Tonfa Transformed Art: Storm of Strikes Shadow Location and Unlock Guide

What to know

• Storm of Strikes Shadow is a Transformed Ninja Martial Art for Tonfa.
• Unlocked by defeating Gozuki on Oshikoji Street.
• Functions as a rapid advance flurry with an afterimage distraction.
• Ideal for aggressive mobility builds and pressure-based combat.

---

Storm of Strikes Shadow stands out as one of the more aggressive Transformed Arts in Nioh 3, especially for players running Tonfa builds. Rather than simply adding damage, it changes how you engage enemies. You surge forward in a rapid flurry, then leave behind an afterimage that briefly draws enemy attention, creating a window to reposition or chain further attacks.

This guide covers its exact location, how to unlock it, the rewards from Gozuki, and how to integrate it into advanced Ninja-focused builds.

Nioh 3 Storm of Strikes Shadow details

Category	Details
Skill Type	Transformed Ninja Martial Art
Weapon	Tonfa
Unlock Method	Defeat Gozuki
Region	Oshikoji Street (Bakumatsu)
Combat Role	Gap closer + distraction
Build Focus	Agility / Ninja synergy

Location to unlock Storm of Strikes Shadow in Nioh 3

You unlock Storm of Strikes Shadow in the Bakumatsu chapter on Oshikoji Street. The skill becomes available after defeating Gozuki, a formidable yokai enemy encountered in this area.

Gozuki is not a minor mob encounter. He functions as a powerful field boss, and defeating him triggers the unlock notification for the Transformed Art.

How to reach and defeat Gozuki

Step 1

Progress through Oshikoji Street until you encounter the corrupted zone where Gozuki patrols.

Step 2

Clear surrounding enemies to avoid interference during the fight.

Step 3

Engage Gozuki, watching for heavy red attacks that require Burst Counter timing.

Step 4

Defeat him to trigger the unlock message:
“Transformed Art: Storm of Strikes Shadow unlocked.”

The unlock is permanent once achieved.

Rewards from Gozuki in Nioh 3

Based on the encounter shown, Gozuki drops both gear and materials in addition to unlocking the transformed art.

Reward	Type
Storm of Strikes Shadow (Transformed Art Unlock)	Skill
Gozuki Soul Core	Yokai Soul Core
Birdflight Cross Spear (Lv. 119)	Weapon
Dragon’s Roar (Lv. 119)	Weapon
Sekishu Kazusada (Lv. 120)	Weapon
Heirloom Armor Pieces	Armor
Yokai Teardrop	Material
Large Crooked Horn	Crafting Material

Because Gozuki also drops his Soul Core, farming him can be worthwhile if you are optimizing Anima generation or Yokai-based builds.

What Storm of Strikes Shadow does

Storm of Strikes Shadow is classified as a Ninja Martial Art for Tonfa. It replaces or modifies a base art into a transformed variant.

When activated:

• You rapidly advance toward the enemy.
• Deliver a flurry of consecutive strikes.
• Leave behind an afterimage that attracts enemy attention.

The afterimage mechanic is particularly useful. Enemies briefly shift focus toward the clone-like remnant, allowing you to reposition behind the target, recover Ki safely, chain into another combo, and reset spacing. This makes it more than just a damage tool—it becomes a movement and tempo control ability.

How to equip Storm of Strikes Shadow

After unlocking:

1. Visit a Shrine.
2. Open the Customize Martial Arts menu.
3. Select your Tonfa weapon.
4. Assign Storm of Strikes Shadow to the appropriate skill slot.

Once assigned, it integrates into your stance-based input configuration.

Combat applications and advanced usage

Storm of Strikes Shadow shines in high-agility builds. Because Tonfa naturally favor close-range aggression and Ki pressure, this art enhances their identity.

Engaging ranged enemies

The rapid forward surge lets you close the gap against riflemen, archers, or spell-casters before they complete their next attack.

Interrupting enemy rhythm

The flurry often staggers lighter enemies. When timed correctly, it disrupts mid-animation attacks.

Repositioning under pressure

The afterimage buys a brief distraction window. Against aggressive yokai, this allows you to dodge sideways or move behind them while their focus shifts.

Build synergy and optimization

Build Focus	Why It Works
High Agility (A rating)	Maximizes repositioning potential
Ninja Stat Investment	Enhances damage scaling
Ki Recovery Bonuses	Sustains flurry chaining
Evasion-Based Builds	Enables safe disengage after use

Storm of Strikes Shadow pairs especially well with:

• Parry-heavy setups
• Burst Counter-focused play
• Anima regeneration builds

Because Tonfa emphasize sustained pressure, this art reinforces constant forward momentum without sacrificing tactical control.

Comparing Storm of Strikes Shadow to standard Tonfa arts

Feature	Standard Art	Storm of Strikes Shadow
Movement	Limited forward step	Aggressive forward dash
Damage Pattern	Fixed combo	Rapid flurry
Utility	Pure offense	Offense + distraction mechanic
Tactical Depth	Moderate	High

The afterimage mechanic is the defining difference, adding strategic flexibility not commonly seen in base arts.

Why this unlock matters in Bakumatsu region

Oshikoji Street features increasing enemy density and more complex yokai encounters. Unlocking Storm of Strikes Shadow at this stage significantly improves your ability to manage multiple enemies.

It supports:

• Crowd engagement
• Fast repositioning
• Safer offensive loops

Given Gozuki’s difficulty spike, the reward feels appropriately impactful.

Mastering Storm of Strikes Shadow in Nioh 3

Storm of Strikes Shadow transforms Tonfa combat from straightforward aggression into calculated mobility-based pressure. By defeating Gozuki on Oshikoji Street, you unlock a Transformed Art that enhances gap closing, creates distraction opportunities, and strengthens Ninja-oriented builds.

If you prefer fast-paced, evasive combat that keeps enemies guessing, this is one of the most valuable Tonfa arts you can add to your loadout in Nioh 3.