Players who want to try a new take on aSouls-like experience may consider givingNioh 2a shot. In theNiohprequel, players take on the role of Hide, a Shiftling or a half-yokai who journeys through the Sengoku Era and eventually crosses paths with the warlord Toyotomo Hideyoshi. In this yokai-filled take on Feudal Japan, players would have to equip Hide with both deadly weapons and magical abilities, particularlyOnmyo Magicthat can give players a unique edge against these otherworldly beings.
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However, with the many Onmyo Magic skills players can train, just which is a cut above the rest in theirNioh 2journey? A lot of reasoning regarding Onmyo Magic choice has to do with knowing whether players want more specific benefits or general advantages.
10Divination Talisman
Whilecombat inNioh 2is certainly something to prepare for, a huge part of progression in the game has to do with exploration. And for players who’ve played their fair share ofSoulstitles, they know understanding the full depth of the minimap can spell life and death in most encounters. In the case ofNioh 2, the compass on the upper-right serves as the mini-map, and acquiring certain Senses can reveal particular objects for players.
To those who want to maximize their compass’s potential, they may want to rely on theDivination Talisman. Depending on the degree of the Divination Talisman, the stronger the player’s compass can become. When gearing up for longer exploration, players may want to activate this Jutus before proceeding.
9Gust Talisman
In a world like the one inNioh 2,where any creature is out there to kill the player, preparation is key for survival. And in situations where bosses seem nigh-impenetrable due to their multiple projectiles, a defensive measure such as theGust Talismanmay very well just save the day.
At its core, the Gust Talisman seems rather situational, given that the Jutsu only forces wind energy to circle around players to repel projectiles. However, fans need to remember that these abilities also work on boss projectiles and those from multiple opponents. When used properly, an enemy can have a nigh-impregnable defense from pesky long-ranged enemies, allowing players to use theirNioh 2weaponsmore effectively.
8Sloth Talisman
In a timing-intensive game likeNioh 2, the speed of gameplay dictates life and death. And in a skill-based game, sometimes players need all the time they need to pull off some more complicated moves. Thankfully, theSloth Talismanis exactly the tool they need to overcome such problems.
At its core, the Sloth Talisman allows players to preparean Onmyo Magic Jutsuthat acts as a slowing AOE. Enemies hit by this spell will be drastically slowed, giving players time to maneuver around the battlefield to get some hits in or outright defeat enemies.
Why bother with elemental attacks when even the lightest of flames can make enemies explode? In thecontext ofNioh 2gameplay, such a thing is possible with theSensory Overload Talisman. Thanks to this Jutsu, players are able to enjoy the luxury of making enemies explode if they are downed, killed, or even afflicted with Scorched. Not only that, enemies caught in the blast are forced to explode as well.
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Being a mid-to-late-game Jutsu that requires both Explosive Shot Talisman 1 and Devigorate Talisman 1 means Sensory Overload isn’t exactly easy to obtain. However, having this ability is extremely useful especially when players find themselves facing groups of enemies at once.
6Impurity Transference Talisman
It’s said that an eye for an eye makes the world go blind, but in thecontext ofNioh 2gameplay, an eye for an eye is a luxury. This is all the more apparent withImpurity Transference, which releases a slow-moving doll that, when hitting opponents, immediately removes all the debuffs present in the player. Afterward, the doll transfers all of them to the target opponent.
The Impurity Transference is interesting as a skill, as this can transfer up to four (4) of them to the target and doesn’t do anything if it doesn’t hit its mark. While this demands incredible aim and timing on the player’s part, doing this correctly can make the slightest ailments more tolerable for players to handle.
5Extraction Talisman
Given howNioh 2is an RPG, it makes sense for players to want to level up to get stronger as soon as possible. However, one of the most unique mechanics inNioh 2is how its experience points, called Amrita, is essentially another resource that can be used in combat; key to maximizing such a gameplay strategy is theExtraction Talisman.
Through this Jutsu, players are now able to steal Amrita from opponents immediately as soon as they hit them, even with ordinary attacks. What makes this ability shine is when used in conjunction with other Amrita buffs, such as Auto-Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption) that grants life when players gain Amrita, which in this context immediately becomes a lifesteal ability.
4Barrier Talisman
Sometimes, a player’s saving grace in a complex game likeNioh 2would be relying on tried and true strategies - including good ol’ fashioned timing. Players need to remember that aside from Health that determines their life and Magic that allows them to cast spells, it’s Ki that allows them to do both attack and evasion. Running out of Ki spells death for players, and it’s theBarrier Talismanthat ensures players get enough of it all the time.
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With the Barrier Talisman Jutsu, players get a boost in their Ki recovery speed, and they may even dispel Yokai Realm pools with just a single touch. This Jutsu is incredibly useful in prolonged combat, as the faster Ki recovery allows players to perform more evasive maneuvers without much risk.
3Life Leech Talisman
Players who encounter any lifesteal ability in any RPG make it an instant lifesaver, and such is immediately thecase inNioh 2gameplayonce players discover theLife Leech Talisman. When activated, this allows the players to augment their weapons with the ability to make enemies release their own life energy whenever they are damaged.
What’s great about this Jutsu is how players can essentially just hang around these vitality pools to restore their own life. Life Leech Talisman is perfect during prolonged engagements, be it against groups of enemies or even bosses, where health is a necessary trade-off in order to secure the kill.
2Protection Talisman
Due to the sheer difficulty of someNioh 2enemies, the right defense goes a long way for players who tend to get hit quite a lot. And in the case of outlasting foes, perhaps theProtection Talismanis a beefy choice for that extra tankiness. At its core, the Protection Talisman gives a certain degree of damage mitigation, with the Jutsu being able to neutralize a certain degree of damage.
While this ability is immediately associated with tanks on the get-go, this ability can get quite a steamy power-up with Protection Decree. With this passive, players can project their Protection Talisman to affect the rest of the party within the vicinity, practically boosting everyone’s defenses.
1Guardian Spirit Talisman
There’s nothing better than having another creature fight one’s battles in aSouls-like RPG likeNioh 2, and theGuardian Spirit Talismangets the job done. With this Jutsu, players can prepare a Guardian Spirit Talisman for casting. Once done, these summon Guardian Spirits that can fight on a player’s behalf.
What’s interesting about this Onymo Magic is that theGuardian Spirit Talismanis a minigame rolled into one, as each Guardian Spirit has various capabilities to bring into the fold. An immediate choice would be Tengen Kujaku, as not only does it come with elemental-based Anima and Amrita buffs, it has per-Stance bonuses as well. Other useful Guardian Spirits include Yumehami (Ki Damage) and Inosasao (Damage Reduction).
Nioh 2was released last 2020 and is playable on the PS4, PS5, and PC.
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