A Swords Ninja build in Nioh 3 can perfectly blend elegant katana attacks with deadly Ninjutsu tricks. This single-edged blade provides you with a balance of speed and damage at a lower Ki cost. Moreover, the weapon is also beginner-friendly with simple combos. Do note that the blade does have a short range compared to some other weapons present in the game.
This article provides the best Swords Ninja build in Nioh 3.
Swords Ninja build in Nioh 3: Best stats, special effects, martial arts, and armor
Stats


To form a competitive Swords Ninja build in Nioh 3, you need to be careful with the weapon stats. We recommend targeting the following ones for the best results:
Sword’s performance improves with Skill, Intellect, and Strength. While Skill boosts Ninjutsu potency alongside blade damage, Intellect accelerates Ki regeneration for sustained pressure. Lastly, Strength bolsters the overall damage output of your build.
Also read: Splitstaff Ninja build in Nioh 3: Best stats, skills, weapons, and more
Special Effects and Ninja skills
Special Effects can unlock your Swords’ special abilities that let you do more than just slice enemies. Here are the best Special Effects to invest in:
- Ki
- Ki Recovery Speed
- Backstab Damage
- Aerial Damage
- Melee Damage vs. Yokai/Human
- Onmyo Magic Ki Damage
- Attack Bonus (Skill/Intellect)
- Ki Damage vs. (Scorched/Saturated)
- Quick Attack Ki Consumption (available with Bizen Uchigatana and Heshikiri Hasebe):
- Melee Ki Damage (available with Senjuin Uchigatana)
- Melee Attack Ki Consumption (available with Kiku Ichimonji)
You should note that some Special Effects are locked to certain weapons. As such, you must equip them to benefit from the ability.
Martial Arts and Swords types


We recommend you prioritize unlocking the following Martial Arts for your build to maximize performance:
- Kickslash
- Hollow Stab
- Shadow Cyclone
- Sky Rift
- Swallow Slash
- Wagon Kick
- Izuna Drop
- Height of Obscurity
- Shadow Cyclone Combo
- Wagon Kick (Water)
Shadow Cyclone and Sky Rift are amazing Swords Martial Arts that deal significant damage with spinning attacks. You can use both as finishers along with Kickslash and Hollow Stab to perform combos.
Other good moves are Wagon Kick, which drains Ki and breaks guards. You can pair it with Izuna Drop, which slams enemies into the ground.
You should also look to unlock Shadow Cyclone Combo and Wagon Kick Water, which are the better versions of Shadow Cyclone and Wagon Kick, respectively.
Also read: Talons Ninja build in Nioh 3: Best stats, skills, weapons, and more
Armor
Selecting an optimal Armor is quite important for your Swords Ninja build in Nioh 3. For Ninjas, it is advised to pick Light Armor to preserve your speed. As for Armor Special Effects, opt for the following:
- Life
- Imbue Fire/Water
- Ki Recovery Speed
- Melee Attack Ki Consumption
- Ki Damage vs. Scorched/Saturated Enemy
- Quick Attack Ki Consumption
- Ninjutsu Gauge Charge
- Faster Movement (Onmyo Magic Hit)
- Defense Bonus (Skill/Intellect)
- Damage Over Time
- Yokai Realm Resistance
- Dodge Ki Consumption (Heir’s Shinobi set)
These abilities are sure to sustain your health during intense duels.
Also check out our other Nioh 3 articles:
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Edited by Virat Fumakia

