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In Nioh 3, you'll be able to use two different playstyles, and switching between them is as simple as pressing a single button. Those two playstyles are Samurai and Ninja, and although they might look similar, there are some very different features that define each of them.
One of those features is Ki Pulse (related to the Samurai playstyle) and Mist, which is tied to the Ninja playstyle. The command and executions of those two are the same, while the result is quite different.
In this guide, we will explain everything related to those mechanics and why they are so important.
Ki Pulse Explained
Ki Pulse is a mechanic tied to the Samurai playstyle. A samurai is supposed to be stronger and bigger than a ninja, and the weapon you'll be using as a samurai will be a lot bigger and will drain your Ki (stamina) faster.
Of course, that comes with benefits because you'll be much more efficient in the battle as a samurai, and you'll deal much more damage.
However, if you play as intended, this Ki consumption can be reduced to a minimum by using a simple yet very effective mechanic known as Ki Pulse.
The idea is to land a couple of hits and then press a Ki Pulse-dedicated button. I chose a layout where R1 and R2 (PlayStation controller) are the attack buttons, so for me, the Ki Pulse button was set to Square. If you chose a different controller layout, just go to 'Settings', 'Controls', and choose 'Configure Controls' to see which button is set to 'Interact, Restore Stance'.
Pressing the Ki Pulse button during your combos must be done when you see some sort of sparkles around you. If you time it right, you'll restore some stamina (Ki) and be able to maintain your attacking streak.
Mist Mechanic Explained
In execution, there is no real difference between Ki Pulse and Mist, only that Mist is tied to the Ninja playstyle. Mist is, however, quite different from Ki Pulse, allowing you to maintain the attacking streak more efficiently.
As we said earlier, playing as a samurai will make you bigger and stronger, while the Ninja playstyle will give you agility and speed, and as a result, your Ki will deplete way slower.
As a ninja, you won't have to worry about the Ki consumption that much; however, while attacking, you're going to have to try to maintain your attacking streak as long as possible, and that's where the Mist mechanic comes into play.
Instead of hitting enemies and dodging, as you've probably gotten used to in other similar games, Mist will allow you to press a dedicated command (the Square button in my case), which will allow you to change position (similar to dodging) without losing the Ki in the process.
This will become extremely useful if you manage to master it, and it is actually very easy to do. Our advice of the day is to not sleep on Ki Pulse and Mist, because those possibilities will ease your life in Nioh 3 considerably, and once you master them, you'll cut down enemies left and right without worrying about losing stamina in the process.
Extra Advice
If you don't want to bother with Ki Pulse while playing as a samurai and still get its benefits, you can add the option inside the Skill Management menu while praying at a shrine.
Go inside the 'Skill Management' and choose the 'Samurai' tab. Here, you'll be able to add some passive skills, which are very important to your playstyle. Those skills, however, are obtained through exploration, and the skill we're interested in right now is called 'Running Water'.
This skill will allow you to perform Ki Pulse simply by dodging, which is a huge help while playing as a samurai. With this skill active, you won't have to think about Ki Pulse while in combat; just dodge at the right moment, and instead of losing Ki, you'll gain it.
However, I cannot say where I got this skill. All I know is that I got it while exploring the first couple of regions, and since 100 per centing regions is very easy to do, there is a big chance you have this skill available as well. In any case, if you have this skill at your disposal, make sure to make it active because it will help you tonnes in fighting as a samurai.
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