Best Axe Builds in Nioh 2 (& How To Use Them)

Nioh 2 has almost unlimited opportunities to customize the character Hide that befits the style that the player wants to utilize. This guide will focus on the best axe builds that players can forge and how to slay demons effectively with them.

Released on March 13, 2020, Nioh 2 is set during the timeline that takes place before the events of the original game. Players take control of a “Shiftling” named Hide has the character traverses through mystical landscapes during the Sengoku Era during the late 1500s. Trying to make a name that shines in glory, Hide joins up with the Sohaya Group in which specializes in hunting demons. Meanwhile, an ominous figure named Kashin Koji, that’s connected to Hide’s past, makes frequent encounters with the group that thwarts their mission at every turn. This game is inspired by Dark Souls and its ilk by being a bone-crushing action role-playing game that shows no mercy and by providing cryptic information about its lore. The world is deep and varied and there are threats at every turn. Players will have a slew of screen-filling bosses that can take out Hide with one swipe. Luckily, there is an extensive list of loot, magic, and weapons that players can either dismantle or trade-in. Thus, the new “burst-counter” is a new form of attack that can be useful during small windows of opportunity, regarding both enemies and Hide, alike.

Hide is a Yokai Spirit that will encounter other malevolent Yokai Sprits in various forms. Thus, players can play with either AI companions or other players to assist in clearing a rather difficult realm. Once players smite an enemy, they will sometimes drop a “Soul Core” which can be used to have access to Yokai abilities. These abilities can certainly add an extra oomph in combat and also provide a flare to the combinations of weapons and enhanced move sets. There is a myriad of builds that players can experiment with and there are definitely useful combinations than others. Players can fully customize Hide to their liking and make the character a nimble ninja-like warrior, or a bruising tank with high defense stats. It’s entirely up to the player on how they want to build their warrior. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. The trick is being educated with how all the character stats are utilized with leveling up and how they’re associated with specific weapons.

Best Axe Builds In Nioh 2

Like any other action role-playing game, brandishing an axe comes with slower attacking animations. Thus, swinging an axe around can eat up stamina pretty quickly. So, focusing and leveling up on both stamina and strength can ease the burden of equipping heavy equipment, including axes. Try and find a good area to grind and level up these two stats before progressing through the main storyline. Once these stats have reached around level 10, then its time to starting rounding out the character with equal focus with the other stats. Bear in mind that then will be a constant focus on stamina and strength while building up heavily armored characters. There’s a pretty big jump between level 60 to 100, and that can be a hassle. Just be patient and level up on a regular basis. The following is a balanced stat breakdown on how it should look:

Level. 30

• Body > 10
• Heart > 10
• Courage > 10
• Stamina > 16
• Strength > 10
• Skill > 5
• Dexterity > 5
• Magic > 5

Level. 60

• Body > 10
• Heart > 10
• Courage > 15
• Stamina > 36
• Strength > 15
• Skill > 5
• Dexterity > 5
• Magic > 5

Level. 100

• Body > 10
• Heart > 10
• Courage > 20
• Stamina > 66
• Strength > 20
• Skill > 5
• Dexterity > 5
• Magic > 5

Level. 150

• Body > 10
• Heart > 10
• Courage > 32
• Stamina > 99
• Strength > 25
• Skill > 5
• Dexterity > 5
• Magic > 5

Best Skill Set For Axe Builds in Nioh 2

When all these stats are implemented correctly, the player should have a devastating tank to work with. With that said, there is also a particular set of skills that players should equip themselves with. Using an axe can leave players wide open for an attack while swinging and having an appropriate skill-set can cover all the bases with offensive and defensive maneuvers. The following is simply a recommended list of skills that can turn the tides in battle.

Active Skills

• Heaven and Earth > This will enable Hide to launch an enemy into the air, then slam them into the ground.
• Mad Spinner > Hide will become a spinning cyclone of death by spinning himself around with his axe.
• Mad Spinner II > An addition of ‘Mad Spinner’, which speeds up the animation.
• Titanic Strength > Enemies will be thrown up into the air, and then bashed down onto the ground.

Passive Skills

• Shadow Strike > Damaged is increased with striking enemies from behind.
• Relentless > Having an axe equipped as the main weapon increases the maximum for Ki.
• Kintaro Kata > Damaged is increased against other Yokai.

The best way to use an axe build is by a “slow and steady” approach. Don’t go into battles swinging madly all over the place, because that’ll wear out Hide and he will be vulnerable for an attack. Exchange hits while attacking will end up being the norm during combat, which is why having a hefty set of armor is recommended. Don’t get too greedy while fighting, especially during boss fights, and try and keep a fairly good distance from the enemy. The most damaging attacks come with the ‘High Stance’, so it’s recommended that’s used as much as possible. Just keep in mind that axe weapons tend to have a fairly short range, so that can be a detriment when first using them. Trying out different Yokai abilities can perhaps strengthen any weakness that players are experiencing with their style. They can always switch them around at their own discretion, just to see what happens. With the character built up properly with heavy armor and axes, Hide can be a force to be reckoned with.

Nioh 2 is available on PlayStation 4.

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