What to know
- Flash Attack unlocks after completing early Way of the Warrior training missions.
- You must access the Battle Scroll at a shrine to start the required dojo missions.
- Completing “Way of the Warrior: Novice” unlocks harder tiers that lead to Flash Attack.
- The skill must be purchased with Samurai Points in the Martial Arts tree.
In Nioh 3, weapon switching is more than a utility feature. With the right skills, it becomes an offensive tool. Flash Attack is one of the most important early Martial Arts unlocks for Samurai builds because it turns weapon swapping into an immediate strike opportunity.
Instead of disengaging when you change weapons, Flash Attack allows you to maintain aggression and chain momentum seamlessly.
What Flash Attack actually does in Nioh 3
Flash Attack is a Martial Art skill that triggers a quick offensive action when switching weapons under specific timing conditions.
For Samurai builds, the activation typically occurs when you:
- Perform a successful Ki Pulse
- Immediately switch weapons
- Trigger the Flash Attack strike during the swap animation
This transforms weapon switching from a neutral reset into a damage extension tool.
| Attribute | Effect |
|---|---|
| Skill Type | Martial Art (Samurai Tree) |
| Activation Condition | Weapon switch after Ki Pulse |
| Combat Role | Combo extension + pressure |
| Scaling | Based on equipped weapon stats |
Community testing and gameplay discussions consistently show that Flash Attack reduces downtime between combos, making it especially valuable in Ki-pressure builds.
How to unlock Flash Attack in Nioh 3
Flash Attack does not appear automatically in your skill tree. It becomes available after progressing through Samurai training missions accessible at shrines. To begin the unlock process, you must first interact with a shrine and open the Battle Scroll menu. From there, you will see dojo-style missions under the “Way of the Warrior” category.
The key mission progression starts with “Way of the Warrior: Novice.”
| Required Progression | Result |
|---|---|
| Complete Way of the Warrior: Novice | Unlock harder Warrior missions |
| Clear additional Warrior tiers | Unlock Flash Attack availability |
| Spend Samurai Point | Activate Flash Attack |
After completing the Novice mission, harder variants appear. You must defeat at least a couple of these advanced Warrior missions before Flash Attack becomes purchasable in the Samurai Martial Arts tree.
Step 1
Travel to any shrine and hold the interact key to pray.
Step 2
Access the Battle Scroll from the shrine interface.
Step 3
Select and complete “Way of the Warrior: Novice.”
Step 4
After clearing Novice, complete the newly unlocked harder Warrior missions.
Step 5
Return to your Samurai Martial Arts skill tree.
Step 6
Spend 1 Samurai Point to unlock Flash Attack.
Once unlocked, the skill becomes available for use and can be upgraded depending on progression.
Samurai vs Ninja Flash Attack
Flash Attack also exists in the Ninja tree, but its unlock path differs.
| Version | Unlock Mission | Skill Tree |
|---|---|---|
| Samurai Flash Attack | Way of the Warrior progression | Samurai Martial Arts |
| Ninja Flash Attack | Way of the Ninja: Adept | Ninja Martial Arts |
The Ninja version activates under different mechanics, often tied to evasive triggers like Mist-style activations.
However, the Samurai version remains the most commonly used due to its synergy with Ki Pulse-based combat.
Why Flash Attack is important for high-level play
Nioh 3 combat rewards fluid transitions. Flash Attack bridges weapon swaps and offensive flow, allowing you to:
- Extend combos
- Maintain Ki pressure
- Transition between weapon types without losing tempo
- Punish enemies after Ki breaks
| Combat Scenario | Flash Attack Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Ki Pulse Swap | High damage extension |
| Ki Break Punish | Strong follow-up |
| Burst Counter Follow-Up | Maintains aggression |
| Defensive Reset | Less valuable |
In high-level content, losing tempo during weapon swaps can create vulnerability. Flash Attack eliminates that weakness.
Integration into combo structure
Once unlocked, Flash Attack fits naturally into Ki Pulse loops.
A typical flow might look like:
Primary combo → Ki Pulse → Weapon switch → Flash Attack strike → Continue pressure.
This mechanic is especially effective when alternating between weapons with different strengths, such as switching from a heavy stagger weapon to a faster follow-up weapon.
Community discussions on combat optimization frequently highlight Flash Attack as one of the first “mandatory” Martial Arts pickups for aggressive Samurai builds.
Skill investment and scaling
Flash Attack costs 1 Samurai Point to unlock, but leveling Martial Arts in the Samurai tree improves its scaling and integration.
| Investment Type | Impact |
|---|---|
| Base Unlock | Enables ability |
| Samurai Skill Investment | Improves damage scaling |
| Weapon Level | Influences total output |
Because it scales with weapon attack values, upgrading your gear directly enhances Flash Attack’s effectiveness.
When Flash Attack becomes available
Flash Attack typically unlocks relatively early once you engage with dojo content. Players who ignore Battle Scroll missions may miss it for several hours of gameplay.
This is why shrine interaction and dojo progression are crucial for unlocking core combat tools.
Mastering Flash Attack in Nioh 3
To unlock Flash Attack in Nioh 3, visit a shrine, access the Battle Scroll, complete Way of the Warrior: Novice, progress through the harder Warrior missions that appear, and then purchase Flash Attack with a Samurai Point in the Martial Arts tree.
Once unlocked, Flash Attack transforms weapon switching into an offensive extension rather than a downtime mechanic. It increases combo fluidity, improves pressure, and strengthens Ki-based combat strategies.
If you’re playing a Samurai-focused build, unlocking Flash Attack early will noticeably improve your combat flow and offensive consistency.
