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Nioh 3
Best Odachi Build
This is a guide to the best build and equipment for Odachi in Nioh 3. See the best armor and accessories to use with the Odachi, which Guardian Spirit and Soul Cores to equip, as well as which stats to level up.
List of Contents
Attention! |
The following builds are currently based on early-game content. We are working on improving them as information becomes available.
|
|---|
Odachi Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✔︎ High damage and strong Ki damage
✔︎ Excellent reach and wide swings ✔︎ Strong pressure against guarding enemies |
✖︎ Slower attack speed
✖︎ High Ki consumption ✖︎ Punishing if attacks miss |
The Odachi is a powerful weapon focused on heavy strikes, long reach, and sustained pressure. Its wide swings and strong Ki damage make it effective at controlling space and breaking enemy guards, allowing you to dominate fights through well-timed attacks and positioning.
However, the Odachi’s slower speed and higher Ki consumption mean mistakes are more punishing compared to faster weapons. Poor timing or missed attacks can leave you open to counterattacks, making proper spacing, Ki management, and commitment to each swing essential for effective play.
Best Stats for Odachi
| Odachi Scaling |
|---|
 Stamina
 Strength
 Magic |
| Character Stats |
 Intellect
 Constitution |
The Odachi primarily scales with Stamina, increasing both melee damage and your ability to wear heavier armor for improved defense. Magic also contributes to offensive scaling while strengthening Onmyo Magic and expanding your available Talisman slots.
If you have additional points to spare, investing in Intellect helps extend Talisman duration and improves Ki recovery speed, while Constitution increases your maximum Life, improving overall survivability in longer encounters.
Best Special Effects for Odachi
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Armor |
| Accessories | |
Best Special Effects for Weapons
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
・Ki Pulse Recovery ・Low Attack Ki Consumption ・Low Stance Martial Art Ki Consumption ・Attack Bonus (Stamina) ・Martial Art Ki Damage |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Low Attack Ki Consumption (Yamato Odachi)
・High Attack Damage (Bizen Odachi) ・Strong Attack Ki Damage (Rai Odachi) ・Pride of the Crimson Army (Crimson General's Nagamaki) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
The Odachi relies on balancing Ki management with delivering heavy, powerful attacks. Equip special effects that boost Ki recovery, and make sure to include ones that specifically reducey Ki consumption for Low Attacks or Low Stance, as these will be used frequently alongside your Martial Arts.
Best Special Effects for Armor
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Low Attack Ki Consumption
・Guard Ki Consumption ・Melee Attack Ki Consumption ・Ki Recovery Speed ・Damage Taken (While Attacking) ・Toughness ・Defense |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| Pride of the Crimson Army (Crimson General Set) | |
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For armor, prioritize special effects that enhance Ki recovery and reduce Ki consumption for Guard, Melee, and Low Attacks. Include defensive effects such as Damage Taken Reduction, Toughness, and Defense to improve survivability.
Additionally, equip at least six pieces of the Crimson General Set, as its bonuses further boost both Attack and Defense when using the Odachi.
Best Special Effects for Accessories
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Guard Ki Recovery Speed
・Familiarity Bonus ・Untouched Elixirs ・Auto-Grave Recovery ・Spirit Force Charge |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Ki Recovery Speed (Fan)
・Life (Omamori) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
Focus on accessories that improve Ki management and include effects that boost Life, Spirit Force, Familiarity Bonus, or grant a chance to instantly recover your Guardian Spirit and Amrita upon death. These bonuses help you stay effective in any encounter.
Best Martial Arts for Odachi
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Odachi Martial Arts | Samurai Martial 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 Odachi tree.
Odachi Martial Arts
| Martial Arts | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Ground Sweeper (Low Stance) |
2 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・Severing Blade |
| Groundquake Lightning (High/Mid Stance) |
3 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・High Stance ・Twin Moons ・Groundquake ・Unlocked with a Martial Arts Guide |
| Moonlit Snow Charge | 3 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Swirling Snow ・Moonlit Snow |
| Sunset Breeze: Earth (High/Mid Stance) |
1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・Severing Blade |
Ground Sweeper is an excellent and powerful art that you should prioritize first, as using it with a charged Arts gauge can easily clear groups of enemies and deal heavy damage to elite targets. When fighting individual enemies, switch to High Stance and use Strong Attacks paired with Frost Moon: Heaven to recover Ki, then finish the enemy with Groundquake Lightning, a powerful slam attack that deals Lightning damage.
Once your Arts gauge is full, use Sunset Breeze: Earth to offensively switch back to Low Stance, allowing you to trigger Ground Sweeper again. Another useful art is Moonlit Snow Charge, which can be used in any stance and delivers powerful slashes that can be smoothly integrated into your combos.
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 |
| Frost Moon: Heaven | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・High Stance ・Low Stance ・Flux ・Flux II ・The Way of the Warrior: Novice |
Unlock the Low and High Stances to gain access to the Odachi’s stronger and more versatile movesets. Acquire Deflect, as timely parries are an important part of your defense when using a slower weapon.
Acquire Flux and upgrade it to Flux II, as this is essential for maintaining Ki recovery while switching stances during a Ki Pulse. Lastly, take Frost Moon: Heaven, which adds an additional offensive option during Flux and can be used to extend pressure after strong attacks in High Stance.
Best Skills for Odachi
| Secret Skill | Effects |
|---|---|
| Running Water | Enables you to perform a Ki Pulse by dodging. |
| Ki Pulse: Heaven | Activates when you recover the maxium amount of Ki Possible with a perfectly timed Ki Pulse while in High Stance. Applies Ki Pulse: Heaven to yourself. Increases the damage dealt by your next attack. |
| Unshakable | Reduces damage taken while you are attacking by 10.0%. |
Running Water is a must have skill for any Samurai build, as it turns your dodge into a Ki Pulse, allowing you to recover Ki while avoiding enemy attacks. Ki Pulse: Heaven works as a strong complementary skill, increasing your next attack’s damage when you successfully perform a perfect Ki Pulse.
There will also be frequent situations where you and the enemy trade blows at the same time, making Unshakeable essential since it reduces the damage you take during these clashes.
Best Guardian Spirits for Odachi
Use Guhin as Guardian Spirit
| 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 provides a balanced blend of offense and defense for this Odachi build, lowering Martial Arts Ki Consumption, reducing Damage Taken, and boosting Strong Attack Break, which is important since Strong Attacks will be used frequently. It also improves your performance when Winded, providing Faster Winded Recovery and increased Melee Damage vs Winded Enemies.
Its starting Guardian Spirit Skill, Eight-Handed Blade, unleashes close-range multi slashes, perfect for finishing off nearby enemies or weakened targets.
Best Soul Cores for Odachi
Use Bloodedge Demon Soul Core for Yang
| Bloodedge Demon Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Elemental Damage +5.5% ・Damage vs. Revenants +7.5% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Bloodedge Demon x1 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Carnage Talisman x5 |
The Bloodedge Demon Soul Core is best used in the Yang Position, allowing you to summon the Bloodedge Demon to attack enemies or bosses. The demon unleashes an elemental attack based on your Guardian Spirit, then delivers multiple melee strikes, dealing substantial damage. It also boosts Elemental Damage and Damage against Revenants.
You can carry one Summoning Seal: Bloodedge Demon at a time, which is replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Use Yoki Soul Core for Yin
| Yoki Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Spirit Force Bonus (Purification) +20 ・Defense +10 Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Yoki x4 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Power Talisman x5 |
The Yoki Soul Core is best used in the Yin Position, granting the Power Talisman, which temporarily boosts your Attack. It is most effective against elite enemies or bosses, as it can significantly increase your DPS.
You can equip up to five Power Talismans at a time, and they are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Use Jakotsu-baba Soul Core for Yin
| Jakotsu-baba Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Water Damage +4.4% ・Auto-Grave Recovery +17.0% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Jakotsu-baba x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Water Familiar Talisman x4 |
The Jakotsu-baba Soul Core is ideal for the Yin Position, granting the Water Familiar Talisman. This summons floating water orbs around you that deal damage to any enemy they touch, and Strong Attacks launch an orb forward as a projectile.
You can equip up to four Water Familiar Talismans at a time, and they are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Odachi Tips and Tricks
Prioritize Stance and Strong Attacks
Odachi excels when you capitalize on High and Low Stances. High Stance delivers heavy single-hit damage, perfect for staggering or finishing off enemies, while Low Stance offers faster, multi-hit swings for crowd management. Learn to switch stances mid-combo to chain Martial Arts effectively and maintain offensive pressure.
Manage Ki Efficiently
Ki management is crucial with the Odachi, as its moves are slower and more consuming. Always perform a Ki Pulse after attacks to recover Ki quickly. Skills like Flux II are essential for recovering Ki while switching stances, and Frost Moon: Heaven adds extra damage during Ki-enhanced attacks.
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 Odachi Build
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