Hidden skills in Nioh 2 are some of the most powerful abilities you can unlock, but the game doesn’t clearly tell you how to get them. These special moves are dropped directly by bosses and are based on the skills they use during fights. In this guide, we’ll tell you about all hidden skill locations, explain which bosses drop them, and the best missions to farm each one.
All Hidden Skills Locations
Boss Skills in Nioh 2 are special abilities that you can only get from certain bosses. These are unique moves that bosses use themselves, and once you defeat them, there’s a chance they’ll drop as rewards. Even though they’re hidden inside the regular skill trees, you don’t need to spend any skill points to unlock them. Once you get the drop, the skill is yours to use.
Dragon Fang/Horn/Claw (Sword, Odachi, Dual Swords)
If you’re looking to upgrade your combat options in the game, the Dragon Fang, Horn, and Claw usable with Sword, Odachi, and Dual Swords are pretty handy. These items drop from Saito Yoshitatsu, and the easiest place to farm them is during the mission The Point of No Return. What makes them special is that they replace your normal grapple, letting you gain extra Anima whenever you use them. Just keep in mind, though, that they’re a bit slower than the regular grapple and can occasionally miss, so timing matters.
Izuna Drop (Fists/Sword)
The Izuna Drop, which you can use with Fists or a Sword, is a great upgrade for your grapple moves. You can get it by defeating Ren Hayabusa, and the best mission to farm it is The Dragon Clan. Unlike the regular grapple, the Izuna Drop lets your Ki start regenerating while the animation is happening, so by the time the move finishes, your Ki bar is usually full, making it a really efficient way to keep your attacks going.
Kurama Sword Dance (Sword)
The Kurama Sword Dance is a Sword skill you can pick up from Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and the easiest mission to farm it is Bond of the Blade. You activate it with L1+Square (or LB+X on controller). It’s a longer move that ends with a powerful kick, dealing serious damage. It’s especially useful against enemies that can be staggered, like humans or smaller yokai, letting you chain attacks effectively.
Reverse Impact (Sword)
Reverse Impact is a Sword skill you get from Fujiwara no Chikata, and the best place to farm it is the mission A Spirit’s Return. There’s a handy trick: after clearing the map, head back to the shrine, and you can run straight to him with only a few yokai to deal with before the fight. To use the skill, press L1+Triangle (or LB+Y). Your character drives the sword into the ground and pulls it back, sending out a shockwave that hits enemies around you, great for crowd control.
Severing Spin (Sword)
Severing Spin is a Sword skill you can get from Minamoto no Yorimitsu, and the easiest way to farm it is during the mission Suzune in Flames, using the reset method after opening the shortcut makes it quicker. To use it, press L1+Square (or LB+X). Your character enters Iai stance and then spins, delivering a flurry of slashes all around you, perfect for hitting multiple enemies at once.
True and Through (sword)
True and Through is a Sword skill you get from Azai Nagamasa, and the best mission to farm it is Yaksha Returns. To use it, hold Triangle (or Y). It works a lot like Devastating Rush from the Odachi tree; you charge up and then thrust the sword forward, but it has a slightly shorter range. It’s a strong, straightforward attack that’s great for quickly closing the gap on enemies.
Double-headed Slice (Dual Swords)
Double-headed Slice is a Dual Swords skill you can grab from Tokichiro, and the easiest mission to farm it is Two Faces of Hospitality using the reset method. You activate it with L1+Square (or LB+X). Your character brings the dual swords together like a staff and spins them around, basically like Darth Maul. The animation takes a bit of time, but it hits hard and is excellent for applying status effects to enemies.
Punish the Proud (Dual Swords)
Punish the Proud is a Dual Swords skill you can get from Imagawa Yoshimoto, and the best way to farm it is during the mission Imagawa Diehard, defeat the two unique enemies, pray at the shrine, and then use the reset method. You can only use it in Mid Stance by pressing L1+Square (or LB+X). When activated, it blocks attacks from the front for about a second. If an enemy hits you during that time, they get pushed back and knocked down by a follow-up kick. Hit them again right away, and human enemies will fall to the ground, leaving them wide open for a finishing blow.
Ultimate Sign of the Cross (Dual Swords)
Ultimate Sign of the Cross is a Dual Swords skill you can get from Tokichiro, and the easiest place to farm it is the mission Two Faces of Hospitality using the reset method. Once you’ve fully charged the regular Sign of the Cross, press Square (or X) to unleash extra strikes, turning it into a much more powerful combo.
Bracing Breeze (Spear)
Bracing Breeze is a Spear skill you can get from Maeda Toshiie, and the easiest mission to farm it is Mataza of the Spear. You can only use it in Mid Stance by pressing L1+Square (or LB+X) to parry incoming attacks. After a successful parry, press Square again to stab your enemy. If the parry connects, the follow-up attack is enhanced, kind of like the charged Triangle attack from Nioh 1’s Living Weapon, making it much more powerful.
Triple Threat (Spear)
Triple Threat is a Spear skill you get from Maeda Toshiie, and the best mission to farm it is Mataza of the Spear. To use it, press L1+Triangle, and you can press Triangle up to two more times to follow up with extra stabs. If you time it right, watching the Ki pulse the attack changes and deals a lot more damage, making it a very powerful combo.
Spirit Storm (Axe)
Spirit Storm is an Axe skill you can get from the Obsidian Samurai, and the easiest mission to farm it is A Formal Match. You can only use it in Mid Stance by pressing L1+Square. When activated, it parries incoming attacks and immediately strikes back in a wide arc, making it great for countering multiple enemies at once.
Second Wind (Kusarigama)
Second Wind is a Kusarigama skill you get from Hachisuka Koroku, and the easiest missions to farm it are Japanese Heart or Yokai Smarts. After using Whirlwind, press Square to perform a grapple that pulls you out of the enemy’s Ki attack, giving you a smooth way to recover and counter.
Water Drop (Kusarigama)
Water Drop is a Kusarigama skill you get from Hachisuka Koroku, and the best missions to farm it are Japanese Heart or Yokai Smarts. After performing a Leaping Strike, press Triangle to finish the move with a diving kick, adding extra damage and flair to your combo.
Swirling Snow (Odachi)
Swirling Snow is an Odachi skill you can get from Magara Noataka, and the easiest mission to farm it is The Brothers Blades. After defeating one of the brothers, you can head back to the shrine and pray, then use the reset method or, if you’re strong enough, fight both brothers at once. To use the skill, hold Triangle, and your character will spin the Odachi around, hitting enemies all around you.
Storm of Strikes (Tonfa)
Storm of Strikes is a Tonfa skill you get from Hattori Hanzo, and the easiest way to farm it is during the Dojo Missions with him. To use it, hold Triangle, and your character will circle around the enemy while landing a flurry of blows perfect for keeping pressure on a single target.
Deadly Spiral (Hatchets)
Deadly Spiral is a Hatchet’s skill you can get from Shibata Katsuie, and the easiest mission to farm it is Ruin Draws Near using the reset method. When you hold Triangle, your character spins around, hitting all nearby enemies, and the hatchets continue spinning for a short time even after the move finishes, letting you deal extra damage.
Arc of Chaos (Switchglaive)
Arc of Chaos is a Switchglaive skill you can get from Tate Eboshi, and the easiest mission to farm it is Battle at the Temple using the reset method. To use it, press L1+Triangle, and your character throws the Switchglaive in its Scythe form, delivering a powerful ranged attack.
Fleeting Edge (Switchglaive)
Fleeting Edge is a Switchglaive skill you can get from Mumyo, and the easiest mission to farm it is Winds of Ruin. When you hold Triangle, your character spins around the enemy, landing repeated strikes perfect for hitting a single target multiple times in quick succession.
Windswept (Switchglaive)
Windswept is a Switchglaive skill that drops from Imagawa Yoshimoto, and the best place to farm it is the Imagawa Diehard mission. To make farming easier, defeat the two unique enemies first, pray at the shrine, and then use the reset method to repeat the fight until it drops.
Roar Power (Splitstaff)
Roar Power is a Splitstaff skill you can get from Benkei, and the easiest mission to farm it is Soul of the Warrior Monk. To use the skill, press L1+Triangle to charge up a powerful stabbing attack that hits hard once it’s released.
Tiger Claws (Fists)
Tiger Claws is a Fists skill that drops from Ren Hayabusa, and the best mission to farm it is The Dragon Clan. This skill upgrades Archer’s Impact by giving it a follow-up attack. Just press Square after using it. Your character then charges forward in a zig-zag pattern, letting you close the distance quickly while keeping pressure on the enemy.
Sacred Bird Cry (All Weapons)
Sacred Bird Cry is a powerful skill that works with all weapons and drops from Minamoto no Yoshitsune. The easiest mission to farm is Bond of the Blade. When you press L1+Triangle, your character unleashes a rapid flurry of attacks. If you keep holding the buttons, the skill consumes Anima and fires multiple energy blades straight ahead, turning it into a strong ranged burst as well.
Sacred Bird Flight (All Weapons)
Sacred Bird Flight is a skill that can be used with all weapons and drops from Minamoto no Yorimitsu. The best place to farm it is the mission Suzune in Flames, using the same method mentioned earlier. When you press L1+Triangle, your character dashes across the battlefield twice in a V-shaped pattern, letting you cover a lot of ground and hit enemies along the way.
All Shiftling Skills (Brutal Combustion, Ferocious Gale, Phantasmic Burst (Yokai Shift))
All Shiftling skills, Brutal Combustion, Ferocious Gale, and Phantasmic Burst for Yokai Shift are dropped by Otakemaru from The First Samurai. The best place to farm them is the mission Against All Comers. After defeating him, you can use an Earthfolding Talisman or let yourself die against the regular Otakemaru to restart the fight with the First Samurai version again. These skills directly upgrade your charged Triangle attacks, making them much stronger during Yokai Shift.
Exorcist Blade (Ninjutsu)
Exorcist Blade is a Ninjutsu skill that drops from Ren Hayabusa, and the easiest mission to farm it is The Dragon Clan. It works a lot like Severing Spin, pushing enemies away while sending out slashes of cutting air that hit everything around you, making it great for crowd control.
Flame Dragon (Ninjutsu)
Flame Dragon is a Ninjutsu skill you can get from Ren Hayabusa, and the best mission to farm it is The Dragon Clan. When you use it, your character charges up a powerful fireball and then releases it in an explosion. While it’s charging, nearby enemies are slightly pushed back and take a bit of damage, giving you some breathing room before the blast goes off.
Umbral Bullet (Ninjutsu)
Umbral Bullet is a Ninjutsu skill that drops from Ren Hayabusa, and the easiest mission to farm it is The Dragon Clan. When you use it, it fires a burst of Ki that knocks enemies back, making it useful for creating space or interrupting attacks.
Luminous Blade (Onmyo)
Luminous Blade is an Onmyo skill that drops from Ashiya Doman, and the best mission to farm it is A Storm in the Underworld. If it doesn’t drop, you can use an Earthfolding Talisman to reset and try again. When you cast it, a glowing blade forms from your hand and repeatedly strikes nearby enemies, dealing continuous damage.
