Master Guardian Spirits & Soul Cores in Nioh 2

In our Nioh 2 guide, we will explore everything you need to know about Guardian Spirits & Soul Cores. We will discuss how they work, the best strategies for utilizing them, and how to strengthen them to maximize their potential. Learn which Guardian Spirits to use with which Soul Cores to create the most effective combinations. Let’s dive into the world of Nioh 2 and master Guardian Spirits and Soul Cores!

Guardian Spirits & Soul Cores in Nioh 2

While Guardian Spirits are not new to Nioh 2, the way they are used has changed. Instead of upgrading them to higher levels, you now slot Soul Cores into them. This provides passive benefits and allows you to use new powerful Yokai Abilities. Living Weapon has also been replaced with something called Yokai Shift, which allows you to change into a demon form for a limited time, granting new moves and abilities. First, let’s discuss the types of Guardian Spirits.

Guardian Spirit Types: Brute, Feral and Phantom

There are 3 categories of Guardian Spirits in Nioh 2: Brute, Feral, and Phantom. Each Guardian Spirit determines your Yokai Shift appearance, moveset, and Burst Counter, and has an associated element represented by its color. Red is Fire, Blue is Water, and Yellow is Lightning.

Anima & Guardian Spirits: Special Effects

Anima is the resource used for Burst Counters and Yokai Abilities, and is gained by attacking and killing enemies. Each Guardian Spirit type gives you a bonus to Anima gain in a different way. Brutes provide extra Anima when you Block, Feral Guardians offer extra Anima when you attack multiple times in a row without being hit, and Phantoms give extra Anima when you strike with a Ranged Weapon. Additionally, Guardian Spirits have Special Effects that apply immediately when they are equipped, and some have requirements you must meet to gain the bonus.

Guardian Spirits: Yokai Shift & Burst Counter

Each of the three types of Guardian Spirits has a different Yokai Shift that looks and plays differently. Brute Guardians perform melee attacks more gradually but hit harder, while Feral Guardian Spirits move rapidly, hitting fast and frequently with less damage. The Phantom Guardian Spirits attack from a distance, allowing them to avoid melee and reduce the chance of being hit. Burst Counters are new to Nioh 2 and allow players to interrupt some Burst Attacks that enemies and Bosses perform by pressing R2+O at the correct time.

Soul Core Basics

Soul Cores are new to Nioh 2 and can be dropped from every enemy in the game, even humans. These can then be slotted into your Guardian Spirit, granting passive bonuses and Yokai Abilities. Soul Cores have Attack and Defense values that are added directly to your character’s Status Sheet. Higher numbers provide more benefit in combat both offensively and defensively, but the impact of these values depends on the Guardian Spirit’s multiplier.

Soul Core Special Effects & Yokai Abilities

Each Soul Core has special effects and grants a unique Yokai Ability when slotted. The Yokai Ability you choose depends on your Guardian Spirit type, the Special Effects, and the Attunement cost. Additionally, Soul Cores have different types: Brute, Feral, or Phantom, which can become more effective when matched with a Guardian Spirit of the same type.

Managing Your Soul Cores

If you have an excess of Soul Cores, you can use Resting Rites to destroy them, freeing up inventory space and gaining crafting materials and progress towards more Shiftling Skill points. Soul Cores can also be used when Soul Matching Yokai Weapons to reduce the cost significantly.

Stay tuned for more Nioh 2 guides, including builds and weapon guides, and be sure to check out our review for our thoughts on the game. For further assistance, visit the Nioh 2 Wiki.