Nioh 2: 5 Overpowered Builds That Are A Lot Of Fun

In the supernatural iteration of Japan’s Warring States Period in Nioh 2, players take on the role of a Shiftling named Hide as they journey around the country while fighting mystical Yokai. Being half-Yokai themselves, Hide can use training with various weapons alongside innate Yokai abilities to outwit and outpace enemies in combat. This interchange between swordplay and supernatural might is helpful in Nioh 2, especially when levels can get exceptionally difficult for players who are unaware of what they’re supposed to do.

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Thankfully, fans of Souls-like games like Nioh 2 can enjoy the game more if they consider trying some builds towards the wackier side of Nioh 2‘s gameplay. As it turns out, exploiting the right gear and mechanics can result in players tapping into some of the game’s best builds, motivating them to focus on technical mastery and even just wreaking havoc with both their Yokai powers and fighting prowess. However, just what are some of the game’s best builds that others may even consider overpowered?

5 Tamer Of Souls

Summon The Might Of Spirits With Fierce Spear Attacks

Core Stats of Focus	99 Constitution, 99 Strength, 99 Magic, 75 Heart
Set 1	Inari’s Grace (7pcs) – Great Holly Spear – Kusanagi Tsurugi – Tatsuke Matchock – Crimson Hand Cannon – Black Fox Mask – Veteran’s Cuirass
Set Bonuses	Life+, Onmyo Magic Power+, Damage Taken Reduced, Elemental Weapon Damage+, Faster Ki Recovery – Onmyo Magic+)
Set 2	Unrelenting Grasp (3pcs) – Taira no Kagekiyo’s Gauntlets – Taira no Kagekiyo’s Waistguard – Taira no Kagekiyo’s Greaves
Set Bonuses	– Life+, Life Drain – Grapple+, Grapple Damage+
Weapons	– Great Holly Spear (Faster Ki Recovery – Amrita Absorption+, Imbue Purity+, Chidori Ki Damage+, Grapple Damage+, Active Skill Ki Damage+) – Kusanagi Tsurugi (Imbue Purity+, Active Skill Ki Damage+, Anima+, Grapple Damage+, Attack Bonus – Heart+) – Tatsuke Matchock – Crimson Hand Cannon
Accessories	– Yasakani Magatama (Set Bonus Requirements Reduced, Shock Accumulation – Enemy+, Elemental Damage Taken+, Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption+, Melee Damage vs Electrified Enemies+) – Toshiie’s Abacus (Extended Elemental Weapon +, Elemental Damage Taken+, Shock Accumulation – Enemy+, Melee Damage vs 0 Ki Enemy+)
Scroll	Scroll of the Demon – Strong Attack Damage, Active Skill Ki Consumption+, Active Skill Ki Damage+
Talismans	– Soul Purge (Attack+ and Luck+ in exchange for Familiarity 0) – Purification (bestow weapon with Purity) – Red Spider Lily (greatly increase Anima) – Archyokai (gain more Anima) – Fleeting Guardian Amulet (summon a Guardian Spirit to attack foes) – Quick-Change Scroll (survive a lethal blow) – Feathers (Flaming Heron, Yaroka Water, Raijin, inflicts Elemental Damage of the type)
Notable Skills	– Stability (Spear Skills/Mystic Art, increase range and overall damage) – Second Rule of Thrusting (Spear Skills/Passive, increase damage of thrust attacks) – Armour Piercer (Spear Skills/Passive, increase Final Blow Damage) – Passage to the Afterlife (Spear Skills/Passive, increase Grapple Damage) – Cornered Tiger (Spear Skills/Passive, increase Melee Damage at below 30% Health) – Cornered Boar (Spear Skills/Passive, reduce Melee Damage at below 30% Health) – Indomitable Spirit (Spear Skills/Passive, increase Ki Recovery at below 30% Health) – Shadow Strike (Spear Skills/Passive, increase damage from behind) – Awakening (Onmyo Magic Skills/Mystic Art, cast magic faster) – Incantation Mastery (Onmyo Magic Skills/Passive, boost Onmyo Magic Capacity) – Pure Heaven Cursed Earth (Onmyo Magic Skills/Passive, extend Purification range) – Leechkin (Shitfling Skills/Passive, restore Health when dealing damage with Yokai Ability) – Guardian Bond: Light (Shiftling Skills/Passive, boosts damage of Guardian Spirit Skills) – Brutal Charge (Gozuki, can break enemy Ki Bars)
Guardian Spirit	– Atlas Bear (Anima Bonus – Guard+, Damage Bonus – Low Ki, Faster Winded Recovery, Melee Damage+, Life Drain – Grapple) – Rokugezo (Toughness+)
Soul Core Bonuses	– Nuppeppo (Life+, Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption+, Anima+, Attunement Cost Reduced, Anima Bonus – Scorched Eemy+) – Gozuki (Charge Attack Boost+, Attack – Yokai Shift+, Anima Charge – Critical+, Anima+) – Thunderstorm Oni-bi (Elemental Damage+, Anima Bonus – Elemental Attack+, Anima+, Critical Yokai Shift – Dark Realm)
Special Effects	– Imbue Purity (Weapons) – Onmyo Magic Power+ (Armor) – Attack, Attack Skill Damage+ (Armor) – Elemental Damage+, Elemental Weapon Damage+ (Thunderstorm Oni-bi Soul, Weapons) – Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption (Armor) – Damage Taken – Mid Attack Reduced (Armor)

When players of Nioh 2 manage to acquire Soul Cores and attach them to Guardian Spirits, they can invoke the essence of these souls to attack enemies through Yokai abilities. This is the focal point of the Tamer of Souls, where this particular build takes advantage of the backup provided by a Guardian Spirit (Fleeting Guardian Amulet) and slowly breaks the enemy’s Ki Bars (with a Gozuki finish).

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Afterward, it’s up to players to capitalize on the Spear’s powerful thrusting capabilities to debilitate the enemy’s Health, particularly with damage boosts from Purification (Weapons) and extended Elemental Damage procs (Feathers, Thunderstorm Oni-bi, Inari’s Grace, Yasakani Magatama, Toshiie’s Abacus). While the build has reasonable sustains with Life Recovery via Amrita Absorption, backup damage reduction (Cornered Boar), Ki Recovery (Indomitable Spirit), and damage increase (Cornered Tiger) on crit can become a much-needed saving grace in dangerous situations.

4 Shinobi Of The East

Use Elemental Attacks To Confuse Enemies To Submission

Core Stats of Focus	Magic 92, Constitution 61, Stamina 39
Set	Warrior of the East’s Honor (5pcs) – Warrior of the East Helmet – Warrior of the East Cuirass – Warrior of the East Gauntlets – Warrior of the East Waistguard – Warrior of the East Greaves
Set Bonuses	Merciless Barrage Damage+, Damage Taken Reduced, Melee Damage+, Attack Bonus (Constitution), Life Drain (Active Skill)
Weapons	– Evil-Crusher Switchglaive (Imbue Purity, Life Drain – Quick Attack, Attack Bonus – Magic) – Zen Splitstaff (Imbue Purity, Life Drain – Grapple)
Accessories	– Yasakani Magatama (Set Bonus Requirements Reduced, Onmyo Magic Power, Amrita Absorption) – Divination Board (Onmyo Magic Power, Extended Elemental Weapon, Auto-Grave Recovery)
Talismans	– Extraction (gain Amrita per hit) – Lightning, Water Talisman (orbs will appear and hit close enemies with the specified Elemental Damage) – Barrier (gain Ki Recovery Speed) – Quick-Change Scroll (survive a lethal blow)
Notable Skills	– Awakening (Onmyo Magic/Mystic Art, cast faster) – Incantation Mastery (Onmyo Magic/Passive, +Max Onmyo Magic) – Shadow Arts: Flaming Heron 3 (Ninja/Jutsu, homing Fire damage and major Ki Damage) – One-Legged Fury (Ippon-Datara, stun-lock target) – Empty Retribution (Switchglaive/Active) – Cyclone (Switchglaive/Active) – Infinite Retribution (Switchglaive/Active)
Guardian Spirit	– Ho (Anima Bonus – Guard, Imbue Purity – Strong Attack, Amrita Earned, High Attack Damage) – Oh (Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption, Faster Ki Recovery – Timely Guard, Guard Ki Consumption)
Soul Core Bonuses	– Ippon-Datara (Equipment Drop Rate, Auto-Grave Recovery) – Nuppeppo (Life, Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption) – Kasha (Life Drain – Yokai Ability Hit, Faster Movement – Amrita Absorption, Treasure Sensor)
Special Effects	– Confusion (apply to enemy via any 2 Statuses, destroy foe’s Stamina Bar, let them take more damage) – Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption (Nuppeppo, Oh) – Attack Bonus – Magic (Evil-Crusher Switchglaive)

While Ninja Skills in Nioh 2 definitely incentivize the usage of stealth and subterfuge to catch enemies by surprise, the Shinobi of the East relies on the capability to throw element after element at opponents to destroy their defenses. As such, this build relies on building enough Onmyo Magic to supplement the casting of Elemental Talismans and element-imbued Shadow Arts to inflict defense-destroying Confusion, with the ever-reliable One-Leged Fury (Ippon-Datara) to stun-lock enemies into submission afterward. This is a decent build that can be used in the early mid-game while players upgrade their gear as they make progress.

Assuming players have already enhanced their Onmyo Magic Power (Divination Board, Incantation Mastery) to boost their overall damage, the Shinobi of the East can build survivability via Life Regeneration when absorbing Amrita (Extraction Talisman, Yasakani Magatama, Oh, Nuppeppo Soul Core). Keeping a Quick Change handy can also help players escape pesky lethal blows. However, with the right setup, players should consistently secure heals even when fighting tougher enemies.

3 Twin Venom Sticks

Attack Speed Lifesteal With Ki Break Finish

Core Stats of Focus	99 Constitution, 99 Courage, 64 Stamina
Set 1	Benzaiten’s Grace (7pcs) – Royal Tonfa – Tatsuke Matchlock – Kunitomo Rifle – Coiled Snake Helmet – Veteran’s Cuirass – Veteran’s Waistguard
Set Bonuses	Life+, Ninjutsu Power+, Damage Taken Reduced, Amrita Earned+, Versatility, Ki Recovery Speed+
Set 2	Taira’s Grace (3pcs) – Chi-Azamaru – Taira no Kagekiyo’s Gauntlets – Taira no Kagekiyo’s Greaves
Set Bonuses	Life+, Life Drain – Grapple+, Grapple Damage+
Weapons	– Chi-Azamaru (Melee Damage+, Amrita Earned+, Saturation Accumulation – Enemy+, Melee Attack Ki Consumption Reduced) – Royal Tonfa (Melee Ki Damage, Melee Attack Ki Consumption Reduced, Grapple Damage+, Attack Bonus – Constitution, Life Drain – Melee Attack) – Tatsuke Matchlock (Rifle Speed+, Item Drop vs Yokai+, Break+, Bullseye Bonus+) – Kunitomo Rifle (Amrita Earned+, Damage Bonus – Agility, Equipment Drop vs Humans+)
Accessories	– Magatama (Anima Charge+, Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption+, Paralysis Accumulation – Enemy+, Melee Damage vs Poisoned Enemy+, Melee Damage vs 0 Ki Enemy+) – Yasakani Magatama (Set Bonus Requirements Reduced, Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption+, Saturation Accumulation – Enemy+, Melee Damage vs Poisoned Enemy+, Melee Damage vs 0 Ki Enemy+)
Talismans	– Extraction (steal Amrita from enemies on hit) – Purification (bestow Purity on weapon) – Archyokai (more Anima) – Carnage (more Damage) – Sloth (reduce enemy Speed) – Feathers (Flaming Heron, Yaroka Water, Raijin, inflicts Elemental Damage of the type)
Notable Skills	– Kannagi (Tonfa Skills/Mystic Art, cancel tech during Demon Dance) – Shove (Tonfa Skills/Active, push enemy back and stagger) – Demon Dance (Tonfa Skills/Active, reposition during evade after Ki Pulse) – Pulverize (Tonfa Skills/Active, follow-up after Demon Dance) – Mountain Breaker (Tonfa Skills/Active, powerful strike) – Wild Lions (Tonfa Skills/Active, swing for wide attack) – Focused Strike (Tonfa Skills/Active, powerful shot after charge) – Heavenly Chain (Tonfa Skills/Active, flurry after Strong Attack) – Nimble Slice (Tonfa Skills/Passive, less Damage but now cost less Ki) – Masterful Slice (Tonfa Skills/Passive, Ki Damage+) – Raging Strike (Tonfa Skills/Passive, Damage+ in exchange for taking Damage when used) – Deliberate Slice (Tonfa Skills/Passive, Ki Recovery – Ki Pulse+) – Enlightenment (Ninja Skills/Mystic Art, cast faster) – Toxic Groundfire (Ninja Skills/Jutsu, trap that explodes with Poison powder) – Paralytic Groundfire (Ninja Skills/Jutsu, trap that explodes with Paralyze powder) – Ninja Tool Mastery (Ninja Skills/Passive, get more Ninjutsu Capacity) – Brutal Charge (Gozuki, can break enemy Ki Bars)
Guardian Spirit	– Yumehami (Anima Bonus – Ranged Hit+, Anima Bonus – Gold Earned+, Melee Ki Damage+, Extended Yokai Shift+, Recovery – Amrita Absorption) – Ho (High Attack Damage+)
Soul Core Bonuses	– Gozuki (Charge Attack Boost+, Attack – Yokai Shift+, Anima Bonus – Final Blow+, Yokai Ability Damage+) – Nuppeppo (Life, Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption, Anima Charge Bonus – Cumulative+, Amrita Earned – Yokai Shift+) – Kiryoki (Active Skill Damage+, Extended Elemental Weapon+, Amrita Earned+, Melee Ki Damage+)
Special Effects	– Untouched Ninjutsu (Armor) – Damage Taken Reduced (Benzaiten’s Grace) – Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption+ (Armor) – Ninjutsu Power+ (Benzaiten’s Grace) – Melee Ki Damage+ (Weapons, Armor) – Grapple Damage (Weapons, Armor) – Attack+ (Armor) – Active Skill Damage+ (Armor) – Versatility (Benzaiten’s Grace, Active Skill hit grants stack, and Melee Attack+)

Sometimes, the strongest gameplay strategies in Nioh 2 are created as a result not just of innately maxed buffs and endgame gear, but rather the right combat prep—something Twin Venon Sticks emphasizes with its combination of statuses and high-damage output. To pull this build off, players capitalize on opening the room for more damage via status effects like Poisoned (Toxic Groundfire), Paralysis (Paralytic Groundfire), and combining multi-element damage (Scorched, Saturation, Electrified) to inflict damage-boosting Confused.

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With these prepared, players proc immense damage numbers through high base DPS (via bonuses to Melee Attack, Melee Ki Damage, Active Skill Damage) and boosted sustains through Life Recovery via Amrita Absorption, and lower overall Ki costs for attacks and skills. Central to this build is Versatility (Benzaiten’s Grace), as its 9-stack effect can consistently provide up to 60-percent damage boost on properly-timed attacks, emphasizing combos that are within the Tonfa’s wheelhouse.

2 Night Rain Iai

Hyper-Optimize Iai For One-Shot Potential

Core Stats of Focus	99 Heart, 99 Skill, 50 Magic
Set 1	One for All, All for One (4pcs) – Ishida Masamune – Gallant Gauntlets – Gallant Greaves
Set Bonuses	Life+, Night Rain Damage+, Melee Damage+
Set 2	The Crossed Sickles (5pcs) – Atagi Sadamune – Kingo’s Helmet – Kingo’s Cuirass – Kingo’s Waistguard
Set Bonuses	Life+, Final Blow+, Melee Damage+, Backstab Damage+
Weapons	– Ishida Masamune (Paralysis Accumulation – Enemy, Imbue Paralysis, Active Skill Break, Attack Bonus – Heart) – Atagi Sadamune (Amrita Earned+, Final Blow+) – Warrior of the West Bow (Bow Speed+, Movement Speed at Aim Range +, Attack Bonus – Agility) – Master Archer’s Bow
Accessories	Yasakani Magatama (Set Bonus Requirements Reduced, Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption)
Scroll	–
Talismans	– Quick-Change Scroll (temporarily survive a fatal blow) – Tiger-Running Scroll (increase run and dash speeds) – Protection (damage mitigation) – Carnage (lower Defense for higher melee Attack) – Weakness (lower enemy Defense) – Extraction (steal Amrita from enemies on hit)
Notable Skills	– Iai Quickdraw (Sword Skill/Active, charge before rapid strike) – Night Rain (Sword Skill/Active, unleash fast slashes) – Melee Mastery (Sword Skill/Passive, Sword Attack+) – Stun Arrows (Ninja Skill/Jutsu, paralyzing arrows) – Awakening (Onmyo Magic Skill/Passive, fast casting)
Guardian Spirit	– Tengen Kujaku (Anima Bonus – Ranged Hit+, Stance-Based Amrita Bonus, Extended Elemental Weapon) – Atlas Bear (Life Drain – Grapple+)
Soul Core Bonuses	– Otakemaru (Anima+, Anima Bonus – Confused Enemy+, Armita Gauge Charge+, Yokai Ability Damage+, Extended Yokai Shift+) – Gozuki (Charge Attack Boost+, Attack – Yokai Shift+, Anima Bonus – Final Blow+, Yokai Ability Damage+) – Enki (Anima Bonus – Damage Taken Reduction, Melee vs Humans+, Attunement Cost Reduced)
Special Effects	– Imbue Paralysis, Paralysis Accumulation (Weapons) – Attack Bonus – Heart, Skill (Weapons) – Iai Quickdraw Damage (Kingo’s) – Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption (Kingo’s)

There’s just something compelling when a samurai sheathes their katana and somehow a thousand slashes appear on their enemy, which is perhaps the reason why the Night Rain Iai can be such an appealing build in Nioh 2. Doing a similar real-life Iaido maneuver requires a lot of build-up beyond just having the right weapon, with prep work including getting buffs for melee attacks (Carnage Talisman, Melee Mastery), Yokai Ability Damage (Otakemaru, Gozuki Cores), Final Blow damage (Gozuki), and boosting damage bonuses (Attack Bonus – Heart, Skill).

Of extreme importance here is the Iai Quickdraw Damage buff (Kingo’s) that can immensely boost the potential of Iai Quickdraw as a final attack. For the actual combo sequence, players on Tengen Kujaku can load up on a Carnage Talisman before using Stun Arrows. They can then follow up with a transition to Atlas Bear, release a Weakness Talisman plus Yokai Skills to inflict vulnerabilities plus a Confusion status, and then finish with a Night Rain followed by an Iai Quickdraw.

1 Onslaught Of Grace

Hyper-Aggressive Combat Healing Loop

Core Stats of Focus	Magic 200, Heart 200, Courage 150, Stamina 150
Set 1	Grace of Oyamatsumi (6pc) – Little Crow & Quickdraw – Kusanagi Tsurugi – Chinzei Hachiro’s Bow – Tanegashima Matchlock – Magatama
Set Bonuses	Life, Guard Ki Recovery, Damage Taken Reduced, Damage Taken Halved (Unscathed)
Set 2	Izanagi’s Grace (7pc) – Heirloom Cuirass – Heirloom Gauntlets – Heirloom Waistguard – Heirloom Greaves – Shuten Doji Mask – Yasakani Magatama
Set Bonuses	Life, Ki Recovery Speed, Increased Defense (Purification), Purified Accumulation (Enemy), Melee vs Purified Enemy, Cleansing Prayer
Scroll	Scroll of the Damned – Ultimate Magic, Ultimate Courage, Ultimate Stamina, Untouched Onmyo Magic, Path of the Ravenous
Talismans	– Extraction (gain Amrita per hit) – Steel (gain Defense) – Barrier (gain Ki Recovery Speed)
Notable Skills	– Momentum (Dual Sword/Mystic Art, reduced Ki Consumption of subsequent attacks) – Firm Resolve (Dual Sword/Mystic Art, reduced damage taken per attack hit) – Awakening (Onmyo Magic/Mystic Art, faster casting) – Amplification (Onmyo Magic/Mystic Art, extends Onmyo Magic Item effects) – One-Legged Fury (Ippon-Datara/Yokai Ability, stun enemies)
Guardian Spirit	– Ho-oh (Purified Accumulation – Enemy, Melee Damage vs Purified Enemy, Calming Breath) – Baku (Anima Charge+, Melee Damage vs Corrupted Enemy, Corrupted Accumulation – Enemy+, Pleiades – Amrita Absorption)
Soul Core Bonuses	– White Tiger (Purified Accumulation – Enemy, Yokai Ability Damage – Yokai Shift) – Kasha (Life Drain – Yokai Ability Hit, Faster Movement – Amrita Absorption) – Ippon-Datara (Equipment Drop)
Special Effects	– Cleansing Prayer (Izanagi’s Grace, Blessing of the Trinity grants Health Regen, Extra Ki Recovery Speed, Extra Melee Damage per Purification) – Mystic Dyad – Dual Swords (Little Crow & Quick Draw) – Mystic Dyad – Sword (Kusanagi Tsurugi) – Path of the Ravenous (Scroll of the Damned, recover Health when absorbing Amrita) – Ultimate Magic (Scroll of the Damned, use 2 Onmyo Magic Mystic Arts) – Ultimate Courage (Scroll of the Damned, reduce Ki Consumption when attacking) – Attack Bonus – Heart, Strength (Weapons) – Transform Bonus – Magic (Weapons) – Life Recovery – Amrita Absorption (Yasakani Magatama, Magatama, Heirloom Cuirass, recover Health when gaining Amrita)

The myriad of combat options and boosts that enhance Nioh 2’s gameplay is supplemented by a wealth of equipment options for players, with an endgame build like the Onslaught of Grace encouraging gamers to get their bases covered, especially when opting for aggressive playstyles. In this play style, building upon Transform Bonus – Magic and Attack Bonus – Heart and Strength buffs can help the Onslaught of Grace tap into the game’s strongest support effects in combat.

Aggressive playstyles are encouraged with a stun-locking One-Legged Fury (Ippon-Datara) that could lead to nasty combos buffed further with per-hit damage mitigation (Firm Resolve), reduced Ki Consumption (Momentum, Ultimate Courage), and Amrita gains (Extraction Talisman). The latter is especially important for sustains, as this is affected by stacking Health regen per Amrita gain effects (Yasakani Magatama, Magatama, Heirloom Cuirass, Path of the Ravenous). The three-stack buffs of Cleansing Prayer (Izanagi’s Grace) benefits immensely from Purifying enemies, which in itself is buffed by faster accumulation effects (Ho-Oh Guardian Spirit, White Tiger).