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Another key aspect of building your character in Nioh 3 is the Guardian Spirit you have equipped. In this installment, you can equip one for each combat style, and even increase their power by clearing Crucible areas, as well as leveling them up with the right currency. Since these Spirit companions have many more things for this game, we’ve made a list of every single one you can obtain, and all their skills.
All Guardian Spirits in Nioh 3
There are several Guardian Spirits in Nioh 3, with some of them being available for both combat styles, while some are only usable for either Samurai or Ninja. Besides the passive buffs they provide, which can be quite useful when it comes to building your character, each one also has active skills that you can cast if you have enough Spirit Force. Below is a list of the Guardian Spirits you can get throughout the story.
All Samurai Guardian Spirits
| Guardian Spirit | Special Effects | Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Kusanagi | Martial Art Damage Fire Damage Reduction Ki Pulse Recovery Increased Arts Proficiency Spirit Force Charge (Martial Art) | Nagi Blade Heaven’s Fire |
| Oh | Spirit Force Charge Bonus (Amrita) Guard Ki Consumption Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) Faster Ki Recovery (Deflect) Item Drop Rate | Gusting Crosswind Cutting Wings |
| Kongojishi | Increased Damage Dealt (Deflect) Wind Damage Life Reduced Damage Taken (While Attacking) Less Guard Ki Consumption (Critical) | Devastation Shot Gale Claws |
| Guhin | Less Martial Arts Ki Consumption Less Damage Taken Strong Attack Break Faster Winded Recovery Increase Melee Damage vs. Winded Enemy | Tree Slicer Eight-Handed Blade |
| Narikama Tanuki | Auto-Amrita Recovery Untouched Elixirs Increased Water Damage Increased Strong Attack Damage Auto Life Recovery (Critical) | Great Tanuki Slam Boiling Counter |
| Shin-Roku | Increased Damage Dealt (Purification) Nigitama (Collectibles) Sensor Lightning Damage Reduction Life Drain (Strong Attack) Ailment Resistance | Divine Thunder Thunderous Kick |
All Ninja Guardian Spirits
| Guardian Spirit | Speciall Effects | Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Kurama Tengu | Martial Art Ki Damage Enemy Sensor Wind Damage Reduction Spirit Force Bonus (Elixir) Increased Elemental Damage | Kurama’s Tempest Kurama’s Slicer |
| Kongojishi | Increased Damage Dealt (Evade) Increased Fire Damage Life Ki Recovery (Unscathed) Melee Damae (Unscathed) | Mountain Render Inferno Rush |
| Enko | Melee Damage vs. Scorched Enemy Increased Damage Over Time Less Damage Taken Over Time Amrita Gauge Charge Reduced Spirit Force Consumption | Blazing Claw Hellfire Maul |
| Kusanagi | Increased Aerial Attack Damage Water Damage Reduction Reduced Ki Consumption (Jump) Increased Quick Attack Damage Spirit Force Charge (Backstab) | Turbulent Waters Heaven’s Drops |
| Nekomata | Increased Ninjutsu Ki Damage Ki Recovery Speed Increase Quick Attack Break Reduced Melee Attack Ki Consumption Increase Final Blow/Grapple Damage | Electrified Kunai Thunderclaw Kick |
What’s the Best Guardian Spirit?
Just like many other things in Nioh 3, choosing the best Guardian Spirit will depend on your build and playstyle. For instance, Kusanagi is excellent for air Ninjas, who like to fight without touching the ground. Guhin is perfect for Samurai who rely on heavy armor and strong attacks. It truly depends on what weapons you have equipped and the type of skills you are using. Fortunately, you can swap Guardian Spirits freely and even level them all up if you want to, so experimenting doesn’t hurt.
Ultimately, there isn’t an absolute best choice, so all we recommend is taking a look at the passive effects and checking if they go well alongside your build. If you find the right Guardian Spirit, make sure to level it by dismantling Soul Cores to increase the Special Effects and the strength of its skills. All of those will be extremely helpful when dealing with some bosses.
