What to know
- Mezuki is an optional early boss, not part of the main mission path.
- The Soul Core offers both a devastating summon and a high-damage Yin talisman.
- Cutting Blast scales extremely well early, outperforming many Onmyo options.
- You can obtain it very early with careful positioning and patience.
In Nioh 3, not all Soul Cores are created equal, and Mezuki’s Soul Core stands out because it offers two distinct combat advantages depending on how you equip it. When placed in the Yang position, it becomes a powerful Yokai summon with wide-reaching physical damage. When placed in the Yin position, it transforms into the Cutting Blast Talisman, a ranged shockwave attack capable of deleting enemy Ki and health bars alike.
This flexibility makes Mezuki’s Soul Core one of the most efficient power spikes you can obtain early in the game, especially for players who want reliable damage without committing fully to a magic-focused build.
| Feature | Effect | Why it matters early |
|---|---|---|
| Yang position | Wide cleaving Yokai summon | Clears groups, staggers elites |
| Yin position | Cutting Blast Talisman | Huge ranged burst damage |
| Damage type | Physical + Ki damage | Effective on most enemies |
| Ease of access | Optional early boss | Power spike before midgame |
| Crowd control | Strong knockback | Safer positioning in fights |
Location of Mezuki in Nioh 3
To obtain the Soul Core, you must defeat Mezuki in an optional boss encounter. This fight is not marked as mandatory, making it easy to miss if you follow only the critical path.
From the world map, fast-travel to the Akita Ferry. From there, follow the side path shown during the mission, leading away from the main route. This path eventually opens into a clearing where Mezuki awaits.
The game offers little warning before the fight begins, so entering the clearing unprepared can be dangerous, especially at low levels.
What makes the Mezuki fight dangerous early
Mezuki is designed to punish careless aggression. Its attacks are wide, heavy-hitting, and capable of draining Ki rapidly. However, the arena itself provides natural environmental barriers, which are key to surviving the encounter early.
Large objects and terrain edges can be used to block charge attacks and reset spacing, allowing you to recover Ki safely. Rather than trading blows, success comes from controlled damage and patience.
How to defeat Mezuki to get Soul Core
Step 1: Control the arena
Position yourself so that terrain objects sit between you and Mezuki. This reduces the risk of sudden rush attacks and gives you time to react.
Step 2: Focus on Ki damage
Mezuki becomes dramatically more vulnerable once its Ki (key) is depleted. Prioritize attacks and abilities that drain Ki rather than raw health.
Step 3: Punish exhaustion windows
Once Mezuki’s Ki breaks, unload your strongest attacks. These windows are short but decisive, often allowing you to remove massive chunks of health.
Do not overextend. Mezuki’s recovery attacks can quickly turn a winning exchange into a death if you chase damage recklessly.
What you get from the Mezuki Soul Core
Defeating Mezuki rewards you with its Soul Core, immediately unlocking two powerful playstyle options.
When used as a Yang summon, Mezuki performs a large, sweeping cleave that hits in a wide arc, knocking enemies back and interrupting attacks. This makes it excellent for crowd control and emergency pressure relief.
As a Yin-position talisman, it unlocks the Cutting Blast Talisman, which is where the Soul Core truly shines.
Why Cutting Blast Talisman is insanely strong
Cutting Blast releases forward-traveling energy waves that deal heavy physical damage at range. Unlike many early talismans, it does not rely heavily on Onmyo scaling, meaning even melee-focused builds can achieve impressive results.
The attack excels at:
- Stripping enemy Ki
- Hitting multiple targets in a line
- Safely damaging bosses from mid-range
Early-game enemies often lack resistance to this type of pressure, allowing Cutting Blast to outperform traditional weapons in many encounters.
Yang vs Yin: best way to use Mezuki Soul Core
| Slot position | Ability gained | Best use case |
|---|---|---|
| Yang position | Mezuki summon | Crowd control, panic button |
| Yin position | Cutting Blast Talisman | Boss damage, safe burst DPS |
Many players choose to keep Mezuki in Yin for Cutting Blast while relying on other Soul Cores for summoning, maximizing damage output without sacrificing flexibility.
Build synergy and progression value
Mezuki’s Soul Core remains useful well beyond the early game. Cutting Blast scales smoothly into midgame content, and the summon continues to offer reliable stagger and space control. It pairs exceptionally well with Ki-focused melee builds and players who favor methodical, safe combat.
Because it requires no heavy stat investment, Mezuki’s Soul Core fits into nearly any build, making it one of the most universally valuable pickups in Nioh 3’s opening hours.
Mezuki Soul Core as a tactic
If you’re looking for an early-game damage spike, Mezuki’s Soul Core is one of the best investments you can make in Nioh 3. The optional boss fight is challenging but fair, and the reward—especially the Cutting Blast Talisman—can reshape how you approach combat for hours to come.
Master the fight, equip the core wisely, and you’ll gain access to one of the strongest and most flexible tools available early in the game.
