If you’ve mastered yokai slaying in Nioh 2 and feel like a walking nightmare in PvE, PvP will quickly remind you that humans don’t play fair. Duels are about prediction, stamina management, and forcing mistakes. Every fight becomes a chess match with swords and spirit animals.
How PvP Works
- Custom Duels: Friendly matches where you test builds with mates.
- Random Matchmaking: Wild west of Nioh 2, where you might meet someone with the strangest, most cursed setup imaginable.
It’s less about raw damage and more about outplaying your opponent.
Top 5 Weapons for PvP
| Rank | Weapon | Why It Works in Duels |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dual Swords | Insane speed, pressure, and strong parry potential. Perfect for players who love mind games and constant harassment. |
| 2 | Spear | Long reach, excellent zoning, and Ki control. Forces opponents to make risky approaches. |
| 3 | Odachi | Devastating punishes if you can read patterns. Great spacing tool for patient players. |
| 4 | Tonfa | Aggressive, close-range domination. Shines when you never give your opponent breathing space. |
| 5 | Switchglaive | Versatile stance shifts keep opponents guessing. Strong for mix-ups and baiting mistakes. |
PvP Builds
Here are some sample builds that work well in duels.
Agility Build (Speed and Pressure)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Weapons | Dual Swords, Tonfa |
| Armour | Light (Agility A) |
| Focus Stats | Skill, Dexterity |
| Guardian Spirit | Yatagarasu |
| Playstyle | Harass with quick strings, Ki damage, punish overcommitments |
| Weakness | Low survivability, punished hard if you misread |
Heavy Hitter Build (Tanky Punisher)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Weapons | Odachi, Axe |
| Armour | Heavy (Agility C) |
| Focus Stats | Strength, Constitution |
| Guardian Spirit | Atlas Bear |
| Playstyle | Punish whiffs, parry attempts, trade hits |
| Weakness | Slow recovery, relies on spacing discipline |
Trickster Build (Mind Games and Utility)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Weapons | Spear, Switchglaive |
| Armour | Medium mix for balance |
| Focus Stats | Dexterity, Magic |
| Guardian Spirit | Kato, Gyokuto |
| Ninjutsu/Onmyo | Quick-Change Scrolls, Paralysis Shuriken, Barrier Talismans |
| Playstyle | Mix buffs with ranged harassment, bait aggression |
| Weakness | Needs careful resource management |
Tips to Win Duels
- Don’t repeat patterns. Predictability equals punishment.
- Stamina (Ki) is more important than HP.
- Fake-outs and delays beat autopilot parries.
- Save Yokai Abilities for momentum shifts.
- Stay calm. Salt is your real enemy.
Why PvP is Fun
PvP isn’t about farming loot or flexing overlevelled gear. It’s about raw reads, patience, and execution. When you finally bait someone into overextending and punish them with a clean finisher, it feels way better than crushing AI fodder.
Nioh 2 PvP is messy, unbalanced at times, and full of nonsense. But it’s also the best way to test if your skills hold up when someone else is actively trying to embarrass you.
