Essential Nioh 3 Settings: Optimize Your Combat Experience with the Shogun’s Preparation

When comparing Nioh 3 to standard action role-playing games, it is evident that this title presents a significantly more intricate experience. Each weapon within the game boasts a wide array of moves that necessitate precise button combinations, reflective of the expansive Martial Arts arsenal that has become synonymous with the series.

Although Nioh 3 simplifies certain aspects of its predecessor’s control system, it simultaneously introduces unexpected mechanical challenges that make it harder to consistently execute the specific motion and button combinations required for its Martial Arts features.

As part of your preparation for battle in Nioh 3, it is crucial to adjust the settings immediately to enhance combat dynamics, leading to a much more enjoyable encounter with enemies.

Urgent: Switch to Type B Control Settings

A PlayStation DualSense controller layout for Nioh 3 with 'Type B' control settings — Type B is my recommended control scheme for Nioh 3, offering a more reliable way to use Martial Arts consistently.

Nioh 3 includes six control schemes that modify the mapping of essential combat actions across different buttons. While the Type A control scheme functions adequately—especially for those transitioning directly from Nioh 2—it tends to present challenges. After dedicating over 50 hours to gameplay, I found it less effective due to its hindered usability of certain Martial Arts.

Notably, Nioh 3 shifts many key Martial Arts tied to both Samurai and Ninja styles to combinations that involve pressing forward or back in conjunction with a button, reserving the L1/LB + button combination for Guardian Spirit skills. This design choice complicates the execution of Martial Arts, often leading to unreliable performance.

While the forward + button combination offers slightly more reliability, mastering the back + button combinations has proven troublesome for many players, including myself. This often forces a playstyle that may not suit certain weapons effectively, particularly for the Ninja Style Dual Hatchets. For instance, the incredibly valuable Dragonfly Martial Art is assigned to the back + heavy attack command, which is much riskier to execute in close combat situations.

A character in combat against a fiery enemy in Nioh 3 with a sword — The Type B control scheme significantly enhanced my enjoyment of Nioh 3’s combat mechanics.

If you’re experiencing similar frustrations with Martial Arts button combinations, I strongly recommend switching to Control Type B. This configuration restores the familiar L1/LB + button layout for Martial Arts from earlier iterations in the series, while reassigning Guardian Skill command inputs to L1/LB + up and L1/LB + down on the directional pad.

The improvement you will notice is genuinely transformative, irrespective of your weapon choice. Personally, I found that the Samurai Dual Swords’ Punish the Proud Martial Art became significantly easier to execute after I made the switch, allowing for more consistent counterattacks. Additionally, aerial martial tactics in Ninja Style saw a notable increase in reliability with more predictable execution.

This concludes our guide on The Shogun’s Preparation, where we explored optimal settings for an improved Nioh 3 experience.

This guide is based on a full playthrough of the Steam version 1.02. Screenshots are taken from the same version.

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