# Nioh: Complete Edition PC Guide: Combat, Builds, and Requirements > A practical guide to Nioh's stances, Ki Pulse, loot, early tactics, 80GB storage need, and ideal audience. Release date: 2017-11-07 Tags: souls-like, action-rpg, difficult, hack-and-slash, dark-fantasy, samurai, singleplayer, multiplayer Source: https://store.steampowered.com/app/485510/ Article page: https://web-autoai.com/articles/nioh-complete-edition-brutal-samurai-action-in-feudal-japan?lang=en Prices and ratings change over time — check the article page for the current values. --- ## Game Overview Nioh: Complete Edition is a demanding action RPG set in war-torn Japan. William, a protagonist inspired by a historical Western navigator, fights human warriors and supernatural Yokai across mission-based stages. Released on November 7, 2017, this package contains the base game and all three story expansions: Dragon of the North, Defiant Honor, and Bloodshed's End. Rather than using one continuous open world, the game lets you select main and sub-missions from a regional map. Within each stage, you locate shrines, learn enemy placements, unlock shortcuts, and work toward a boss. Death leaves your Guardian Spirit and accumulated Amrita behind, creating a tense choice between recovering them and risking another defeat. ## Combat Systems Every melee weapon supports high, mid, and low stances. High stance favors forceful attacks with longer openings, low stance emphasizes speed and evasive movement, and mid stance provides a practical balance with strong defensive utility. Switching according to the enemy, range, and available Ki is more effective than treating one stance as universally best. Attacks, blocks, and evasive actions consume Ki. A properly timed Ki Pulse quickly restores part of that resource and can purify Yokai Realm zones that hinder recovery. Button mashing therefore leads to exhaustion, while deliberate attack strings and timely pauses keep William ready to defend. Swords, dual swords, spears, axes, kusarigama, and other weapons differ substantially in reach and available skills. Ninjutsu and Onmyo Magic add ranged attacks, buffs, debuffs, and other tactical options, while Guardian Spirits influence bonuses and Living Weapon strategies. Human opponents and Yokai also respond differently to Ki pressure, so learning how to create an opening matters as much as dealing raw damage. ## Loot and Character Growth Nioh uses a loot-heavy structure in which enemies and chests produce many weapons and armor pieces. Items of the same type can have different levels, rarities, and special effects. Early on, regularly replacing underleveled gear is usually more useful than spending excessive time pursuing a perfect set of bonuses. Amrita improves William's attributes, while weapon skills, Ninjutsu, and Onmyo Magic expand his options. When a boss becomes a wall, the answer does not always have to be faster reactions. Equipment weight, elemental tools, Guardian Spirits, learned skills, and weapon choice can all change the matchup. ## What the Complete Edition Includes The three included expansions extend the campaign with connected stories and additional battles after the base-game journey. They make the most sense after developing a working build and understanding the core combat systems. Players who enjoy upgrading gear, learning another weapon, or replaying missions have substantial room to continue beyond the initial conclusion. That amount of content also demands commitment. The base game already introduces many overlapping systems, and the expansion chapters add further challenges rather than serving as casual standalone episodes. Someone mainly interested in seeing the story quickly may find the complete package heavier than expected. ## PC Requirements The minimum specification lists Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel Core i5-3550 or better, 6GB of RAM, DirectX 11, and either a GeForce GTX 780 with 3GB VRAM or a Radeon R9 280 with 3GB VRAM. The recommended specification raises this to a Core i7-4770K or better, 8GB of RAM, and either a GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB VRAM or a Radeon R9 380X with 4GB VRAM. Both tiers require 80GB of available storage. Leaving extra space beyond that requirement is sensible for installation overhead and updates. Because precise visual feedback matters in difficult close-range fights, systems near the minimum should prioritize stable performance by reducing demanding graphics settings when necessary. ## Reception and Common Impressions Players commonly value the weight of combat, the depth created by stances and Ki Pulse, the large weapon skill sets, and the constant stream of build-changing loot. Defeating an enemy after learning its timing provides a clear sense of improvement. The combination of historical Japanese figures and supernatural folklore also distinguishes the setting from Western medieval fantasy. Frequent criticisms tend to focus on the steep early learning curve, the time spent comparing or dismantling equipment, and moments when camera control or crowded encounters make attacks difficult to read. Its stages reward repeated attempts and familiarity with enemy placement. It is better suited to players who enjoy diagnosing mistakes than those expecting to clear every encounter on the first attempt. ## Useful Early-Game Habits Try several weapon types before committing, paying attention to reach, speed, and the feel of each stance. When you reach a shrine, look for nearby doors or ladders that can shorten the next run to a boss. Pulling enemies away from groups with a ranged weapon is often safer than fighting several opponents at once. Practice adding a Ki Pulse to the end of basic attack sequences as early as possible. Equipping heavy armor without watching its effect on movement and Ki can make survival harder despite the extra defense. Revenants summoned from Bloody Graves can provide useful equipment, but they may be more dangerous than ordinary enemies, so clear the surrounding area first. ## Who Should Play It Nioh: Complete Edition is a strong fit for players who enjoy observing attack patterns, losing a few attempts, and gradually constructing a reliable solution. It also rewards anyone who wants character building, elemental tools, magic, and Ki damage to matter alongside mechanical execution. The blend of Soulslike tension and loot-driven action RPG progression is its clearest appeal. You can advance cautiously alone or use supported online features to bring cooperation into parts of the journey. Players willing to use every available system when a difficult encounter blocks progress will have more options than those pursuing a strictly solo challenge. ## Cautions and Who Should Skip It This is a poor fit for anyone who strongly dislikes repeated deaths or replaying the same section. Enemies punish careless aggression, and being surrounded can end a run even with improved equipment. The volume of dropped items may also frustrate players who dislike inventory management and comparing small combinations of bonuses. It is not an open-world journey across an uninterrupted version of Japan. Progress is organized around selected missions and repeatable combat stages, with mastery taking priority over unrestricted exploration. Enjoyment ultimately depends on whether stance switching, Ki Pulse timing, and careful resource management sound satisfying rather than burdensome.