Way Of The Nioh Underworld Build Guide For Beginners

Hey guys! Ready to dive deep into the Way of the Nioh and conquer the Underworld? Awesome! Let’s talk about crafting a killer build right from the get-go. Forget grinding for ages – we're aiming for effectiveness now. This guide will walk you through putting together a powerful Underworld build as soon as you jump into Way of the Nioh, making your journey smoother and your enemies much less scary.

Understanding the Underworld Challenge

Before we jump into the specifics of the build, let’s quickly understand what makes the Underworld so challenging in Nioh 2. The Underworld is basically the endgame content, a series of tough floors filled with powerful enemies and tricky bosses. It’s designed to push your skills and your build to the limit.

• Enemy Toughness: Enemies in the Underworld hit harder and have much more health compared to what you’ve faced before. You can't just button-mash your way through anymore; strategy and a solid build are key. We're talking about opponents that can one-shot you if you're not careful, so proper defenses and ways to deal consistent damage are essential. That's why focusing on a build that offers both survivability and damage output is crucial from the start.
• Debuffs and Status Ailments: Be prepared to deal with a lot of status ailments! Enemies love to inflict poison, paralysis, confusion, and more. A build that can mitigate or even nullify these effects will give you a huge advantage. Think about incorporating accessories and armor pieces that grant resistance to specific ailments. This will not only keep you in the fight longer but also prevent frustrating deaths from seemingly unavoidable status effects.
• The Depths: Beyond the main Underworld floors lie the Depths, which are even more challenging. Consider this build a stepping stone to tackle those later on. The Depths ramp up the difficulty significantly, introducing new enemy combinations, tougher bosses, and even environmental hazards. By starting with a strong foundation in the Underworld, you'll be much better prepared to take on the Depths when you reach them. The strategies and gear you acquire in the Underworld will directly contribute to your success in the Depths, making it a worthwhile investment of your time and resources.

Essentially, the Underworld demands a build that can withstand heavy hits, deal significant damage, and handle a variety of nasty status effects. Don't worry, though, that's exactly what we're building towards! Remember, the Underworld is a marathon, not a sprint. It's about consistent progress, learning enemy patterns, and refining your build as you go. Starting with a solid foundation will make the entire journey much more manageable and enjoyable.

Core Build Principles for Early Underworld Domination

So, what’s the secret sauce for dominating the Underworld early on? It boils down to a few key principles that will guide our gear choices, skill selections, and playstyle.

• Prioritize Survivability: Guys, let's be real, you can't deal damage if you're dead! Focus on boosting your defense, health, and Ki recovery. We want a build that can take a beating and keep on swinging. This means looking for armor with high defense stats, especially those that offer damage reduction against specific enemy types or elements. Also, don't underestimate the importance of skills and buffs that increase your maximum health or provide temporary health regeneration. Survivability isn't just about avoiding death; it's about maintaining your momentum in a fight, allowing you to be aggressive and capitalize on openings without constantly fearing a one-hit kill.
• Consistent Damage Output: While staying alive is crucial, we also need to dish out some serious pain. Aim for a build that provides a reliable and consistent source of damage. This could mean focusing on a particular weapon type that you're comfortable with and investing in skills that enhance its damage output. Alternatively, you could explore elemental builds that exploit enemy weaknesses or incorporate status ailments into your attacks. The key is to find a balance between damage and survivability, ensuring that you can consistently whittle down enemy health bars without putting yourself at excessive risk.
• Ki Management is Key: In Nioh 2, Ki is your lifeline. Run out of Ki, and you're vulnerable to attacks. A good Underworld build must have excellent Ki management. This means mastering Ki pulsing, using skills that reduce Ki consumption, and equipping gear that boosts Ki recovery speed. Ki pulsing is a fundamental mechanic in Nioh 2, and mastering it is essential for maintaining your offensive pressure and defensive capabilities. Skills like Flowing Shadow and Living Water can significantly reduce Ki consumption and improve Ki recovery, allowing you to chain attacks and evade enemy strikes more effectively. Gear that grants bonuses to Ki recovery speed will further enhance your Ki management, giving you a noticeable advantage in longer fights.
• Versatility is your Friend: The Underworld throws a wide variety of enemies and situations at you. Having a build that can adapt is a major advantage. Consider having multiple weapon types you're comfortable with or incorporating different Ninjutsu and Onmyo Magic skills into your repertoire. A versatile build allows you to switch tactics on the fly, exploiting enemy weaknesses and adapting to different combat scenarios. For example, having access to both melee and ranged attacks can be crucial for dealing with enemies at different distances. Similarly, incorporating different elemental attacks into your build can allow you to exploit enemy weaknesses and inflict status ailments, giving you a significant edge in battle. Versatility is not just about having options; it's about being able to use those options effectively in any situation.

By keeping these core principles in mind, we can create a build that’s both powerful and adaptable, allowing you to conquer the Underworld with confidence.

The Divine Grace Advantage: Early Access to Powerful Builds

Okay, here’s the cool part. In Way of the Nioh, you start encountering Divine Grace sets on your gear. These graces offer amazing set bonuses that can dramatically boost your character’s power. The beauty is, you can get your hands on these graces much earlier than traditional set bonuses, allowing you to create potent builds right away.

• Understanding Divine Graces: Divine Graces are special set bonuses that appear on ethereal gear (the purple stuff). Unlike regular set bonuses, which require specific named armor pieces, Divine Graces are randomly assigned. This means you can mix and match gear pieces to create powerful combinations without being locked into a specific set. This flexibility allows you to experiment with different build ideas and tailor your equipment to your playstyle. Each Divine Grace offers a unique set of bonuses, ranging from increased damage output to improved survivability and enhanced Ki management. Understanding what each Grace offers is crucial for building a character that excels in specific areas.
• Why They're a Game Changer: These graces provide significant stat boosts and unique effects. We're talking about things like increased damage, better Ki recovery, and even special effects that trigger on specific actions. These bonuses can be transformative, turning your character into a powerhouse much earlier in the game than you might expect. Imagine stacking bonuses that increase your damage based on your health level, or equipping a Grace that grants a chance to nullify damage when you're hit. These kinds of effects can dramatically improve your survivability and damage output, making even the toughest enemies much more manageable.
• Early Access is Key: The best part? You can start finding ethereal gear with Divine Graces pretty early in Way of the Nioh. This is a huge advantage because it means you don’t have to grind for specific sets for ages. You can start building a powerful character almost immediately. This early access to powerful gear allows you to tackle challenging content with confidence, knowing that you have the tools to succeed. It also opens up a whole new level of customization and experimentation, as you can mix and match different Divine Graces to create unique builds that suit your playstyle. For example, you could combine a Grace that boosts your damage output with one that enhances your Ki recovery, creating a character that is both powerful and sustainable in combat.

Essentially, Divine Graces are your secret weapon for early Underworld domination. By understanding how they work and prioritizing gear with beneficial Graces, you can create a character that's ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

The Izanagi's Grace Build: A Beginner-Friendly Powerhouse

Alright, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. One of the best Divine Graces for an early Underworld build is Izanagi's Grace. This grace is fantastic because it focuses on purity, dealing more damage to enemies afflicted with corrupted status and has a very specific way to apply Purity and thus deal a lot of damage. We're talking about massive damage output here, guys!

• Why Izanagi's Grace? This grace is a fantastic choice for several reasons. First, it boosts your damage against enemies afflicted with the Corrupted status ailment. This is a significant damage boost that will help you melt enemy health bars. Second, it provides a strong incentive to use Purity imbued weapons, which are incredibly effective against Yokai. Yokai are common enemies in the Underworld, so having a way to deal extra damage to them is a major advantage. Finally, Izanagi's Grace encourages an aggressive playstyle, rewarding you for staying on the offensive and applying pressure to your enemies. This aggressive playstyle can be very effective in the Underworld, where enemies are often grouped together and can overwhelm you if you give them too much space.
• Key Components of the Build: To fully utilize Izanagi's Grace, we’ll want to focus on the following:
  • Purity Weapons: Equip a weapon with the Purity imbue. This is crucial for applying the Purity status ailment to enemies, which not only weakens them but also allows you to deal extra damage with Izanagi's Grace. Purity weapons are particularly effective against Yokai, as they prevent them from entering the Dark Realm and inflict significant Ki damage. Some excellent choices for Purity weapons include the Odachi, Switchglaive, and Spear, but any weapon type can work as long as it has the Purity imbue.
  • Armor Pieces with Izanagi's Grace: As many as you can find! The more pieces you have, the more set bonuses you'll unlock, and the more powerful your character will become. Focus on finding armor pieces with desirable stats, such as damage reduction, increased health, and improved Ki recovery. Don't be afraid to mix and match armor pieces from different sets to maximize your overall stats and bonuses.
  • Skills and Stats: Invest in skills that boost your weapon damage, Ki management, and survivability. Prioritize stats like Strength, Skill, and Stamina, depending on your chosen weapon type. Also, consider investing in Onmyo Magic and Ninjutsu skills that provide utility and support, such as barrier talismans for Ki recovery and quick-change scrolls for emergency survivability. These skills can significantly enhance your character's capabilities and provide additional tools for dealing with challenging encounters.
• Gameplay Strategy: The core strategy with this build is to apply Purity to enemies and then unleash your attacks. The bonus damage from Izanagi's Grace will make a huge difference. Furthermore, Purity helps stagger enemies, giving you more opportunities to deal damage. Use Ki pulses to maintain your Ki, and don't be afraid to block or dodge attacks when necessary. The key is to be aggressive but also mindful of your Ki and health. Experiment with different weapon skills and combinations to find what works best for you. And remember, practice makes perfect. The more you play with this build, the more comfortable and effective you'll become.

Izanagi's Grace offers a potent mix of damage and survivability, making it an excellent choice for tackling the Underworld early on. It's beginner-friendly but also scales well into the endgame, so you can continue to use this build as you progress.

Gearing Up: Where to Find Your Izanagi's Grace Pieces

Okay, you’re probably thinking, “This Izanagi's Grace sounds awesome, but where do I find it?” Good question! Here’s the lowdown on how to gear up with Izanagi's Grace pieces.

• Underworld Missions: The Underworld itself is the primary source for Divine Graces. As you complete missions and defeat bosses, ethereal gear with random Divine Graces will drop. This is the most consistent way to farm for Izanagi's Grace pieces. Focus on completing missions that offer multiple gear drops as rewards. The more missions you complete, the more chances you'll have to find the gear you need. Don't be afraid to replay missions multiple times to increase your chances of getting the desired drops.
• Lucky Drops: Keep an eye out for enemies with the “Lucky Drop (Armor)” or “Lucky Drop (Weapon)” effect. These enemies have a higher chance of dropping gear, including ethereal gear with Divine Graces. Farming these enemies can be a quick way to acquire new gear pieces. You can often find these enemies in specific locations or during certain missions. Pay attention to their spawn points and try to farm them efficiently to maximize your gear drops.
• Soul Matching: Once you find a piece of gear with Izanagi's Grace, you can use Soul Matching at the blacksmith to transfer the Grace to other gear pieces. This allows you to build your set piece by piece, even if you don't find all the pieces at once. Soul Matching can be expensive, so be mindful of your resources. Prioritize transferring the Grace to gear pieces with desirable stats and bonuses. This will ensure that you're building a strong and effective set that complements your playstyle.
• The Stone of Penance: The Stone of Penance is a cool item that increases the drop rate of Divine Graces. Use it when farming for specific Grace sets. The Stone of Penance can be obtained by completing certain missions or as a reward for defeating specific enemies. When activated, it increases the difficulty of the area but also significantly boosts the drop rate of rare items, including ethereal gear with Divine Graces. This makes it a valuable tool for farming specific sets or improving your overall gear quality.

Remember, gearing up is a process. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find everything you need right away. Keep grinding, keep experimenting, and you’ll eventually assemble a powerful Izanagi's Grace build.

Skill Tree Focus: Enhancing Your Izanagi's Grace Build

Gear is important, but skills are what truly define your playstyle and maximize your build’s potential. Let’s talk about which skills to focus on to enhance your Izanagi's Grace build.

• Weapon-Specific Skills: First and foremost, invest in skills that complement your chosen weapon. If you're using an Odachi, for example, focus on skills that boost its damage, range, and Ki consumption. Each weapon type has its own unique set of skills that can significantly enhance its effectiveness. Experiment with different skills and combinations to find what works best for you. Some weapon skills may be more situational than others, so it's important to understand their strengths and weaknesses and use them accordingly. Mastering your chosen weapon is crucial for maximizing your damage output and controlling the flow of combat.
• Ki Management Skills: Remember, Ki is your lifeline! Skills like Flowing Shadow and Living Water are essential for maintaining your Ki during combat. Flowing Shadow allows you to perform a Ki pulse while dodging, which can be a lifesaver in tight situations. Living Water restores Ki when you perform a Ki pulse after attacking, allowing you to maintain your offensive pressure. These skills will allow you to chain attacks, evade enemy strikes, and maintain your offensive pressure without running out of Ki. Investing in Ki management skills will significantly improve your survivability and damage output, making you a more formidable opponent.
• Onmyo Magic and Ninjutsu: Don't neglect these! Barrier Talismans are fantastic for Ki recovery, while Quick-Change Scrolls offer a safety net if you make a mistake. Onmyo Magic and Ninjutsu skills can provide a wide range of benefits, including buffs, debuffs, and utility options. Barrier Talismans create a protective barrier that absorbs damage and restores Ki over time, making them invaluable for maintaining your Ki in prolonged fights. Quick-Change Scrolls allow you to automatically revive after taking fatal damage, giving you a second chance to escape or retaliate. Experiment with different Onmyo Magic and Ninjutsu skills to find those that complement your playstyle and enhance your build's capabilities. For example, you could use elemental shots to exploit enemy weaknesses, or poison bombs to inflict status ailments and deal damage over time.
• General Combat Skills: Skills like Parry and Evade Attack are crucial for survivability. Mastering these skills will allow you to avoid damage and create openings for counterattacks. Parry allows you to deflect enemy attacks, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up strikes. Evade Attack allows you to dodge through enemy attacks, repositioning yourself and avoiding damage. These skills are essential for controlling the flow of combat and maintaining your survivability in challenging encounters. Practice parrying and dodging regularly to improve your timing and reflexes, and you'll become a much more formidable fighter.

By strategically investing in these skills, you can create a build that's not only powerful but also incredibly fun to play. Remember, the best skills are those that complement your playstyle and enhance your strengths.

Playstyle Tips for Conquering the Underworld

Okay, you’ve got the gear and the skills. Now, let’s talk about how to actually play this build in the Underworld. Here are some essential playstyle tips to keep in mind.

• Aggression is Key: With Izanagi's Grace, you want to be aggressive! Apply Purity to enemies quickly and then unleash your attacks. The more you attack, the more damage you'll deal, and the quicker you'll take down your opponents. Don't be afraid to get in close and trade blows, as long as you're managing your Ki and health effectively. An aggressive playstyle can be very effective in the Underworld, as it allows you to control the flow of combat and prevent enemies from overwhelming you.
• Ki Pulse Like a Pro: Ki pulsing is crucial for maintaining your Ki and stamina. Get into the habit of Ki pulsing after every attack, and you'll be able to string together longer combos and deal more damage. Mastering Ki pulsing is essential for managing your resources and maintaining your offensive pressure. Ki pulsing not only restores Ki but also purifies the Yokai Realm, which can weaken enemies and remove their buffs. Practice Ki pulsing regularly, and you'll find that it becomes second nature.
• Exploit Enemy Weaknesses: Pay attention to enemy weaknesses. Some enemies are weak to specific elements or status ailments. Exploiting these weaknesses will make fights much easier. Experiment with different weapons, skills, and items to find the best ways to exploit enemy weaknesses. For example, Yokai are often weak to Purity, while humans are often weak to Corruption. By understanding enemy weaknesses, you can tailor your attacks and strategies to maximize your damage output and control the flow of combat.
• Don't Be Afraid to Block and Dodge: While aggression is important, don't forget to defend yourself! Blocking and dodging are essential for avoiding damage and creating openings for counterattacks. Learn enemy attack patterns and practice your timing to become more effective at blocking and dodging. Don't be afraid to use your environment to your advantage, such as hiding behind cover or using obstacles to create space between you and your enemies. Survivability is just as important as damage output, so prioritize your defenses and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
• Patience is a Virtue: The Underworld is a challenging place. Don't get discouraged if you die a few times. Learn from your mistakes, adjust your strategy, and keep trying. Patience is key to success in Nioh 2, so don't rush into fights or get frustrated when things don't go your way. Take your time, observe enemy patterns, and plan your attacks carefully. With perseverance and practice, you'll eventually conquer the Underworld and emerge victorious.

By incorporating these playstyle tips into your gameplay, you'll be well-equipped to handle the challenges of the Underworld and dominate your enemies.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Grind, Enjoy the Journey

So there you have it! A solid Underworld build you can put together as soon as you start Way of the Nioh. Remember, the key is to prioritize survivability, maintain consistent damage output, and manage your Ki effectively. Izanagi's Grace is a fantastic starting point, but don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

The Underworld is a challenging but rewarding experience. Embrace the grind, learn from your mistakes, and most importantly, enjoy the journey. You got this, guys!