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Stances
Nioh stances and ki usage
| Stance | Ki used when attacking | Ki lost when hit | Guards block attacks | Ki used when evading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stance | Ki used when attacking | Ki lost when hit | Guards block attacks | Ki used when evading |
| High | Lots | Lots | Nope | Little |
| Medium | Some | Some | Yes | Little |
| Low | Little | Little | Yes | None (attacks blocked) |
Even Nioh’s combat system has an additional layer on top of what you’d expect from any other action RPG. After you escape the Tower of London and visit the dojo for the first time, you’ll learn three stances. You can change your stance on the fly during combat and sometimes have to choose your stance based on your enemy.
- High stance sacrifices defense for offense — you’re going to deal more damage, but you’re also more open to attack.
- Medium stance falls in the middle, balancing offense and defense.
- Low stance emphasizes defense at the expense of offense — you’re better defended against attack, but you’ll deal less damage.
Different enemies require different approaches. You can break through the defenses of a constantly-blocking enemy with a high stance attack, or you can buy yourself some time to figure out an aggressive enemy with a low stance.
Sometimes, the physical height of your enemy can determine your choice of stance — high, medium and low also describe the height of your swings. If you find yourself swinging over the head of a crawling demon, switch to low stance, and your hits will land.
Learn more in our Nioh guides
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Polygon’s Nioh guide doesn’t end here.
We’ve also got a Nioh beginner’s guide focused on your first 10 hours in Nioh. Check that out to learn about combat, stances, shrines, leveling up and much, much more.
Polygon’s advanced Nioh guide is focused on your second 10 hours with the game. Be sure and check it out to learn all about the region screen, blacksmith, torii gates, items and skill customizations.
