How to Beat Ibaraki Doji in Nioh 3

1 week ago 2

Published Feb 6, 2026, 3:01 AM EST

Scott Baird is a contributor with over a decade's experience writing about video games, along with board games and tabletop RPGs. Scott has previously worked for Dexerto, Cracked, Dorkly, and Gamepur.

One of the downsides of playing Nioh 3 is that some lines won't make sense if you're not well-versed in Japanese mythology. Case in point: the Ibaraki Doji, one of the toughest bosses in the game, has dialogue about events the player never sees.

In mythology, Ibaraki Doji was a powerful demon/ogre who had her arm removed by the hero Watanabe no Tsuna. This is why, when you meet Ibaraki Doji, she talks about her severed arm, which has been replaced with a magical prosthetic in the shape of a massive claw, with razor-sharp talons.

Also, she's been reimagined in anime fashion, which means she's now an attractive lady with washboard abs, half a top, and uses vaguely fetishistic moves. She's also a massive pain to fight, which means you'll need some tips to sever the rest of her.

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Nioh 3: Ibaraki Doji's Moves & Attacks

Ibaraki Doji fights with a massive curved blade, with a surprisingly long reach. Throughout the fight, she'll shroud her sword and crystal arm in lightning magic, increasing their damage output.

Attack

Description

Response

Lightning Lunge	Ibaraki Doji pulls her sword back, then lunges forward with her blade.	Parry or block.
Lightning Blades	Ibaraki Doji lifts her sword above her head, then fires off several lightning blades in an arc.	These can be blocked/parried, but Ninja dodge is safer.
Lightning Wave	Ibaraki Doji swings her sword and fires off a massive AoE wave of lightning.	This back be blocked/parried.
Lightning Arms	Ibaraki Doji conjures several replicas of her crystal arm and tries to slap the player.	Ninja dodge away from them.
Lightning Slap	Ibaraki Doji performs two sword swipes, leaps back, then conjures arms that crash forward into the player.	Parry the sword swipes, then dash forward towards her to avoid the hands.
Crimson Pokes	Ibaraki Doji flashes crimson, then summons four arms that strike the player at once.	Use Burse Break Counter (R2) when the hands connect with the player.
Big Lightning Hand	Ibaraki Doji clutches her crystal arm. She summons a giant replica arm, shrouded by lightning bolts, then slams it into the ground. A few seconds later, it creates an AoE lightning blast.	Run away until the hand hits the ground. Then dash in towards Ibaraki Doji for some free hits.
Kiss The Foot	Ibaraki Doji's crystal hand glows black and yellow. She then swings her arm out, sending an energy whip forward to grab the player.	This is Ibaraki Doji's most dangerous move. Just dodge to the side when she's about to swing her arm.

Ibaraki Doji primarily uses lightning magic, so any equipment, items, or spells that reduce lightning damage will be effective in this fight.

How to Beat Ibaraki Doji in Nioh 3

At first, Ibaraki Doji seems like the total package. She's got the speed, the strength, the range, the AoE blasts, the abs, the lightning damage, and a throw with a fast animation that can catch you if you've already started an attack combo.

Once you've seen her moveset, you'll realize that a few of her moves have lengthy safe zones. Her throw, while annoying, leaves her vulnerable after she misses. The same is also true for her Big Lightning Hand and Lightning Slap attacks, as they have long periods where she's immobile, allowing the player to get free hits in or chug an Elixir.

Notably, Ibaraki Doji uses her sword for many of her attacks, meaning she's susceptible to parries, allowing you to regain some much-needed stamina (if you have purchased certain upgrades that restore it on well-timed blocks). The hands are the biggest problem, as they have unconventional start points and movement speed, so your best bet is to dodge them as much as possible. Once the pattern is down, you'll be able to defeat this lightning lady and continue on with Nioh 3.