Part 144

Conquer Part 144 of Nioh 3! Get expert tips and strategies for defeating Honda Tadakatsu and Okatsu in 'The Defiled Castle' mission. Learn their moves and weaknesses.

Alright, let's dive into Part 144. This section covers a couple of boss encounters you'll run into, specifically from the mission "The Defiled Castle." We've got Honda Tadakatsu and Okatsu here. Don't worry, we'll break down how to handle them, whether you want to play it straight or use some clever tricks.

Boss Encounter: Honda Tadakatsu

Okay, so this fight with Honda Tadakatsu is a bit of a gimmick, especially since the arena is so small. You *can* fight him head-on, but there's a much faster way. Plus, you'll get a chance to fight him properly later on in a sub-quest, so don't feel like you need to master him here. We're going to play to the gimmick!

Remember those purple crystals we've seen before? They're the key to possession. Honda is possessed, and destroying three of these crystals in the arena will end the fight. Honda, naturally, won't make it easy for you.

Strategy:

• Buff Up: Your best bet is to use Sloth Talismans. If you don't have those, buffing yourself with other Talismans or Attack Pills will significantly help. Sloth Talismans make this whole fight trivial.
• Destroy Crystals: Angle yourself between Honda and the crystals. He'll try to stop you by flinging boulders or charging. If you're buffed, you can take down each of the two ground crystals in just a couple of attack combos.
• Final Crystal: After dealing with the ground crystals, head up the stairs to the third crystal. Honda won't follow you up here, so you only need to worry about his rock-tossing attack.

Key Point: Even if you die, any crystal you destroy stays destroyed. You could technically win this fight one crystal at a time across multiple lives, but it's unlikely you'll need to resort to that.

Boss Encounter: Okatsu

As you might have guessed, Okatsu is another possessed boss, similar to Honda. However, unlike Honda, you can't break any crystals to free her. You'll have to defeat her the old-fashioned way.

Being a ninja, Okatsu is incredibly fast and agile. She'll zip around, unleash quick combos, and then try to disengage. The trick here, like with many Revenant fights, is to punish her attacks. She has low Ki, so after she finishes a combo, you can often get in a few hits or even a Grapple and Finishing Attack.

Strategy:

• Master Her Range: You really need to learn the exact range of her attacks. This is crucial for baiting her into combos and then punishing her safely.
• Punish Combos: Once you've learned her attack patterns, wait for her to finish a combo, then quickly counter-attack.
• Exploit Low Ki: She has very little Ki, so prolonged engagements where you're constantly pressuring her will drain it quickly, leaving her vulnerable to grapples and heavy attacks.
• Be Patient: Don't get greedy. It's better to get a few safe hits in than to overcommit and take a massive combo yourself.

Tip: Keep an eye on her movements. Her agility is her greatest strength, but it also means she can be predictable if you focus on her patterns.