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All Nioh 3 Bosses (Image via Team Ninja)
Team Ninja's brand new title takes place across several eras and regions, placing players against human warriors, yokai, and hidden enemies that appear as the story progresses.
Some bosses in Nioh 3 are required to move the campaign forward, while others are found through exploration or side missions.As of February 2026, the full boss lineup is known. It includes main-story encounters, optional fights, and three hidden Demon bosses meant for high-level characters. This guide lists every major boss, explains where they appear, and outlines what to expect before each fight.
How to understand bosses in Nioh 3
Bosses in Nioh 3 fall into three groups: main-story bosses, optional or field bosses, and secret Demon bosses that unlock after meeting specific requirements.Most bosses have one health bar, but some late-game fights - such as Tokugawa Kunimatsu and Okita Soji - include multiple phases with separate health pools.The combat approach remains familiar. Manage Ki carefully, break enemy guards with timed attacks, and target weak points using Ninjutsu, summoning seals, or attacks from behind. Wearing light armor below 30% encumbrance improves dodge speed and Ki recovery.
A Dual Ninja Swords build combined with the Summoning Basics skill, earned in the Eternal Rift’s Onmyo Veteran mission, can make several fights easier.
Main-Story Bosses in Nioh 3 in Chronological Order
NIOH 3 - All Bosses With Cutscenes + Ending (2026) 4k 60fps
These bosses are tied directly to campaign progress and appear across the Warring States, Heian, and Bakumatsu eras.
| Boss | Era / Region | Mission | Notable Traits |
| Tokugawa Kunimatsu | Warring States (Prologue) | Light of Hope | Human swordmaster who uses electric and wind magic; long second phase and high difficulty. |
| Yamagata Masakage | Warring States (Hamamatsu) | Escape from Hitokoto Slope | Early major boss; odachi user with heavy combos and grapples. |
| Jakotsu-baba | Warring States (Hamamatsu) | Crucible Manifested | Large yokai with grapples and head attacks; vulnerable from behind. |
| baba Nobuharu | Warring States (Futamata) | Mirage Fortress | Water-magic warlord who shifts between melee combat and Yokai-Realm phases. |
| Yamagata Masakage (Horse) | Warring States (Hamamatsu) | A Fiery Invasion | Mounted swordsman with bow attacks and fire abilities; avoid flaming trails and ring-of-fire jumps. |
| Takeda Shingen (Human) | Warring States (Hamamatsu) | A Fiery Invasion | Human general who can be pressured with mid-air Footstool Jump attacks. |
| Takeda Shingen (Monster) | Warring States (Iinoya) | Tiger’s Cause | Yokai form that uses shockwave slams and fire-orb attacks; keeping distance helps during the fire phase. |
| Great Tengu | Heian (Kamakura) | Sacred Mountain Defiled | Flying yokai with wind magic and grapples; sidestep the homing dive. |
| Otoroshi | Heian (Kamakura) | Black Feather Sanctuary | Slow yokai that uses ice; leaves openings from behind. |
| Ibaraki Doji | Heian (Heian-kyō) | The Oni of the Rajomon | Lightning-based oni; fire Ninjutsu and summoning seals help stagger her. |
| Kajiwara Kagetoki | Heian (Heian-kyō) | Subterfuge at the Abandoned Shrine | Axe wielder who summons an AI ally; blocking is strong but Ninjutsu remains effective. |
| Minamoto no Yoritomo | Heian (Heian-kyō) | Frozen City, Blazing Tree | Winged yokai with wind attacks and homing rushes similar to Great Tengu. |
| Kusanagi | Heian (Heian-kyō) | The Spirit Tree Village | Large serpent-like yokai; focus on the boss instead of the supporting sorceress. |
| Hiruko | Heian (Heian-kyō) | Dark Roots | Multi-phase fight with a full health reset; resistant to Ninjutsu but vulnerable to critical hits. |
| Takasugi Shinsaku | Bakumatsu (Kyoto) | The Sweet Sound of Strings | Uses both pistol and katana; fire Ninjutsu and summoning seals are reliable counters. |
| Okita Soji & Tokugawa Yoshinobu | Bakumatsu (Kyoto) | Scion of the Gods | Final fight with two phases and separate health bars; Okita relies on speed and unblockable attacks, while Yoshinobu combines heavy melee with magic. |
Advancing through each era unlocks these fights naturally. Regional shrines allow bosses to be replayed through Battle Scrolls for additional loot and Soul Cores.
Optional and Field Bosses in Nioh 3
Outside the main path, optional yokai and roaming bosses appear across regions. These encounters often reward strong gear, Spirit Cores, and large amounts of Amrita.Many become visible after fully exploring an area, activating side quests, or reaching Exploration Level 4, which marks them with white or red “person” icons on the map.
Key optional and field bosses in Nioh 3 include:
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• Kamaitachi - Found in Maisaka during the Warring States era near the Maisaka Junction shrine.
A wind-based weasel yokai that uses long-range blade attacks and teleport grabs. • Kasha - Unlocks through a Bakumatsu side mission triggered by speaking to a specific NPC. Defeating her enables cannons across several regions. • Enenra - Required for the mission Those Left Behind. The smoke yokai favors grabs and burn damage but is manageable at this stage. • Nuribotoke - Appears in Accursed Temple. Slow movement makes it easier to control from range, especially with summon abilities. • Minamoto no Yoshitsune - Optional fight that unlocks after certain conditions. Fast sword attacks define the encounter; Life Leech-style talismans help sustain health. • Joro-gumo, Onmoraki, and other returning yokai - Enemies from earlier Nioh titles that now appear as optional or hidden encounters.
Secret Demon Bosses and Unlock Requirements in Nioh 3
Three hidden Demon bosses act as endgame challenges and are balanced for characters around level 120 or higher.
Completing them rewards high-tier Living Artifact gear and unique Soul Cores. • Demon of Envy - Unlock by completing all major Myth missions and reaching maximum Exploration levels in each region. Appears in a hidden Yokai Realm layer. • Demon of Pride - Requires collecting all Kodama, valuables, and treasure chests. Spawns near a corrupted shrine. • Demon of Obsession - Unlocks after defeating the other Demon bosses and clearing a special Dark Realm trial inside the Eternal Rift.These fights are intended for post-story builds rather than standard progression.
Practical Tips for All Bosses in Nioh 3
• A Ninja Style build with Dual Ninja Swords provides fast attacks, low Ki usage, and reliable critical hits from behind. • Combining Summoning Basics with Ibaraki Doji allows two summoning seals at once, helping maintain pressure while using Ninjutsu. • Staying under 30% encumbrance improves dodge speed and Ki recovery, which is important in multi-phase fights such as Tokugawa Kunimatsu and the final battle. • Benevolent Graves (blue) and visitor summons at shrines can reduce the difficulty before attempting a solo run.Also read: Nioh 3 Trophy List (2026): Full achievement guide and unlock requirementsUnderstanding these basics makes boss encounters more manageable and prepares players for the game’s hidden challenges.
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