Nioh 3 Yamagata Masakage guide: How to beat the first boss explained

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Just like its predecessors, the first boss in Nioh 3, Yamagata Masakage, pulls no punches.

This first battle is challenging, but winning it will prepare you for even harder bosses ahead.

Having trouble defeating Yamagata Masakage in Nioh 3? Here’s a simple guide with some helpful tips.

Nioh 3 Yamagata Masakage guide: How to beat the first boss explained

If you’re having trouble, you can try calling an Acolyte using your Ochoko Cups, but we advise against it.

Yamagata Masakage is a good way to test your understanding of Nioh 3’s new features. If you can defeat him, you’ll be well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

Yamagata is a great test of your Burst Break skill. When he’s about to use one of his powerful, unblockable red attacks, quickly press R2 (PlayStation) or RT (Xbox) to perform a Burst Break, which instantly switches you between your Samurai and Ninja forms.

The most important thing to winning is exploiting this ability. It briefly throws him off balance and also quickly fills your Amrita Gauge.

When he’s staggered, quickly follow up with a full combo to drain his health and Ki meter.

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When your Amrita Gauge is full, press Triangle and Circle (or Y and B) to activate Living Artifact. Then, deal as much damage as possible while in that form – it should be enough to defeat the enemy.

Basically, that covers everything, but here are a few extra tips that will help you not just with Yamagata, but with all the bosses you’ll face.

Keep in mind that Samurai armor provides better protection than Ninja armor. You’ll receive significantly less damage to both your health (HP) and energy (Ki) when wearing it.

Also, take advantage of backstab damage. You’ll do more damage if you attack enemies from behind, so try to do that whenever you can.

Yamagata moves slowly, and when he’s in his Ninja stance, you can capitalize on his large movements by dodging behind him and quickly attacking his back.

Even though you haven’t learned to parry yet, remember that blocking with R1/RB is better than taking a big hit. It’s better to take a little Ki damage than lose half your health trying to avoid an attack.

Authors

Alex RaisbeckGaming writer

Alex Raisbeck writes about video games for TopMob, covering both major releases and smaller independent titles. He’s also contributed to well-known gaming publications like VideoGamer, GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, and PCGamesN.

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2026-02-05 20:36