Entering the Shadow Realm

If you’ve ever played a FromSoftware expansion, you’ll know that gaining access is never a straightforward process. Shadow of the Erdtree continues this tradition. In order to enter the Shadow Realm, you’ll need to complete a few tasks in the base game.

On your journey through the Lands Between, you’ll firstly need to have defeated Starscourge Radahn, a notoriously challenging boss. To face him, traverse Redmane Castle in Caelid during the Radahn Festival and take the elevator down to fight him on the beach.

You’ll also have to have bested Mohg, Lord of Blood. He can be found at Mohgwyn Palace, reached by following Varré’s questline or using a Waygate hidden in the Consecrated Snowfield. Mohg is known for being a particularly tough fight, but other Tarnished have been setting up summon spots next to the battle to help shepherd fighters through and open the DLC.

At the back of the Mohg boss arena you’ll discover Miquella’s cocoon. If both foes have been conquered (and expansion downloaded) a new interaction option will appear when you stand by the cocoon. Accept, and you’ll enter the Shadow Realm and begin your journey into the Shadow of the Erdtree.

Navigating the world

If you put dozens of hours into Elden Ring’s base game, it’s easy to forget that you originally had to collect map fragments in order to build up a picture of the world around you. In Shadow of the Erdtree, this feature returns, meaning when you first enter the Shadow Realm, your map will be blacked out, with one exception; a single bright spot somewhere in the darkness.

One of your first objectives should be to navigate to this point, where you will find a map fragment beneath a tall obelisk. Collecting this will reveal the region’s map, but be warned — Shadow of the Erdtree’s world design uses verticality on a scale unlike almost anything seen in the Lands Between, meaning there is still so much more to be discovered – both above and below – what the map can show you.

This world is dense with secrets, so be sure to explore every nook and cranny. You’ll no doubt be rewarded with weapons, spells and items for your effort.

Making friends and enemies

The starting area of the Shadow Realm is full of friendly (and not-so-friendly) characters who can help fill you in on the story, point you in the direction of hidden areas, send you on missions or challenge you to a duel. 

You’ll come meet warriors, tribesmen, worshipers and devotees among others within your first hour or so of gameplay. Speaking to them, bringing them items they require, or taking the correct action in front of them can help progress their story arc within the overall narrative. And of course, they may reward you with items, join you as companions in battle and more.

Using Shadow Realm Blessings

While you can still level up your character as before, within the Shadow Realm, character progression comes in the form of special blessings. Two new consumables, Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes, can be found around the world and used at a Site of Grace to buff your character and their skills, so seeking them out during your first few hours is a worthwhile endeavor. 

Scadutree Fragments: These increase both damage negation and attack power for your character, meaning you receive less damage from enemy attacks and deal more with your own.

Revered Spirit Ashes: These have a similar purpose but apply to your Spirit Ashes, granting your summons more survivability and power, so you can beef up your Mimic Tear or Black Knife Tiche before facing that next boss. (Other Spirit Ashes are available…)

Note that both of these special blessings only apply to the Shadow Realm, and therefore will have no effect in the base game.

Managing new discoveries

Like all FromSoftware games, Elden Ring is chock-full of items and consumables, some useful, others mysterious. Alongside Shadow of the Erdtree, Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team have introduced a new quality of life feature that allows you to more easily explore the recent commodities you’ve discovered on your adventure.

This new feature, which is turned off as standard, will highlight new pick-ups with a “!” in your inventory, making it easier to survey your collection. It also offers an optional Recent Items Tab, where everything you’ve found recently is collated into one easy-to-understand menu. Both of these features make it simpler to uncover the use of the many new items in Shadow of the Erdtree, but the choice of whether to use them or the original system is entirely yours.

If you wish to turn these features on, they can be found under the Display section of the Settings menu. Here you can turn on either Mark New Items or Show Recent Items Tab, or use both together.

These tips should help you enter the Shadow Realm and make smooth progress during your first few hours. But there is still so much to be discovered when Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree launches tomorrow, June 21.

We’re not in Limgrave anymore

Shadow of the Erdtree takes place in an entirely new region, known as the Land of Shadow, and is accessed by touching the mummified arm found in Mohgwyn Palace in the base game. It’s here that Miquella, the oft-mentioned but never-seen character from the main game, traveled to in the game’s lore.

The section I explored opened with a sprawling meadow filled with gravestones and shadowy spirits. In the distance, I could clearly see what lay ahead of me: a vast settlement, an expansive castle, and a dark woodland looming on the horizon. Above all, an enormous tree stood, charred and gnarled, in stark contrast to the golden tree seen across the main game’s landscape.

While regions in the original game often glowed with autumnal warmth, this region’s dried grass and dying shrubs felt ancient and blighted. The dungeon and fortress I explored—Belurat Tower Settlement and Castle Ensis—were claustrophobic and folded over on themselves. They were filled with winding paths and concealed shortcuts, opening to reveal routes back to Sites of Grace. I fought through flooded cellars, lava-filled chasms, and forests alive with an eerie blue glow.

Fresh yet familiar, The Land of Shadow feels like a natural extension to The Lands Between, and FromSoftware’s mastery of level design is displayed here in glorious form.

New opponents await

It wouldn’t be a FromSoftware update without fresh foes to face, and in that regard, Shadow of the Erdtree comes out swinging. The first enemy I faced dove down to attack me from atop a pillar and quickly sent me back to the Site of Grace. After that, I faced hatchet-wielding ghosts, death sorcery-breathing birds, and knights more lethal than anything I had encountered before. Gigantic, flaming brazier-like beasts flung brimstone in my direction mere moments after I started my journey, setting the scene for the rest of my time there.

And then there are bosses. Shadow of the Erdtee will feature 10+ full bosses and additional side bosses. Some are required to progress the story, and others can be challenged when you feel up to it.

I faced two of these. The first, the Devine Beast Dancing Lion, is found in Belurat Tower Settlement and felt like that classic FromSoftware early game skill check. The grotesque beast leaped across the arena to attack, using a mixture of elemental abilities to keep me on my toes before crushing my poor sorcerer between its teeth again and again.

The second was the magic-wielding Twin Moon Knight, one of the guardians of Castle Ensis, who used a distinctive double full moon attack that filled the entire arena with magic blasts. This devastating ability was challenging to avoid and threw me into the air before slamming me back down to earth, often with lethal force. And if the double moon doesn’t get you, their one-two combo of pyro and glintstone-infused blades will.

One consistent thing between every enemy I faced was their speed and agility. Without exception, the inhabitants of the Land of Shadow felt lethal even from a distance due to their ability to sprint, leap, and spin through the air to reach me. Enemies move fast. It’s hard to say if this is unique to the area I explored, but players should be prepared to get very familiar with that dodge button.

Rebuild your armory

Shadow of the Erdtree will introduce around one hundred new weapons for players to discover. From the start, I chose a Greatsword-sized katana, which caused fire damage when it made contact, and a battle shield featuring large metal spikes on the edge, turning this protective item into an offensive tool.

Players can also discover eight brand-new weapon types. The details on many of these types were being kept under wraps for now, but I was given access to one: Martial Arts.

This new category allowed me to go into combat bare-handed, swinging heavy punches and slamming kicks into my opponents. Just like other weapon types, Martial Arts can be assigned a Skill to suit your playstyle, and mine saw me taking a leaf from some of the bosses’ books by leaping through the air and landing a flurry of kicks on my enemies.

Fighting barehanded might seem like madness in this kind of world, but I found it remarkably effective. The blunt impact of the blows made it easier to break enemies’ stance, leaving them open to a quick and deadly finisher. Martial Arts was a joy to use, and if the other new categories are even half as fun to play with, Tarnished are in for a treat with the new weapon types.

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Bolster yourself with Grace

Shadow of the Erdtree introduces a new system, called Shadow Realm Blessing, to help level the playing field a little. Intrepid explorers are offered the chance to find and use a new consumable to apply a stackable buff that negates some incoming damage and increases the damage you cause to opponents in the Land of Shadow.

This consumable, Scadutree Fragments, are rare, but can be found littered across the world if you look carefully enough. Useable only at Sites of Grace, the amount needed for the next level of buff increases after each use, but seeking them out could make your journey slightly less harrowing. Of course, if you prefer a tougher challenge, the use of the Scadutree Fragments is entirely optional, and the buff has no effect outside of the Land of Shadow.

Shadow of the Erdtree is shaping up to be a worthy expansion to FromSoftware’s now-legendary adventure. If you’ve been away from Elden Ring for some time, jumping into this new region will feel comfortingly familiar, but even for veterans, there is plenty to uncover.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree launches on June 21 for PS5 and PS4, and requires the Elden Ring base game to play.

Experiment with Combat Styles

Rise of the Ronin allows you to wield one main weapon – blades, fists and spears – and sub weapon at a time, such as revolvers, shurikens, bows, rifles and more. When starting out, you’ll have just one combat style available to you for each main weapon, and as you progress, you’ll unlock additional styles which can be attached to them, offering completely different ways to go on the offensive.

But it’s not just you using combat styles – your enemies will have their own styles too, which you will need to adapt to. Recognizing which style your opponent is using will allow you to choose an advantageous opposing style, and can help overwhelm them far quicker. Changing style on the fly is key to being successful in combat.

New styles can be learned through story progression, facing off against tougher enemies, and through bond-building with certain characters and factions. Experiment with different types to find a combination that works for you.

Counterspark is important, but…

The Counterspark – activated with the Triangle button – is both an attack, and a parry. With the right timing, it can be used to deflect most of your enemies moves, even their glowing red murderous attacks. But using the Counterspark isn’t your only tool to defend yourself; combining it with your block and dodge moves will help keep opponents on their toes.

Some enemies will be extremely aggressive, others will wait for an opening to attack, and some may even leap through the air to grab you. Choosing whether you deflect, block, or roll out of the way, and recognizing which works best for the attack you’re facing, can be the difference between success or swift death.

Wander off the beaten path

Rise of the Ronin features a rich narrative throughout, but across the open world, you’ll find a wealth of side missions, characters you can bond with, landmarks to visit, and cats to pet. Engaging in this and taking on quests for monks, fellow travelers, merchants and more will not only ensure you see more of the gorgeous world, but it will help you further your progress through the game’s RPG elements, allowing you to create a build that compliments your chosen playstyle. There’s so much to be discovered away from the main story, and you shouldn’t overlook it.

Make friends and influence people

The opening hours of Rise of the Ronin will bring you to Yokohama, a port city which saw an increasing level of Western influence during the Bakumatsu period. As a result, you’ll come across a wide range of characters, all with unique beliefs on the future of Japan. Much of the story centers around this clash of views, and you’ll find yourself moving between pro and anti-Shogunate groups, as well as Western forces.

How you build your relationships with members of these factions is core to the adventure, driving a Bonds system that can affect how you experience the game. Increase your Bond with certain people and you’ll unlock new skills, weapons and items, which you would otherwise be locked out from. Your choice of faction support will drastically alter the games’ narrative and how you experience key story missions, as well as the people you can team up with during your adventures.

You can also increase your bond with each region of the map by clearing out unruly bandit bases, running errands for locals and chasing off dangerous fugitives. A high bond with each region results in discounts at merchants’ stores and other benefits.

Explore what could have been

Your choices affect how the story plays out in Rise of the Ronin, and you’ll see the consequences of your actions throughout your entire time as the Ronin. But what if you chose differently?

Unlocked once you reach the city of Edo, the Testaments of Soul feature allows you replay previously-completed missions and see what could have been had you followed a different path, making different choices and potentially altering the story you’ve previously experienced. So if you come up against a decision you really struggle with, fear not – the option to explore other outcomes is open to you.

Choose a difficulty setting that works for you

From the offset, Rise of the Ronin offers three different difficulty settings:

• Dawn – enables features such as increased recovery item effect and reduced ki consumption from attacks, this mode is perfect for those mostly interested in the story and world exploration
• Dusk – the default settings, offering a balanced challenge to all players
• Twilight – the toughest challenge offered, this mode is ramps up the difficult, making enemies extra aggressive and attacks even more lethal

Difficulty can be reset at any point in the world, or you can increase or decrease the difficulty for key story  moments as you set out on your mission. Just be sure you’re prepared for the challenge if you decide to step up to Twilight!

With these tips, you should be well prepared for the journey ahead when Rise of the Ronin launches on PS5 on March 22.

Spanning four categories, the polls are shaped exclusively by existing players and help lay out a perfect place for those new to PS5 to start their adventure.  If you’ve recently joined us, every one of these games can be played on PS5 right now.

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Best Use of DualSense Wireless Controller – Astro’s Playroom

Team ASOBI’s nostalgia-inducing adventure is a true showcase of the DualSense Wireless Controller’s power, with levels designed around its unique features. From the brush of grass as you run through the GPU Jungle to the pressure of a bowstring as you take aim at a bomb-blowing beast, Astro’s Playroom is the perfect introduction to what the DualSense can do.

You’ll find Astro’s Playroom preinstalled on your PS5 when you set it up, so you can jump right in.

Honorable mentions:

●   Horizon Forbidden West

●   God of War Ragnarök

●   Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

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Best PS5 Indie Game – Stray

The first thing you need to know about the game voted as the best PS5 Indie Game is that it has a dedicated meow button. The second thing you need to know is that Stray is a wonderfully creative adventure about a cat lost in the depths of a neon-drenched cyberpunk world, surrounded by a cast of fascinating robots. From the moment it was revealed, it was clear developer BlueTwelve Studio had something special on their hands, and clearly PS5 players agree.

Stray is playable now on PS4 and PS5, and PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium members can start meowing at no extra cost.

Honorable mentions:

●   Hades

●   SIFU

●   Kena: Bridge of Spirits

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Best PS5 Graphical Showcase – God of War Ragnarök

Sony Santa Monica brought the Nine Realms to life in incredible detail in last year’s God of War Ragnarök. The snow-covered peaks of Midgard stand in stark contrast to the scorched landscape of Muspelheim and the towering walls of Asgard, ensuring no area is like the last. Set to this backdrop, Kratos, Atreus and their companions’ beautiful design and stunning animations make God of War Ragnarök an incredible visual spectacle on PS5.

You can explore the Nine Realms today, with God of War Ragnarök available now on PlayStation Store. If you’re a PlayStation Plus Premium member, you can try three hours of the adventure at no extra cost with the recently-added Game Trial.

Honorable mentions:

●   Horizon Forbidden West

●   The Last of Us Part I

●   Elden Ring

Best PS5 Game – God of War Ragnarök

Whittling down the list of incredible PS5 games was always going to be a challenge, but there could only be one winner. God of War Ragnarök came out swinging in November 2022 and has continued to to impress as more players join Kratos and Atreus on their adventure. Combining incredible storytelling with visceral combat, gritty boss fights and a cast of unforgettable characters, Sony Santa Monica’s latest installment is an unmissable choice for all PS5 owners.

Honorable mentions:

●   Elden Ring

●   Horizon Forbidden West

●   Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

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And now, with more PS5s available than ever before, those looking to explore these worlds will have a much easier time doing so. New players will join the community with a wealth of adventures to choose from and there’s even more games on their way.

But where to start?

For some new players, that question could be a daunting one. To help guide these players, we’re looking to you, the gamers who are already with us, to highlight some of PS5’s best games, use of DualSense Wireless Controller and more to date. 

Cast your vote in the Players’ Choice: Best of PS5 polls, and we’ll put together a list of your  must-try games and features for new PS5 owners to get started with. The lists below are a starting point, but you can add your own comments in each category if you think we’ve missed anything.

Votes can be cast until February 16, 2023 at 6:00am PT / 2pm GMT, and we’ll reveal the most popular choices across our social channels over the coming weeks.

While you await the results, take a look forward to what you can expect on PS5 in 2023.

Rather than being weighed down by the shadow of his father’s films, the younger Reitman saw his dad’s involvement and presence on the set of Afterlife as a huge boon to this entry. “I was lucky enough to have not only the world’s foremost expert on Ghostbusters sitting next to me,” Reitman told me when we sat down, “but also one of my favourite storytellers.” 

“It’s funny,” he laughs, “I’m the child of a Ghostbuster, so I guess it should be no surprise that when it came to making a Ghostbusters movie, I would make a movie about the granddaughter of a Ghostbuster. And there was no way to do this except with my father right by my side.”

This father-son relationship has created a high level of consistency between Afterlife and the original Ghostbusters movies, to which the new film is a direct sequel. Despite over 30 years passing, Afterlife truly feels like a part of the same world we were first introduced to in 1984. Its tone, comedy and design will be instantly recognisable to fans of the originals.

“We were trying to echo the original film in every way possible, and most of all in comedy. That’s why we cast actors like Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, and Mckenna Grace.” These big stars are joined by relative newcomer Logan Kim who plays Podcast, a wise-cracking misfit with a penchant for microphones and audio recorders.

“You know, audiences don’t know him yet,” Reitman nods, “but I think they’re gonna love him. He feels exactly like the kind of guy you would have cast in the original.”

But the sense that you’re jumping back into the world from the original movies doesn’t end with the humor. Afterlife starts with an as-yet-unnamed family discovering they’ve just inherited a ramshackle farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Formerly inhabited by Phoebe (Grace) and Trevor’s (Wolfhard) absent grandfather, the house is packed floor-to-ceiling with books on the paranormal, unused farming equipment and, as it turns out, ghostbustin’ gear.

And when it comes to the appearance of iconic Ghost Trap and other classic tools, there’s no sleek redesigns here. The clunky, worn-down 80s look from the original movies is preserved perfectly; these could be lifted straight from the studio’s archives. Practical effects and physical props are heavily featured, with CGI limited to a small selection of scenes to preserve the style of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II.

“We always wanted to get at the original recipe of what was a Ghostbusters movie. And that involved really doing the archaeology, understanding how they made the original, and finding ways to mix the bleeding edge of computer technology with the most old school Hollywood effects.”

Reitman’s wish to blend different technologies is showcased best in a scene which sees the return of the Terror Dog, a fan-favourite monster whose image is surely seared into the minds of anyone who watched the original movie as a child. The beast is back, and more terrifying than ever, thanks to a mix of practical and digital effects. And we’ve got your first look at its resurrection in this exclusive clip:

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On the creation of practical effects, Reitman said “we’re talking magnets and wires and smoke and mirrors, animatronics, puppets. We basically had a real Terror Dog on set that was operated by the greatest puppeteers alive. It’s that kind of filmmaking which I think gives the movie its feel and its tone. It’s that grounded camera work. It’s being on real sets instead of green screen stages.

“So when you stand in front of the Terror Dog and it looks you in the eyes, you feel that. There’s just no two ways about it. It becomes way more intimidating when you have these puppeteers who bring that thing to life and you feel like you’re in the presence of a real creature.”

It’s not just monsters which make their return in Afterlife; the movie is littered with Easter Eggs for eagle-eyed fans to spot. When asked for his favourite, Reitman couldn’t be pressed to choose just one. “I’ll give you a few to look for,” he laughs. “There’s a line from the original movie in which Egon Spengler says, ‘I once had half a slinky, but I straightened it’, so there is a straightened slinky somewhere in the movie if you can find it. There’s the Ghost Sniffer that Bill Murray uses at Dana’s apartment from the original, too.”

And fittingly, given Ghostbusters: Afterlife is “a movie about a family, by a family”, Reitman couldn’t help but sneak in a reference to his dad’s previous work as well. “There is also a nod to Cannibal Girls, my father’s first movie,” he teases. 

That family connection clearly means a lot to him. One that’s at the heart of this new movie, resonating through him, and everyone else involved in the production, onto the big screen. 

Ghostbusters: Afterlife launches exclusively in cinemas November 19. Buy your tickets here.

It’s worth noting that Enenra isn’t a latter act clash. Oh no. You’ll encounter Enenra early on in Team Ninja’s retooled sequel. The beast is the first major test for players braving one of the toughest games of the year. He goes in hard and will stomp you into the dust quicker than you can say ‘mortal coil.’ But the rush of dodging a boss’ whirlwind attacks, swinging one last slash and seeing that glorious Mission Complete screen is what kept me coming back for more of Nioh 2’s masochistic action.

Luckily, the opportunity for that rush is never far away.

Other games in this genre are all about the bosses, a massive battle to really test your skills. But what I love about Nioh 2 is that it’s as much about the journey to get there as it is about triumphing over a level-end challenger.

Every gorgeous stage, from stunning mountain ranges dotted with towering castles, to dank caverns filled with spine-shivering spiders and snake-like Nure-Onna, offer the chance to show that you can survive an onslaught of tricksy new enemy types. They flung blades, summoned spirits, blew themselves up and even tossed their own dung to stop me in my tracks, often successfully. Each yokai and samurai I faced was as dangerous as a boss, making for an experience of never-ending tension and genuine fear. But every time I came out victorious, even from a fight with a lower tier grunt, that rush was there, ready to envelop me and coax me onto the next battle.

I wasn’t always the victor, though. We’ve all seen the movies where a trainee warrior disappears to the mountains to hone their skills, carrying buckets of water up enormous staircases to prepare for the inevitable battle with the Big Bad. Each death I suffered in Nioh 2 – and trust me, there were a lot – added a drop to my very own water buckets, helping me steel myself for what lay ahead, teaching me the skills I needed to take down my next assailant. And I loved every second of it.

One of the best things about Nioh 2 is that it isn’t afraid to play with what made the original so great. Sure, the stance system remains, but new yokai abilities – an excellent (and super flashy) burst counter, as well as impressive customizable demonic attacks – mean that despite having claimed the original Nioh’s Platinum Trophy, the follow up put me back in the boots of a fresh-faced warrior. But that climb back to level 100 and beyond, seeing my skills click into place and participating in plenty of jolly cooperation with other players along the way, is some of the best fun I’ve had this generation, making Nioh 2 more than worthy of an Editors’ Choice accolade.

I spent hundreds of hours with the original Nioh, and with a sequel this good, I can see it happening again. The credits may have rolled on Nioh 2 for me, but there are still plenty of brilliantly challenging Twilight missions to face and new yokai slayers in need of a guiding hand.

So drop an Ochoko cup at the Shrine and we might just see each other on the battlefield.

Three years later, and with the samurai adventure’s follow up on the horizon, the stance system remains at the heart of Nioh 2. But this time, Team Ninja have granted players with new Yokai Abilities in their fight against the demons lurking in Sengoku-era Japan. What this means is that while all those hours sunk into the original game will put you in good stead for the fight ahead, there’s plenty of new challenges to overcome and skills to learn if you are to be victorious.

As the gorgeous launch trailer arrives and with the game less than two days away, we’ve put together some expert tips to help you make the most of your new abilities and survive the first few hours of Nioh 2, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or are new to the series:

1. Choose weapons that suits your style

Nioh 2 offers a wealth of starter weapons to choose from, with your character carrying two from the get-go. Favorites from the original game and its DLCs return, but it’s the new double hatchets and switchglaive that many players will be keen to try.

The hatchets allow for swift hacking at your foes, and holding Triangle allows you to toss one of the blades towards distant enemies. The hatchets are relatively weak, but their lightning quick attacks make them a good choice for players who prefer speed over brute force.

The switchglaive, meanwhile, offers three very different styles depending on your stance. Hold the blade in a low stance and it can be used much like a dagger, slicing quickly. Mid stance transforms it into a spear-like weapon, with a medium reach that allows you to keep attacking yokai at bay. Switch to a high stance to turn the blade into a lethal scythe, spinning around you and slamming down onto your opponents with incredible force.

Pro tip: Choosing a combo of weapons which offer different approaches to battle is a good place to start. One heavy hitter alongside a faster blade is recommended for those new to the series.

2. Ki is key

Your stamina, or Ki as it’s known, is just as important as your life gauge in Nioh 2. Every dash, dodge and weapon swing depletes it and if you find yourself fully out of Ki, you won’t be able to attack or avoid an incoming blade. The result of this is often a quick death.

While Ki will gradually recover over time, the Ki Pulse is your secret to success. After each attack, a blue glow will surround your character. A well-timed tap of R1 when this appears will create a Ki Pulse, causing your stamina to jump significantly. Learning to do this is the key to survival as it allows you to go on the offensive for longer periods.

Pro tip: Running Water: Heaven is a Samurai Skill which allows you to dodge away from an enemy and perform a Ki Pulse at the same time. It’s a game-changer in the middle of battle and is a skill you should aim to unlock as early as possible.

3. Know your stance

Nioh’s protagonist fights in three different stances — high, medium and low — meaning you can use each of your weapons in three ways with a tap of R1 + Triangle, Square or X. Mastering the differences between these is vital to establishing yourself as a true yokai slayer.

• Low stance: Holding your blade downwards allows for quicker attacks, this is useful for taking on crawling and slithering yokai
• Mid stance: Swinging towards the body of your enemy allows for medium power attacks. A great all-rounder and good stance to start most skirmishes
• High stance: Slamming your weapon down from above, the high stance allows for crushing attacks which are useful for chipping away at the Ki of your opponents. But be warned; miss one of these attacks, and you leave yourself open to the sharp end of your enemies’ blade

Pro tip: With some practice, you’ll learn to change stance mid battle, allowing you to perform a Ki Pulse at the same time and giving you the opportunity to rain continuous blows down on your opponent with lethal results.

4. Embrace your Yokai Abilities

Yokai Abilities are new to Nioh 2, thanks to the half-human-half-yokai protagonist, and offer a fresh advantage in battle.

Early in the game, you’ll be introduced to the Burst Counter, activated by pressing R2+Circle. The Counter briefly activates your yokai form and teleports you through your enemy’s attack, leaving a spectre of yourself behind which, if hit by the incoming attack, massively damages your opponents health and ki. Timing is everything with the Counter, but get it right and you’ll be well rewarded.

Additional yokai abilities can be gained by finding Soul Cores during your journey.

Pro tip: Watch closely for a red flash around your enemy. This is your signal to activate the Counter and deal some serious health and ki damage.

5. Steal your enemies’ abilities with Soul Cores

Soul Cores are a new item and are dropped by the more powerful yokai you face. Once attuned at a Shrine, the Cores give you the ability to use some of the notable skills of the yokai you stole it from. The first one you’ll come across is taken from the huge ape-like Enki and imbues you with the ability to jump in the air and toss a spear down onto your enemies, dealing massive damage and often turning the tide of battle.

Assigned to R2 + Triangle or Square, you can equip two of these skills at a time alongside your Burst Counter.

Pro tip: Your ability to perform yokai abilities is locked to your Anima Gauge, a new gauge which appears as a purple bar below your Ki. This can be replenished by defeating enemies and absorbing other Soul Cores.

6. Learn to use the Yokai Shift

When your Amrita Gauge is full, the ability to activate Yokai Shift opens to you. Press the Triangle + Circle buttons together to complete a full metamorphosis from samurai to yokai. While in this form, you become almost invulnerable and your attack power massively increases. In the early hours of the game, there are three different forms you can take, based on which Guardian Spirit you choose. These allow for differing abilities, so choose wisely based on the enemies you’ll face:

• Brute: armed with heavy weapons and the ability to repel attacks, the Brute yokai form swings devastating attacks from close quarters
• Feral: quick and dangerous, the Feral yokai can dodge enemy attacks while chaining together rapid attack combos
• Phantom: The Phantom Yokai keeps its distance, launching projectiles at its enemies before moving in for close-up attacks

Pro tip: Having trouble taking down a tough opponent? Return to a Shrine to change your Spirit Guardian and try a different approach in your Yokai form.

7. Call for help from beyond the grave

The world of Nioh 2 is littered with the souls of fallen warriors, shown as both red Bloody Graves and blue Benevolent Graves. Activating a Bloody Grave raises a samurai from the earth for you to go head-to-head against, with the chance of gaining some powerful loot if you defeat them, but it won’t be an easy fight.

Benevolent Graves, new to Nioh 2, allow you to call on the support of a fallen player’s spectre, who will appear as an NPC and fight alongside you until your mission is over, or they are defeated. You need Ochoko cups to call on an aide, which can be found by defeating souls from Bloody Graves.

Pro tip: Righteous Jasper is a new consumable in Nioh 2 which, when used, creates a Benevolent Grave where you stand. This can be used by other players to call on your spectre for support.

8. Explore the Dark Realm

In Nioh 2, powerful yokai have the ability to drag you into The Dark Realm. Once there, your ki will struggle to recover and yokai will become more powerful. You’ll find chests locked and shrines unusable, making it dangerous for even the most experienced warrior.

To escape the Dark Realm, you’ll need to find the yokai who has dragged you in. While they won’t be taken down easily, once defeated, they’ll drop useful loot, and chests and shrines will unlock.

Pro tip: Yokai are more powerful in the Dark Realm, but since the protagonist is half yokai, it might be a good place to test out your new yokai skills…

9. Find inner peace at Shrines

The Shrines you’ll find scattered throughout Nioh 2 offer a brief respite from the challenges of your journey. Pray at them to replenish your health, restock your items and act as a respawn point should you be defeated… But be warned, your departed enemies will be resurrected too.

Shrines allow you to use amrita to level up your character and claim blessings from the adorable green Kodama you’ll discover hidden in each level. Offer up an Ochoko cup and you may even be able to summon another player to help you on your quest.

Pro tip: Shrines appear as green dots on your map. You’ll know you’re near when you hear the high-pitched chanting of the Kodama.

While many of Nioh 2’s biggest challenges will still lie ahead of you, with these tips, you stand a better chance of survival during the first few hours of Team Ninja’s samurai epic. The thrill of taking down a massive brute of a boss is one of the game’s most satisfying elements, but you’ll need to hone your skills if you’re to face Nioh 2’s most lethal opponents when it launches on March 13.

Good luck, samurai.