If you just want to know how to beat Saito Hajime in Nioh 3 quickly, here’s the short version: fight him defensively in the cramped cave, side step his Thrust and Swing and Lunging Stab attacks, and lean on Thundering Calamity along with the Demon of Envy and Demon of Pride Soul Cores to chew through his health fast. He’s the boss waiting for you at the end of the Shinsengumi Scheme, a Myth quest that kicks off early in the Bakumatsu region. This guide walks you through starting the quest, getting to his cave, and beating him without much trouble.

How to Start the Shinsengumi Scheme Quest in Nioh 3

You’ll pick this one up right after finishing the A New Era main mission. Head south of the Shimabara Pleasure District Main Gate shrine and you’ll spot the soul of a warrior standing there, just approach it and talk to it to kick things off. The spirit asks you to find out what the Shinsengumi are plotting against the loyalists, and mentions their leader is heading toward Shichijo.

Once the conversation ends, you’ll get a new marker on the map pointing you toward your next stop. The Shinsengumi Scheme is a Myth quest, one of the side quest types you’ll run into across the Bakumatsu quests, and it’s worth doing early since it’s not far out of your way.

Shinsengumi Scheme Walkthrough: Reaching Saito Hajime’s Cave

From the starting shrine, follow the main path south and east toward Shichijo, the area the spirit pointed you to. Along the way you’ll need to cross some rooftops to get past a Crucible Spike, so take it slow and watch your footing. Once you’re near the Shichijo Avenue Ruins shrine, head northeast and you’ll run into a group of enemies camped out by a set of stairs.

Push up the stairs and you’ll come face to face with Shinsengumi Member Hattori Takeo, who fights with dual katanas and likes to chain quick slashes into a telegraphed finisher. If you want a full breakdown of his patterns, we’ve already covered Hattori Takeo’s boss fight in its own guide. Once he’s down, keep moving forward and you’ll find the cave that leads to Saito Hajime.

Saito Hajime Boss Location in Nioh 3 (Fight Overview)

Saito Hajime shows up right as you’re about to leave the cave at the end of the Shinsengumi Scheme, so don’t expect a breather between him and Hattori Takeo. He fights with a large, two handed sword, and his long weapon deals massive damage when it connects, so getting clipped even once or twice can chew through a big chunk of your health.

He doesn’t have a huge moveset, instead he leans on a small number of attacks that he chains into combos, and he has no ranged options at all, which means he’ll constantly close the distance and chase you around the room. The fight takes place in a confined space, so if you’re used to ninja tool tactics from a distance, you’ll need to shift your focus to moving around him instead.

How to Beat Saito Hajime in Nioh 3 (Attack Patterns and Strategy)

Two attacks to watch for stand out the most. The first is his Thrust and Swing, where he positions his sword near his head, pointed at you, before thrusting forward and spinning into a swing. This one can reach you from mid range, so the moment you see him wind up, side step instead of trying to block it head on. The second is his Lunging Stab, where he pulls the sword back while still aiming it at you, then drives it forward in a sudden lunge, also best avoided with a side step rather than a backward dodge, since backing into a wall in this small room is the last thing you want.

While you’re on the offensive, watch out for a surprise upward stab he throws out while you’re pressuring him with normal attacks. Pause your combo every so often so you’re not caught mid swing when it comes. Honestly, by this point in the game you’ve already got solid movement and dodging down, and your arsenal of magic and ninja tools is strong enough that this fight shouldn’t give you too much trouble as long as you respect the space you’re fighting in.

Best Build for the Saito Hajime Boss Fight in Nioh 3

Thundering Calamity, the Ninja Skill Tree weapon skill, hits hard here and is worth using right from the start. Just remember it only connects at medium range, so don’t fire it off if Saito Hajime is right on top of you or too far away. It also got a nice quality of life bump in patch 1.04.03, which improved its target acquisition, so it locks onto him more reliably than it used to.

For Soul Cores, the Demon of Envy and Demon of Pride both work great in this matchup. Both can be summoned in the Yang Position of your Onmyo Box, and conjuring either demon in a room this small means Saito Hajime has nowhere to run from the extra attacker. I used both right from the start of the fight and they carried a big share of the damage. Fire shurikens are also worth throwing in whenever you get an opening, but for whatever reason fire bombs barely scratch him, so swap those out for something else before you head into the cave.

Saito Hajime Rewards and Completing the Shinsengumi Scheme Quest

Once Saito Hajime goes down, grab whatever he drops, his loot pool can include pieces from sets like the Lilac Set, the Scion of Tamura Set, and the Goichimonshu Set, so it’s worth checking your inventory for an upgrade. To wrap up the quest, head outside the cave and talk to the spirit waiting there. That’s it, the conversation is short and there’s nothing tricky about it, the Shinsengumi Scheme closes out right after.

Saito Hajime FAQ

Where is Saito Hajime in Nioh 3?

He’s at the end of the Shinsengumi Scheme quest, inside the cave you reach after defeating Hattori Takeo near Shichijo, blocking the exit as you try to leave.

How do I start the Shinsengumi Scheme quest?

Finish the A New Era main mission, then head south of the Shimabara Pleasure District Main Gate shrine and talk to the soul of the warrior standing there.

What weapon does Saito Hajime use?

A large, two handed sword. He chains a small set of heavy thrusts and swings into combos and has no ranged attacks.

What’s the best way to beat Saito Hajime?

Side step his Thrust and Swing and Lunging Stab rather than blocking, watch for his upward stab counter when you’re attacking, and bring Thundering Calamity along with the Demon of Envy and Demon of Pride Soul Cores to speed things up.

What rewards do you get for completing the Shinsengumi Scheme?

Saito Hajime can drop gear from sets like the Lilac Set, the Scion of Tamura Set, and the Goichimonshu Set, on top of completing one of the early Myth quests in the Bakumatsu region.