Kusanagi
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Nioh 3
Best Katana (Sword) Build
This is a guide to the best build and equipment for Katana, also referred to as Swords in Nioh 3. See the best armor and accessories to use with the Katana, which Guardian Spirit and Soul Cores to equip, as well as which stat scaling to prioritize.
List of Contents
Katana Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✔︎ Great for learning core mechanics
✔︎ Reliable moveset in all stances |
✖︎ Hard to master
✖︎ Limited crowd control ✖︎ Limited range |
Katana is one of the best samurai weapons in the game and are ideal for learning core combat mechanics such as Ki management, stance switching, and defense. Katana have safe and reliable movesets in all stances that allow for quick recovery, making it easier to block, dodge, or Ki Pulse after attacking.
However, the Katana can be hard to master, as it relies heavily on proper use of its core mechanics to be effective. It also has limited range and crowd control, meaning poor positioning and spacing will be punished.
Best Scaling for Katana
Put Points Into Heart, Stamina, and Intellect
| Katana Scaling |
|---|
 Heart
 Strength
 Intellect |
| Character Stats |
 Stamina
 Magic |
Focus on investing points into Heart, as it increases your Melee Attack, Ki, and Ki Recovery. Next, allocate points to Stamina to equip heavier armor and improve overall defense, and Magic to unlock Talisman slots, providing useful utility through buffs and debuffs.
Your next priority should be Intellect, as it increases Melee Attack and provides increased Effects Duration and additional Ki Recovery, which is essential for sustaining your moves.
Use any remaining points to invest in stats that activate beneficial Special Effects from your armor and accessories, further strengthening your build.
Best Special Effects for Katana
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Armor |
| Accessories | |
Best Special Effects for Weapons
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
・Ki Pulse Recovery ・Low Stance Martial Art Ki Consumption ・Melee Attack Ki Consumption ・Attack Bonus (Heart) ・Quick Attack Damage |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Melee Ki Damage (Mantra Sword)
・Guard Ki Consumption (Senjuin Tachi) ・Increased Damage Dealt (Amrita Absorption) (Yamatai Sword) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
The Katana’s potential relies heavily on Ki management, as the ability to engage and retreat flawlessly is key to success. Choose a katana with effects that help you manage Ki, along with bonuses that increase attack and Martial Arts damage.
Best Special Effects for Armor
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Guard Ki Recovery Speed
・Guard Ki Consumption ・Melee Attack Ki Consumption ・Ki Recovery Speed ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) ・Toughness ・Defense |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Pride of the Crimson Army (Crimson General Set)
・Warrior of the East's Honor (Warrior of the East Set) ・Sword and Zen as One (Swordmaster Set) ・The God of War Looks Down (Tatenashi Set) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For armor, prioritize Special Effects that further boost your Ki management and defense. Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) works well, as this build focuses on recovering health from Amrita to increase survivability.
It’s also recommended to take advantage of set bonuses from heavy armor sets. In the early game, sets like Crimson General or Warrior of the East provide higher base defense, which is crucial for mitigating damage. In the late game, the Swordmaster Set is ideal, as its final bonus enhances Attack and Defense when using swords, while the Tatenashi Set offers strong defensive effects.
Best Special Effects for Accessories
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Guard Ki Recovery Speed
・Ki Recovery Speed ・Untouched Elixirs ・Life Recovery (Yokai Realm) ・Spirit Force Charge |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Ki Recovery Speed (Fan)
・Life (Omamori) ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) (Prayer Beads) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For accessories, prioritize effects for Ki management and Life Recovery. Equip accessories that offer additional benefits, such as a chance to not consume an Elixir and Spirit Force Charge, to further enhance your build.
Best Martial Arts for Katana
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Katana Martial Arts | Samurai Martial Arts |
| Crucible Arts | |
Where to Spend Samurai Points?
Spend your Samurai Points to unlock the High and Low stances in the Samurai tree first, as these are required to access their corresponding movesets in the Swords tree.
Katana Martial Arts
| Martial Arts | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Iai Quickdraw III | 3 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Iai Quickdraw ・Iai Quickdraw II |
| Night Rain (Low Stance) |
1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・Kick |
| Swallow's Wing (Mid/Low Stance) |
1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・Kick |
| Swift Step Heavy (Low Stance) |
1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・Kick ・Night Rain ・Swift Step ・Unlocked with a Martial Arts Guide |
| Heaven Flash Lightning (High/Low Stance) |
1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・High Stance ・Heaven Flash ・Unlocked with a Martial Arts Guide |
| Light in Darkness | 2 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・Kick ・Shadow Sword |
Iai Quickdraw is a great starting Art, as it can one-shot most early enemies. Upgrading it to Iai Quickdraw III further increases its damage and allows you to follow up immediately after a Ki Pulse. From there, progress through the Low Stance Arts by acquiring Night Rain, which excels as a Quick Attack follow-up, unleashing multiple slashes forward.
Take Light in Darkness, a slow but powerful Strong Attack follow-up that chips away significant enemy Ki, leaving them Winded and creating openings for further attacks.
Add defensive movesets such as Swallow’s Wing and Swift Step Heavy, as both allow you to evade enemy attacks while delivering a counterattack.
Acquire Heaven Flash Lightning, which can be equipped in both High and Low Stances. It lets you leap into the air and finish with a downward slice imbued with Lightning Damage.
Samurai Martial Arts
| Martial Arts | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Low Stance | 1 Samurai Point |
| High Stance | 1 Samurai Point |
| Deflect | 1 Samurai Point |
| Flux II | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・High Stance ・Low Stance ・Flux |
It is important to unlock the Low and High Stances to maximize the Katana’s potential, as they contain movesets essential to this build. Defensively, it is also helpful to acquire Deflect, as this art is required to activate certain Special Effects.
To improve Ki Recovery, it is recommended to acquire Flux and upgrade it to Flux II, allowing you to recover Ki while switching stances during a Ki Pulse.
Crucible Arts
| Severing Spin | Draw your sword and spin it horizontally, attacking enemies in all directions, before sheathing your sword again. |
|---|
Severing Spin has you sheath your sword before unleashing multiple wide slashes around you, damaging nearby enemies. Since the Katana generally lack strong crowd control options, this makes Severing Spin an excellent complementary Art to have, allowing you to handle groups more safely while remaining effective against elite enemies.
Best Combo for Katana
Low Stance Swallow's Wing to Night Rain
This combo utilizes a backstep attack followed by a barrage of quick slashes. From Low Stance, execute a Quick Attack, followed by Swallow’s Wing, then finish with Night Rain.
A key advantage of using Swallow’s Wing in this combo is that it creates distance, giving you time to assess the situation before committing to Night Rain or transitioning into other Martial Arts. This combo is most effective against individual targets, but it also works well on groups.
Any Attack to Severing Spin
This combo will have you utilize the best Crucible Art for swords. From Any Stance, execute any move or combo, then finish off with Severing Spin.
Severing Spin is a strong complementary Art that can be equipped in any stance. It unleashes multiple wide slashes around you, making it perfect against groups of enemies, while still working well against bosses.
Best Skills for Katana
| Secret Skill | Effects |
|---|---|
| Roaring Dragon Deflect | Inflicts Increased Damage Received (Elemental) on an enemy after a successful Deflect. |
| Blade-Breaking Deflect | Inflicts Decreased Damage Dealt on an enemy after a successful Deflect. Decreased Damage Dealt reduces damage dealt by attacks. |
| Polished Form | Reduces Ki consumed by Martial Arts by 5.0%. |
| Purify Yokai Realm: Earth | Activates when you purify the Yokai Realm and recover the maximum amount of Ki possible with a perfectly timed Ki Pulse while in Low Stance. Applies Increased Damage Dealt to yourself. Increased Damage Deal Increases damage dealt by attacks. |
| Resilient Arts | Increases damage dealt by Strong Attacks and Martial Arts by 8.0% while Arts Proficiency is active. Makes it more difficult to fill the Arts Gauge. |
The listed skills emphasize defense that supports offense. Roaring Dragon Deflect, paired with Blade-Breaking Deflect, forms a strong complementary combination, as it increases the damage enemies take and decreases the damage they deal after a successful Deflect.
Polished Form and Purify Yokai Realm: Earth enhance your Ki management, helping you sustain your offense, while Resilient Arts boosts your Strong Attacks and Martial Arts while your Arts Proficiency is active.
Best Guardian Spirits for Katana
| Early to Mid Game | |
|---|---|
| Late Game |
Use Kusanagi in Early to Late Game
| Kusanagi | ATK | DEF | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
|
12 | 7 | Fire |
| Quest | |||
| Unlocked at the start | |||
| Special Effects | |||
|
・Martial Art Damage +6.3%
・Fire Damage Reduction +13 ・Ki Pulse Recovery +10.8% ・Increased Arts Proficiency Damage +6.9% ・Spirit Force Charge (Martial Art) +11.0% |
|||
| Guardian Spirit Skill | |||
| ・Heaven's Fire (Spirit Force: 40) | |||
Kusanagi is a great Guardian Spirit for early to late game, as its stats complement this build well. Kusanagi provides a damage boost to Martial Arts, which make up a large part of your offense across different stances. It also grants Arts Proficiency Damage, further increasing your overall damage output.
In addition, Fire Damage Reduction, Ki Pulse Recovery, and Spirit Force Charge are excellent complementary buffs that greatly support this build.
To keep Kusanagi effective in the late game, you can enhance Guardian Spirits through the Manage Soul Cores option at the Shrine. This option becomes available after completing The Way of Onmyo: Adept mission from the Battle Scroll.
Leveling up a Guardian Spirit costs Soul Fragments, which can be obtained by disposing of unwanted Soul Cores through the Resting Rites option.
Kusanagi (Samurai) Guardian Spirit Guide
Use Guhin as Early to Mid Game Alternative
| Guhin | ATK | DEF | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
|
10 | 10 | Wind |
| Quest | |||
| Unlocked at the start | |||
| Special Effects | |||
|
・Martial Arts Ki Consumption -8.4%
・Damage Taken -4.2% ・Strong Attack Break +11.0% ・Faster Winded Recovery ・Melee Damage vs Winded Enemy +8.4% |
|||
| Guardian Spirit Skill | |||
| ・Eight-Handed Blade (Spirit Force: 40) | |||
Guhin is a great alternative if you do not have Kusanagi. It offers a balanced mix of offense and defense, with lower Ki costs for Martial Arts and increased damage reduction. It also boosts Strong Break Attack, helping to shatter enemy guards, provides Faster Winded Recovery, and increases Melee Damage against Winded Enemies.
Use Oh in Late Game
| Oh | ATK | DEF | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
|
14 | 22 | Wind |
| Quest | |||
| Defeat Minamoto no Yoritomo at the end of the Heian era | |||
| Special Effects | |||
|
・Spirit Force Charge Bonus (Amrita Gauge) A-
・Guard Ki Consumption -8.6% ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) 11 ・Faster Ki Recovery (Deflect) ・Item Drop Rate +17.0% |
|||
| Guardian Spirit Skill | |||
|
・Gusting Crosswind (Spirit Force: 60)
・Cutting Wings (Spirit Force: 40) |
|||
Oh is a strong late-game option, as its Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) synergize with this build. It also grants enhanced Spirit Force Charge Bonus, increased Item Drop Rate, reduced Guard Ki Consumption, and provides Faster Ki Recovery (Deflect), which helps improve overall Ki management during combat.
Best Soul Cores for Katana
| Yang Position |
|---|
| Yin Position |
Use Nuppeppo Soul Core for Yang
| Nuppeppo Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Life +100 ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) 12 Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Nuppeppo x3 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Rejuvenation Talisman x5 |
Nuppeppo provides strong survivability effects, including increased Life and Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption), which synergize well with the recommended Yin Soul Cores. When summoned, Nuppeppo lunges forward with a spinning attack that hits all nearby enemies, making it excellent for crowd control.
You can carry three Nuppeppo Summoning Seals, and they are replenished at the Shrine.
Use Sudama Soul Core for Yang
| Sudama Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Life Drain (Lightning Damage) B- ・Gold Earned +3.5% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Sudama x6 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Thunderstorm Shot Talisman x8 |
Sudama provides increased Gold Earned and Life Drain (Lightning Damage), which synergize well with the use of the Lightning Familiar Talisman. When summoned, Sudama attacks the enemy with a lightning strike, further building up the Electrified status.
You can carry up to six Sudama Summoning Seals, and they are replenished at the Shrine.
Use Gaki Chief Soul Core for Yin
| Gaki Chief Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Amrita Gauge Charge +7.5% ・Strong Attack Ki Damage +3.5% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Gaki Chief x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Extraction Talisman x5 |
Gaki provides the Extraction Talisman, which generates Amrita from enemies with any attack. This synergizes well with Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption), replenishing your Life while on offense.
You can carry five Extraction Talismans at a time. They are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Use Raiju Soul Core for Yin
| Raiju Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・LIghtning Damage +4.4% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Raiju x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Lightning Familiar Talisman x4 |
Raiju provides the Lightning Familiar Talisman, which summons orbs that deal Lightning Damage. This builds up the Electrified status, slowing the enemy’s movement.
This pairs well with Sudama’s Life Drain (Lightning Damage) from the Yang position, as it also contributes to your health recovery on top of Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) and the Life Leech Talisman debuff.
You can carry up to five Lightning Familiar Talismans, and they are replenished at the Shrine.
Use Mermaid Soul Core for Yin
| Mermaid Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Life Drain (Water Damage) ・Faster Movement (Ailing) Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Mermaid x5 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Life Leech Talisman x5 |
Mermaid provides the Life Leech Talisman, which causes enemies to generate energy when attacked. You recover Life by absorbing this energy, greatly enhancing your survivability during offense.
You can carry up to three Life Leech Talismans, and they are replenished at the Shrine.
Katana Tips and Tricks
Master Stance Switching
The Katana perform best when you actively switch between Low, Mid, and High Stances. Low Stance excels at mobility, Mid Stance offers balanced offense, while High Stance delivers slow but heavy damage. Learning when to change stances mid combat and chaining the appropriate Martial Arts into your combos is key to maximizing damage and survivability.
Ki Pulse Is Mandatory
Katana combat heavily relies on Ki management. Always perform a Ki Pulse after attacking to recover Ki, which helps you maintain offensive pressure. Utilizing Flux further enhances Katana gameplay by allowing you to recover Ki while switching stances.
Spend Your Prestige Points to Get Bonuses
Prestige Points can be used to obtain permanent bonuses (known as Prestige) to enhance a variety of stats from 9 different categories. For this Katana build, we suggest using your points on some of the following Prestige:
- Samurai: Melee Attack Ki Consumption, Martial Art Ki Damage
- Tactics: Ki Recovery Speed
- Subjugation: Elemental Damage
- Formidable Enemies: Melee Ki Damage, Melee Damage vs. Winded Enemy
- Exploration: Medicine Efficacy, Dash Ki Consumption
- Collection: Martial Art Damage, Damage Bonus (Equipment Weight)
Take note that the Prestige Points you've spent can be reset and redistributed to another bonus within the same category.
How to Get Prestige Points?
To get more Prestige Points for a category, fulfill a milestone or complete challenges to earn Titles. To see the available Titles you can unlock, open the Main Menu then go to Titles > Title List.
Nioh 3 Related Guides
All Samurai Builds
| Samurai Weapons | ||
|---|---|---|
 Swords |
 Dual Swords |
 Spears |
 Axes |
 Odachi |
 Switchglaives |
 Cestesus |
||
All Ninja Builds
| Ninja Weapons | ||
|---|---|---|
 Ninja Swords |
 Dual Ninja Swords |
 Kusarigama |
 Tonfa |
 Hatchets |
 Splitstaff |
 Talons |
||
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Best Katana (Sword) Build
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