If you’re like me and new to Nioh, the gameplay can be quite daunting. The combat is significantly swifter and angrier than games such as Elden Ring, packed with a multitude of abilities to manage and buttons to push.

Bosses like the Bloodedge Demon and Jakotsu-baba proved to be tough challenges for me at first, until I finally considered my skills, Omnyo box, and weaponry.

My biggest revelation was discovering the Supreme Parry and Enduring Destruction skills, which I effectively used to defeat Jakotsu-baba and tackle the Hamamatsu Crucible on my next try smoothly.

The Supreme Parry skill offers a 150 health recovery following a successful Burst Break—this is a counter for the red-tinged attacks. Get familiar with each enemy’s Break attack timing to reap the most benefits; this skill is invaluable for survival during tough encounters. Locate the skill book in a red chest within a ruined building situated between the First Torii Gate and the Otemon Gate shrines in the Hamamatsu Castle Town Crucible, which you will reach early in the main campaign.

The Enduring Destruction skill amplifies damage taken by a target post-Burst Break, enabling you to generate both healing and a damage boost simply by successfully countering Break attacks, making it a potent ability with just a minor investment. You can purchase this skill book from the Sudama merchant close to the Hamamatsu Castle Crucible entrance, where you encountered Ii Naotora, for two Yokai Teardrops, which you can obtain from battling Kappa enemies.

Notably, since Supreme Parry and Enduring Destruction are standard skills, their effects work interchangeably on your Samurai and Ninja styles, allowing you the liberty to include even more skills exclusive to each style, like the Samurai’s Running Water skill that facilitates a Ki pulse following a dodge.