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Nioh 3
Best Tonfa Build
This is a guide to the best build for Tonfa in Nioh 3. See the best armor and accessories to use with the Tonfa, 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.
|
|---|
Tonfa Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✔︎ Fast attacks allow for very smooth move chaining.
✔︎ High Ki damage. Can easily stagger most enemies. ✔︎ Attacks have low Ki cost. |
✖︎ Very short range. Requires being up-close to enemies.
✖︎ Slightly punishable if attacks are not timed right. |
The Tonfa is a blunt, short-range weapon that deals heavy amounts of Ki damage. Coupled with its swift multi-hit attacks, it staggers opponents easily and is most effective against human enemies.
Due to its short range, it requires being confident enough to always be near the enemy. A poke-and-run strategy can't maximize the Tonfa' massive Ki damage without its multi-attacks. Moreover, a mastery of the Tonfa's moveset might be needed to make the most out of its combos.
Best Stats for Tonfa
| Tonfa Scaling |
|---|
 Constitution
 Strength
 Skill |
| Character Stats |
 Stamina
 Magic |
The Tonfa scales with Constitution, Strength, and Skill. By leveling your Constitution, you'll have increased health while scaling the damage of this weapon. Similarly, your Ninjutsu will also be stronger, as the Tonfa also scales with Skill.
For this build, consider putting a balanced amount of Ninja points between Skill and Magic as the Tonfa excels in quickly building up status ailments due to its multi-hit attacks. Elemental damage is best sourced from Onmyo and Talismans, both of which scale with Magic. Alternatively, you may also use 2 or more of the Uncanny element Ninjutsu, but you may find your options more limited.
Best Special Effects for Tonfa
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Armor |
| Accessories | |
Best Special Effects for Weapons
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption)
・Increase Damage Dealt (Amrita Absorption) ・Ki Recovery Speed ・Ki Damage vs. Saturated/Electrified Enemy ・Melee Damage vs. Winded Enemy |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Imbue Water
Weapons: White Bone Spirit Tonfa ・Quick Attack Ki Consumption Weapons: Rosewood Tonfa |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For special effects on weapons, look out for Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) or Increase Damage Dealt (Amrita Absorption). These special effects can be triggered reliably by using Extraction Talismans acquired from the Gaki Chief Soul Core.
To make use of the Tonfa's fast multi-hit attacks, consider finding the special effect Imbue Water to start stacking up Saturation. This can be found from a White Bone Spirit Tonfa weapon. However, if you don't have access to this weapon, you can still inflict elemental status ailments by using Talismans, Onmyo Magic, and the different varieties of Uncanny element Ninjutsu.
Alternatively, you can also inflict Electrified to make enemies move slower. Do this by building up Lightning attacks.
Best Special Effects for Armor
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Defense Bonus (Constitution/Skill/Strength)
・Melee Attack Ki Consumption ・Damage Taken ・Auto Life Recovery (Evade) ・Decrease Damage Taken (Amrita Absorption) ・Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Dodge Ki Consumption
Armor: Heir's Shinobi armor piece |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For the Tonfa, it is important to always be near an enemy due to its short range. As such, equip special effects that raise your Defense and Toughness to endure hits. Getting Ki Recovery Speed is also important to maintain combos without worrying about Ki.
Any Heir's Shinobi armor piece has the Dodge Ki Consumption special effect. This Light Armor can easlily be found early-game.
Best Special Effects for Accessories
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Life
・Saturation/Electrified Accumulation (Enemy) ・Faster Movement (Amrita Absorption) ・Spirit Force Bonus (Saturation/Electrified Enemy) ・Living Artifact Duration |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
Accessories: Fan |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For Accessories, you can get Water Accumulation (Enemy) or Electric Accumulation (Enemy) to accelerate the buildup of these status ailments. Faster Movement (Amrita Absorption) is also highly recommended but might be rarer to find. Otherwise, you can get any Accessory that gives Ki Recovery Speed, Life, or Living Artifact Duration.
Best Ninjutsu and Martial Arts
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Tonfa Skills | Ninja Style Skills |
Where to Spend Skill Points?
Spend your points on the Tonfa and Ninja Style skill trees to learn new combos for the Tonfa, while also acquiring useful Ninjutsu and Martial Arts.
Tonfa Skills
| Skills | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Sweeping Kick | Unlocked at the start |
| Storm of Strikes | 1 Ninja Point |
| Demon Dance | 1 Ninja Point |
| Heavenly Chain | 1 Ninja Point
Prerequisite: ・Focused Strike |
| Pulverize | 1 Ninja Point
Prerequisite: ・Demon Dance |
| Mountain Breaker | 1 Ninja Point
Prerequisite: ・Focused Strike |
| Wasp Sting | 1 Ninja Point
Prerequisite: ・Flying Chariot |
| Apocalypse | 3 Ninja Points
Prerequisite: ・Sweeping Kick ・Impenetrability ・The Way of the Ninja: Veteran mission |
The Tonfa skills consist of high-speed chained combos that can break enemies' Ki in an instant. Moves like Heavenly Chain, Sweeping Kick, and Storm of Strikes are good follow-ups to your quick or strong attacks. Mountain Breaker can be used to dash forward while dealing damage in a small area.
Demon Dance is an important utility skill for the Tonfa. It makes the dodge range of Mist shorter but lengthens the invulnerability you will receive. This can be used to consistently and safely dodge while staying near the enemy to continue your barrage of combos.
Ninja Style Skills
| Skills | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Evade | 1 Ninja Point |
| Cicada Shell | 1 Ninja Point |
| Kunai | 1 Ninja Point
Prerequisite: ・Shuriken |
| Uncanny Bolt | 1 Ninja Point
Prerequisite: ・Uncanny Flame |
The Cicada Shell and Evade Ninjutsu will be your main defensive skills when using the Tonfa, as both provide different ways to position yourself or dodge attacks.
For additional elemental damage, consider getting either Uncanny Bubble or Uncanny Bolt to complement the special effects for your weapons. However, if you're using a different element, you may get the Ninjutsu that corresponds to your preference.
Take note that when using elemental damage from Onmyo and Ninjutsu, it is advised to switch to the element the enemy or boss is weak to.
Best Skills for Tonfa
Secret Skills Text
| Secret Skill | Effects |
|---|---|
| Evil-Dispelling Evade | Dispels the Yokai Realm from an area where you have successfully Evaded. |
| Armor Piercer | Increases damage dealt by Final Blow and Grapple by 10.0%. |
| Tachi Arts | Increase melee attack by 8.4% against enemies with maximum Life. |
| Awakening | Allows to use Onmyo Magic faster. |
| Panacea Curefast | Increase Life restored by elixirs by 15.0% |
| Lingering Spirit | Recovers 30.0% of the Amrita left at your grave when you die. |
The Evil-Dispelling Evade is one of the most important Secret Skill for the Ninja Style. When combined with the Evade Ninjutsu, it has the same effects as the Samurai Style's Ki Pulse, so it is highly recommended to acquire both skills as soon as possible. Awakening is valuable too, as plenty of Ninja weapons scale with Magic, so using Onmyo and Talismans are often encouraged.
Other Secret Skills of note are Panacea Curefast and Lingering Spirit. As these are Common Secret Skills, they provide effects that apply to both Samurai and Ninja Styles.
For combat, Taichi Arts and Armor Piercer are easily found within the Warring States period, but these Secret Skills can be changed based on your weapon or play style.
Best Guardian Spirits for Tonfa
Use Nekomata as Guardian Spirit
| Nekomata | ATK | DEF | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
10 | 10 | Lightning |
| Quest | |||
| The Fall of Edo Castle | |||
| Special Effects | |||
|
・Ninjutsu Ki Damage +7.3%
・Ki Recovery Speed +6.2% ・Quick Attack Break +10.6 % ・Melee Attack Ki Consumption Requirements: Destroy 12 Spikes ・Final Blow/Grapple Damage Requirements: Destroy 13 Spikes |
|||
Equip Nekomata to gain special effects that increase your Ki Recovery speed and lowers the Ki consumption of your quick attack and melee attack. To unlock Melee Attack Ki Consumption, destroy 12 Crucible spikes.
If you want to focus more on bolstering your Water damage, use Kusanagi as your Guardian Spirit instead.
Best Soul Cores for Tonfa
Use Jakotsu-baba Soul Core for Yang
| 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 |
As this build utilizes Water damage to build up the Saturated status ailment, Jakotsu-baba in the Yang position provides buffs to Water-based attacks. Additionally, she gives a chance to automatically recover your grave when dying.
Once you get further along in the game, consider replacing this Soul Core with the Yasha Soul Core.
Alternative: Yasha Soul Core for Yang
| Yasha Soul Core | |
|---|---|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Martial Arts Ki Consumption +4.0% ・Life Drain (Water Damage) B- Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Yasha x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Geyser Shot Talisman x4 |
The Yasha Soul Core's special effects will be beneficial to the Tonfa for its Martial Arts Ki Consumption bonus. You'll also get a decent life absorption effect for every Water damage you inflict during combat if you use this Soul Core in the Yang position.
Use Gaki Chief Soul Core for Yin
| Gaki Chief Soul Core | |
|---|---|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Amrita Guage Charge +7.5% ・Strong Attack Ki Damage +3.5% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Gaki Chief x2 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Extraction Talisman x5 |
For Talismans, consider using the Gaki Chief Soul Core in the Yin position to use Extraction Talismans. Use this talisman on enemies to steal and absorb Amrita everytime you attack them. This will trigger of all your special effects with Amrita Absorption.
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 |
If you have available Yin slots, you may also put Yoki in the Yin position to use Power Talismans. Cast this before combat to increase your attack. Unlock more Soul Core slots in the Yin position, by putting levels on the Magic stat.
Tonfa Tips and Tricks
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 the Ninja Style, we suggest using your points on some of the following Prestige:
- Ninja: Dodge Ki Consumption, Melee Attack Ki Consumption
- Tactics: Ki Recovery Speed, Onmyo Magic Power
- Subjugation: Amrita Earned, Damage Taken (Ki Depleted)
- Exploration: Medicine Efficacy
- Crucible: Amrita Earned (Crucible)
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.
Use Equipment Suited to Your Level
To get the best bonuses, always use equipment that suit your current level. Using underleved items will give you less attack bonuses for weapons, and less defense bonuses for armor.
Use Purple Rarity If Possible
Items with Purple (Exotic) rarities provide better and rarer special effects. Additionally, you'll sometimes find better combinations of special effects from Exotic weapons.
Raise the Tonfa to Full Familiarity
Constantly using weapons will increase its Familiarity. Weapons with full Familiarity gets a significant bonus in damage.
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 Tonfa Build
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