Can You Make Nioh Easier? Unraveling the Difficulty of Team Ninja’s Masterpiece

Yes, you absolutely can make Nioh easier, although the game doesn’t offer a traditional “easy mode” in the typical sense. Instead, the difficulty can be mitigated through a combination of strategic choices, character builds, exploiting in-game mechanics, and leveraging cooperative play. Think of it less as toggling a setting and more as employing a clever, informed approach to overcome the game’s challenges. The game demands you learn its intricacies, but rewards you with the tools to shape your experience, and the game offers plenty of options to help you make it more manageable.

Understanding Nioh’s Difficulty

Nioh’s reputation for being a challenging game is well-earned. It blends elements of Dark Souls’ punishing combat with Ninja Gaiden’s fast-paced action, resulting in a demanding experience. The difficulty stems from several factors:

Steep Learning Curve: Mastering the Ki Pulse mechanic, understanding the various weapon stances, and learning enemy attack patterns takes time and practice.
Punishing Combat: Enemies can deal significant damage, and mistakes are often punished severely. One or two wrong moves can quickly lead to death.
Multiple Enemy Encounters: The game frequently throws multiple enemies at you, requiring careful crowd control and strategic positioning.
Complex Combat System: The depth of the combat system, with its multiple stances, active skills, and Ki management, can be overwhelming for newcomers.

However, these challenges are surmountable. By understanding the game’s systems and employing specific strategies, you can significantly ease your journey through the world of Nioh.

Strategies to Make Nioh Easier

Here’s how you can make Nioh easier:

Leveling and Stats: Invest in stats that enhance your survivability. Constitution increases your health, while Stamina boosts your equipment weight allowance, allowing you to wear heavier armor without sacrificing agility.
Weapon and Armor Choices: Experiment with different weapon types to find one that suits your playstyle. Heavier armor provides better defense, but reduces your agility. Find a balance that works for you. The katana is often a good starting point for beginners.
Skills and Abilities: Unlock skills that enhance your offense and defense. Passive skills that increase health or reduce damage taken are particularly valuable.
Guardian Spirits: Choose a Guardian Spirit that complements your playstyle. Some spirits offer defensive buffs, while others provide offensive advantages.
Ninjutsu and Onmyo Magic: Utilize Ninjutsu and Onmyo Magic to your advantage. Quick-Change Scrolls provide a “free” death, allowing you to survive a fatal blow. Extraction Talismans grant health and Ki recovery upon dealing damage. Leeching Talismans also recover health when you damage enemies.
Cooperative Play: Summoning a helper through the Yokai Realm with a Companion is the easiest cheese strategy. Playing with a friend or experienced player can make even the toughest missions significantly easier. A skilled companion can provide valuable support, draw enemy aggro, and revive you if you fall.
Exploiting Weaknesses: Learn enemy weaknesses and exploit them. Some enemies are vulnerable to specific elements or weapon types.
Gear Optimization: Pay attention to your gear and upgrade it regularly. Even a small increase in attack or defense can make a noticeable difference. Don’t neglect the Soul Matching system to keep your favorite weapons and armor relevant.
Farming: If you’re struggling with a particular mission, consider farming earlier levels for experience and better gear. Over-leveling can make even challenging encounters manageable.
Ki Pulse Mastery: The Ki Pulse is essential for managing your stamina. Mastering the timing of the Ki Pulse allows you to recover stamina quickly, enabling you to attack more frequently and dodge more effectively.
Stance Management: Understanding the different weapon stances is crucial. High stance offers powerful attacks, but consumes more Ki. Mid stance provides a balance of offense and defense. Low stance prioritizes speed and evasion.
Learn the Game Mechanics: Understanding core mechanics such as Ki Pulse, stance switching, and enemy attack patterns is essential. You’ll quickly find that many encounters become easier as you grow accustomed to these elements.
Utilize the Environment: Many levels feature environmental hazards that can be used to your advantage. For example, you can lure enemies into traps or use explosive barrels to deal massive damage.
Patience and Persistence: Nioh rewards patience and persistence. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Learn from your mistakes and keep trying. Every death is a learning opportunity.

Nioh 2’s Accessibility

Nioh 2 builds upon the first game’s mechanics and introduces new features that can further ease the difficulty. The Yokai Shift ability allows you to transform into a powerful Yokai form, providing temporary invincibility and increased damage output. Additionally, the Soul Core system allows you to absorb the abilities of defeated Yokai, granting you access to a wide range of powerful skills. Many players feel that Nioh 2 is easier than Nioh 1.

Post-Game Difficulty Adjustments

Once you beat the game, you unlock further difficulty levels (NG+, NG++, etc.). While these increase the challenge, they also offer the opportunity to acquire even better gear and further customize your character. You can always swap between the difficulties to tailor the challenge to your liking.

FAQs About Nioh’s Difficulty

1. Does Nioh have difficulty options?

No, Nioh doesn’t have selectable difficulty settings at the start of the game. However, you can indirectly control the difficulty through your character build, gear choices, and use of in-game mechanics. New difficulty options unlock after beating the game once.

2. Is Nioh harder than Dark Souls?

It’s subjective, but many players find Dark Souls 3 harder than Nioh. Nioh’s difficulty is based on enemies that can one-shot you and multiple enemy fights.

3. Is Nioh too hard for casual gamers?

Nioh is a difficult and complex game that may not appeal to casual players who are easily frustrated. However, with patience and a willingness to learn, even casual players can enjoy the game.

4. What is the best weapon for beginners in Nioh?

The katana is often recommended as a good starting weapon for beginners. It offers a balance of speed, damage, and ease of use.

5. Is Nioh 1 or 2 easier?

Generally, Nioh 2 is considered easier than Nioh 1 due to the introduction of new mechanics and quality-of-life improvements.

6. Is Nioh as hard as Sekiro?

Nioh has a much more complex combat system than Sekiro, with more mechanics to learn and master.

7. Is there an easy mode for Nioh?

There isn’t a traditional “easy mode,” but you can create your own “easy mode” by utilizing Quick-Change Scrolls, Extraction Talismans, Leeching Talismans, and other helpful skills and items. The game provides plenty of options that help you adjust the game to your skill level and preferences.

8. Why are the Nioh games so hard?

The difficulty stems from the steep learning curve, punishing combat, and complex combat system. Once you understand the mechanics, the game becomes more manageable.

9. How do I get better at Nioh?

Focus on mastering the Ki Pulse, learning enemy attack patterns, optimizing your gear, and utilizing Ninjutsu and Onmyo Magic.

10. What is the best weapon in Nioh?

There’s no single “best” weapon. It depends on your playstyle. However, the Odachi and Axe, Switchglaive and Dual Hatchets, and Tonfas and Spear are popular and effective choices.

11. Should I play Nioh in order?

It’s generally recommended to start with Nioh before playing Nioh 2 to understand the story and mechanics.

12. How many hours is Nioh 1?

Completing the main objectives of Nioh 1 takes about 35 hours. 100% completion can take around 97 hours.

13. What is the max level in Nioh?

Upon unlocking Way of the Nioh, the level cap increases to 750, and the stat cap goes from 99 to 200.

14. What makes Nioh different from Dark Souls?

The biggest difference is the world design. Dark Souls has an interconnected world, while Nioh features detached levels accessed through an over-map. Nioh’s combat is also faster-paced and more complex.

15. Was Nioh inspired by Dark Souls?

Yes, the decision to give the project to Team Ninja was heavily influenced by the success of Dark Souls and other similar titles. Team Ninja sought to create a similarly challenging and rewarding action game.

Mastering Nioh’s Difficulty: A Conclusion

While Nioh presents a formidable challenge, it’s not insurmountable. By understanding the game’s mechanics, experimenting with different strategies, and leveraging cooperative play, you can make the experience significantly easier. Don’t be afraid to seek guidance from online resources, such as the helpful community at GamesLearningSociety.org, where players share tips, strategies, and builds. Embrace the challenge, learn from your mistakes, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering Team Ninja’s masterpiece.

Can you make Nioh easier?