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Nioh 3
Best Dual Swords Build
This is a guide to the best build for Dual Swords in Nioh 3. See the best armor and accessories to use with the Dual Swords, 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.
|
|---|
Dual Swords Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✔︎ Extremely fast attacks and combos
✔︎ High mobility ✔︎ Easy to maintain Ki and chain attacks |
✖︎ Low damage and relies on combos
✖︎ Committing to long combos can leave you vulnerable |
Dual Swords excel at extremely fast attacks and fluid combos, allowing for high mobility and sustained offensive pressure. Their low Ki cost makes it easy to chain attacks continuously.
However, each individual strike deals relatively low damage, so the weapon relies on combos to be effective, and committing to long sequences can leave you vulnerable if mistimed.
Best Stats for Dual Swords
| Dual Swords Scaling |
|---|
 Heart  Strength  Magic |
| Character Stats |
 Stamina |
Dual Swords excel at fast combos, high mobility, and sustained offensive pressure, allowing you to stay aggressive while maintaining control of your Ki. To support this playstyle, Heart should be your primary stat, as it increases melee attack, Ki, and Ki recovery speed, which are crucial for sustaining combos.
Magic is a strong secondary investment, boosting Onmyo Magic which enhances elemental debuffs from your talismans and further improves your offensive potential. Lastly, investing in Stamina lets you wear heavier armor for improved defense while maintaining mobility.
Best Special Effects for Dual Swords
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Armor |
| Accessories | |
Best Special Effects for Weapons
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
・Ki Pulse Recovery ・Quick Attack Ki Consumption ・Martial Art Ki Consumption ・Martial Art Ki Damage |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Low Stance Martial Art Ki (Seki Kanenori Dual Uchigatana)
・High Attack Damage (Mino Dual Tachi) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
Dual Swords rely on quick attacks and chaining combos, making Ki management important. Take Special Effects that reduce Ki Consumption and improve Ki Recovery to help sustain continuous attacks. Additionally, prioritize effects that also increase overall damage to maximize the effectiveness of your fast, combo-focused playstyle.
Best Special Effects for Armor
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Ki Recovery Speed
・Ki Pulse Bonus ・Dodge Ki Consumption ・Damage Taken ・Toughness ・Defense |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| Single Sword's Reverie (Wayfarer Set) | |
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For armor, include additional effects that help maintain your Ki, such as increased Ki Recovery Speed, reduced Ki Consumption, and bonuses that improve Ki Pulse efficiency. Defensive effects like reduced Damage Taken, increased Toughness, and higher Defense should also be included to improve survivability.
Consider set bonuses as well, such as the Wayfarer Set, which provides useful effects like Martial Art Ki Damage and Attack Bonus (Heart), making it well suited for this Dual Swords build.
Best Special Effects for Accessories
| Common Special Effects | |
|---|---|
| ・Fire Damage
・Water Damage ・Ki Recovery Speed ・Dodge Ki Consumption ・Untouched Elixirs |
|
| Fixed Special Effects | |
| ・Ki Recovery Speed (Fan)
・Effect Duration (Writing Set) |
|
You may use any equipment that has one or two of the special effects listed above.
For accessories, support your elemental talismans by taking Special Effects that boost Elemental Damage. Include Ki-related enhancements to help sustain your combos, such as improved Ki Recovery or reduced Ki Consumption. You can also add utility effects like Untouched Elixirs, which give you a chance not to consume an Elixir when used, improving overall survivability during longer fights.
Best Martial Arts for Dual Swords
| Jump to Section! | |
|---|---|
| Dual Swords 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 Dual Swords tree.
Dual Swords Martial Arts
| Skills | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Winter Wind | 2 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・Sign of the Cross ・Sign of the Cross II |
| Raijin Lightning | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Raijin ・Unlocked with a Martial Arts Guide |
| God of Wind Wind (Mid/Low Stance) |
2 Samurai Points
Prerequisite: ・God of Wind ・Unlocked with a Martial Arts Guide |
| Deflecting Cut | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Sign of the Cross |
| Sign of the Cross Pierce | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・Sign of the Cross ・Unlocked with a Martial Arts Guide |
| Water Sword II | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・High Stance ・Water Sword |
| Twin Dragons Water (Low Stance) |
-
Prerequisite: ・Low Stance ・God of Wind ・Twin Dragons ・Unlocked with a Martial Arts Guide |
| Earth Render | 1 Samurai Point
Prerequisite: ・High Stance ・Water Sword |
Dual Swords have a versatile set of Martial Arts that allow you to maintain pressure through fast follow-ups, continuous attacks, and flexible combo extensions.
Prioritize Winter Wind, as it turns your Ki Pulse into an offensive follow-up, making it perfect for maintaining pressure while restoring Ki. Additionally, equip Deflecting Cut to perform a counterattack whenever you successfully use Deflect.
For close combat encounters, God of Wind Wind is a roundhouse kick imbued with the Wind element that can be integrated as a strong follow-up to your quick attacks in Mid and Low Stance. Meanwhile, Water Sword II allows you to remain in place while rapidly swinging your Dual Swords, striking the enemy multiple times, making it ideal for quickly applying elemental debuffs.
To deal with enemies at mid range, use Raijin Lightning, which has you slash forward in a zigzag pattern before finishing with a downward strike imbued with Lightning. Meanwhile, Sign of the Cross Pierce performs a single quick stroke that pierces through the enemy, allowing you to reposition and potentially attack from behind.
For airborne attacks, use Twin Dragons Water to lift yourself into the air, then follow up with Earth Render for a powerful downward strike. This combo maintains offensive pressure while repositioning and deals significant damage from unexpected angles.
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 |
To access some of the recommended Martial Arts for Dual Swords, you will need to unlock the Low and High Stance. Acquire Deflect, as it is essential for parrying enemy attacks, conserving Ki, and improving survivability.
Lastly, Flux II allows you to perform a Ki Pulse while switching stances, which is crucial for maintaining combos and executing the full potential of the Dual Sword.
Best Skills for Dual Swords
Secret Skills Text
| Secret Skill | Effects |
|---|---|
| Running Water | Enables you to perform a Ki Pulse by dodging. |
| Roaring Dragon Deflect | Inflicts Increased Damage Received (Elemental) on an enemy after a successful Deflect. |
| Unshakable | Reduces damage taken while you are attacking by 10.0%. |
| Awakening | Allows you to use Onmyo Magic faster. |
The listed skills provide a balance of offense and defense to complement this Dual Swords build. Running Water makes dodging more effective by turning it into a Ki Pulse, which greatly aids in recovering Ki and maintaining your combos.
If you focus on using Deflect, Roaring Dragon Deflect is an ideal skill, especially when incorporating elemental attacks, as it boosts your overall damage after a successful parry.
Awakening enhances Onmyo Magic use by allowing faster casting, while Unshakable improves survivability by reducing damage taken during clashes with enemies.
Best Guardian Spirits for Dual Swords
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 reduces Martial Arts Ki Consumption, allowing you to chain more combos efficiently. It also provides several useful effects, including reduced Damage Taken, increased Strong Attack Break, faster Winded Recovery, which shortens the downtime after Ki depletion, and Melee Damage vs. Winded Enemy, boosting your damage against foes with depleted Ki.
Additionally, Guhin’s Guardian Spirit Skill, Eight-Handed Blade, complements the Dual Swords perfectly, as it features fast, visually striking attacks that match the weapon’s quick and aggressive playstyle.
Use Kusanagi as Alternative
| 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 alternative, providing a strong offensive boost through increased Martial Arts Damage and Arts Proficiency Damage. It also enhances Spirit Force Charge while using Martial Arts, and offers Fire Damage Reduction and Ki Pulse Recovery, which are essential for sustaining your combos.
Best Soul Cores for Dual Swords
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 |
Bloodedge Demon provides the Summoning Seal, allowing you to summon it to unleash an elemental attack based on your equipped Guardian Spirit, followed by multiple melee strikes that deal substantial damage. It also boosts Elemental Damage, enhancing your elemental talismans and maximizing the build’s offensive potential.
You can carry one Summoning Seal: Bloodedge Demon at a time, which is 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 |
Jakotsu-baba provides the Water Familiar Talisman, which summons floating orbs that deal Water Damage to nearby enemies. This builds up the Saturated status, increasing the damage enemies take.
You can equip up to four Water Familiar Talismans at a time, and they are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Use Infernal Oni-bi Soul Coure for Yin
| Infernal Oni-bi Soul Core | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Yang Position | Special Effects:
・Burn Accumulation (Enemy) +3.5% Yokai Ability: ・Summoning Seal: Infernal Oni-bi x3 |
| Yin Position | Talisman:
・Fire Talisman x3 |
Infernal Oni-bi provides the Fire Talisman, which imbues your Dual Swords with the Fire Element. This builds up the Burn status, causing enemies to take damage over time.
You can equip up to three Fire Talismans at a time, and they are replenished when resting at a Shrine.
Dual Swords Tips and Tricks
Maintain Short and Controlled Combos
Dual Swords are most effective when using short attack strings instead of long, committed combos. Deal damage in quick bursts, then reposition or dodge before continuing your offense. This keeps pressure on enemies while reducing the risk of being punished during long animations.
Manage Your Ki Properly
Because of the Dual Swords’ fast attack speed, it is easy to consume Ki quickly if you overcommit. Perform Ki Pulse consistently and make use of skills like Running Water to recover Ki while dodging, allowing you to maintain offense without exhausting yourself.
Take Advantage of Elemental Effects
Elementally imbued Dual Swords can apply status effects rapidly thanks to their fast attacks and high hit count. Using elemental talismans helps inflict debuffs faster, increasing your overall damage and allowing you to trigger Confusion when combining multiple elements.
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 Dual Swords 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, Onmyo Magic Power
- Subjugation: Amrita Earned, Elemental Damage
- Formidable Enemies: Melee Ki Damage, Melee Damage vs. Winded Enemy
- Exploration: Medicine Efficacy
- Collection: Martial Art Damage
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 Dual Swords Build
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