop
Dropped by Yoshitatsu Saito
- A classic airborne grab straight out of Ninja Gaiden
- Excellent against human enemies who overcommit
- Big style points, modest raw damage
This one is more about flair than efficiency, but landing it never gets old.
Kurama Sword Dance
Dropped by Minamoto no Yorimitsu
- Multi hit forward advancing combo
- Strong ki pressure on human bosses
- Easy to weave after a ki pulse
This is one of those skills that quietly upgrades the sword moveset. Once unlocked, it feels strange playing without it.
Dual Swords Hidden Skills
Double Head Slice
Dropped by Tokichiro Ashikaga
- Fast crossing slash with good break
- Very low commitment
- Perfect for baiting blocks
This is not flashy, but it is brutally practical. A great example of a hidden skill that earns its slot.
Spear Hidden Skills
Triple Threat
Dropped by Maeda Toshiie
- Three rapid thrusts with strong reach
- Shreds ki when all hits connect
- Excellent mid stance pressure tool
If you use spear seriously, this one is non negotiable. It smooths out the weapon’s neutral game in a big way.
Axe Hidden Skills
Titanic Strength
Dropped by Kintoki
- Massive single hit damage
- Long wind up, but absurd payoff
- Best used after breaking ki
This is axe in its purest form. Slow, loud, and completely unfair when it lands.
Kusarigama Hidden Skills
Deadly Spiral
Dropped by Ashiya Doman
- Spinning multi hit attack
- Strong crowd control
- Drains ki fast if overused
Deadly Spiral is chaos incarnate. Fantastic in Yokai packs, risky in duels, and deeply satisfying when timed right.
Tonfa Hidden Skills
Storm of Strikes
Dropped by Hanzo the Demon
- Rapid chained blows
- Incredible ki destruction
- Locks human enemies in place
Tonfa already melt ki. This just turns that dial to uncomfortable levels.
Switchglaive Hidden Skills
Sacred Bird Cry
Dropped by Minamoto no Yorimitsu
- Ranged crescent projectile
- Scales well with Onmyo
- Safe poke option
Switchglaive users get a rare ranged pressure tool here, and it fits the weapon’s rhythm nicely.
Splitstaff Hidden Skills
Dragon Dance
Dropped by Tate Eboshi
- Extended multi hit combo
- High ki drain
- Excellent Yokai pressure
This skill looks wild, feels wild, and rewards aggressive play. One of the most fun hidden skills in the game.
Fists Hidden Skills
Beyond Infinity
Dropped by Ren Hayabusa
- Extended punch rush
- Extremely high damage if completed
- Demands precise timing
This is the skill that turns fists from strong to absurd. Hard to master, but devastating once learned.
Are Hidden Skills Worth Farming
Some absolutely are. Others are more about style or personal taste. As a rule of thumb, skills that improve ki pressure or neutral control tend to age better than pure damage nukes.
If you are pushing higher difficulties or Depths content, prioritise skills that give you safer pressure and faster break options. If you are here for expression and mastery, unlock everything and enjoy the process.
Tips to Farm Without Losing Your Mind
- Stack Item Drop Rate and Luck where possible
- Fight the target enemy solo if available
- Reset missions quickly rather than full clears
- Accept that sometimes the game just says no
This is Nioh 2. Perseverance is part of the design philosophy, for better or worse.
Takeaway
Hidden skills are one of the reasons Nioh 2’s combat ceiling feels so high. They reward curiosity, stubbornness, and a willingness to fight the same terrifying human boss more times than you care to admit. Some will click instantly. Others will gather dust. That is fine.
The real win is understanding your weapon deeply enough to know which ones deserve a permanent slot.
