Randy Chandler
Nioh, a challenging action RPG inspired by Japanese mythology, is notorious for its punishing difficulty and demanding combat system. However, players seeking a less grueling experience often turn to cheese strategies—exploiting game mechanics or quirks to gain an unfair advantage. These methods can range from abusing specific weapon or skill combinations to manipulating enemy AI behaviors. While cheesing can make the game more accessible, it also sparks debate within the community about the balance between overcoming challenges and bypassing them. This guide explores some of the most effective cheese tactics in Nioh, offering players a way to progress through its brutal world with a bit less frustration.
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What You'll Learn
- Exploit Weaknesses: Target enemy vulnerabilities like fire against yokai for quick, efficient kills
- Abuse I-Frames: Master dodge timing to negate damage and create openings for attacks
- Overlevel Areas: Grind earlier missions to overpower later content with higher stats
- Broken Builds: Stack specific skills and gear for unstoppable damage or survivability
- Summon Cheese: Use Revenant AI allies to tank damage while you deal safe damage
Exploit Weaknesses: Target enemy vulnerabilities like fire against yokai for quick, efficient kills
In Nioh, understanding and exploiting enemy weaknesses is the cornerstone of efficient combat. Yokai, in particular, often have elemental vulnerabilities that can turn a grueling battle into a swift victory. Fire, for instance, is a common weakness among many yokai. By equipping a fire-infused weapon or using fire-based skills, you can deal significantly more damage and stagger enemies more frequently, reducing the fight’s duration and your resource expenditure. This strategy not only conserves stamina and health but also minimizes the risk of being overwhelmed by aggressive yokai attacks.
To maximize this exploit, prioritize acquiring fire-based gear early in the game. The Kusarikama or Odachi with fire damage are excellent choices due to their wide range and high damage output. Alternatively, apply Fire Amrita to your weapon or use Fire Arrows if you’re a ranged build. For ninjutsu users, the Fire Talisman is a reliable option to inflict fire damage from a distance. Pairing these tools with Living Weapon—especially the fire-focused Brute or Stalker stances—amplifies your damage output exponentially. Remember, timing is crucial; activate Living Weapon when the yokai is staggered or during its attack recovery for maximum efficiency.
While fire is effective against many yokai, it’s not universal. Always scout enemy weaknesses using the Kizuna Signal or by observing their reactions to different elements. Some yokai may resist fire, in which case switching to Lightning or Water might yield better results. Additionally, combine elemental attacks with status effects like Paralysis or Poison for even greater control. For example, a Poison Arrow followed by a fire-infused combo can cripple enemies while you deal consistent damage. This layered approach ensures adaptability and maximizes your cheese potential.
A practical tip for beginners: focus on farming Amrita from weaker yokai to upgrade your gear and unlock more elemental options. The Abyss missions are excellent for this, as they often spawn multiple yokai in close quarters. Use Fire Bombs to clear groups efficiently, then target individual enemies with your fire-infused weapon. Avoid overcommitting to a single element; carry a secondary weapon or consumable for resistant enemies. With practice, exploiting weaknesses becomes second nature, transforming Nioh’s brutal combat into a calculated, rewarding dance.
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Abuse I-Frames: Master dodge timing to negate damage and create openings for attacks
In Nioh, mastering I-Frames (invincibility frames) is the cornerstone of turning defensive maneuvers into offensive opportunities. Unlike traditional dodges, which often leave you vulnerable, I-Frames grant a brief window of complete invulnerability during a dodge. This mechanic isn’t just about avoiding damage—it’s about exploiting enemy attack patterns to create openings where none seem to exist. By timing your dodge precisely at the moment an attack connects, you negate damage entirely and position yourself for a counterattack. This technique transforms evasion from a reactive survival tool into a proactive combat strategy.
To abuse I-Frames effectively, start by studying enemy attack animations. Each enemy has distinct wind-up and recovery phases, and understanding these rhythms is crucial. For example, a Yokai’s sweeping attack has a long wind-up but leaves them vulnerable for several seconds afterward. Practice dodging at the last possible moment—just as the attack is about to hit. This requires patience and precision, but the reward is a free hit or two during their recovery. Use lighter armor or the Kunoichi skill tree to increase your agility, reducing the Ki cost of dodges and allowing for more frequent I-Frame abuse.
One advanced tactic is chaining I-Frames with weapon skills. For instance, the Kusarigama’s “Snake Eyes” skill grants I-Frames during its initial swing, allowing you to dodge through an attack while simultaneously dealing damage. Pair this with a well-timed roll to create a seamless combo of evasion and offense. Similarly, the Odachi’s “Windmill” skill offers I-Frames during its spin, making it a powerful tool for breaking through enemy defenses while staying untouchable. Experiment with different weapons to find synergies between their skills and your dodge timing.
However, abusing I-Frames isn’t without risk. Over-reliance on this tactic can lead to Ki depletion, leaving you vulnerable if mistimed. Always monitor your Ki gauge and alternate between aggressive I-Frame dodges and more conservative evasion when necessary. Additionally, some bosses have unblockable or tracking attacks that punish greedy dodges. For these encounters, prioritize positioning and use I-Frames sparingly, focusing on high-value openings rather than every attack.
In conclusion, mastering I-Frames in Nioh is about blending precision, patience, and creativity. It’s not just about surviving—it’s about dictating the flow of combat. By studying enemy patterns, optimizing your build, and chaining dodges with weapon skills, you can turn the game’s mechanics into a tool for dominance. Practice makes perfect, and with enough repetition, you’ll find yourself effortlessly weaving through attacks, turning every dodge into a calculated strike.
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Overlevel Areas: Grind earlier missions to overpower later content with higher stats
Grinding earlier missions in Nioh isn’t just a time sink—it’s a strategic investment. By replaying low-level areas, you accumulate Amrita, the game’s experience points, which directly boosts your character’s stats. This method is particularly effective in the early game, where missions like "The Ocean Roars Again" or "The Demon of the Well" offer quick completion times and decent Amrita rewards. Spending 30 minutes to an hour farming these missions can elevate your level by 5–10, giving you a significant edge when tackling mid-game challenges like the Way of the Demon difficulty.
However, overleveling isn’t without risks. Nioh’s scaling system caps enemy levels based on your progress in the main story, meaning grinding too early can render farmed areas less efficient. For example, if you’re level 30 but haven’t progressed past the first region, enemies in early missions will remain at level 15, halving your Amrita gains. The sweet spot is to grind just before unlocking a new region, ensuring your level aligns with upcoming content. Pair this with equipping high-Amrita bonus gear, like the Kasha’s Necklace, to maximize efficiency.
Critics argue overleveling removes the intended challenge, but it’s a valid strategy for players struggling with Nioh’s punishing difficulty. A level 50 character facing level 40 content will have 20–30% more health, stamina, and damage, turning once-deadly encounters into manageable fights. This approach is especially useful for bosses like Hino-enma or Shuten Doji, whose mechanics become less intimidating when you outstat them. Combine overleveling with elemental weaknesses—using fire against water yokai, for instance—and even the toughest battles become cheeseable.
The key to successful overleveling lies in balancing grind time with progression. Spending more than two hours farming a single mission is inefficient unless you’re targeting specific loot. Instead, rotate between 2–3 high-Amrita missions to stay engaged and maintain optimal gains. Track your level relative to the main story’s recommended levels (displayed on the mission select screen) to avoid overshooting. For instance, if the next mission suggests level 45, cap your grind at level 50 to ensure future areas remain challenging but not overwhelming.
Ultimately, overleveling is a tool, not a crutch. It allows you to bypass Nioh’s steep learning curve temporarily, giving you breathing room to master mechanics or experiment with builds. Pair it with other cheese tactics, like summoning AI companions or exploiting enemy AI (e.g., luring bosses into environmental hazards), and you’ll find the game’s difficulty curve far less daunting. Just remember: the goal isn’t to break the game, but to reshape it to your playstyle.
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Broken Builds: Stack specific skills and gear for unstoppable damage or survivability
In Nioh, mastering the art of broken builds can turn the tide of battle, transforming your character into an unstoppable force. The key lies in synergizing specific skills, gear, and stats to exploit the game’s mechanics. For instance, stacking Dexterity and Heart of the Warrior (a skill that boosts damage based on missing health) with Evasiveness gear creates a glass cannon build that deals massive damage while staying alive through dodges. Pair this with Kalen (a Kusarigama with high Dexterity scaling) and Sloth Talisman for slowed enemies, and you’ve got a recipe for dominance.
To maximize survivability, focus on Endurance and Toughness while stacking Fortitude and Enduring skills. Equip Heavy Armor with Divine or Blessed affinities to reduce damage and pair it with Yokai Abilities like Amrita Gauge Recovery for near-infinite healing. Add Sloth or Water Amulet to cripple enemies, giving you breathing room. This build thrives in late-game content, turning even the deadliest bosses into manageable encounters.
For raw damage, the Dragon Ninja build reigns supreme. Stack Ninja Skills like Katon and Suiton with Elemental Damage gear, then pair it with Living Weapon for amplified effects. Use Kunai or Shuriken with Fire or Water damage to proc elemental weaknesses. Combine this with Yokai Shift for burst damage, and you’ll melt enemies before they can react. This build requires precision but rewards it with unparalleled DPS.
However, broken builds aren’t without risks. Over-specialization can leave you vulnerable to specific enemy types or mechanics. For example, a Dexterity-focused build struggles against enemies immune to bleed, while a tank build may falter against fast, high-damage foes. Always test your build in varied scenarios and adjust accordingly. The goal is balance—maximize strengths without neglecting adaptability.
In conclusion, crafting a broken build in Nioh is about understanding synergies and exploiting them ruthlessly. Whether you prioritize damage or survivability, the right combination of skills, gear, and stats can make you a force to be reckoned with. Experiment, adapt, and watch as even the toughest challenges crumble before you.
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Summon Cheese: Use Revenant AI allies to tank damage while you deal safe damage
In Nioh, the Revenant AI allies are a powerful tool for players looking to minimize risk while maximizing damage output. By summoning these allies, you can effectively delegate the role of damage absorption to them, allowing you to focus on dealing damage from a safer distance. This strategy, often referred to as "Summon Cheese," leverages the game's mechanics to create a more forgiving combat experience, particularly in challenging encounters.
To execute this strategy, begin by equipping the Onryoki's Soul Core or any other summoning item that spawns Revenant AI allies. These allies are particularly effective due to their ability to aggro enemies and withstand significant damage. Position yourself at a medium range, ideally behind your summoned allies, to maintain a safe distance from the enemy. Use high-damage, low-risk abilities or attacks, such as ranged weapons or area-of-effect spells, to contribute to the fight without exposing yourself to danger.
One key advantage of this approach is its versatility across different enemy types and scenarios. For instance, against bosses with wide-reaching or high-damage attacks, the Revenant AI allies act as a buffer, absorbing hits that would otherwise deplete your health. This is especially useful in late-game content, where enemy attacks become more punishing. However, be mindful of the summoning cooldowns and the limited duration of the allies' presence—timing is crucial to ensure continuous coverage.
While this strategy is effective, it’s not without its limitations. Over-reliance on summoned allies can lead to a lack of engagement with the game's core combat mechanics, potentially diminishing the sense of accomplishment. Additionally, some enemies may target you directly, bypassing the AI allies, so always remain vigilant. To optimize this cheese, pair it with builds that enhance survivability, such as high Stamina or Toughness, and prioritize gear with summoning-related perks.
In conclusion, the Summon Cheese strategy is a practical and efficient way to navigate Nioh's demanding combat system. By leveraging Revenant AI allies to tank damage, players can focus on dealing damage safely, reducing the risk of failure. While it may not be the most orthodox approach, it offers a viable path for those seeking to overcome the game's challenges with a bit of tactical ingenuity.
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Frequently asked questions
"Cheese" in Nioh refers to exploiting game mechanics, enemy behaviors, or glitches to make battles or challenges easier than intended, often bypassing the need for skill or strategy.
Common cheese strategies include using the "Infinite Amrita Glitch" to farm resources, exploiting enemy AI by luring them into traps or off ledges, or spamming overpowered skills like the "Living Weapon" ability with high damage builds.
Cheesing can be seen as fair since it’s within the game’s mechanics, but it may reduce the challenge and satisfaction of playing Nioh. Whether it’s fun depends on the player’s preference for overcoming difficulty versus efficiency.
