Part 144

Master the tricky Part 144 of Nioh! Get expert tips and strategies for defeating Honda Tadakatsu and Okatsu in 'The Defiled Castle' mission. Don't get impaled!

Alright, let's dive into Part 144 of our Nioh journey. This section covers some tricky boss encounters from 'The Defiled Castle' mission, so buckle up!

First off, we've got some general info on the Ogress. If she grabs you, she'll impale you, toss you, slash you a few times, and then hit you away. It's four moderate attacks in total. You can dodge the initial grab pretty easily by dodging away, but even if you get caught, you should be okay unless you're already really low on health. Keep an eye out for her 'Flower Sprouts' move, which might happen when her Ki is low. She'll make red flowers appear around the arena that eventually sprout, leaving behind patches of the Yokai Realm. These flowers stick around for a bit, so be mindful of where you step.

BOSS ENCOUNTER: HONDA TADAKATSU

Okay, so for Honda Tadakatsu in 'The Defiled Castle,' this fight is a bit of a gimmick. You *can* fight him head-on, but there's a much faster way using the environment. Plus, you'll actually fight him properly later on, so don't stress about mastering a direct confrontation here.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• The key to this fight is destroying the three PURPLE CRYSTALS scattered around the arena.

Phases:

1. Destroying the Crystals: Honda will try to stop you by flinging boulders or charging. If you're buffed up, you can take down each ground crystal in about two attack combos.
2. The Upper Crystal: After dealing with the two 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.

Strategy:

• Preparation is Key: Buff yourself up before engaging. A Sloth Talisman is highly recommended, or at least some Attack Pills. This makes destroying the crystals much faster.
• Positioning: Try to position yourself between Honda and the crystal you're targeting.
• Persistence Pays Off: Even if you die, any crystal you destroy stays destroyed. You could technically win this fight by dying and destroying one crystal per life, but it's unlikely to come to that.

BOSS ENCOUNTER: OKATSU

Next up is Okatsu, also from 'The Defiled Castle.' Unlike Honda, you can't break any crystals to snap her out of her possessed state. You'll have to defeat her directly.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Okatsu is extremely agile and moves quickly.
• She has low Ki, making her vulnerable after attacking.

Phases:

1. Agile Combos: Okatsu will launch quick combos and then try to disengage.
2. Punishing Openings: Her lack of Ki after attacking is your main opening.

Strategy:

• Master Her Range: You really need to learn the range of her attacks to effectively punish her.
• Bait and Punish: Bait out her attacks, dodge them, and then get in your own hits.
• Utilize Grapples: When she's low on Ki, you can often land a grapple for a Finishing Attack.