Nioh 3‘s first boss is Yamagata Masakage, who becomes available at the end of the tutorial. This boss comes with a very large sword, so you’re going to want to be on your guard!
He can be found at Hitokoto Slope in a tent at the bottom. It’s impossible to miss this boss as it’s literally a part of the storyline.
Keep reading to learn how to defeat Yamagata Masakage!
How to Defeat Yamagata Masakage in Nioh 3
Once you start the fight, you’ll notice how large the enemy is, along with his swords. He comes at you with the following moves:
- Charge Move, where he charges at you with his sword, slashing twice towards the end of the move. Dodge when he is charging and go behind the enemy. It gives you a chance to backstab and cause damage.
- Whirlwind Swipe is when he spins around in a circle twice, dragging his weapon on the ground before he attacks you with it by bringing it upwards. Consider aiming a jumping strike during the first part of his move. Move in and attack before the second part of the move.
- Shining Stab occurs when he stabs you with the tip of his sword. The time to dodge hinges on you keeping an eye on the tip of his blade, which will turn grey with yellow sparkles to signify what is happening.
- Side Swipe occurs when he charges and aims a heavy swing at you. Dodge when the sword presses against the right side of his body. You only have a second before he releases it, so you need to dodge the moment you see him press the sword against his right side.
- Upward Strike is similar to side swipe, but the weapon is swung twice. The second time he swings, it’s upward. You can dodge or go behind him to cause damage while he performs this move.
- Downward Smash Combo is when the enemy strikes you with three side swipes, followed by a downward hit. Put as much distance between you and the enemy as possible.
- Downward Jumping Smash is similar to the previous move, but there is an added jump. You should dodge when you see him jumping into the air. This is the time to get as far away as you can.
For this enemy, there are several things you can do to come out as the victor.
- Summon an acolyte for help, which can always be useful!
- Keep an eye on his Ki. Strike and reduce his health after it’s gone.
- Backstab your heart out! It causes more damage.
- Make use of Burst Break.
- If possible, activate the Living Artifact to cause massive amounts of damage.
Fighting as a Samurai lets you block more easily, while playing as a Ninja puts speed on your side. The best way to cause massive damage is to keep your distance. Eventually, he will charge at you, giving you the chance to dodge behind them for an opportunity to backstab
After defeating him, you’ll net yourself some nice weapons and armor.
Now you’ve beaten Yamagata Masakage in Nioh 3!
Check out more Nioh 3 guides!
| Nioh 3 – How to Respec Skills And Abilities |
| Nioh 3 Hamamatsu Incident – How To Defeat The Jakotsu Baba Boss |
