Otoroshi is a story boss that players can fight early on in Nioh 3's Heian Era. This absolute unit of a yokai is surprisingly nimble for its size, and it can prove to be quite the challenge for players who aren't prepared for all the tricks it has in its sleeve. Otoroshi's lethal grab attacks, confusing swipes, and intimidating Dark Realm phase are all pretty scary, but players have a lot of options when it comes to shutting the boss' deadliest attacks down. Here's a guide on how to make the Otoroshi fight in Nioh 3 a lot easier without resorting to summoning NPCs or cheese tactics.
How to Get Fire Shuriken in Nioh 3
Fire Shuriken is a Ninjutsu in Nioh 3 that can be acquired very early on in the game. Here is its location.
Nioh 3 Otoroshi Boss Fight
Otoroshi is fairly easy to fight while it's crawling along the ground. Its melee swipes are predictable, but similar to how Baba Nobuharu fights, this boss occasionally mixes things up by changing its attack timings. Additionally, Otoroshi has two different grab attacks that deal tons of damage if they manage to hit you. For this phase of the fight, you'll want to focus on doing the following:
- If you're using Ninja Style, use Mist to constantly reposition toward the boss' back. Otoroshi's backstab hitzone is a bit weird, but generally, you'll want to aim for the base of the boss' spine.
- If you're using Samurai Style, focus on Deflecting attacks. Once you familiarize yourself with Otoroshi's melee combos, parrying the boss becomes super easy.
- Use Fire damage whenever possible. Ninja Style's Flame Breath is excellent for this boss fight.
- Both of Otoroshi's grab attacks can be avoided by sprinting or dodging to the boss' sides. Be especially careful about the dashing grab move, as it can stil hit you while you're running.
- Use Guardian Spirit skills to Burst Break incoming attacks. Fast skills from spirits like Nekomata, Shin-Roku, and Guhin are great at knocking Otoroshi out of its unblockable clap attacks.
Dark Realm Phase
When Otoroshi enters its Dark Realm phase, it will stand up and use a completely different moveset. The best way to counter Otoroshi during this phase is to hit its belly whenever it is exposed. The best opportunity to do so is when it's releasing spirit projectiles from its belly — use a ranged weapon or throw Shurikens at the boss, and its belly weakspot will break.
Ideally, during Otoroshi's normal phase, you'll want to reduce its max Ki as much as possible. This way, when the boss enters the Dark Realm, you'll have an easier time staggering it and canceling the Dark Realm phase altogether. Be extremely aggressive when the boss enters the Dark Realm; you really don't want to stay there any longer than you have to.
Using Martial Arts attacks that deal high Ki damage will knock any boss off their feet more quickly. The kick attack combo from Ninja Sword is amazing at reducing enemy Ki.
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo
- Publisher(s)
- Koei Tecmo
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Nioh
- Number of Players
- 1-3 players (online)
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 6, 2026
- PS5 Release Date
- February 6, 2026
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
