Part 139

Struggling with Yuki in Nioh 3? This guide breaks down her moves, weaknesses, and offers strategies to help you defeat this challenging boss. Learn to counter Ice Stomp, Ice Breath, and more!

Alright, let's talk about Yuki. She's a tough one, no doubt about it, and she feels like she stepped right out of a Dark Souls boss fight. She's a master of close combat but also has some nasty tricks up her sleeve from mid and long range. To make matters worse, her attacks stack the 'Water' status effect, which lowers your physical defense – exactly what she wants! Don't worry though, we'll get you through this.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Weakness: Fire
• Resistances: None explicitly mentioned, but she's good at close range.
• Status Effect: Applies 'Water' which lowers physical resistance.
• Health: Not a huge amount, making headshots and exploiting openings crucial.

Phases:

1. Opening/Mid-Fight: Yuki uses a mix of close-range halberd combos, evasive maneuvers, and ranged ice attacks. Focus on dodging, identifying openings, and using the environment.
2. Low Stamina / Below Half Health: This is your prime opportunity. When her stamina is depleted or her health drops below half, pop your Living Weapon. She'll enter a 'break mode' where you can string quick attacks to deal significant damage.

Strategy:

• Preparation is Key: Stock up on Elixirs. If you have the Regeneration Talisman, bring it along – it's a lifesaver. Since Yuki is weak to fire, Fire Talismans are highly recommended to boost your damage output.
• Environmental Advantage: Look around the arena! There are icicles scattered about. You can shoot these for ranged ammo, and more importantly, you can use them to get headshots on Yuki, which will stagger her and open her up for attacks.
• Learn Her Moves: Understanding her attack patterns is crucial. Pay close attention to her 'Ice Stomp', 'Ice Breath', and 'Halberd Combo'. Learning to counter these effectively will make a huge difference.
• Dodging is Your Friend: Many of her attacks, especially the 'Dancing Halberd' and 'Ice Charge', are best avoided with a well-timed dodge to the left or right. Blocking her 'Dancing Halberd' will drain your Ki very quickly.
• Exploit Openings: After her 'Halberd Combo', you can often get in one or two quick hits before she recovers. Be ready to dodge away, as she often follows up with 'Ice Stomp'.
• Punish the 'Ice Stomp': When she uses 'Ice Stomp', creating a circle of ice around her, you have a small window to get away. However, the real trick is that once the ice goes UP, you can actually walk *forward* into the affected area without taking damage. This gives you a safe opening for a few attacks. Don't get greedy, though; she recovers fast.
• Countering 'Ice Breath': When she leans forward on her staff (a clear tell!), she's about to breathe ice. Get out of the way quickly to avoid damage and the 'Water' status effect. Dodging to the side can give you a counterattack opportunity.
• Dealing with 'Ice Shots': Yuki has three types of 'Ice Shot' attacks. The one with 3-4 icicles above her head fires them one by one directly at you. If you have enough Ki, blocking might be an option, but dodging is generally safer.
• The 'Ice Charge': This move can be punishing if you don't know the range. Learning how far she travels with this attack can turn a dangerous move into an easy counterattack opening.
• Living Weapon Activation: Once Yuki is low on stamina or below half health, activate your Living Weapon. This is your best chance to put her into a breakable state and unleash a flurry of quick attacks to finish her off.