- What to know
- Nioh 3 Double Edged Arts details
- Location of Double Edged Arts skill in Nioh 3
- How to get Double Edged Arts from merchant
- How Double Edged Arts functions in combat
- Why is Double Edged Arts considered one of the strongest proficiency-based skills
- Unlocking Double Edged Arts for maximum proficiency damage
What to know
- Double Edged Arts grants +20% damage to Strong and Martial Arts attacks.
- All boosted attacks become guaranteed critical hits while active.
- You take 30% more incoming damage when it is enabled.
- It is obtained from Sudama in Firefly Forest (Warring States region).
In Nioh 3, few skills embody the game’s risk-versus-reward philosophy as strongly as Double Edged Arts. Designed primarily for Samurai-focused builds, this Mastery dramatically increases offensive output when your proficiency is active. However, the power spike comes with a serious defensive penalty, forcing you to balance aggression with survivability.
Nioh 3 Double Edged Arts details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Skill Name | Double Edged Arts |
| Region | Warring States |
| Fast Travel | Firefly Forest |
| Vendor | Sudama (Island of Merchants cave) |
| Effect | +20% damage to Strong & Martial Arts attacks |
| Additional Bonus | Guaranteed critical hits while active |
| Drawback | +30% incoming damage taken |
This skill is not found in a chest or dropped by a boss. Instead, it is acquired through an exchange with a merchant NPC, making it a progression investment rather than a combat reward.
Location of Double Edged Arts skill in Nioh 3
To obtain Double Edged Arts, travel to the Warring States region, which is the first major map in the game. From there, fast travel to Firefly Forest. This area contains dense woodland terrain and branching paths that lead toward the Island of Merchants.
On the Island of Merchants, you will find a cave housing a merchant named Sudama. Unlike standard shop vendors, Sudama trades specific rare items. In this case, you must exchange Yo-kai Tear Drops to acquire the Double Edged Arts skill.
Because the skill is tied to a vendor exchange rather than a one-time loot pickup, you must ensure you have sufficient Yo-kai Tear Drops before traveling.
How to get Double Edged Arts from merchant
Step 1
Fast travel to Firefly Forest in the Warring States region. Prepare for standard enemy resistance while navigating forest paths.
Step 2
Proceed through the area toward the Island of Merchants. This section may require clearing enemies along narrow terrain and elevated paths.
Step 3
Locate the cave containing Sudama, the merchant NPC who handles rare exchanges.
Step 4
Interact with Sudama and exchange Yo-kai Tear Drops for the Double Edged Arts skill.
Step 5
Open your Skill Management menu and allocate the skill within your Mastery setup, ensuring you have enough skill capacity available.
How Double Edged Arts functions in combat
Double Edged Arts activates when your Samurai proficiency is active. While active, all Strong attacks and Martial Arts attacks receive a 20% damage increase. More importantly, these boosted attacks become guaranteed critical hits, significantly amplifying burst potential.
The table below outlines its combat impact.
| Combat State | Damage Output |
|---|---|
| Standard Strong Attack | Base damage |
| Strong Attack with Skill | +20% damage and guaranteed critical |
| Martial Art without Skill | Standard scaling |
| Martial Art with Skill | +20% damage and guaranteed critical |
Guaranteed critical hits dramatically enhance burst builds, particularly when combined with Ki break windows or stagger opportunities. When enemies are winded or recovering, Double Edged Arts can produce extremely high damage spikes.
The 30% increased damage taken drawback
The power boost comes with a serious penalty. While Double Edged Arts is active, you take 30% more incoming damage. This multiplier applies broadly, meaning mistakes become significantly more punishing.
The following comparison illustrates the trade-off.
| Scenario | Without Skill | With Double Edged Arts |
|---|---|---|
| Player Damage Output | Standard | High burst |
| Damage Taken | Standard | +30% incoming damage |
| Risk Level | Moderate | High |
Because of this penalty, builds utilizing Double Edged Arts must prioritize high toughness, strong armor scaling, and defensive Ki management. Without sufficient survivability, the increased damage intake can offset the offensive advantage.
Best builds for Double Edged Arts
This skill excels in aggressive Samurai builds that rely heavily on Strong attacks and Martial Arts combos. Weapons with powerful finishers benefit significantly from guaranteed critical conversion.
The synergy breakdown below highlights effectiveness.
| Build Type | Performance with Skill |
|---|---|
| Strong Attack Samurai | Extremely High |
| Martial Arts Combo Build | Very High |
| Defensive Tank Build | Moderate |
| Light Glass Cannon Build | Risky |
While the skill appears ideal for glass cannon builds, the +30% incoming damage makes fragile setups dangerous. Paradoxically, tankier builds often use Double Edged Arts more effectively because they can absorb the drawback while maintaining offensive pressure.
Strategic usage in boss fights
In boss encounters, Double Edged Arts shines during burst phases. When a boss is winded or staggered, activating proficiency and unleashing Strong attacks can result in enormous damage output due to guaranteed critical hits.
However, bosses often deal high-damage attacks themselves. The increased incoming damage penalty means you must maintain tight dodge timing and Ki control. Reckless aggression can quickly lead to defeat.
Timing activation around safe windows rather than leaving it permanently active can mitigate risk.
Why is Double Edged Arts considered one of the strongest proficiency-based skills
The combination of flat percentage damage increase and guaranteed critical hits makes Double Edged Arts scale exceptionally well into mid and late game. Percentage boosts multiply with weapon scaling and stat investment, which means its impact grows as your build strengthens.
Unlike passive minor bonuses, this skill fundamentally alters combat tempo. It rewards confident, proactive play while punishing hesitation or poor defense.
Unlocking Double Edged Arts for maximum proficiency damage
By traveling to Firefly Forest in the Warring States region, reaching the Island of Merchants, and exchanging Yo-kai Tear Drops with Sudama, you unlock one of the most explosive Samurai Mastery skills in Nioh 3. Double Edged Arts offers a powerful 20% boost to Strong and Martial Arts attacks, converts them into guaranteed critical hits, and introduces a 30% incoming damage penalty that demands disciplined execution. When used strategically with high toughness and controlled aggression, it becomes one of the best Arts proficiency damage skills available.
