Highlight of Everything We Know About Baba Nobuharu Boss in Nioh 3
- You can fight Baba Nobuharu during the Battle of Futamata Castle and again fight him in the Takeda’s Four Heavenly Kings sub-mission in Mikatagahara.
- You don’t need a good build to defeat him. Use the Deflect and Evade skills to fight him.
- He is weak against Electrified and Blustered, but he resists Scorched and Saturated, so use your elemental attacks carefully against him.
Baba Nobuharu is one of the difficult bosses in Nioh 3. He uses a large axe and makes shadow copies of himself to confuse the players and hide his attacks. If you understand how his shadows work and when to block or dodge his real attack, you can easily defeat him. His attacks deal a lot of damage, but you can read his attacks if you see his shadows. In this guide, we will show you how to defeat Baba Nobuharu in Nioh 3.
Baba Nobuharu Boss in Nioh 3
| Level Required | 39 |
| Weakness | Electrified, Blustered |
| Resistances | Scorched, Saturated |
Baba Nobuharu is a big, corrupted enemy who fights with a big axe and makes shadows of himself, which makes the fight more difficult. You will first fight Baba Nobuharu in Futamata during the Battle of Futamata Castle main mission.
Baba Nobuharu appears near Futamata Castle – Defensive Gate Shrine. Later in the game, you will fight Baba Nobuharu again in a second fight. This happens during the mission “Takeda’s Four Heavenly Kings”, in Mikatagahara.
Baba Nobuharu Boss: Preparation
You don’t need a special build for this boss. The only skills that really help are:
- Deflect from the Samurai skill tree
- Evade from the Ninja skill tree
With one or two practice attempts, you will understand the patterns, and you can easily defeat the boss.
How to Defeat Baba Nobuharu Boss
Baba Nobuharu’s main trick is using the shadow of himself. These shadows do not deal damage, they only show you what attack is coming next. Always watch the shadow first, then dodge the attacks.
- He will pull back his right arm and send a shadow forward first. The shadow will show the path of the attack. His real body follows and deals damage. Guard to parry the real hit or dodge backwards after you see the projection.
- Baba Nobuharu lifts his axe with one hand and stops for a moment. Then he slams it at your position. Dodge as soon as you see him stopping. He will recover after the slam. This is a good time to attack.
- He places the axe behind his head and sends out a shadow that spins first. Use the shadow as a warning, then guard or dodge the real swing. He will stop for some time after the attack, giving you a chance to deal the damage.
- A shadow shows a horizontal slash first. The real attack follows with a horizontal slash, after that a backhand slash and then the overhead slam. Only the first hit is shown by the projection. Be ready to block or dodge multiple hits.
- Baba Nobuharu twists his body slightly before spinning twice with his axe. Dodge if you can, or guard if you’re too late. The body twist is your main warning sign.
- He twists his body to charge a powerful spin attack. After spinning, he stops and sends a shadow that performs a jumping slam. Back away when you see the twist, then dodge when the real jump attack comes towards you.
- He charges water energy into his axe and slams it into the ground. After a short time, water moves out. Make a jump carefully to avoid the water blast.
Just plan your attacks, avoid the shadows and check their movement, so that you are prepared for the attack.
Second Fight – Takeda’s Four Heavenly Kings
You fight Baba Nobuharu again during the mission “Takeda’s Four Heavenly Kings” in Mikatagahara.
- Baba Nobuharu pulls back his arm, moves forward, swipes, and follows up with a fast axe slash. Move away in the opposite direction from him.
- He places the axe on the side of his head. Then a shadow moves first, then he spins with a powerful slash. Dodge or block once the real swing starts.
- He stands still and charges his axe while glowing red for a Burst Attack. Use your Burst Break to cancel it.
- Baba Nobuharu swings his axe three times. Two fast slashes from left to right and one heavy finishing slash. Keep dodging or blocking.
- He moves out with his tail first. Then follow up with a quick axe slash. Stay alert and be ready to guard or dodge immediately.
He builds up water energy and releases it toward you. Follows with a quick axe slash. Make a distance as fast as possible. - During the second fight, he can buff himself. His attacks deal more damage during this time. Focus on dodging and blocking until the buff ends.
Always check the shadows; they are your biggest advantage in this fight. Block whenever illusions appear. Attack only when there is a clear opening, and manage your stamina carefully.
FAQs
Q. How does Baba Nobuharu’s shadow work?
A. The shadows do not deal any damage but they show the attack pattern before the real attack comes towards you, giving you time to block or dodge the attack.
Q. How do you counter his Burst Attacks in the second fight?
A. When he glows red and charges his axe, use your Burst Break to cancel the attack.
Q. Is Baba Nobuharu worth farming?
A. Yes. His drops have strong armour sets like Iga Jonin, Ronin, and Righteous, along with the Trident Vajra Sword Helmet.
