Nioh 2 - Soul Core Guide - Fusion, Alignments, and Maxing Rank

[@FightinCowboy]

*Update to Soul Fusion* You can increase the level of soul cores via Soul Fusion but it's very minimal. For example a Level 130 Gozuki Soul Core would only go up to 137 by fusion with a 160 Gozuki Soul Core. While the returns are small, I wanted to clear that point up.

[@zikarisg9025]

Thanks for the response, all clear now.

[@DRAKLOR_44]

Really good video, extremely informative. Also Yatsu-No-Kami is my favourite soul core right now, she does crazy good damage and if you poison the enemy first its even better. One thing I like is that she also can stamina drain annoying enemies sometimes. Anyway keep up the good work. Cheers

[@zaooza34]

You often say that dojo is one of the best things in Nioh 2. What was wrong with dojo in the original ?

[@FightinCowboy]

@@zaooza34 There we no dojo in Nioh 1 except for the missions. Nioh 2 dojo actually let's you test shit out.

[@anthonyamato8019]

My favorite is kasha

[@kenpachinozarashi4005]

Can I jus say how much I appreciate your vids lol

[@troll5262]

Important note; You can move inheritable skills from soul cores to corrupt weapons, which is pretty neat as soul cores tend to have different skills than weapons normally can have.

[@momentumflux8863]

Nice! 💙

[@matthieumartelct]

what ?

[@miche211]

How can i do that?

[@HaVeNII7]

If you fuse two soul cores with inheritable effects, you can actually select which inheritable you’d like to have for the end result. Keep an eye on the tool tips as you go through, I think you hit L2/R2 to cycle the effects when you have the soul core result highlighted.

[@danielmcbride1529]

No way. Awesome! Seems like a minor detail, but can really make the difference when you finally find a piece you like.

[@zeldaofhyrule1119]

Wow. this is so much to take in. I feel like I am back in school writing down notes. thank you for all the info. :D

[@Julian-rt9qs]

Between this channel and FextraLife, I didn't give up on Dark Souls and ended up being one of the biggest fans of the series. Now I've got you guys to shore me up on the finer details of Nioh. #FuckinSweet

[@cartersutherland2123]

you and pwrgaming are the only two youtubers that create usefully intelligent informational videos about nioh and nioh 2. Me as well as the nioh1/2 community really appropriate the work you do! THANK YOU. :)

[@MrHaMdOoN89]

I'm nearly at the end of the game with few bosses left and I had no idea how to deal with these soul cores and I thought you can only level them up which wasn't working. You just unlocked alot of possibilities for me. Thanx

[@SageRyock]

I don't think it was covered. I can't find any information about why you want the soul core type to match the guardian, such as brute to brute, phantom to phantom, etc. I don't notice any change in performance. I notice a couple skills on the shifting tree rewarding pairing the guardian with the same type of core, but I don't see any innate reward for pairing the same type. Anyone know? EDIT: So I figured it out. There is no intrinsic benefit to matching the types. The only reason you'd want to is because some of the abilities you get in the shifting tree reward you for matching them. If you aren't using any of them though, there's no reason to match types.

[@elevown]

I assumed its skills and damage would all be a bit worse or it costs more anima but never checked into it

[@TheRealTiburon]

had this same question, odd that he noted it but not the benefit

[@zyphil]

Late reply but there are certain guardians that boost yokai ability damage based on types.

[@thechoseone456]

There is one skill that I see on the shiftling tree that gives some anima back (20% I think) for yokai abilities whose soul cores match with the guardian spirit. That and some cores will sometimes drop with the property +% damage bonus to yokai abilities from a particular form. If you're running an anima spam build then this is pretty great but minmaxers can also get a good kick out of it. The big thing here is that you soul match inheritables onto your corrupt weapons that you wouldn't normally be able to get like anima charge (elemental damage) or yokai ability damage for some crazy synergies with the corrupt armor set bonuses. I once cooped with a guy on dream of nioh against enenra and during the entire fight all he did was spam ippon datara continuously.

[@matthieumartelct]

TRASH GAME ARE THAT HARD TO UNDERSTAND WELCOME IN NIOH SHIT 2 .

[@Guacamole42]

I am voting for Cowboy of having the best Nioh 2 guides on KZbin... love it..

[@maxwaver777]

Or anything soulslike !

[@vibhubajpai132]

Thank you Cowboy. I've seen all of your videos and I'm amazed at how well you understand game mechanics. Your tips helped me break Sekiro and Bloodborne and now the same in Nioh 2. What would once make me afraid in a game is now an opportunity to win for me. Respect.

[@Based_investor]

Same here. Started with Bloodborne which I gave up on after 2 hours. Watched cowboys walkthrough and gave it another shot. Beat it, then beat Sekiro (both ending types), and now I just started this. Honestly I'd be lost without this guy.

[@bboy458]

The Attack/Defense stats actually affect your character, not just the Yokai shift. You can unequip them and they will lower you Attack/Defense stats outright.

[@WarriorCicada]

Yeah thats what it seems like to me I seem to have a lot more attack/defense with higher lvl cores.

[@triphazard2906]

Thanks, I wondered about this

[@ejdale8472]

200plus hours there are still so many things to learn I am finally start to appreciate the combat mechanic from countless of missions I played and playing around with the combat system combination of switching weapons, stances, omnyo magic, ninjutsu, yokai ability, burst counters, yokai transformation. A shitload this game is AMAZING!

[@silverrubbit3847]

FightinCowboy I want to thank you for all your videos. I have found them to be very entertaining and informative. So thank you!! ^-^. At the moment I am going to your channel for Nioh 2 advice. I just wanted to let you know some information that I havent seen anyone post yet. As a matter of a fact I've seen people say it cannot be done. Today I have stumble upon the ability to raise your Attunement for your soul cores. The default limit is 15. That bugged me and I thought there had to be a way to increase it. Well while I was messing with a Magic only (or focused) build. I had dropped like 24 straight points into Magic. Im level 21. Picked up Shark Spirit and Scythe. And now my cap has increased to 16 or 18 (sorry it's kind of late when I'm typing this) I would be more then happy to show you photographic evidence. But I just wanted to tell you theres more tied in with the stats that are not being told.

[@Ironmanx37]

This game is pretty tough but extremely fun, dude you probably have the best NIOH 2 videos on YT!!! They are clear and easy to fallow! Will be subscribing ✌🏾

[@AstonMartinStig]

25 hours in, watching guides constantly as I play, barely know what I am doing still. Now this is a JRPG.

[@LorenTR]

This is a great video. All your tutorials are quality but this one takes takes the cake.

[@bladecommando]

Finally got the game, and these guides are a huge saviour on frustration levels. Thank you

[@matthieumartelct]

you are not suppose to need a guide to level up ! this is call fucking bad game or japon fucktard game

[@Sphereshoc]

This video helped put a ton! I just started playing it and it's addictive, the soul cores were confusing though. Thanks for the video.

[@HunterSolo]

Cowboy literally the athlene X of gaming I came here thinking it was gonna be a review and realized I know nothing 😂 lol

[@TybudX]

Cowboy is the type of gamer that levels Spear to prevent imbalances.

[@zb2584]

🤣🤣🤣

[@nicktan9739]

Always helpful, Cowboy. I've had 3 Mortal cores and didn't know what the hell do with them. Also, awesome let's play series. Been watching your channel since dark souls 2

[@derekbrooks6854]

Thanks for this, it helped loads. It's great that you take the time to do this for us :)

[@IAmMarvel1]

hey man. your videos are in depth , to the point and you do a great job of explaing visually and by word. thank you!

[@amorda]

Thank you for your great Nioh 2 videos. Loved the first game, but was really struggling to understand this one and you've made it all clear. Cheers.

[@d_shuffles]

Thank you for making this more understandable!

[@Grayfox111]

I like how many options the game has. The fact It's fun as hell helps too.

[@TheArnoldification]

I thought I was watching a fextralife video and was wondering why it was more indepth than "bloodspider blade gives 10% damage vs. paralyzed enemies heres my odachi paralysis build lmao"

[@xYMaxRiskYx]

Awesome Guide! I feel kinda lost atm with all the menus and stats etc. Thanks for the Help! ❤️

[@deltuh2030]

Thank you so much for the info. Video came in handy for me big time.

[@NMac30]

Great video! Not too many vids out currently going over the nuances of Nioh 2. I would find a guide for each soul core’s abilities, skills, and the difference between them very helpful. One could cover what the ability Chomp does-for example, considering the game is very vague at times.

[@stephenwalsh3490]

Great information here iv learned plenty 👍👌 thanks cowboy

[@lozviv1180]

good vid bro, very helpful for everyone. id figured this already kinda, just not the aligning sole core to spirt....brute phantom ferrell bit. will look into cheers

[@sloakz]

Great guide, thank you

[@megadeath098ajb]

Hey cowboy, the attack and defense bonus from the gaurdian spirit attuned with 3 yoki cores also affect your basic damage in your human form, i noticed that when i died and my gaurdian spirit is gone, my basic damage had lower output it basically affects your all around damage

[@DanteUndead]

Not sure it was mentioned but your guardian spirit attunement limit does increase after a particular mission that unlocks a third yokai ability for your guardian spirit

[@skelerang]

Can you repeat the part where you said the stuff about the thing? But seriously, great video. This kind of content is why I subscribed. I’m loving this game so far. Take care.

[@AnthonyNSaetern]

Thank you man! I understood it very well!

[@omarmorel4420]

Nice vid my dude , loving your Nioh Content . I just subscribed a couple of minutes ago . PS: im a tonfa ninja so would love to see your version of a tonfa build with a lot of mobility

[@FightinCowboy]

Tonfas excel at blowing through Ki and applying confusion. Use something like lightning tonfas and add water onto pulverize for instant lulz

[@KeironP1]

Thank you Thank you so much for this!

[@elevown]

The Yatsu core is my absolute fav so far- it wrecks stuff- especially if you make sure to use it in a smaller area to get quick bounce backs - i think it can hit up to 3 times?

[@elevown]

do you get to fight any higher level Yatsu later? Id love a higher level version of the core.. Ive been able to fuse its rank up with human cores but its level is still like 24.

[@vectorfox4782]

A Nue just dropped a 200 Level Soul Core in Depths.

[@petejohnhernandezjr9761]

Thank you for this guide Bro

[@garrycowan4394]

I played nioh one for 350 hours probably my favourite game of all time maybe I'm an idiot but I just don't understand any of the new mechanics

[@GatsuRage]

6:37 wait HOW??? I have mortal cores but no idea how to change the bound spirit type... also the default for shirohami is brute did u actually change it twice?

[@zalvayn]

Super helpful ty

[@danielfrater4863]

Very helpful Thx

[@kwenb1]

Sweet, thanks bud

[@Styxorcist]

Informative video. Would you do a video ranking which soul cores/ abilities are best and why?

[@FightinCowboy]

Too situational, should pick em based on your build

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

Damn, this system is terribly complex. Thanks for breaking it down. Veeery helpful!!

[@mars188]

a nightmare

[@ElBoyoElectronico]

@@mars188 Yeah, they kinda went overboard with it. Even after having spent about 200h with Nioh 1 this is hard to grasp.

[@austintse5719]

I believe late game or ng+ we'll be able to equip 3 soul cores on our guardian spirits. It will make the soul cores with no ability useful. Great breakdown of the confusing soul core system. It will add another way of playing through the game at higher difficulties. A soul core anima build maybe.

[@AdamGonzebra]

Wow now it all makes sense! Thanks for taking your time to explain about the soul cores and how they work! Awesome tutorial and maybe you helped me i always use ochoko cups lol 😂

[@grantgarbour]

What does matching the types of cores with guardian spirits do, or why is it important?

[@FightinCowboy]

More damage

[@XT91]

@@FightinCowboy more damage from the multipler? or from yokai skills? or from the yokai form?

[@FightinCowboy]

In your shiftling tree there's a couple different bonuses for matching types and certain cores/spirits also have matching bonsies.

[@XT91]

@@FightinCowboy i see, understood

[@jedibill111]

Thank you.

[@ario_vamp]

Thanks men 🤩

[@JetBlackThreat]

my soul core won't upgrade at all anymore because its a level 9 rank ?

[@Turbulent2000]

Hey cowboy nice Nioh 2 tutorials! I have a question. My Otakemaru Soul core attunement is 11 instead of 10 and I canr use it with Kasha and Obi-bi together as in your vids, How could it happen? And how can I fix that? Thanks a lot!

[@exodus9001]

Just so im clear, the core abilities that dont have (Yokai Shift) listed still operate in human form right?

[@thelonesomewanderer8359]

whoa I never knew you could change soul cores from phantom to brute etc, that's awesome. I stopped using the viper one cos it was phantom but now ima change it back :)

[@SashaChopper]

The Lonesome Wanderer why is it important to match it with the spirit animal though? cowboy mentions it but didn’t say why. could you explain?

[@thelonesomewanderer8359]

@@SashaChopper there is a skill in shiftling tree that refunds a fair amount of anima if you use a yokai ability that matches your guardian spirit. theres probably more too but that's the one I know, and it helps quite a lot

[@20starcombomaker]

Is it possible to get a shuten doji soul core with the effect: Faster ki recovery (yokai ability hit) I've been fighting him in the Revelry Ends mission on Dream of the Nioh more than 50 times (yes literally that many because I counted the soul cores he's dropped that I have and he doesn't always drop his soul core) and I have yet to see that soul core with any of the effects on yokai ability hit unfortunately and I'm starting to think it's impossible..

[@Gamin_Guy]

Hey cowboy what do the mimic soul cores do I csnt figure out what it does even from help icon

[@Gamin_Guy]

Does it double the strength I think idk

[@brandonopenshaw2494]

I'm having a small issue. Just started the game. I do not have the Manage Soul Cores option in the shrine or starting point. I have soul cores and I have a guardian spirit equipped. I am level 20.

[@SN-1006]

Does this man sleep at all? Love from germany...

[@hyogo_29]

You're the best keep it up 🇸🇦🇸🇦🇸🇦

[@papavizion8893]

thanks

[@TheoneXman2Coldd]

Does anyone know when or how to get a third soul core slot. I can’t find anything that explains it I really need help.

[@FendertheBender]

So lets say you have a low level core with the perfect stats. Can you somehow get those exact stats over to a higher level one? or somehow level the low one so it has higher damage and def?

[@tobeyd3262]

Hi Cowboy-senpai, first of all, thanks a lot for your guides! Super helpful as always. I still struggle a bit when it comes to choosing an armor type for my build. I'm using a scythe and magic, so I thought about light or medium armor. Or should I rather worry about suitable stats than weight?

[@Drew9140]

Noticed your Yatsu is only a 5 cost while mine is 8. How does that work?

[@vickihansen1937]

You are so good and informed but you explain things too fast. I need someone to explain more slowly.

[@praisethefox7265]

Got it! But one question: why are better in terms of numbers, the soul cores with the same kind of spirit?

[@kenpachinozarashi4005]

Omyo still OP. Lvl 30 magic sloth making everything cheese

[@Death2Progressives]

what would be the reason i cant fuse my kamitachi to another kamitachi core i have? it will only let me fuse it with my mortal cores.

[@zikarisg9025]

Thanks cowboy that is great, exactly the video that I was looking for. Some quick questions still open to me: 1.) So you can not actually increase the Level of a Soul Core via Soul Fusion, just the rank and inheritable? 2.) You Said you could use the same Rank 9 (Gaki in the example) core to level up all other Gaki, isn't the soul core used destroyed during fusion, so you can only use it once? How would you use one level 9. Or do you mean carry it forward, so use the first level 9 to rank up the next good one, use that one for the next higher level and so on... 3.) What is that bar in the lower right corner that appears when picking up Soul Cores in the field, do Soul Cores get better by either using them a lot or farming the same type? Thanks in advance!

[@zikarisg9025]

Well, figured it all out the bar in point 3 is the Shift level that increases on cleansing of cores...

[@FightinCowboy]

I guess it didn't save my comment yesterday YT has been weird lately but you can increase levels with fusion it's only minimal. As for the 2nd point just hey carrying it forward

[@stayingfreshagain]

This helps a lot cowboy ! Thanks !! .. I honestly just didn’t mess with this because I didn’t really understand it

[@hadifelani]

I remember that the game tells me that an equipment, be it weapons or armor, can only be soul matched up to a certain level. My question is, how many levels can we soul match an equipment until it hits the cap? Have anyone tried that? For example, if I have a level 1 sword, then to what level does it can be soul matched?

[@1888CHAD8881]

im new.. got 2 soul cores.. how do you get more attunement to equip a soul core? I think just one soul core is higher than my current attunement? (its red)

[@dev-talk6583]

Maybe I just missed it, but what is the advantage of matching the type of guardian spirit with the same types of soul cores (Brute guardian spirit with brute soul cores for example) ? You mentioned that but i don't think you explained what the difference is if you match them

[@FightinCowboy]

Proper alignment gives higher damage.

[@Merlin_Price]

I got a soul core from a chest mimic yesterday. Does some weird stuff like has a %chance to mimic the buff of any enemy that you lock onto. Pretty cool.

[@DRAKLOR_44]

yeah the badger like yokai called the Mujina, far as I know it can copy any status ailments that an enemy has. Probably very situational but against say a mage boss or something for example it could be extremely useful.

[@Spambot27374]

Can u have multiple soul cores equipped at once ???

[@Fycstion]

Can you craft a weapon tier list?

[@binbobby]

Why to match soul core alignment?

[@Phil1Up_Collects]

You can also transfer an inheritance skill on a soul core to a demon weapon just heads up as you didn't cover that

[@elevown]

i assume you cant feed demon wepons to cores tho?

[@elevown]

@@NsaiyN use a demon core with an inheritance icon as the material in a soul forging at the blacksmiths with a demon wepon.

[@Phil1Up_Collects]

@@NsaiyN yeah that's how you do it just make sure it's cores you don't care about losing

[@BrosBGaming]

Hey bud. Im trying to figure out how to get a higher level core for the one that swings a wide arc. Village of spider lillies boss. Mezuka i think. My question is how can i get a higher level version new game plus? Because ive been using the core since i got it. Im level 50 and its core level is 11

[@FightinCowboy]

NG+ is the only way.

[@BrosBGaming]

@@FightinCowboy thankyou.

[@duece5542]

How do you get your attunment limit up

[@bongosmcdongos4190]

This channel is the closest thing to a wiki on this game.

[@colepatton2229]

What bonuses do I get from matching the soul core type (phantom) to my guardian spirit (phantom)? The video mentions bonuses but I don’t see what they are.

[@FightinCowboy]

Some bonuses on the guardian spirit, others in the shiftling tree

[@SSBandSMTfan]

Why should your Yokai Abilities match your guardian spirit ? It seems intuitive, but what does it literally change ?

[@FightinCowboy]

Depends on the spirit but some have bonuses for matching types that boost the damage substantially (20% or so)

[@SSBandSMTfan]

@@FightinCowboy Good to know ! Thanks

[@danparsons1423]

What is the benefit of matching the type of soul core to the guardian spirit?

[@FightinCowboy]

Check your spirit, some have bonuses

[@Scrawny2864]

I can't wait to play this game. I'll be waiting for your walkthrough though!

[@chococranel]

Ronnie Curry when u get to play just try solo any mission and only goes co op on a mission u cant solo ... and if u wanna have some fun co op with friends try to just do the same mission or a mission which is already complete or u can carry ur friend to where u at in the game ... the more co op player the harder the game becomes .. solo a boss also can benefit u to carry ur newbie friends cuz when he died while fighting a boss u can finish the boss on ur own .. wether u n ur friends are a pro or not the game is unpredictable since its harder in co cop mode and when the blue bar is gone the mission is considered fail and u will have to repeat it

[@saint3614]

What's the benefit of aligning your soul cores to your yokai shift type?

[@ThePRIfication]

SaintSadistic I believe they just get stronger, I don’t know by how much exactly though.

[@FightinCowboy]

They're stronger

[@saint3614]

@@ThePRIfication Ah, gotcha. Tah. I guess it's too early to know exact numbers. I'll do a little experimenting, m'self, and see if I can find an aproximation of the full effects.

[@jonathanrivera870]

@@FightinCowboy... thank you, cause you didn't say why in the vid.

[@thelegendsmith3063]

Question i got a soul core that has no attack or video in the menu. What are those just buffs?

[@FightinCowboy]

Yes, think of it like a passive.

[@benjaminmunn8583]

I just wanted to ask because I bought it but havn't loaded it yet so before I waste my time I have to ask because you seem to have the same taste in games, which is better Nioh 2 or Gohsts of Tushima???

[@FightinCowboy]

Completely different games. One is an RPG, one is an action looter.

[@benjaminmunn8583]

@@FightinCowboy yeah but is it more RPG like The latest God of War where you spend most of your time Reading or is it More like Killzone Shadow Falls? Running around shooting/fighting? And I really appreciate the Imfo by the way cause no one here in Germany comes clear with my simple American questions,lol

[@benjaminmunn8583]

Im just not ready to unpack and load if all Im doing is reading for the first hour.😁😇

[@godaddy9837]

Someone plss tell me how do you get 3rd accessory slot

[@TylerSmith-kn7jk]

The snake soul core is my favorite too but I quit using it bc I thought it was underpowered once I outleveled it.

[@misterG2006]

I thought you could get a soul core whose level has a + modifier, i.e. 190+10. Or did I imagine that? :)

[@McDanklestank]

I never knew soul cores could be attached to weapons. 💀 Would probably explain why I'm always under 100k gold unlike my nioh 1 run where I was never under 10 million

[@DatBoiRatchet]

Is there anyway to go past max level 300?

[@golfboy7438]

What I dont understand is that when trying to soul match a core with a weapon my weapon is going from level 13 to 22 but the damage and buffs are going down, why is this?

[@bigsupha4847]

Adam Thomas your Familiarity is getting reset , once you build it back up it will be higher

[@golfboy7438]

@@bigsupha4847 ah I see thanks, so familiarity affects weapon damage?

[@bongosmcdongos4190]

@@golfboy7438 yes

[@luigidemartino9659]

Are The stats of the gems passive? They work when they are installed on The spirits?

[@FightinCowboy]

They are passive bonuses when on spirits

[@kyles6813]

Dose anyone know how he has so many ninja tools. I'm in twilight region near the end of ng. Level 121.. But Still with the standard amount Kuni, Shuriken, and Storm kuni. Yes I've unlocked the ninja mystic arts and in fact my base ninja skills are maxed out. Is it special boss drop. How did he get so many ?

[@kyles6813]

@@CantTreadOnMe oh okay cool ty. Cause I've been sitting here scrtching my head like wtf lol