Martial Arts in Nioh 3 are abilities that can be performed by the player while in Combat, which can include weapon combos, magical Martial Arts, and other types of stronger attacks under the Martial Arts style. Martial Arts are unlocked in the Skill Tree, and can be accessed by going to the Skill Management view. Skill Points (Young Samurai's Locks) can be found in the world and then used to learn a node for that specific tree. Each of the weapons in Nioh 3 has its own skill tree, which are: Swords, Odachi, Spears (for Samurai), Dual Ninja Swords, Talons, Kusarigama, and Ninjutsu (for Ninja).
- For Skills acquired from Secret Skills Text and other skills, please check the Skills page.
How Do Skills Work in Nioh 3?
Skills can be activated through the Skill Management option in the Shrine Menu. There are three types of Martial Arts:
- Samurai (only used for Samurai-specific nodes)
- Ninja (only used for Ninja-specific nodes)
- Common
Each type of skill's capacity can be increased by finding Texts or Memorandums. You can view all Skills by opening the Status option in the Main Manu. Some Skills will unlock Martial Arts and Ninjutsu, which require Samurai Points and Ninja Points to unlock their related nodes from the skill trees. Once learned, you can activate (equip) the Martial Arts and Ninjutsu by going to the Customize Martial Arts/Ninjutsu option in the Main Menu. While exploring, you will also find Young Samurai's Locks and Young Ninja's Locks, which give you 1 Samurai or 1 Ninja point, respectively.
Arts Proficiency in Nioh 3
Samurai Style's Arts Gauge can be charged by attacking enemies and guarding against enemy attacks. When the gauge becomes full, using a Strong Attack or Martial Art will activate Arts Proficiency. Arts Proficiency enhances Strong Attacks and Martial Arts, including the following effects:
- Ki consumption will be reduced, and activation will not consume Ki
- Damage dealt to enemies is increased
- Different Martial Arts can be used consecutively
All Martial Arts in Nioh 3
You can search by Name, Effect, etc. Just type into the search box what you are looking for. You can also click headers to sort the columns.
Quick Search of All Martial Arts Skills
Name |
Weapon Category |
Skill Type |
Effect |
Cost |
Command |
Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grapple | Both Styles | Common | Grapples a human enemy who is out of Ki or a downed yokai, then follows up with a powerful attack. | n/a | △ on enemy out of Ki | Automatically Unlocked |
| Style Shift | Both Styles | Common | Press R2 to shift between Samurai and Ninja styles. When prpoperly timed against an enemy Burst Attack, you will perform a Burst Break, allowing you to neutralize the burst Attack and retaliate. | n/a | R2 | Automatically Unlocked |
| Final Blow | Both Styles | Common | Performs a powerful blow on a downed enemy. | n/a | Press △ near a downed enemy | Automatically Unlocked |
| Assassination | Both Styles | Common | Pressing △ from behind an enemy that hasn't noticed you, will perform a powerful attack. | n/a | △ from behind | Automatically Unlocked |
| Deflect | Samurai Style | Common | Press (L1) before getting attacked by anything but a Burst Attack to repel it. Successfully repelling an attack will restore your Ki, and increase your Ninjutsu and Arts Gauges as well. You can also move while repelling attacks | L1 the moment before an enemy's attack connects | ||
| Ki Pulse | Samurai Style | Common | When surrounded by blue light after an attack, press R1 to recover your Ki | R1 after attacking | Automatically Unlocked | |
| High Stance | Samurai Style | Common | Switches to High Stance. This stance boasts high offensive power and a number of powerful attacks. Changing your stance will alter the properties of your attacks and dodge. |
1 | - | n/a |
| Mid Stance | Samurai Style | Common | The basic middle stance. Defensively potent, with a selection of attacks that are average in both power and safety. Changing your stance will alter the properties of your attacks and dodge. |
1 | - | n/a |
| Low Stance | Samurai Style | Common | Switches to Low Stance. This stance is evasive, leaves little vulnerability in its movements, and does not expend much Ki. Changing your stance will alter the properties of your attacks and dodge. |
1 | - | n/a |
| Arts Proficiency | Samurai Style | Common | The Arts Gauge can be charged by attacking and guarding against enemy attacks. When the gauge is full, using a Strong Attack or Martial Art will activate Arts Proficiency. | n/a | - | Automatically Unlocked |
| Flux | Samurai Style | Common | Increases Ki recovery when you change to another stance on a successful Ki Pulse. The amount of Ki recovered will increase further when switching stances again. | 1 | - | ?? |
| Flux II | Samurai Style | Common | Increases Ki recovery when you switch stances during Flux. | 1 | - | ?? |
| Frost Moon: Humanity | Samurai Style | Common | Press R1 + ☐ during a Ki Pulse to attack an enemy without consuming Ki. If an enemy attack hits you immediately before you attack, you will instead repel the attack. Can also be used during Flux. (Mid Stance Only) | 1 | R1 + ☐ when switching to Mid Stance during Flux | ?? |
| Frost Moon: Earth | Samurai Style | Common | Press R1 + X during a Ki Pulse to dodge backwards and perform an attack without consuming Ki. Can also be used during Flux. (Low Stance Only) | 1 | R1 + X when switching to Low Stance during Flux | ?? |
| Frost Moon: Heaven | Samurai Style | Common | Press R1 + △ during a Ki Pulse to attack an enemy without consuming Ki. Grants immunity to being staggered if you are attacked while performing an attack on an enemy. Can also be used during Flux. (High Stance Only) | 1 | R1 + △ when switching to High Stance during Flux | ?? |
| Cascading Wave | Odachi Skill Tree | Common | Breaks your fall by planting your odachi in the ground, generating a Shockwave around you. Falling from greater height will increase the area of the shockwave. (For use while airborne) |
1 | Hold △ in mid-air | ?? |
| Groundquake | Odachi Skill Tree | Common | Strikes the ground with great force, creating a shockwave that damages nearby enemies. (High/Mid Stance Only) | 1 | △ + Down (Left Joystick) | ?? |
| Waking Winds: Heaven | Odachi Skill Tree | Common | Allows you to follow up a Quick Attack from Mid or Low Stance with a Strong Attack from High Stance. (Mid/Low Stance Only) | 1 | △ after a Quick Attack | ?? |
| Retrograde Flow | Odachi Skill Tree | Common | Stabs the odachi into the earth, then kicks the blade upward to wound an enemy. If the attack reduces an enemy's Ki to zero, it will send them flying. (High/Low Stance Only) | 1 | △ + Down (Left Joystick) | ?? |
| Sunset Breeze: Earth I | Odachi Skill Tree | Common | Allows you to follow up a Strong Attack from High or Mid Stance with a Quick Attack from Low Stance. (High/Mid Stance Only) | 1 | ☐ after a Strong Attack | ?? |
| Soaring Fowl | Odachi Skill Tree | Crucible Arts | ?? | ?? | ?? | ?? |
| Moonlit Snow | Odachi Skill Tree | Common | Press △ to perform up to three powerful hits in succession. The technique can be changed by pressing and holding down △ at any stage of the attack. | 1 | Hold △ | ?? |
| Moonlit Snow Charge | Odachi Skill Tree | Transformed Arts | Transformation Details: Hold to unleash a skill after transformation. Increases the amount of Ki consumed. Press △ to perform up to three powerful hits in succession. The technique can be changed by pressing and holding down △ at any stage of the attack. |
1 | Hold △ | Moonlit Snow |
| Cuckoo's Call | Odachi Skill Tree | Common | Deflects the enemy's attack, then performs a slashing attack. (Press and hold the button to extend the duration of the blocking phase.) (Mid Stance Only) |
1 | △ + Up (Left Joystick) | ?? |
"Martial Arts are unlocked in the Skill Tree, and can be accessed by going to the Skill Management view"
That is not correct. Only skills can be managed via the Skill Management menu in the shrine. Martial Arts are acquired via the "ACQUIRE MARTIAL ARTS/ NINJUTSU" tab and managed via the "CUSTOMIZE MARTIAL ARTS/ NINJUTSU" tab in the main menu.
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