How to Beat Takasugi Shinsaku 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.

At its heart, Nioh 3 is a game about samurai fighting monsters with swords. Sure, there are rifles available to the player, but ammo is limited, and the reload time means it's not the wisest weapon to break out when a demon is barreling down on you.

It's not just the player who has access to firearms, as there are riflemen and cannon users among the enemy forces you face in Nioh 3. Unluckily for them, the player has access to dodging/blocking moves that can protect them from bullets and cannonballs, and they can run up for a quick stab during the reload.

There's a boss in Nioh 3 who comes packing heat, as Takasugi Shinsaku fights with a pistol alongside his blade. He's also joined by a powerful Guardian Spirit, turning what would be a standard brawl into something out of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

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Nioh 3: Takasugi Shinsaku's Moves & Attacks

Takasugi Shinsaku is a dangerous opponent. Not only does he switch between his gun and sword at will, but his Guardian Spirit piles on the pressure with water spells, which are usually timed to punish parries.

Attack

Description

Response

Sword Strikes	Takasugi Shinsaku performs two regular attacks with his sword before his aura turns crimson, and he performs a third strike.	Parry the first two, then Burst Break Counter (R2) the third.
Water Bonding	Takasugi Shinsaku and his Guardian Spirit bond. He performs sword strikes while they fire water balls at the player.	Run and dodge. The timing of the two attacks makes parrying too risky.
Grab	Black and yellow dots appear around Takasugi Shinsaku's hand. He lunges towards the player and tries to grab them.	Wait until he starts the lunge, then dodge.
Popping Caps	Takasugi Shinsaku pulls out his pistol and fires three bullets.	These can be parried, but dodging is safer.
Crimson Dive	Takasugi Shinsaku's aura flashes crimson. He then rushes towards the player.	Use Burst Break Counter (R2) just as he comes into contact with the player.

Once Takasugi Shinsaku has been dropped to half health, he will become far more aggressive and will chain together multiple attacks in a row, so aim to be at full health during this phase.

How to Beat Takasugi Shinsaku in Nioh 3

Takasugi Shinsaku has a large health bar, making this a grueling fight. The fact that he can hit the player from anywhere in the stage, while also being backed up by his Guardian Spirit, makes him a potent foe.

Takasugi Shinsaku does have a few weaknesses, notably that he has to reload his pistol after firing a few bullets, leaving him vulnerable. He also tends to use his crimson attacks more than the other bosses, meaning there are ample chances to stun him.

The Guardian Spirit is the actual pain in the neck for this fight, because it punishes parry builds. As such, prioritize the Ninja style and its evasion capabilities, as this is your best chance at surviving both foes at once.