Nioh 3 Yamagata Masakage guide: How to beat the first boss explained

Just like its predecessors, the first boss in Nioh 3, Yamagata Masakage, pulls no punches.

It's a tough first fight, but beating him will put you in good stead to take on tougher bosses later down the line.

If you're struggling to take him down and are after some tips, here's a quick guide to how to beat Yamagata Masakage in Nioh 3.

Nioh 3 Yamagata Masakage guide: How to beat the first boss explained

Of course, if you're really struggling, the first thing you should do is summon an Acolyte with your Ochoko Cups, but we actually don't recommend doing this.

Yamagata Masakage is something of a skill check, testing how well you've picked up some of Nioh 3's new mechanics, so taking him down yourself will make sure that you're prepared for what comes after.

Most notably, Yamagata will test how well you've mastered the Burst Break. Right before he hits you with one of his unblockable red attacks, press R2/RT to perform a Burst Break, switching between your Samurai and Ninja styles in the process.

More than anything, abusing this mechanic is the key to beating him. Not only does it briefly stagger him, but it also raises your Amrita Gauge.

When he's staggered, quickly follow up with a full combo to drain his health and Ki meter.

Once your Amrita Gauge is full, press Triangle + Circle/Y + B to activate Living Artifact, and dish out as much damage as you can while in that form, which should be more than enough to finish him off.

That's the long and short of it, but there are a couple of other things that may help you out with Yamagata, as well as all future bosses.

First, remember that your Samurai armour is stronger than your Ninja armour – you'll take far less HP and Ki damage in your Samurai style.

Second, make use of backstab damage. You deal higher damage to enemies when striking them from behind, so try and make use of this whenever possible.

Yamagata is slow, and especially in your Ninja stance, you can make use of his big swings to dodge behind him and dish out a quick combo to his enormous rear end.

Lastly, while you won’t have unlocked parrying yet, don't forget that if you're unable to dodge something, it's better to just hold R1/RB to block and take that Ki damage than losing half of your HP.

Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.