Creating a build from separate gear pieces in Nioh 3 is often more beneficial than equipping a full set due to more customization and optimization options. Of course, full sets provide reliable bonuses, but they lock you into a singular uniform with no flexibility. While mixing different armor pieces lets you cherry-pick stats and effects.

This guide will provide you with a list of the best armor pieces and their effects in Nioh 3, including tips on how to get them and how many stat points their activations require.

The following armor pieces can be used for creating an ultimate hybrid build with the top stats and elemental resistances.

Best Head Armor: Tatenashi Helmet

Tatenashi Helmet has the best overall stats and is an excellent piece of headgear in Nioh 3. It offers the highest Toughness at 45 among all other headgear, and it provides the highest amount of protection against stagger and knockback.

In addition to great protection, the Tatenashi Helmet also provides Physical Resistance and Fire Resistance. But the weight of the Tatenashi Helmet is a bit steep, weighing in at 5.5, which is quite heavy for the Samurai class, which is actually prefect for tanky builds.

The Tatenashi set also has a number of effects, granting random bonuses, known as The God of War Looks Down on You, such as an increase in your damage thresholds from both physical and elemental attacks, so you don’t necessarily need to carry shields around with you when you’re using this headgear.

You can obtain the Tatenashi Helmet as a drop from the Hiruko boss, but it requires 12 Stamina and 13 Strength to activate.

Best Torso Armor: Kintaro’s Cuirass

Kintaro’s Cuirass has the highest Toughness at 94, exceeding other armor sets like Malefactor’s Cuirass, Shinobi Cuirass, Warrior of the East Cuirass, and Tatenashi Cuirass. Toughness plays a large role in poise and staggering resistance in Nioh 3, so it’s great for tank builds.

Another very positive feature of this armor is that it has great overall Physical Resistance and decent Lightning Resistance. The downside to this piece is that it does not have any special effect. However, it is not as rare as the Tatenashi set and can drop from many bosses such as Nuribotoke, Sugitani Zenjubo, or Nasu no Yoichi.

You’ll need 14 Stamina and 15 Strength to activate it, but it’s a perfect choice for ultimate poise in Abyss and Dream of the Wise.

Best Arm Guards: Shadowstep Bracers

Shadowstep Bracers have the highest Toughness at 49, outclassing all others like Kusarigama Master Gauntlets and Kintaro’s Gauntlets. You’ll want these braces specifically for effective Ki blocking in Nioh 3 due to its Ki Recovery Speed (Unscathed) effect, which actually synergizes with both Tatenashi Helmet and Kintaro’s Cuirass listed above.

Note that the Physical Resistance of the Shadowstep Bracers is lower than that of the heavy options, which fits agility builds that require a strong Ki effect. As a part of the Shadowstep set, which is a medium-weight armor, you can forge it at the Blacksmith, after obtaining the smithing text dropped by the Minamoto boss, using such materials as Leather Platelet, Leather Cord, Lacquer, Iron Platelet, and Gold.

Make sure that your build has 21 Stamina and 20 Skill to be able to activate these arm guards.

Best Leg Guards: Scion of Tamura’s Waistguard

Scion of Tamura’s Waistguard has the second-highest Toughness at 72 after Shadowstep Waistguard leg guards, but it has a much higher Physical Resistance stat at 5.7, making Scion of Tamura’s Waistguard a superior choice.

The Scion of Tamura set also offers an entire slew of special Pride of the Sakanoue effects, where by adding each of the seven available pieces, you can get the following bonuses:

Life +150 (2 pcs.), Damage Taken -4% (3 pcs.), Max Arrows +3 (4 pcs.), Ki Pulse Recovery +8% (5 pcs.), Untouched Projectiles +20% (6 pcs.), Enhanced Attack and Defense D+ Spear (full set).

You can forge either piece of the Scion of Tamura set after picking up a smithing text from the Urabe no Suetake boss.

It requires 19 Stamina and 19 Strength to activate.

Best Foot Guards: Malefactor’s Greaves

As in the case with the Scion of Tamura set, each piece of the Malefactor set grants you special effects, such as:

Life Drain (2 pcs.), Melee Damage vs. Paralyzed Enemy +7% (3 pcs.), Ki Damage +4% (4 pcs.), Ki Damage on Applying Paralysis (5 pcs.), Final Blow and Grapple Damage +20% (2 pcs.).

You can obtain the pieces of the Malefactor set from the following bosses: Great Tengu, Tomoe Gozen, and All-seeing Mage.

Activating this set requires only 9 Stamina and 10 Strength.

Conclusion

Of course, as an “ultimate hybrid build” there is room for personal taste. Together, these might provide the most defense and resistance, but maybe you prefer the cleaner look of a full set. If that’s the case, use this as inspiration or a guideline to a making your perfect mixture of style and substance.