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Nioh 3

How to Beat Tokugawa Kunimatsu

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Nioh 3 - How to Beat Tokugawa Kunimatsu

Tokugawa Kunimatsu is a boss from Nioh 3 in the main mission To the Beginning. See how to beat Tokugawa Kunimatsu, as well as the weaknesses, drops, and location in this guide.

How to Beat Tokugawa Kunimatsu

To beat Tokugawa Kunimatsu, take advantage of Ninja style's increased backstab damage and superior mobility. Follow these tips to win the encounter:

  1. Stay Mobile with Ninja Style
  2. Rush In After Lightning Explosion
  3. Beware of Wind Attacks
  4. Run Away from Falling Red Attack
  5. Use Your Summoning Seals
  6. Farm Levels and Better Gear
  7. Secure with Living Artifact
  8. Summon Assistance from Acolytes
  9. Use Talismans and Items for Buffs

Stay Mobile with Ninja Style

Ninja style is recommended for the mobility to avoid several of Kunimatsu's area-of-effect attacks. Since he is a human boss, he is easily punished with backstabs, making Ninja style's bonus damage very effective.

Samurai style is just as viable but Ninja style's low Ki expenditure makes the fight more manageable.

Best Ninja Builds

Close the Gap After Lightning Strike

You don't need to wait for the lightning animation to fully clear. Even though it lingers, you can rush straight in to punish as soon as you hear lightning explode.

Beware of Wind Attacks

Wind Trail

Kunimatsu Wind Tunnel

When Kunimatsu winds up a draw attack with both his swords, do not follow him directly from behind, as the wind trail can damage you after a short delay. Instead, approach him from the side after he zips past you, then counterattack.

Wind Slash

Kunimatsu Wind Slash

Quickly disengage when Kunimatsu does his wind slash around him, as it deals heavy wind damage. Take this opportunity to heal up, reapply buffs and debuffs, or use Ninjutsu to deal damage safely.

Run Away from Falling Red Attack

In the second phase, Kunimatsu’s falling red attack is tricky to counter once he disappears. He may be obscured by tornadoes, but you can use a Guardian Spirit Skill to counter the attack before he leaps.

While he's in the air, ranged Guardian Spirit Skills can still be used. If you don't cancel it in time, simply run out of the area of effect to avoid it completely.

Use Your Summoning Seals

Do not forget to use your summoning seals, especially as you can now have two of them equipped by this stage in the game. They can help deal extra damage, open opportunities to attack, or even save you from dying.

List of Soul Cores

Farm Levels and Better Gear

The rematch with Kunimatsu is one of the more difficult fights in the story. Feel free to farm some levels and equip gear that matches your level before trying again.

How to Level Up Fast: Amrita Farming Guide

Secure with Living Artifact

Keep your Living Artifact ready to secure the victory when Kusanagi is low. You're invulnerable while in this state but you must still dodge or block because sustaining damage shortens its duration.

You also have unlimited Ki while Living Artifact is active. Use this to spam your most potent Martial Arts.

List of All Martial Arts

Summon Assistance from Acolytes

Summon an acolyte from nearby benevolent graves to serve as a distraction and help deal chip damage. You'll need Ochoko Cups to summon acolytes, which you can obtain by defeating revenants from bloody graves.

Use Talismans and Items for Buffs

Use talismans and items such as Power Talismans and Power Pills to boost your attack. Note that they do not stack and only refresh the duration of the attack buff. Wind Stop and Lightning Stop Talismans help mitigate elemental damage.

You can also use the talismans from Soul Cores listed below to give you an advantage.

Talisman / Soul Core Effect
Scampuss Summoning Seal
(Scampuss Soul Core)
Shreds enemy Ki quickly
Life Leech Talisman
(Mermaid Soul Core)
Helps keep your health topped up
Preservation Talisman
(Mujina Soul Core)
Saves you from a fatal hit
Barrier Talisman
(Otoroshi Soul Core)
Boosts Ki regeneration and dispels Yokai Realms

List of Soul Cores

Equip Awakening to Speed Up Talisman Usage

The Awakening skill is highly recommended to speed up talisman usage, especially against bosses where you can easily get punished.

It is also easy to fit in most builds as it only costs 3 Points.

List of All Skills

Tokugawa Kunimatsu Weaknesses

Boss Weakness and Overview

Weaknesses ・None
Resistances ・Electrified
・Blustered
Era Return to Edo
Main Mission To the Beginning
(Recommended: Lv 97)

Tokugawa Kunimatsu has no elemental weaknesses, but can still be affected by Saturated and Scorched. He is resistant to the Electrified and Blustered status effects.

Tokugawa Kunimatsu Drops and Rewards

・Brother's Dual Katana Lv. 106
・Brother's Sandals Lv. 106

Tokugawa Kunimatsu Location

Found in Edo Castle

Tokugawa Kunimatsu is found in Edo Castle during the mission To the Beginning.

List of All Main Missions

Nioh 3 Related Guides

Bosses

List of All Bosses

List of Main Bosses

Warring States
Yamagata MasakageYamagata Masakage Jakotsu-babaJakotsu-baba Baba NobuharaBaba Nobuharu
Yamagata Masakage MikatagaharaYamagata Masakage (Yokai) Takeda ShingenTakeda Shingen Takeda Shingen SaigagakeTakeda Shingen (Yokai)
Heian
Great TenguGreat Tengu OtoroshiOtoroshi Ibaraki DojiIbaraki Doji
Kajiwara KagetokKajiwara Kagetoki Minamoto no YoritomoMinamoto no Yoritomo
Antiquity
KusanagiKusanagi HirukoHiruko
Return to Edo
Tokugawa KunimatsuTokugawa Kunimatsu
Bakumatsu
Takasugi Shinsaku Enenra Nuribotoke
Okita Soji Tokugawa Yoshinobu
Final Battle of Edo
Death Veil Hiruko (Final Boss)

List of Secret Bosses

Optional Bosses
Demon of PrideDemon of Pride Demon of EnvyDemon of Envy Demon of ObsessionDemon of Obsession

List of Optional Bosses

Optional Bosses
Bloodedge DemonBloodedge Demon Ryomen SukunaRyomen Sukuna Hino-EnmaHino-Enma
Otazu no KataOtzu no Kata YokiYoki Hattori Hanzo
Ninja Yoki Kyokotsu Aggrieved Warrior

List of Formidable Enemies

Warring States Era
KamaitachiKamaitachi MezukiMezuki Green ShadowGreen Shadow's Blade
Blood-Spurting Ogin Naito Masatoyo Anayama Nobutada
Honda Tadakatsu Nuppeppo Onryoki

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