Part 157

Learn how to defeat Honda Tadakatsu, the spear-wielding boss in Nioh's 'The Champion of the East' mission. Master his moves and emerge victorious!

Alright, let's talk about Part 157, which dives into the boss fight against Honda Tadakatsu in the mission 'The Champion of the East'. Think of him as a tougher version of those spear-wielding Revenants you've already faced. He's got some nasty tricks up his sleeve, but nothing we can't handle.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Honda Tadakatsu is a spear user.
• He favors High and Medium Stances, making his strong, wide attacks dangerous.
• He doesn't utilize Low Stance effectively.
• His 'Shinka Heal' move grants him a massive Regen effect (600+ HP/sec) and must be stopped.

Phases:

1. Opening: Buff yourself up with Talismans, Pills, or Magic. Then, hit Honda in the face with a ranged weapon like a Rifle or Cannon to stagger him, allowing for a quick Final Strike. This gives you a great head start.
2. Mid-Fight: Focus on dodging. The key is to always be ready to dodge to your right. This will help you evade most of his regular spear thrusts and special attacks, except for his area-of-effect moves. His 'Spear Dash' attack requires precise timing; wait for the spear to glow before dashing or rolling right.
3. Healing Interruption: The most critical part of this fight is stopping his 'Shinka Heal' move. When he starts this, you need to interrupt it immediately to prevent him from healing a huge chunk of health.
4. Punishing Openings: After dodging his attacks, you'll have opportunities to counter-attack. Be patient and strike when it's safe.

Strategy:

• Dodge Right: Make dodging to the right your default reaction. It's incredibly effective against his attacks.
• Watch for Spear Dash: Time your dodge for his 'Spear Dash' carefully – wait for the visual cue of the spear glowing.
• Interrupt Shinka Heal: This is non-negotiable. If you let him heal, the fight becomes much harder. Be aggressive when he tries to use it.
• Ranged Advantage: Use your Rifle or Cannon at the start to get an edge. If you can maintain distance safely, poke him with long-range attacks when possible.
• Use the Environment (if applicable): The source mentions pillars in a dojo setting for other spear users, which can be used to get away and heal or use items. While not explicitly stated for Honda, keep environmental cover in mind if available.
• Manage Ki: Like any fight, keep an eye on your Ki. Don't get caught with an empty bar when you need to dodge.
• Stance Awareness: Since he favors High and Medium stances, be prepared for sweeping and powerful overhead attacks. His lack of Low Stance effectiveness means you might have an advantage if you can bait him into predictable patterns.
• Fire Effect (from previous context): If you encounter the 'Spirit Summon' attack (where he summons Enko and applies a fire effect), be aware that this makes his weapon more dangerous. If you get hit by the fire, roll around to put it out faster.

By managing his healing, dodging effectively, and punishing his openings, you'll overcome Honda Tadakatsu and prove yourself 'The Champion of the East'!