In Nioh 3, spear builds reward precision, spacing, and relentless thrust pressure. If you prefer a disciplined, mid-range combat style that capitalizes on reach and Ki management, the Peerless Combatant’s Armor, also known as the Peerless Combatant’s Garb, stands out as one of the most effective spear-oriented sets currently available. Classified as Exotic rarity, this four-piece set is tailored around thrust damage scaling, defensive stability, and enhanced offensive output when fully activated.
The set is directly tied to a specific encounter in the Bakumatsu era storyline, making it both a skill check and a meaningful milestone for players refining their spear-focused character.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Armor Name | Peerless Combatant’s Garb |
| Rarity | Exotic |
| Ideal For | Spear builds (Thrust-focused) |
| Set Pieces | Gauntlets, Robes, Hakama, Sandals |
| Location | Bakumatsu 1864 – Horikawa Market, Nijo Castle |
| Boss Required | Master Takahashi Deishu |
| Core Bonuses | Defense Bonus (Constitution), Thrust Damage, Strong Attack Ki Damage, Enhanced Attack & Defense |
| Set Size | 4 Pieces |
| Mix-and-Match Potential | Yes, flexible 4-piece configuration |
Peerless Combatant’s Armor location in Nioh 3
To acquire the set, you must progress to the Bakumatsu timeline in 1864. From there, fast-travel to Horikawa Market in the Nijo Castle area. The market acts as your starting point before the confrontation.
Once you arrive, proceed up the road toward a nearby estate. This estate serves as the arena for your duel against Master Takahashi Deishu, the key to unlocking the armor. The encounter is not trivial. Players have reported that the boss punishes hesitation, especially against spear users who overextend without managing Ki properly. If you rely heavily on mid-stance thrust chains, be prepared to adjust your rhythm and anticipate counter-pressure.
Master Takahashi Deishu uses disciplined spacing and punishes predictable thrust strings. Maintaining composure, managing Ki recovery, and using burst counters effectively will significantly improve your chances of success.
Nioh 3 Deishu master fight strategy
Master Takahashi Deishu is designed as a skill wall for spear enthusiasts. His fight emphasizes timing and defensive awareness rather than reckless aggression. Because spear builds often rely on strong attack thrusts and extended reach, the boss counters with tight defensive responses and opportunistic punishes.
Your focus should be on preserving Ki and avoiding overcommitting after landing a thrust. Instead of chaining too many strong attacks, weave in light attacks to bait reactions and create safe openings. The duel rewards players who understand spacing fundamentals.
Survivability also plays a key role. Investing in Constitution scaling before attempting this fight synergizes well with the armor’s eventual set bonus, allowing you to transition smoothly into a defensive-offensive hybrid once you acquire the gear.
Rewards for defeating Master Takahashi Deishu
Upon victory, you receive both a combat-enhancing manual and the full armor set.
| Reward | Description |
|---|---|
| Tornado Handbook | Unlocks spear technique utility, enhancing thrust efficiency |
| Peerless Combatant’s Gauntlets | Part of the 4-piece Exotic armor set |
| Peerless Combatant’s Robes | Core chest armor for the set |
| Peerless Combatant’s Hakama | Leg armor component |
| Peerless Combatant’s Sandals | Foot armor component |
The inclusion of the Tornado Handbook further reinforces the spear synergy of this encounter, making the reward structure cohesive and build-focused.
Armor set bonuses and scaling mechanics
The Peerless Combatant’s Armor is built around layered bonuses that increase in effectiveness as more pieces are equipped. The set does not require all armor slots to activate its strongest effect, which makes it flexible for hybrid builds later in the game.
| Pieces Equipped | Bonus Effect | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Pieces | Defense Bonus (Constitution) – D+ | Improves survivability and scaling with Constitution |
| 3 Pieces | Thrust Damage +9.0% | Significant boost to spear thrust output |
| 3 Pieces | Strong Attack Ki Damage +8.3% | Increases Ki pressure against enemies |
| 4 Pieces | Enhanced Attack & Defense (B) | Balanced offensive and defensive scaling |
The Defense Bonus (Constitution) synergizes naturally with spear builds, as many players already allocate points into Constitution for survivability. Once you reach the three-piece threshold, the Thrust Damage increase of 9% becomes a defining feature. Since spear combat revolves heavily around thrust-based strong attacks, this bonus translates directly into measurable DPS gains.
The additional Strong Attack Ki Damage bonus amplifies your ability to break enemy Ki bars, especially against human-type bosses. This is particularly valuable in extended duels, where controlling Ki determines tempo.
At four pieces, the Enhanced Attack & Defense rating provides balanced scaling that improves both damage output and durability. This makes the set viable not only for pure offense but also for sustained engagements in higher-difficulty content.
Why this is considered one of the best spear sets
The strength of the Peerless Combatant’s set lies in its specialization. While other armor sets in Nioh 3 offer generalized buffs or elemental synergies, this set directly enhances the fundamental mechanics of spear combat: thrust precision, Ki pressure, and survivability.
Unlike heavier sets that slow mobility, the Peerless Combatant’s Garb maintains flexibility. That balance allows you to stay mobile, reposition quickly, and maintain spacing advantages — a core aspect of spear mastery.
Additionally, because the strongest bonus activates at four pieces, you retain room for experimentation. Advanced players often swap one slot for a complementary accessory or late-game armor piece without sacrificing the set’s core thrust benefits.
Optimal stat allocation and build synergy
To maximize the armor’s potential, you should prioritize Constitution, which enhances survivability and benefits from the two-piece defense scaling. Pairing this with skill investment that improves strong attack performance will further amplify the thrust damage bonus.
Spear techniques unlocked through manuals such as the Tornado Handbook synergize particularly well with the Ki damage boost. When combined with stance-switching discipline and clean Ki pulses, you can effectively control enemy stamina and create repeated stagger windows.
This armor excels in mid-game progression and remains competitive into later phases when optimized correctly. Players who prefer disciplined dueling rather than brute-force aggression will extract the most value from it.
Crafting, rarity, and enhancement considerations
As an Exotic rarity set, the Peerless Combatant’s Armor benefits from high base defense values and favorable scaling potential. Upgrading and tempering the set to refine secondary bonuses further improves performance. Because it focuses on thrust damage and Ki manipulation, you should prioritize modifiers that increase spear attack power, Ki recovery speed, and damage to Ki-depleted enemies.
Resource investment into this set is justified if your build is spear-focused long term. However, its modular structure ensures you are not locked into a rigid configuration.
Is the Peerless Combatant’s Armor worth farming?
The Peerless Combatant’s Armor represents one of the most focused and synergistic spear sets in Nioh 3. By defeating Master Takahashi Deishu in Bakumatsu 1864, you unlock a build-defining armor that enhances thrust damage, improves Ki pressure, and strengthens survivability through Constitution scaling. For players committed to mastering spear combat, this set is not just useful — it is foundational.
If you are building around the spear as your primary weapon, the answer is decisively yes. The armor’s bonuses are not generic; they are directly aligned with thrust efficiency and sustained combat performance. The boss fight itself serves as a practical test of spear fundamentals, making the acquisition feel earned rather than incidental.
Because the encounter is repeatable and the rewards are consistent, farming the set for improved rolls is a viable strategy for players chasing optimal stats.
