Should you pick Samurai or Ninja in Nioh 3?

You can play as either a Samurai or a Ninja in Nioh 3, and each offers a very different way to approach combat. The choice isn’t permanent—you can switch between them with a single button press during fights—so most players end up favoring whichever style suits their strengths and the abilities they enjoy using.

The Samurai style centers on heavy melee attacks, careful Ki management, and countering opponents. Key mechanics include Ki Pulse, which lets you recover a portion of Ki after an attack by timing a button press; three stances (high, mid, low) that change attack type, strength, and Ki cost; and Deflect, a parry-like guard that negates damage, restores Ki, and replenishes Arts and Ninjutsu gauges.

Filling the Arts gauge activates Arts proficiency, reducing Ki use, boosting damage, and letting you chain different martial arts. The Ninja style favors agility, dodging, mobility, and ranged tools like Ninjutsu. You deal more damage from behind and can attack while airborne.