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My nioh challenge: 20 attempts to beat the boss

Gamers Discuss Difficulties of Boss Battles | Struggles Spark Community Strategies

By

Ethan Price

Feb 16, 2026, 06:41 PM

2 minutes of duration

A gamer engaged in an intense battle with a large, menacing boss in Nioh, focused and determined to win.
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Players diving into Nioh for the first time are facing challenges with the initial boss encounters, leading to engaging discussions across forums. Many new players report exhausting attempts, with some needing 20 to 45 tries to clinch victory.

Community Reactions and Strategies

New players are sharing their struggles, emphasizing how the game's combat mechanics differ from other titles like Dark Souls and Sekiro. An array of comments reveal that almost everyone is feeling the heat, echoing sentiments like, "The tutorial boss is arguably the hardest act 1 boss, so don't worry!"

Additionally, many suggest adapting strategies. Users recommend switching to Ninja mode for better mobility and attack efficiency. One player commented, "The Ninja feels almost mandatory for this. I made the mistake of going Odachi and died a bunch before switching to dual swords!"

Notable Insights from Players

The conversation highlights several key points from the community:

  • Learning Curve: "First-time players find the initial learning phase to be the toughest part."

  • Combat Mechanics: "Players discuss the importance of mastering Ki pulses and utilizing Ninja attacks effectively."

  • Healing Items: "Limited elixirs add an extra layer of difficulty. Three healing items are often not enough!"

โ€œThis fight taught me key mechanics of the game!โ€ - A user adds positivity amidst the pain.

Key Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ’ฅ Approx. 20 to 45 tries documented by new players facing the initial boss.

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Switching to Ninja mode is a common recommendation for success.

  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Limited healing items are contributing to user frustrations.

Interestingly, many gamers find humor in their failures as they adapt to the game's pacing and mechanics. With Nioh's unique stance system and Ki management, mastering the controls will surely take time, but it seems like the community is here to support each other in overcoming these tough challenges.

For more tips and tricks, check out the Nioh Guides forum!

What Lies Ahead for Gamers?

With many players logging countless hours just to overcome early bosses in Nioh, itโ€™s likely that the community will continue evolving strategies for success. Expect an increase in guides and discussion threads aimed at tackling tough bosses effectively, with an estimated 70% of players likely to seek community advice. As they adapt, more players might embrace alternative play styles like Ninja mode or focus on mastering Ki pulses. Anticipating character builds and optimized strategies will lead to exciting developments in player interactions, with around 40% of discussions turning towards team tactics for co-op gaming sessions in the coming months.

A Throwback to Classic Pitfalls

Looking back, the initial struggles gamers faced in the early days of arcade machines mirrors todayโ€™s experiences in Nioh. Just as players once navigated the brutal corners of Pac-Man, learning patterns and developing skills over multiple retries, todayโ€™s gamers are doing exactly that in Nioh. This connection illustrates how the essence of gaming has remained; mastering a game often requires patience, repetition, and creativity, much like the improvisational strategies once needed to conquer arcade classics.