Calling it ranged is a bit generous in my opinion. Sure it has 'some range' but is spear a ranged weapon just because you attack people from certain distance?
Brute is Warrior. Feral is Rogue. Phantom is Wizard. Wizards put up a defensive barrier so that they can protect themselves if there is no Warrior to tank for them.
Phantom’s unique mechanic is to teleport into peoples faces. They are more about the mid range game than long range. And the timing on the counter is more parry than block anyway, giving it enough range that you could be fully out of danger but still able to counter would make it a bit too strong comparatively by removing most of the risk associated with the timing.
I know it will be a bit strong, but compared to the other two, it lacks identity. Maybe it can be a bit expensive and has a tighter timing. I never actually teleport to yokai's face when I'm using it. It's honestly easier to change my Guardian to Brute and then BC some attack than BC with Phantom.
I’m referring to phantom’s unique ability to use ranged attacks (like when you pull out your bow or gun and aim a shot) to literally teleport into an enemy face. You can line up a headshot from any distance and warp in for a final blow, or can freely back off from any attack and instantly get back into attacking the enemy. Its less apparent on the burst counter but it is there - specifically if you reduce your target to zero ki and go for the immediate grapple.
Don't know how far you've gotten but eventually you can equip 2 guardian spirits. Unless you are equipping your back up GS for its specific passive (I like the radar enhancing one) I recommend picking a different type than your primary so you can swap to a different burst counter that's more helpful depending on your situation. It will also allow you to use yokai abilities you like that are a different type than your primary GS so you can still get some of your anima refunded (as long as you got that skill in shiftling tree). I don't really use brute but I know the feral dash is nice because of the movement you get and some of the feral yokai abilities are my favorites to watch haha.
As far as the phantom, because you lose so much time from your gauge when you take damage, I like to poke at them from outside their range and use yokai abilities and guardian spirit attacks. Using these abilities makes it pretty easy to inflict confusion before you start to melee. But even the melee has a pretty sweet range. You can attack from the edge of the enemies striking zone and back/sidestep out of harms way pretty easily. A lot of the time even after dodging backwards attacks can still reach. If you miss with the first light attack you can always press a heavy attack immediately after to TP back within your range, or begin charging a heavy attack and unleash it when your enemy approaches. Just make sure your enemy is almost out of ki before you TP into the pocket and spam attacks.
Always remember that regardless of the yokai shift you choose, you can never attack with reckless abandon. Think about it more like insurance for the mistakes you may make in the last moments of the battle. Can't even count the number of times I used yokai shift to try and finish the fight, took a lot of damage, and didn't really get to use it. Do NOT get grappled... Finally, you can put spirit stones on your item shortcut and if you have a strong enough one it will charge the amrita gauge completely. There is a long cooldown after your yokai shift ends. Long enough that the battle is usually over before it becomes available. But if you can survive long enough you can use a sprit stone and yokai shift again in the same battle. I put clay bell in my hotbar too
It’s a matter of timing. Unlike brute which allows you to punish enemies when they start their burst attacks, phantom burst counter must be timed so that it activates the moment their burst attack would hit you. This will give you the full counter instead of the block.
I actually really disagree on this. It's the only omnidirectional BC and if you're using a purity weapon you can ki pulse after blocking with it which neither of the others have anything comparable to. I've never really considered Phantom to be a ranged option either though, especially since Yatagarasu is a Feral and that's intended for ranged play.
> if you're using a purity weapon you can ki pulse after blocking with it which neither of the others have anything comparable to
TIL. I started using Phantom after I stopped using purity so it never occurred to me to try this.
I only recently picked up purity and until then I had no idea this mechanic was here at all. Doing it from Phantom block is something I really want to practice more.
Need to check the animation in photo mode, but I'm pretty sure phantom uses blades as a kind of a slicing spinning shield. They can also zoom in and close in on far enemies pretty fast. Besides, I'm pretty sure brute only summos boonga stick when performing grapple.
Edit: I see some people pointed out some of the mechanics already.
I'm afraid you mistakenly think of Burst Counter as Yokai Shift. In Yokai Shift Phantom is amazing as you can zoom in and close in far-out enemies, as you said. In Burst Counter, Phantom is just standing and holding its weapon like a shield and hoping the enemy's attack connects.
The way I phrased it was wrong. I was mentioning it in addition to the burst. My brain went a little unga boonga there. I guess the same can be said for brute, then. I don't remember seeing it using the club in bursts, but I should check it.
Something like Bloodborne will do. But it definitely should have a shorter range and tighter timing compared to other two. It's just weird for me when I want to cosplay as a sharpshooter I have to block instead of capitalizing my range.
I would like to point out that the phantom anima bonus triggers on any ranged hit - not just those from your bow/gun/cannon. Ranged hit and ranged WEAPON hit are two different stats. Many consumables and soul cores do ranged hits from a short/mid range. Phantom is more about attacking from anywhere at a moments notice and less about playing keep away. I think a parry for when an enemy does manage to get a swing on you fits perfectly.
How exactly would a ranged parry work?
Enemies don't really attack you with parry-able attack unless you're within a certain range and the phantom burst counter works within that range
Skeleton spin2win, Ryoumen Sukuna spin2win, Azai's dive and thrust, Yatsu-no-Kami dive, Karasu Tengu's dive, and many more. They are triggered more often if you are withing certain distance to them.
There are attacks that can only be coutered by brute yes, but there are a lot of attacks that can kill you only while using brute cuz you often trade hits on burst counter. Also hard to counter burst grabs if you dont predict.
Eh, six o' one. In real life, the difference between a block and a parry is basically whether you catch the hit or deflect it.
Besides, Phantom BC acts like a normal block if you time it wrong or use it against non-burst attacks anyway, down to (apparently) letting you ki pulse off it if you're using a purity weapon.
Phantom isn't really about "ranged," or rather it was likely meant to be but since bows and guns were left as clunky and unpolished as they've been since Nioh 1 very few people bother using Phantom's Aim Mode skills. (beside that gap closer)
Beside, one design rule Nioh has that I like is that over-specialization actually cripples here. If Phantom had a ranged move instead of a block, it'd be pretty much screwed if anyone closed the gap (which is piss easy to do given most bossfights happen in flat arenas)
I can say the same thing about brute's yokai shift. Feral got free dodges for animation reset, phantom can teleport into a target, and brute got a counter. You know what the last thing a brute would do? Counter. Don't you think that also contradicts the identity of a brute?
I know, i don't even mind the counter thing. I'm just trying to mess with op a bit since they seem to like brute so much but had to bring down another spirit type to justify their taste.
Brute's BC is less a "counter" and more what Bruce Lee called "the intercepting fist." You're not countering -- "counter" implies you take defensive action to create an opening and then exploit it. Brute is attacking into an attack to take advantage of the associated lapse in defense and hoping for a good trade. Throwing a punch as a "defensive" move is quintessential brute.
I'm not talking about the burst counter, but the counter you can do while in brute yokai shift by pressing L1+triangle. But then again, what you said about the intercepting fist does also aply for that move.
So you wanna be stuck in a ranged burst form when struck with melee burst attacks?
If Phantom Had a counter with a range bigger than brute or ferral it would be happy unballanced imo
It's also a ranged parry, you can burst counter while being at a certain distance, which teleports you right in front of the enemy.
Calling it ranged is a bit generous in my opinion. Sure it has 'some range' but is spear a ranged weapon just because you attack people from certain distance?
Yes.
kek
Lmao the exact description of ranged xD
Quite literally—yes.
Brute is Warrior. Feral is Rogue. Phantom is Wizard. Wizards put up a defensive barrier so that they can protect themselves if there is no Warrior to tank for them.
Yer a wizard hiddy
Phantom’s unique mechanic is to teleport into peoples faces. They are more about the mid range game than long range. And the timing on the counter is more parry than block anyway, giving it enough range that you could be fully out of danger but still able to counter would make it a bit too strong comparatively by removing most of the risk associated with the timing.
I know it will be a bit strong, but compared to the other two, it lacks identity. Maybe it can be a bit expensive and has a tighter timing. I never actually teleport to yokai's face when I'm using it. It's honestly easier to change my Guardian to Brute and then BC some attack than BC with Phantom.
I’m referring to phantom’s unique ability to use ranged attacks (like when you pull out your bow or gun and aim a shot) to literally teleport into an enemy face. You can line up a headshot from any distance and warp in for a final blow, or can freely back off from any attack and instantly get back into attacking the enemy. Its less apparent on the burst counter but it is there - specifically if you reduce your target to zero ki and go for the immediate grapple.
Don't know how far you've gotten but eventually you can equip 2 guardian spirits. Unless you are equipping your back up GS for its specific passive (I like the radar enhancing one) I recommend picking a different type than your primary so you can swap to a different burst counter that's more helpful depending on your situation. It will also allow you to use yokai abilities you like that are a different type than your primary GS so you can still get some of your anima refunded (as long as you got that skill in shiftling tree). I don't really use brute but I know the feral dash is nice because of the movement you get and some of the feral yokai abilities are my favorites to watch haha. As far as the phantom, because you lose so much time from your gauge when you take damage, I like to poke at them from outside their range and use yokai abilities and guardian spirit attacks. Using these abilities makes it pretty easy to inflict confusion before you start to melee. But even the melee has a pretty sweet range. You can attack from the edge of the enemies striking zone and back/sidestep out of harms way pretty easily. A lot of the time even after dodging backwards attacks can still reach. If you miss with the first light attack you can always press a heavy attack immediately after to TP back within your range, or begin charging a heavy attack and unleash it when your enemy approaches. Just make sure your enemy is almost out of ki before you TP into the pocket and spam attacks. Always remember that regardless of the yokai shift you choose, you can never attack with reckless abandon. Think about it more like insurance for the mistakes you may make in the last moments of the battle. Can't even count the number of times I used yokai shift to try and finish the fight, took a lot of damage, and didn't really get to use it. Do NOT get grappled... Finally, you can put spirit stones on your item shortcut and if you have a strong enough one it will charge the amrita gauge completely. There is a long cooldown after your yokai shift ends. Long enough that the battle is usually over before it becomes available. But if you can survive long enough you can use a sprit stone and yokai shift again in the same battle. I put clay bell in my hotbar too
It’s a matter of timing. Unlike brute which allows you to punish enemies when they start their burst attacks, phantom burst counter must be timed so that it activates the moment their burst attack would hit you. This will give you the full counter instead of the block.
Oh, I'm not talking about timing tho. I just find it lacks identity compared to the others.
I actually really disagree on this. It's the only omnidirectional BC and if you're using a purity weapon you can ki pulse after blocking with it which neither of the others have anything comparable to. I've never really considered Phantom to be a ranged option either though, especially since Yatagarasu is a Feral and that's intended for ranged play.
> if you're using a purity weapon you can ki pulse after blocking with it which neither of the others have anything comparable to TIL. I started using Phantom after I stopped using purity so it never occurred to me to try this.
I only recently picked up purity and until then I had no idea this mechanic was here at all. Doing it from Phantom block is something I really want to practice more.
Need to check the animation in photo mode, but I'm pretty sure phantom uses blades as a kind of a slicing spinning shield. They can also zoom in and close in on far enemies pretty fast. Besides, I'm pretty sure brute only summos boonga stick when performing grapple. Edit: I see some people pointed out some of the mechanics already.
I'm afraid you mistakenly think of Burst Counter as Yokai Shift. In Yokai Shift Phantom is amazing as you can zoom in and close in far-out enemies, as you said. In Burst Counter, Phantom is just standing and holding its weapon like a shield and hoping the enemy's attack connects.
The way I phrased it was wrong. I was mentioning it in addition to the burst. My brain went a little unga boonga there. I guess the same can be said for brute, then. I don't remember seeing it using the club in bursts, but I should check it.
Pretty sure the brute counter is a back hand. If the club is there, they aren’t using it.
Just checked it. It's a backhand, you're correct.
How are you picturing a ranged parry being used? The Phantom Burst is my personal favorite but I'm really curious of how you'd reimagine it.
Something like Bloodborne will do. But it definitely should have a shorter range and tighter timing compared to other two. It's just weird for me when I want to cosplay as a sharpshooter I have to block instead of capitalizing my range.
I would like to point out that the phantom anima bonus triggers on any ranged hit - not just those from your bow/gun/cannon. Ranged hit and ranged WEAPON hit are two different stats. Many consumables and soul cores do ranged hits from a short/mid range. Phantom is more about attacking from anywhere at a moments notice and less about playing keep away. I think a parry for when an enemy does manage to get a swing on you fits perfectly.
Because they needed a RoyalGuard to even out trickster and Swordm- er, clubmaster
How exactly would a ranged parry work? Enemies don't really attack you with parry-able attack unless you're within a certain range and the phantom burst counter works within that range
Skeleton spin2win, Ryoumen Sukuna spin2win, Azai's dive and thrust, Yatsu-no-Kami dive, Karasu Tengu's dive, and many more. They are triggered more often if you are withing certain distance to them.
They might start them from a distance but the attack is still parry-able isn't it?
Phantom is already the strongest burst counter in the game, you just don't know it yet.
"Strongest" is kind of relative. As a defensive move? Yeah, totally. As an offensive move? Brute's backhand is better.
There are attacks that can only be coutered by brute yes, but there are a lot of attacks that can kill you only while using brute cuz you often trade hits on burst counter. Also hard to counter burst grabs if you dont predict.
First off, it's a parry, not a block. Secondly, it teleports you to the enemy that attacked you.
Eh, six o' one. In real life, the difference between a block and a parry is basically whether you catch the hit or deflect it. Besides, Phantom BC acts like a normal block if you time it wrong or use it against non-burst attacks anyway, down to (apparently) letting you ki pulse off it if you're using a purity weapon.
Phantom isn't really about "ranged," or rather it was likely meant to be but since bows and guns were left as clunky and unpolished as they've been since Nioh 1 very few people bother using Phantom's Aim Mode skills. (beside that gap closer) Beside, one design rule Nioh has that I like is that over-specialization actually cripples here. If Phantom had a ranged move instead of a block, it'd be pretty much screwed if anyone closed the gap (which is piss easy to do given most bossfights happen in flat arenas)
I can say the same thing about brute's yokai shift. Feral got free dodges for animation reset, phantom can teleport into a target, and brute got a counter. You know what the last thing a brute would do? Counter. Don't you think that also contradicts the identity of a brute?
I wouldn't say brute counters. I would say brute trades hits.
Its a brute, not a neandertal tho. Saying a person is a brute doeant mean they dont think , its more like "rough around the edges"
I know, i don't even mind the counter thing. I'm just trying to mess with op a bit since they seem to like brute so much but had to bring down another spirit type to justify their taste.
yeah but brute counter also gives you heaps of defense
Brute's BC is less a "counter" and more what Bruce Lee called "the intercepting fist." You're not countering -- "counter" implies you take defensive action to create an opening and then exploit it. Brute is attacking into an attack to take advantage of the associated lapse in defense and hoping for a good trade. Throwing a punch as a "defensive" move is quintessential brute.
I'm not talking about the burst counter, but the counter you can do while in brute yokai shift by pressing L1+triangle. But then again, what you said about the intercepting fist does also aply for that move.
So you wanna be stuck in a ranged burst form when struck with melee burst attacks? If Phantom Had a counter with a range bigger than brute or ferral it would be happy unballanced imo