Nioh 3

Best Ninja Builds

Nioh 3 Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: February 26, 2026 01:07 AM

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Best Ninja Builds
This is a guide to the best build for Ninja Weapons in Nioh 3. Learn about the Ninja Weapons, as well as the best Martial Arts, Ninjutsu, and Skills to get.

List of Contents

Best Ninja Builds
Ninja Swords
Dual Ninja Swords
Kusarigama
Tonfa
Hatchets
Splitstaff
Talons
Best Secret Skills
Related Guides

Best Ninja Builds

Ninja Weapons
Ninja Swords	Dual Ninja Swords	Kusarigama
Tonfa	Hatchets	Splitstaff
Talons

Ninja Swords

Recommended Stats

Skill	Intellect		Strength	Magic
Martial Arts			Ninja Skills
・Kickslash ・Hollow Stab ・Shadow Cyclone ・Sky Rift ・Swallow Slash ・Wagon Kick ・Izuna Drop ・Height of Obscurity ・Shadow Cyclone Combo ・Wagon Kick (Water)			・Uncanny Flame ・Evade ・Cicada Shell ・Uncanny Bubble ・Pinwheel Shuriken ・Shrapnel Bomb ・Mid-Air Dodge ・Enhanced Shrapnel Bomb ・Fire Shuriken ・Glacial Calamity
Armor
・Iga Jonin Armor Set ・Heizo Armor Set
Guardian Spirit		Yang Position
Enko		・Infernal Oni-bi Soul Core ・Sunakake-baba Soul Core
		Yin Position
		・Jakotsu-baba Soul Core ・Kyokotsu Soul Core ・Yoki Soul Core

The Ninja Swords are Uchigatanas or Katanas that attack in swift slashes. Balanced in power and speed, the Ninja Swords deliver good Ki damage by chaining light and heavy attacks. This build focuses on using the Ninja Sword's straightforward combos while stacking the Burn and Saturation ailments to increase offensive potential.

Best Ninja Swords Build

Dual Ninja Swords

Recommended Stats

Heart	Intellect		Magic	Constitution
Martial Arts			Ninja Skills
・Abscission ・Water Sword ・Coiled Spring ・Spinning Drill ・Moon Shadow ・Spinning Gale ・Wave Slash ・Double-Headed Slice ・Cloudsplitter Fire ・Abscission Combo			・Evade ・Cicada Shell ・Uncanny Breeze ・Pinwheel Shuriken ・Shrapnel Bomb ・Mid-Air Dodge ・Enhanced Shrapnel Bomb ・Fire Shuriken ・Tempestuous Calamity
Armor
・Iga Jonin Armor Set ・Heizo Armor Set
Guardian Spirit		Yang Position
Enko		・Sunakake-baba Soul Core ・Magatsu Warrior Soul Core
		Yin Position
		・ Infernal Oni-bi Soul Core ・Kamaitachi Soul Core ・Yoki Soul Core ・Gaki Chief Soul Core ・Mermaid Soul Core ・Bloodedge Demon Soul Core

The Dual Ninja Swords are a faster, but shorter version of Ninja Swords. These weapons rely on continuous multi-hit attacks that quickly damage Ki or buildup status effects. This build focuses on using the Dual Ninja Swords' Magic scaling and swift multi-hit attacks to build up Confusion using Burn and Blustered. Additionally, the skill Cloudsplitter Fire accumulate more of these elements through combos.

The Guardian Spirit Enko is equipped for its buffs to Burn effects, such as Damage Over Time. While the Soul Cores are used to acquire other elemental Onmyo such as the Wind Familiar Talisman.

Best Dual Ninja Swords Build

Kusarigama

Recommended Stats

Constitution	Skill		Magic	Strength
Martial Arts			Ninja Skills
・Leaping Strike ・Crimson Flurry ・Deadly Mark ・Reedcutter ・Foot Sweep ・Whirlwind ・Whirlwind (Wind) ・Pollard ・Flying Top			・Evade ・Kunai ・Footstool Jump ・Pinwheel Shuriken ・Shrapnel Bomb ・Mid-Air Dodge ・Tempestuous Calamity
Armor
・Kobo Daishi Armor Set ・Iga Jonin Armor Set
Guardian Spirit		Yang Position
Kusanagi (Ninja)		・Jakotsu-baba Soul Core ・Sunakake-baba Soul Core
		Yin Position
		・Kamaitachi Soul Core ・Maelstrom Oni-bi Soul Core ・Gaki Chief Soul Core ・Mermaid Soul Core ・Bloodedge Demon Soul Core

One of the Ninja weapons with the longest range, the Kusarigama is a rope-and-sickle weapon capable of creating wide arcs and slashes. This build uses the Kusarigama's Magic scaling to quickly build up the Saturated status effect with Water-based attacks. Having a Yoki Soul Core in the Yin position provides the Power Talisman to strengthen the Kusarigama's quick and long attacks.

Best Kusarigama Build

Tonfa

Recommended Stats

Constitution	Skill		Strength	Magic
Martial Arts			Ninja Skills
・Sweeping Kick ・Storm of Strikes ・Demon Dance ・Heavenly Chain ・Pulverize ・Mountain Breaker ・Wasp Sting ・Demon Dash ・Apocalypse			・Evade ・Cicada Shell ・Lightning Step ・Footstool Jump ・Shrapnel Bomb ・Mid-Air Dodge ・Thundering Calamity
Armor
・Iga Jonin Armor Set
Guardian Spirit		Yang Position
Nekomata		・Karasu Tengu Soul Core ・Sunakake-baba Soul Core
		Yin Position
		・ Kamaitachi Soul Core ・Mermaid Soul Core ・Enki Soul Core

The Tonfa has the highest Ki damage out of all the Ninja weapons. Although lacking in range, the Tonfa can rapidly burn through the enemy's Ki due to its fast, blunt strikes and powerful combos. This build incorporates a chain of skills that deliver heavy Ki damage through a close-range play style using Demon Dance.

Water and Lightning elements are encouraged to be combined with this build to stack up on the Saturation and Electrified status effects, making enemies move slower and take more damage.

Best Tonfa Build

Hatchets

Recommended Stats

Skill	Intellect		Strength	Magic
Martial Arts			Ninja Skills
・Dual Hurl ・Dual Hurl Light ・Wild Surge ・Wild Surge II ・Mountain Climber ・Mountain Climber II ・Biting Hail ・Fire Foot Drill Jump ・Eagle's Shadow ・Plummet ・Tile Shaker ・Bell Ringer ・Spiked Wall ・Roundabout ・Tireless Throw			・Evade ・Cicada Shell ・Kunai ・Uncanny Bolt ・Footstool Jump ・Shrapnel Bomb ・Mid-Air Dodge ・Fire Shuriken ・Thundering Calamity
Armor
・Heizo Armor Set ・Demon Horde Armor Set
Guardian Spirit		Yang Position
Nekomata		・Sunakake-baba Soul Core ・Bloodedge Demon Soul Core
		Yin Position
		・Raiju Soul Core ・Gaki Chief Soul Core ・Mermaid Soul Core ・Ibaraki Doji Soul Core

Hatchets are both melee and throwable weapons with a moveset that relies on their range attacks. These weapons provide more mobility than other Ninja weapons and their core playstyle includes dashing in from mid-range to execute fast slashes, then breaking away to reposition.

This build focuses on using the Hatchets mid-range throws to close gaps, apply pressure, and inflict the Shock status ailment.

Best Hatchets Build

Splitstaff

Recommended Stats

Strength	Intellect		Magic	Constitution
Martial Arts			Ninja Skills
・Seesaw Strike ・Fluid Form ・Twin Phoenix ・Twin Phoenix Extend ・Serpent Sweep ・Serpent Sweep (Water) ・Swirling Tides ・Wrapping Flail ・Roar Power ・Darting Cloud ・Radiant Moon ・Deft Counter ・Law of Largesse			・Evade ・Kunai ・Uncanny Breeze ・Shadowstitch ・Shrapnel Bomb ・Mid-Air Dodge ・Fire Shuriken ・Tempestuous Calamity
Armor
・Kobo Daishi Armor Set
Guardian Spirit		Yang Position
Nekomata		・Mezuki Soul Core ・Bloodedge Demon Soul Core
		Yin Position
		・Kamaitachi Soul Core ・Maelstrom Oni-biSoul Core ・Otoroshi Soul Core ・Mermaid Soul Core ・Ibaraki Doji Soul Core

The Splitstaff acts as both a polearm and a blunt weapon. Its moveset consists of changing its form (Fluid Form) and using the extended rope to widen its reach. This weapon boast good Ki damage and fast multi-hit bashes, making enemies stagger quickly.

As this weapon also scales with Magic, this build takes advantage of using Onmyo Magic and benefiting from Soul Core special effects and Talismans. Water and wind element attacks will be used to build up Saturation and Bluster, as this status effect makes enemies take more damage.

Best Splitstaff Build

Talons

Recommended Stats

Heart	Intellect		Skill	Magic
Martial Arts			Ninja Skills
・Mist Slash ・Whirling Tiger ・Flying Fist ・Archer's Impact ・Repulse ・Dragonfly Reversal ・Impact Punch ・Opportunist ・Sunrise ・Twirling Top ・Mist Slash Lightning ・Whirling Tiger Water ・Dragon Fly Reversal Pierce ・Izuna Drop ・Glowing Ember			・Evade ・Kunai ・Uncanny Breeze ・Uncanny Flame ・Footstool Jump ・Shrapnel Bomb ・Mid-Air Dodge ・Fire Shuriken ・Tempestuous Calamity
Armor
・Kobo Daishi Armor Set
Guardian Spirit		Yang Position
Nekomata		・Yamainu Soul Core ・Bloodedge Demon Soul Core
		Yin Position
		・Gaki Chief Soul Core ・Otoroshi Soul Core ・Maelstrom Oni-bi Soul Core ・Raiju Soul Core ・Ibaraki Doji Soul Core

The Talons are the fastest, albeit the shortest of the Ninja weapons. Boasting its strong health damage, the Talons encourages an aggressive style of combat, often hugging close to enemies to deliver high-speed combos. This build focuses on using the Talon's heavy damage output with the combination of Onmyo magic buffs and debuffs to swiftly deal with enemies.

Best Talons Build

Best Ninja Secret Skills

Use Ninja Style and Common Secret Skills

Ninja Skills	Common Skills
・Dread Bringer (Mastery) ・Illusory Dragon ・Evasion Expert ・Yokai Banisher ・Bewildering Mist ・Ninjutsu Cultivation ・Ninjutsu Link ・Dodging ・Pufferpuss Technique ・Snakebite Technique ・Rigor of the Gods ・Hollow Form	・Awakening (Mastery) ・Amplification ・Mysteries of Onmyo Magic ・Panacea Curefast ・Repel Expert ・Weight Bearer ・Attack Mastery I and II

The Evil-Dispelling Evade is one of the most important secret skills to acquire for the Ninja Style in the early game. This secret skill can clear Yokai Realm pools that hinder Ki regeneration when stepped upon. Once, you enter late game however, you'll find the Yokai Banisher to replace Evil-Dispelling Evade.

Onmyo Magic secret skills are also a must-have for Ninja builds. Acquire Awakening as soon as possible to accelerate the casting animation of Onmyo Magic, leaving you less vulnerable whenever you need to use a spell. Unlock Amplification and Mysteries of Onmyo Magic as well to make your buffs and talismans more efficient.

For Ninja Style skills, we'll mostly take those that enhance Ninjutsu and Onmyo Magic. The Dread Bringer is a priority skill to get as it strengthens your damage further when you inflict negative effects like status ailments. Take Ninjutsu Cultivation to increase your Ninjutsu damage further, making ninja tools like Enhanced Shrapnel Bombs even more effective. For defensive skills, get Hollow Form and Pufferpuss Technique to elevate the uses of Evade and Mist more.

Nioh 3 Related Guides

Builds

Best Builds Tier List

All Samurai Builds

Samurai Weapons
Swords	Dual Swords	Spears
Axes	Odachi	Switchglaives
Cestesus

Best Samurai Builds

All Ninja Builds

Ninja Weapons
Ninja Swords	Dual Ninja Swords	Kusarigama
Tonfa	Hatchets	Splitstaff
Talons

Best Ninja Builds

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Best Ninja Builds

Best Ninja Builds

Ninja Swords

Dual Ninja Swords

Kusarigama

Tonfa

Hatchets

Splitstaff

Talons

Best Ninja Secret Skills

Use Ninja Style and Common Secret Skills

Nioh 3 Related Guides

All Samurai Builds

All Ninja Builds

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