When playing as a Samurai in Nioh 3, players can switch between three different Stances: Low, Mid, and High, each with a different moveset, strengths, and weaknesses. Unfortunately, the game does not do a good job explaining Samurai Stances and how they work, which may have left some players confused.
This guide covers how to unlock all three Samurai Stances in Nioh 3, which keybinds to use in order to switch between them, as well as how to change the control scheme if needed. Here are the details.
How To Change Appearance & Transmog Equipment In Nioh 3
Players can change their appearance later on upon gaining access to the Eternal Rift in Nioh 3.
How to Change Stances in Nioh 3
Switching Samurai Stances in Nioh 3
In Nioh 3, you can change between Low, Mid, and High Stances as a Samurai using the following keybinds:
|
Low Stance |
Mid Stance |
High Stance |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
PC (Keyboard/Mouse) |
Shift + Mouse Scroll Down |
Shift + Left Click |
Shift + Mouse Scroll Up |
|
PC (Controller) |
RB + A |
RB + X |
RB + Y |
|
PS5 (Controller) |
R1 + X |
R1 + Square |
R1 + Triangle |
The icon on the far right is not a fourth stance; it represents the sheath action. You can use Shift + Right Click (KB/M), RB + B (PC Controller), or R1 + Circle (PS5) to perform this action.
The PC Keybinds used for switching Samurai Stances can be changed by going to System → Settings → Configure Controls (Keyboard/Mouse).
For an alternative button scheme on the PS5 controller, you can go to System → Settings → Configure Controls and change to the Type D control scheme. This setting changes the Stance change hotkeys to Square + X (Low Stance), Square + R1 (Mid Stance), and Square + R2 (High Stance).
Only Samurai Style has a stance mechanic in Nioh 3; Ninja Style does not.
How to Unlock Stances in Nioh 3
Mid, High, and Low Samurai Stance Skills in Nioh 3
The Mid Stance is the basic Samurai Stance in Nioh 3 and does not need to be unlocked. All Samurai weapons come in the Mid Stance by default. The Low and High Stances are skills that can be unlocked in the Samurai Skill tree.
From the start menu, go to Acquire Martial Arts/Ninjutsu, select Samurai, and use a Samurai Point to unlock Low Stance and another to unlock High Stance (shown above). Samurai Points can be acquired by finding Samurai Locks. Once both Stances are unlocked, you’ll be able to switch between Low, Mid, and High Stances with any Samurai weapon.
If you do not have enough spare Samurai Points to unlock Low and High Stance, you can use Nioh 3’s respec function to regain spent skill points.
Nioh 3 Interactive Map
Check out our Nioh 3 Interactive map here!
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- February 6, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo
- Publisher(s)
- Koei Tecmo
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
