Overview
This is my version of the popular Switchglaive + Onmyo build that relies heavily on spell casting and just a little on switchglaive melee. Works well on Dream of Nioh and regular Underworld floors, have not tested in Depths yet. Enjoy!
Overview
This is a spell caster build that uses melee only when absolutely necessary or safe. This build heavily relies on the most powerful versions of Lightning, Fire and Water spells, as well as yokai abilities and some other utilities but does not bother with buffs or de-buffs except for the optional Rejuvenation talisman. It might not be a god-like build that would obliterate bosses in 10 seconds, but it is a very fun build that melts bosses usually under a minute or two 🙂 It also offers a lot of space for your own optimization.
Basics – stats, guardian spirits, soul cores and equipment
Stats
Magic and Courage MAXED (200 on Dream of Wise and Nioh).
Constitution 99 until Dream of Wise, then 150 (so you can use Ultimate Constitution, optional).
Skill 15 (for Spirit of Seimei armor set).
Heart at least 10.
Dexterity enough to equip two Quick change Scrolls (combines with Skill).
Strength and Stamina no investment.
After this, you can spend remaining points up to level 700 however you prefer, for example: skill for more switchglaive damage for occasional melee use (very minimal though as you will want to remodel your switchglaive for the highest magic scaling), heart for more Ki, dexterity for more ninjutsu power and capacity, something else depending on armor (on Dream of Nioh you will change Spirit of Seimei armor for anything that has desired graces as long as your equipment weight is blue or green – explained later).
Guardian spirits
Primary Genbu (decent attunement capacity, anima charge on Onmyo hit and Stalwart for Onmyo).
Secondary is up to you, some suggestions are: Kagewami (life drain on yokai ability hit), Hakutaku (phantom yokai ability damage), elemental damage boosting spirits such as Ame-no-mitori or Kuzunoha the Fox – I use Kagewami as a single Sanmyo storm or a couple of Brutal charges can heal you completely if hit correctly.
Soul cores
Otakemaru – Sanmyo storm is one of the best yokai abilities but is best used for bigger enemies – if you find that you do not use it often enough, you can replace it with Kasha (beautiful life drain, fire damage, tracking, duration, very good universal core) or something heavy hitting of your choice.
Gozuki – this is the most reliable, life-saving, hard-hitting and Ki-destroying core that I use all the time, use whenever it is not worth using Sanmyo storm – can replace with Mezuki or something cheaper but similar (Hellish Hag, Kinki).
Oni-bi of your choice for increased elemental damage – if you still have attunement space because you were for example lucky to get previous cores with -1 cost, you may be able to fit in elemental fox spirits or something of your choice, such as Mujina, Suiki or Ongyoki (I still use Oni-bi).
Equipment
The main point is having a switchglaive as a main weapon (I think the purity OR corruption-imbued works the best) and Spirit of Seimei until Dream of Wise. From there, you want all of your weapons and armor so they combined have 7pcs of Grace of Tsukuyomi and 6pcs of Omoikane’s grace as long as a switchglaive remains your main weapon and the equipment weight is blue or green. However, all of this only works with Yasakani Magatama which has -1 set bonus requirement so it is a must for one of the accessory slots (on Dream of Nioh, other accessories can have this bonus so it will be up to you then). I also recommend finding accessories that have combined Sloth on Onmyo hit (optional, but if you like Sloth and do not want to waste Onmyo capacity for it anymore, then this is a must) and Life Drain AAA+ on Onmyo hit. Lastly, you want to temper everything so it has as much Onmyo magic power and Untouched Onmyo as possible. Anything that boosts anima gain or yokai abilities is welcomed, but you can tailor the rest according to your needs.
When it comes to the scroll, the best is anything that has any combination of Untouched Onmyo, Onmyo magic power, Ultimate Magic/Constitution, Anima charge bonuses, etc. – very much up to you.
Onmyo and Ninjutsu
Equipped Onmyo abilities
You should have 40 Onmyo capacity (35 from maxed magic and 5 from Onmyo skill tree), which is enough for (given that everything is fully upgraded in the skill tree): 8 Thunderstorm shot, 8 Geyser shot, 8 Explosion shot, 4 Luminous blade talisman (dropped by Ashya Doman) and then a few other spells of your choice – I use 2 Rejuvenation talismans and 9 Lightning shot talismans (prior to that I used Sloth but if you do not want to use it or have it on your accessories, you can replace it).
Equipped Ninjutsu abilities
This is entirely up to you and depends on how much capacity you have – I use 2 Quick change scrolls and 4 Gallnut broths (poison build-up is very fast with switchglaive’s full mid-stance combo finished with cyclone, especially if you customize cyclone with poison).
How it works
Weaker enemies
Contrary to what I say at the beginning, you want to conserve as much Onmyo as possible for tougher enemies and bosses – eliminate weaker enemies or enemies you are very confident fighting using your switchglaive (all I do 95% of time is mid-stance full combo followed by cyclone, then Ki-pulse). Only use Onmyo for these if the situation gets out of control for some reason (you get overwhelmed or for instance you bait more weaker enemies to be in line – that way you can get rid of them with a single geyser or thunderstorm shot). Ideally, if you do use Onmyo, you want to get it back by using melee (Empowered Onmyo from Grace of Tsukuyomi).
Elite enemies and bosses
Use whatever buffs you have before a fight (so for me it is Rejuvenation talisman, Gallnut broth and Quick change scroll) and then during a fight if needed. The point here is to spam Onmyo spells but ALTERNATING elements so enemies will get Confused status. Ideally you want to hit them a few times with your switchglaive at some point to get them also corrupted/purified. This is a tanky build – you are not fragile thanks to 150 constitution, optional Ultimate constitution and Stalwart on Onmyo (feel free to trade a spell for a hit if safe – grabs are never safe!). Your HP should stay high at all times thanks to Life drain on Onmyo hit. Hitting enemies with Onmyo also applies reduced defense (Tsukuyomi and Omoikane) and Sloth (if you have it on accessories). You want to spam Onmyo until it refills your Anima bar (it usually only takes a single spell or two) after which you want to use a yokai ability depending on situation – Sanmyo storm for heavy damage (that also heals you completely if mostly hits) better on bigger sized bosses (Gyuki, Yatsu-no-Kami, Gozuki, Mezuki, etc. get totally wrecked by this) OR Brutal charge, especially if you need to destroy enemy’s Ki. I never bother with the third Soul core, I just use those two. The last note – do not forget to use Luminous blade talisman! This build is not created around it, but it is probably the most powerful spell in the game – if it hits all four times, it deals MASSIVE damage and Ki damage and completely fills your Anima bar. You can also dodge-interrupt it before it lands all 4 times so it is perfectly safe (but since you have Stalwart you should only do it if low on HP or enemy is about to do a grab).
Enemies/bosses marathons
For marathons such as “Against all comers”, “Calamity Pulse” or Underworld Depths where you have to fight multiple enemies/bosses in a row, this build is more viable the more Untouched Onmyo you have and more you try to use Empowered Onmyo after casting spells. But if you do run out of spells, use those Sacred brushes!