Like the Beatles once sang, I get by with a little help from my friends. And in Nioh, you’ll need plenty of pals to help you survive all the Yokai who want to wear your flesh as a fancy suit of haute culture samurai summer fashion. Fortunately, local samurai William is able to lean on some spiritual power throughout Nioh, unlocking new Guardian Spirits throughout the game that can help him build up power and unleash it on any demon who thinks that they can get the better of him.
Building up a Living Weapon gauge is but one of the many perks available to William, as they buff the wandering warrior with numerous other skills and enhancements. But which one is the best? Take a gander below at the numbers game that’ll be available to you in Nioh. Images courtesy of the Nioh Wiki:
Daiba-washi
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Evasion Ki Usage – 15%
- Equipment Drop Rate (Req. 6 Spirit) – +20%
- Quick Attack Damage (Req. 8 Spirit) – +8%
- Luck (Req. 9 Spirit) – +40
- Life Recovery (After Living Weapon) (Req. 11 Spirit) – +400
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 5%
- Wind – 30
- Usable Time – 17.2
- Might – 680
- Action – C+
- Recovery – C+
- Tenacity – D
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A+
Kato
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Close Combat Attack – +5%
- Ki – +10
- Ki Recovery Speed – +20%
- Close Combat Attack Ki Reduction (Crit. Health) – 20%
- Skill Damage – +15%
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 20%
- Fire – 30
- Usable Time – 15.8
- Might – 1280
- Action – C
- Recovery – A-
- Tenacity – A-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – C+
Isonade
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Sense Enemies
- Life – +100
- Close Combat Life Recovery (Req 8. Spirit) – 100
- Human Close Combat Damage (Req. 10 Spirit) – +9%
- Strong Attack Ki Reduction (Req. 11 Spirit) – 10%
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 10%
- Water – 30
- Usable Time – 22
- Might – 1400
- Action – B
- Recovery – C
- Tenacity – C
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D
Fuse-ushi
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Life – +200
- Recurrent Damage from Poison – 25%
- Guard Ki Reduction – 20%
- Vs. Poison Resistance – +20
- Life Recovery from Amrita Absorption (Req. 11 Spirit) – 30
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 15%
- Earth – 30
- Usable Time – 19
- Might – 1870
- Action – B+
- Recovery – B+
- Tenacity – C-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D
Mizuchi
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Enemies Defeated Damage Bonus – A
- Gold Earned – +15%
- Amrita Sense
- Vs. Water Resistance (Req. 11 Spirit) – +20
- Amrita Earned (Req. 13 Spirit) – +12.5%
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 7%
- Water – 30
- Usable Time – 18
- Might – 700
- Action – B-
- Recovery – B
- Tenacity – B
- Amrita Gauge Rate – C+
Itokuri
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Luck – +50
- Human Item Drop Rate – +30%
- Familiarity Bonus – +16%
- Yokai Item Drop Rate – +30%
- Paralysis – +30
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 7%
- Earth – 30
- Usable Time – 19.8
- Might – 600
- Action – B
- Recovery – C
- Tenacity – D
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A+
Usura-hicho
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Life Recovery From Purification – 150
- Evasion Ki Usage – 20%
- Vs. Yokai Realm – +300
- Water Damage – +15%
- Strong Attack Ki Damage – +15%
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 3%
- Fire – 42
- Usable Time – 16.8
- Might – 600
- Action – B
- Recovery – A
- Tenacity – C+
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A+
Gyokuto
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Elixir Effect on Recovery – +20%
- Dash Speed – +10%
- Low Attack Damage – +8%
- Luck (Using Living Weapon) – +100
- Ninjitsu Power – +75
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 5%
- Lightning – 30
- Usable Time – 18
- Might – 400
- Action – B
- Recovery – B
- Tenacity – C-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A-
Narikama Tanuki
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Retrieve Lost Amrita – 50%
- Vs. Earth Resistance – +20
- Unlimited Elixir – +25%
- Strong Attack Damage – +10%
- Auto Life Recovery (Critical)
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 12%
- Earth – 30
- Usable Time – 20.4
- Might – 2050
- Action – C+
- Recovery – A+
- Tenacity – A-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D
Suzaku
- Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Activate Living Weapon (No Life)
- Vs. Fire Resistance – +20
- Amrita Earned (Using Living Weapon) – +25%
- Fire Damage – 15%
- Auto-Charge Living Weapon Gauge (Crit Health) (Req 21 Spirit)
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 15%
- Fire – 50
- Usable Time – 14.6
- Might – 1440
- Action – C
- Recovery – A+
- Tenacity – A+
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D
Kara-jishi
- Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Increase Attack (Skill)
- Guard Ki Reduction – 20%
- Lightning Damage – +12%
- Ki – +20
- Skill Life Drain (Req 21 Spirit) – +15
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 22%
- Lightning – 42
- Usable Time – 18.8
- Might – 1550
- Action – C
- Recovery – D-
- Tenacity – B-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D
Izuna
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Earn Amrita (Strong Attack) – 25
- Amrita Earned – +8%
- Close Combat Attack Ki Reduction – 10%
- Wind Damage – +15%
- Auto Life Recovery (After Living Weapon) (Req. 22 Spirit)
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 5%
- Wind – 42
- Usable Time – 21
- Might – 1400
- Action – A-
- Recovery – C+
- Tenacity – C+
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D
Atlas Bear
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Increase Damage (Low Ki)
- Life Recovery By Grapple – 150
- Vs. Lightning – +20
- Close Combat Damage (Req. 21 Spirit) – +10%
- Shorten Recovery Time (Out of Ki) (Req. 23 Spirit)
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 23%
- Lightning – 42
- Usable Time – 18.4
- Might – 1380
- Action – D+
- Recovery – C
- Tenacity – B+
- Amrita Gauge Rate – C+
Tengen Kujaku
Guardian Spirit Protection Effects
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Bonus From Amrita Absorbed (Stance-Based)
- Yokai Damage Reduction – 13%
- Extend Elemental Effect – +50%
- Elemental Attack Damage (Req. 22 Spirit) – +10%
- Enemy / Treasure / Amrita / Kodama Sense (Req. 25 Spirit)
Living Weapon Effects
- Attack Enhancement – 10%
- Wind – 30
- Usable Time – 20
- Might – 1500
- Action – B
- Recovery – A+
- Tenacity – B-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D
Hi-nezumi
Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Onmyo Magic Power – +50
- Stealth For Enemies – A+
- Vs. Fire – +20
- Combat Attack (Critical) – +20%
- Unlimited Onmyo – +15% (Req. 15 Spirit)
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 3%
- Fire – 30
- Usable Time – 18.2s
- Might – 400
- Action – B-
- Recovery – A
- Tenacity – C-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A+
Enko
Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Strong Attack Ki Reduction – 8%
- Break – +15
- Fire Damage – +12%
- Grapple Damage – +25%
- Strong Attack Damage – +13%
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 22%
- Fire – 42
- Usable Time – 19.1s
- Might – 1400
- Action – C-
- Recovery – B-
- Tenacity – B+
- Amrita Gauge Rate – C-
Genbu
Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 30%
- Dash Speed Reduction – 30%
- No Guard Break
- Change to Defense (Magic) – B+
- Received Elemental Attack Damage – 7.5%
- Onmyo Magic Power – +75
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 5%
- Water – 42
- Useable Time – 17.6s
- Might – 3000
- Action – B+
- Recovery – B
- Tenacity – C-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – D-
Saoirse
Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Amrita Sense
- Sense Enemies
- Amrita Earned – +12.5% (Req. 20 Spirit)
- Special Effects (Critical) – +20% (Req. 23 Spirit)
- Retrieve Lost Amrita – 75%
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 5%
- Water – 30
- Duration – 10.0
- Might – 500
- Action – B-
- Recovery – A+
- Tenacity – B-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A-
Shinka
- Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Strong Attack Life Drain
- Life – +100
- Kodama Sense
- Earth Damage – +15% (Req. 19 Spirit)
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 14%
- Earth – 42
- Usable Time – 15.2s
- Might – 1880
- Action – B+
- Recovery – A+
- Tenacity – C-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – C
Aya-komori
Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Unlimited Ninjutsu – +15%
- vs. Paralysis – +20
- Damage From Behind – +12%
- Life Recovery By Killing Strike – 120
- Agility Damage Bonus – A
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 4%
- Element – Wind
- Duration – 23.4
- Might – 480
- Action – A
- Recovery – A+
- Tenacity – C-
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A-
Yatagarasu
- Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Unlimited Ammo – +10%
- vs. Wind – 20
- Long Range Attack Damage – +10% (Req. 15 Spirit)
- Sense Enemies – (Req. 11 Spirit)
- Life Recovery From Hit (Ranged Weapon) – 30 (Req. 20 Spirit)
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 12%
- Wind – 30
- Usable Time – 20.8s
- Might – 1110
- Action – C-
- Recovery – A-
- Tenacity – C
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A+
Paired Raiken
Guardian Spirit Protection
- Spirit Protection – 20%
- Dash Endurance – 15%
- Skill Ki Damage – +12.5%
- Vs. Lightning – +25
- Treasure Sense
- Yokai Close Combat Damage – +15%
Living Weapon
- ATK Enhance – 15.0%
- Lightning – 42
- Usable Time – 21.8
- Might – 1500
- Action – C+
- Recovery – B
- Tenacity – A+
- Amrita Gauge Rate – A-
Last Updated: February 8, 2017