Nioh Guide: How To Parry

Parrying is a move that comes in very handy when dealing with enemies in Nioh, but as you begin your adventure you might notice that you don’t have access to the move right off the bat. That’s because it is actually a skill that needs to be unlocked in the game’s skill tree, and is only usable with certain weapons and combat stances. This guide will get you up to speed on how to parry an enemy attack, which is a great feeling when you manage to pull it off.

First of all, you’ll want to go the the Learn Skills tab on the menu screen (press the PS4 touchpad to pull that up), and selecting that will bring up the skill trees for each of the game’s weapon types. Parrying is available for a few different weapons, though the skills for unlocking them are usually located early in a weapon’s skill tree and don’t require a lot of Samurai Skill points. Performing a parry is done by pressing either L1 + square or L1 + triangle, with each one being better tailored to particular situations. The triangle parry is better-suited to taking on single enemies as it sets you up for big damage, whereas the square parry is better-suited for dealing with crowds as it keeps your orientation.

As you dip into performing parries on enemies you’ll learn that timing is a big part of the equation, as each enemy’s attack speed and the resulting window for you to parry them is different. It’s recommended that you know the attack types and patterns of your enemies before you attempt to parry them, as you could very easily leave yourself open to an attack after a failed attempt. When all else fails, wait until just before an enemy’s attack is about to make contact with you to perform the parry, as that is typically the sweet spot.

Parrying can be a lifesaver in certain situations, as it can lead to a damaging attack on an enemy that’s hard to land consistent hits on. Be sure to experiment with the different types of parries in the game, as some will put you behind the enemy to set you up for a back stab and others will actually perform a finishing stab move that deals big damage. The skill tree also allows you to power up some of these parries, so be sure to put your Samurai Skill points towards them once you’ve unlocked the ability to do so.