Baba Nobuharu is a tricky boss in Nioh 3, not because he has a complicated moveset, but because he uses a fake version of himself in the midst of battle. This fake version can’t deal any damage to the player and is only there to complicate things and cause a distraction.
Once you start to ignore the fake version of Baba and simply focus on the real version, this fight becomes much easier. Also, this boss hits like a truck and deals a ton of damage, so it’s essential to fully understand his moveset and learn the best strategies.
If you’ve had enough of this boss and want to defeat it to move further in the main story, this guide is for you. Here’s how to defeat Baba Nobuharu in Nioh 3.
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Finding Baba Nobuharu
Nioh 3 players will encounter Baba Nobuharu during the Mirage Fortress task of the “Battle of Futamata Castle” main quest. He is a main boss and is impossible to miss, as long as you continue the main story. This mission occurs about 20 hours into the game.
After entering Futamata Castle and making it through the very long dungeon, you will reach a large building on the top of the hills, where the boss fight takes place. There is a shrine next to the boss arena, meaning there isn’t any run back to the boss, and you can fast-travel elsewhere if you please. The shrine is called Futumata Castle – Defensive Gate.
Baba Nobuharu Moveset
The most important thing to know about Baba Nobuharu’s moveset is that the real version of the boss attacks a second to two seconds after the fake version.
| Moveset | Description |
|---|---|
| Axe Slash | Baba will raise his axe above his right shoulder and swipe it back and forth. |
| Claw and Smash | Baba will raise its left claw and lunge toward the player, swiping its claw and then smashing its axe to the ground. |
| Silhouette Turn Around | If the player is behind Baba, a fake version of Baba will turn around and smash its axe to the ground. Immediately afterward, the real version of Baba will mimic the exact same move. |
| Axe Burst Attack | Baba will glow red, place his arm up against his body, and throw down his axe on the player. This is a Burst Attack, meaning it can be countered by changing to a different Style. |
| Silhouette Swipe | A fake version of Baba will lean down, pull its axe to the side, and swipe it toward the player. The real version follows suit and does the exact same move. |
| Water Toss | Baba will slide its axe on the ground, spraying water from it, dealing damage. He will follow this up with an axe swipe. |
| Silhouette Axe Slash | A fake Baba will raise its axe and swipe at the player one time. The real Baba does the same afterward, but adds two more swings to his attack for a total of three. |
| Silhouette Fake Out | A fake Baba will lunge at the player and swipe his axe, spinning in a circle. The real Baba lunges and swipes his claw at the player instead with one quick punch. |
| Tail Swipe | Landing too many hits on the back of Baba will cause him to lift his tail and then swipe it at you. |
| Silhouette Burst Attack | Baba will glow red, and a fake Baba will jump into the air and smash on the ground. The real Baba does the same immediately afterward. This is a Burst Attack, so it can be countered by switching to a different Style. |
| Magic Toss | Baba will bring his claw to the side, and it will glow blue. He will then throw magic projectiles toward the player. |
| Slam Burst Attack | Baba will turn his axe upside down and glow red, smashing it to the ground very quickly. This is a Burst Attack, so it can be countered by switching to a different Style. |
| Grab Attack | Baba’s fists will glow yellow and black, indicating a grab attack. He will bring his fist into the air and rain it down on the player. If this connects, he will pick you up and slam you to the ground, dealing serious damage. |
| Stun Follow Up | If you stun Baba and use a finishing move, he will slam his axe down before getting back up. |
How to Beat Baba Nobuharu
I recommend fighting Baba Nobuharu in Ninja style, only switching to Samurai to counter Burst attacks and dealing heavy damage when he’s stunned. I found that Ninja was best here simply because that Style is way faster than this boss, allowing you to consistently get behind him and attack his back for higher damage.
The key to beating Baba Nobuharu is resisting the urge to dodge or counter the fake version of the boss. Since each attack from the real Baba deals a ton of damage, it’s easy to get trigger happy and dodge when it’s not necessary.
Dodging or countering the silhouette will only result in the real Baba landing his attacks due to you being misled. You will know when Baba is about to summon his silhouette when he briefly glows white.
The best way to approach this fight is to think of the silhouette version of Baba as a tool, rather than a distraction. Since the fake version of Baba shows you exactly what attack the boss is about to do, with the exception of the Silhouette Fake Out move mentioned earlier, you can use it to your advantage to know whether to dodge or counter it.
The real Baba attacks about a second after the fake version has completed its animation. Feel free to count to yourself every time you see the silhouette appear, if that helps. I know counting to myself actually helped me here.
Once you begin to ignore the fake version of Baba and stop reacting to it, this boss is really not all that difficult. His attack patterns are calculated and have clear cues, and he’s not all that fast with the exception of a few moves like the Tail swipe and Axe Slash.
Keep on the lookout for Burst Attacks so you can counter these, allowing you to apply pressure on the boss and fill up that stun gauge. Also, when it comes to its magic attacks, the Water Toss and Magic Throw, I recommend just running to the right to avoid them. Dodging magic can be tough, so it’s best to just get out of harm’s way by running.
Baba Nobuharu Rewards
After beating Baba Nobuharu, you will be rewarded with a handful of loot, Samurai Locks, and the Demon of Mino’s Charm. Players can expect to get Exotic-tier items, possibly multiple. For reference, I acquired three Exotic-tier loot, such as the Leather Cestuses, Genin’s Splitstaff, and Hand Cannon. As for the Samurai Locks, you can use this to unlock more Martial Arts from the skill tree.
The Demon of Mino’s charm is a key item that completes the Battle of Futamata Castle. Unfortunately, you can’t equip it to get any effects or anything, but that definitely would have been nice.
