This Nioh 2 guide will tell you all there is to know about how to best use Burst Counter. It can’t teach you the timing of each attack, sadly. You’ll need to learn that by doing.
How to Perform a Burst Counter in Nioh 2
There are two factors that determine whether you can Burst Counter an enemy.
First, you’ll see a red glow around them during a counterable attack. Just as the attack is about to connect, you need to hit the enemy with the yokai shift-powered Burst Counter.
To use the ability, activate your yokai state. Your character will grow the glowing horns you selected at the beginning of the game. Then, while holding the shift button, press the Use button.
Every use of Burst Counter uses a small amount of Anima, the purple bar beneath your Health and Ki bars. Performing one provides Anima as well. If you fail, you’ll lose Anima and likely a large chunk of your health.
The Different Types of Burst Counters
Depending on which yokai shift you have, both the timing and the distance of the move will be different. You can check which yokai shift you’re using in the Guardian Spirit menu.
Feral will be a blue symbol Phantom will be a purple symbol Brute will be a deep red symbol
After a specific mission early in the campaign, you’ll unlock the ability to equip two Spirits at once. This will give you the option to have two of either the same or different yokai shifts.
Here’s a summary of shifts and their counter attacks.
Feral Counter
Feral is the most forgiving burst counter, closing the distance and acting as a dodge.
The dodge goes farther than you might expect and doesn’t rely on Ki, so if you’re in a bind and out of Ki, it’s a good get out of jail free card. You will be immobile for a few moments, so don’t rely on Feral too much.
Phantom Counter
Phantom is good as well, with plenty of active frames, but you have to be right up next to the enemy. A Phantom counter hardly moves at all.
The counter comes out almost instantly and is the fastest of the three options.
Brute Counter
Brute counter takes the most effort, as it has a significant wind-up. You’ll take a short step forward and give your foe a swipe with your demon-arm. The swipe has armor, meaning you’ll tank any damage you incur.
Because the Brute counter registers as an actual attack, it can stagger some enemies out of their attacks. If you don’t mind the finicky timing, Brute can do a lot of work.
All Nioh 2 Enemies Have Different Timings
Remember, every enemy in the game has a different counter timing. Certain enemies have multiple Burst attacks as well, meaning you’ll need to know multiple attack timings.
Some yokai will delay their attacks, but the counter window will never change. Once you know when to Burst counter, you’ll always know.
That’s all there is to learning the Nioh 2 Burst Counter. Whether you rely on one counter type or use Feral, Phantom, and Brute interchangeably, you’ll have an edge against the game’s tough enemies once you’ve mastered the move.
