Nioh 2 has only been out for about a week, and it is already being compared to classic titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceand the Demon’s Souls/Dark Souls games. This, of course, means the game is incredibly challenging yet also uncommonly rewarding when a player “gits gud.”
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The game uses the familiar tiered mission set-up, where future missions are unlocked by completing the currently available missions.In addition to the main missions, there are also numerous side quests, with a good number of these missions being hidden. Some are hidden in plain sight and require the player to merely be observant. Others are well hidden and can be missed very easily, even by the most vigilant of players.
10 The Aberrant Mage
This side quest can be easy to miss as there are two requirements the player must fulfill for it to begin. The player must have completed "The Sun Sets on Mount Tenno" mission and alsokilled ten Onmyo Mages – two of which can be found during "The Sun Sets on Mount Tenno."
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To add to this, during the mission the player will need to find a key to progress. There is some decent loot once this quest is completed; notably the Smithing Text: Sacred Ash and the Onmyo Mage’s Lock (of hair), which gives an Onmyo skill point. The recommended level for this mission is 68.
9 A Prayer In The Moonlight
Initiatingthis side quest requirescompleting both the "Ruin Draws Near" and "Scattered Fragments" quests. There is another requirement once the quest starts, as the player needs to summon Yamanaka Shikanosuke.
To do this, the player needs to head to the Blue Benevolent Grave and request assistance from Yamanaka Shikanosuke. The katana named Sekishu Kazusada is included in the loot for completing this quest. There are better katanas, but it has decent strength and 999 favorability. The recommended level for this quest is 76.
8 Restless Spirits
This side quest comes much later in Nioh 2 and can be missed if the player does not know how to meet the requirements. During the side quest titled "The Shiftling’s Wise Judgement," the player is given the choice of two characters to recruit.
Players must choose Shibata Katsuie (the one with the hatchets) becausethey will need to talk to him later and he'll refuse if not recruited. During the "Pervading Waters" side quest,playersneed to speak with Shibata to recruit him again.
After completing this quest, the player will be able to speak with Shibata again in the Interm (the grey icon on the bottom of the world map). This side quest involves waves of Yokai followed by a boss fight; its recommended level is 104.
7 The Scented Letter
To find this hidden side quest the player must first complete the "Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo" quest. After this, the player must go to the Interm and speak with Azai Negamasa and Takenaka Hanbei fully (explore all dialogue branches). "The Scented Letter" has the player clearing shrines of Yokai and has a recommended level of 103.
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To complete this quest the player must find Nine Tails and pick up the item she drops, the Cherry Blossom Chapbook. There is some other nice loot as well, like Imakomei’s gear (waist guard, greaves, and gauntlets). The Cherry Blossom Chapbook is required for the next side quest.
6 Yaksha Returns
This side quest requirescompleting the "Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo" questand also the Cherry Blossom Chapbook described above. Once these two prerequisites have been met, the player can speak to Azai Nagamasa in the Interm to start this quest.
The quest then consists of a single boss fight against Azai Nagamasa. The loot is not bad, awarding four pieces of the Saruyasha's Valor set. This is enough of the set to give a nice boost to Anima and the Amrita Gauge. The recommended level for this quest is 104.
5 Masters Of The Three Evils
"Masters of the Three Evils" has three prerequisites that must be satisfied before it becomes available. The first two are completing the "Pervading Waters" and "The Refined Man of the Underworld" quests. The third requirement is that the player’s character must be a master at using dual blades, which requires a 180,000 level proficiency.
This is another side quest that is comprised of a single boss fight, but this is the first time the player will have encountered Matsunaga Hisahide. Matsunaga will lunge at the player at the start of the battle, so dodge this attack or he will inflict significant damage.
4 Japanese Heart, Yokai Smarts
This quest has similar requirements as the "Restless Spirits" mission. This time around, instead of recruiting Shibata Katsuie, the player must recruit Hachisuka Koroku and complete the quest with him. Speak to Hachisuka instead of Shibata at the Interm and explore all his available dialogue branches.
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This side quest is, again, just a single boss –this time against Hachisuka. While the player can fight him as the game intended, there is an exploit that makes him extremely easy. The recommended level for this quest is 102.
3 Restoring Harmony
This is another side quest that requires having already finished the "Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo" quest. The player needs to head to the Interm and speak to everybody, making sure to complete all dialogue branches.
Eventually, someone will give this quest to the player to complete. This mission consists of a boss fight; the same boss (Ryomen Sukuna) that was fought during the "The Sun Sets on Mount Tenno" main quest. This boss fight can be difficult forthose that haven’t yet mastered performing burst counters. Players are advised to be at around level 100 for this quest.
2 Dark Omens
While this awesome quest isn’t too hidden, it is at the start of the game, so playersmight still be getting used to the game’s mechanics. At the beginning of this quest,players will encounter a locked door, with no apparent means of getting through.
In response,players must go around and try to get to the door from the other side. This quest has many firsts; it is the first time the player will encounter a one-eyed Yokai and a Tengu Yokai. Tengu Yokai are bird warriors and are better known as Kenku (a name familiar to D&D players) in the West. This quest’s recommended level is 13.
1 Stray Cats
This quest has two prerequisites to activate. The first requirement, complete "The High-Spirited Demon" quest, is simple enough. However, the secondtakes some time to satisfy, as the player must pet thirty Scampuss.
Scampuss are the cute little cat-like creatures the player encounters from time to time. Once petted, they will join the player for a few minutes and aid them in battle. There is a Scampuss near the start of the "Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo" quest. The player must wait until the Scampuss leaves to get credit for having petted it. The recommended level is 90, and there is some nice loot to be found.
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