Nioh 2 Bosses Ranked From Easiest To Hardest

Summary

• Nioh 2 offers dynamic boss fights requiring skill and exploiting weaknesses like using fire and purity against specific bosses.
• Bosses like Lady Osakabe, Kasha, and Otakemaru pose unique challenges requiring specific strategies and a mastery of the game’s mechanics.
• Daunting boss fights like Enenra, Yatsu-No-Kami, and Magara Naotaka present significant challenges, necessitating preparation and patience.

Developer Team Ninja, the company behind Ninja Gaiden, deserves credit for the second installment of its Nioh franchise. This time around, Nioh 2 received fine-tuned balancing changes to make co-op more difficult. Nioh 2 can now be played with up to three other players, although some headstrong players will still prefer to take the game on alone.

A solo run requires the mastery of skills, but perhaps most importantly, the exploitation of bosses’ weaknesses. This Souls-like game has surpassed our expectations, largely due to its dynamic boss fights, which provide both challenge and enjoyment in equal measures. Some of the game’s bosses are a little bit trickier than others, however.

Updated February 18th, 2025 by Hilton Webster: There are a lot of Soulslike games out there, but so few of them managed to differentiate themselves like Nioh 2 does. A massive variety of enemies and an incredibly deep weapon system, Nioh 2 is bolstered even further by its incredible, if at times grueling, boss fights. We’ve tidied up this article and added in some more challenging boss fights for you to master.

13

Tatarimokke

This owl is challenging because it requires you to multitask during the battle. You’ll have to slash red orbs to cleanse Dark Realms as a giant bird attacks you from behind. This Yokai boss is weak against fire and purity, so be sure to stock up on the appropriate talismans and amulets.

According to Tatarimokke’s enemy description, “A Tatarimokke is formed when a large number of resentful spirits coalesce to form a giant owl.” It definitely has the wisdom one would expect to find from an owl, but can be a lot more deadly if given the chance to get into its stride.

12

Lady Osakabe

We never could’ve guessed that a mission requires fighting a Yokai that has taken control of a massive castle. It’s a difficult battle for people who don’t look at a guide prior to fighting her. This encounter with Lady Osakabe is a fail-hard moment in Nioh 2.

To defeat this boss, you must attack Lady Osakabe’s white limbs when they near the edge of your platform. She has many resistances, so elemental damage is not recommended. Use a purity spell, and be sure to shoot projectiles at her central eye.

11

Kasha

Kasha can be one of the most intimidating bosses in Nioh 2 because of her immense size and lightning-fast speed. She is like the combination of two Wheelmonks, only with more speed and far more damage potential.

Kasha’s flaming wheels might deter some players from going in for a head-on attack, but you’ll have to ignore every instinct and attack her wheels. Her wheels are her Achilles’ heel, so you’ll need to dig deep and summon the courage necessary.

10

Kamaitachi

According to Kamaitachi’s enemy description, “A Kamaitachi is said to ride the wind, slashing at its victims with biting gales. Folktales about a yokai shrouded in wind are rife throughout Japan, with some regions using the word “Kamaitachi” to refer to whirlwinds themselves.”

Kamaitachi is a weasel Yokai who is difficult because of his speed and precise attacks. You can use the trees as cover from his attacks, but other than that, it’s a challenging fight requiring patience and precision.

9

Otakemaru (Final Boss)

The final boss of Nioh 2 can be difficult or easy, depending on your level when you face him. If you’ve managed to master Nioh 2’s skills, stats, and have been offering items to the Kodamas, your level will be higher than the recommended. For those who have been rushing through, however, this can be an arduous battle.

Otakemaru changes forms throughout the battle as he becomes Feral, Brute, or Phantom. He also shifts into a Yokai and summons four floating swords, which can deal a decent amount of damage in a relatively short amount of time.

8

Saika Magoichi

Did you forget that Saika Magoichi was a boss in the first Nioh game? He might be one of the coolest bosses in the history of Nioh, but oh boy, does he put up a painstaking fight. You’ll need to be at the very top of your game to emerge from it unscathed.

Saika Magoichi can fly and attack vehemently. The room isn’t engulfed in flames like it was in the first Nioh, so you can’t use them to your advantage. Watch out for his rifle too. It’s a fairly confined space to fight Saika Magoichi, adding to its difficulty.

7

Magara Naotaka

In some cases, the recommended levels for Nioh 2 missions can be a little misleading. Magara Naotaka is one of several outliers found throughout the game, largely because of his devastating sweeping ice attacks and ice explosions.

To make things easier, there is plenty of room for you to maneuver around his attacks. To attack him, however, getting up close and personal is easier said than done. Watch out for his large bar of health. Magara Naotaka might not look it at first glance, but he’s incredibly tough to beat.

6

Enenra

You see this boss multiple times throughout the game, but the first time you encounter Enenra is generally considered to be the most difficult. Even going back to the mission while levels ahead of the game, you will still have a tough time overcoming the powerful Yokai.

As a boss who is “composed of smoke and darkness,” Enenra’s obvious weakness is water. His most devastating move is his Tornado Attack, which can be Burst Countered, but is a tough attack to deal with nonetheless. Mastering the timing is going to take practice and probably a fair few deaths.

5

Yatsu-No-Kami

The third main mission is a time when players are still learning how to play the game. Developer Team Ninja then decides to throw this colossal snake boss at you, ignoring everything we know about learning curves. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end.

Yatsu-no-Kami is considered one of the hardest bosses in Nioh 2 because of his impending sweeping attacks and poison pools. If you haven’t equipped antidotes, you probably won’t pass this mission, so be sure to stock up on resources beforehand.

4

Magara Naotaka + Revenant (2nd Encounter)

The second time you encounter Magara Naotaka is considered to be the hardest boss fight in the game. First, you have to combat a mob of enemies who can lower your health. Then, as you are fighting the mob, Magara Naotaka finally makes an appearance.

It’s essentially the same boss as the one you’ve previously fought, but a Revenant will also spawn in midway through the encounter. Like before, he has a ton of health points. Magara Naotaka is a high-damage dealing boss, who wields a gigantic ice sword.

3

Lightning God Of Yomi

Just like the original Nioh, the sequel adds some of its most challenging bosses in the DLC, and the Lightning Gods of Yomi are simply absurd. After a brief, but not exactly easy, battle with Ashiya Doman, the Lightning God of Yomi is summoned. This boss features an obscene amount of area control, and can dash towards and away from you like, well, lightning.

Taking her down is no easy feat, with Purity being the only damage type that she’s weak too. As the fight progresses though, yellow masks will appear around her body. Attacking these will destroy them, depleting her Ki. This is especially useful during the Yokai Realm phase of the battle. But if you can fell this god, you can handle anything.

2

Minamoto no Yoshitsune

In the very first DLC to Nioh 2, you are introduced to Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the legendary figure from Japanese history. Here, you get to see him alongside the Tengu who trained him, and by all means he is an ally. Until you are forced to cut him down, and he doesn’t make it easy. Turns out when the boss can Yokai Shift too, you get a taste of your own medicine.

Yoshitsune takes on a form akin to his own Tengu while he battles you across this bridge, dashing at you with the speed of wind and summoning spectral blades and gusts of wind. He has a habit of leaping around the bridge as well as he strikes you, and sprouts wings when he enters the Yokai Realm. It was never going to be easy taking down such a legendary figure.

1

Ren Hayabusa

Who is a more appropriate superboss than the man that helped make Team Ninja what it is today? Or well, a man who comes from the same clan with all the same techniques or clothes. Of course you can’t kill Ryu Hayabusa, so you’ll have to settle for Ren. He is no pushover though either, and it will require everything you’ve got to take him down.

Ren moves absurdly fast, and can use not just the Dragon Sword, but the Falcon’s Talons, too. This gives him massive versatility, and the ability to use the famous Izuna Drop on you. He has plenty of opportunities to be countered if you’re fast enough, he he can just as easily tear you to spreads for a single mistake. Good luck.