The Nobunaga’s Blade final boss in Nioh 3 is the Red Kappa, and I’ll walk you through everything you need to get there and take it down without breaking a sweat. This is a shorter sub-mission, and the combat along the way is completely manageable. The Nioh 3 Nobunaga’s Blade final boss is one of those encounters where knowing the attack patterns in advance will keep you from being caught off guard.

How to Unlock Nobunaga’s Blade in Nioh 3

Before you can start this sub-mission, you need to complete two main missions: Those Left Behind and Accursed Temple. Once both are done, the Nobunaga’s Blade quest becomes available in your Battle Scroll menu. Go to any shrine, select the sub-mission, and you’ll be transported to an instance of Sanjo to begin.

Following the Kappa Through Sanjo

Head forward and up the steps to unlock the first shrine. Continue up and you’ll spot a Kappa ahead of you. Your job here is to follow it through the area. Along the way you’ll run into a mix of enemy soldiers and yokai. These are all standard enemies, nothing that should slow you down.

There’s nothing hidden in this area that you absolutely need. Once you reach the second shrine, you’re close to the end of the mission. If you want to explore and grab loot along the route, you can go back and do so. A wooden platform over a chasm leads you to the final arena.

The Yokai Waves Before the Red Kappa Boss

When you step into the final arena, the Nioh 3 Nobunaga’s Blade final boss does not appear immediately. You first have to deal with three waves of yokai. The first wave sends in a Thorned Gaki and a One-eyed Imp. The second brings an Enki and a Gaki. Neither wave should give you any real trouble as these are basic enemies you’ve likely handled dozens of times already. Clear them efficiently and try not to burn through your elixirs unnecessarily, because the third wave is where things get serious: the Red Kappa shows up alongside a Kyokotsu.

How to Beat Red Kappa, the Nioh 3 Nobunaga’s Blade Final Boss

Here’s the most important thing to know going in: defeating the Red Kappa is all it takes to complete the mission, even if the Kyokotsu is still alive. So the moment the third wave starts, lock your focus on the Red Kappa.

The Red Kappa is a small yokai that uses its turtle shell as a weapon. It has three main attacks to watch out for. The first is the Red Orb Throw: from mid-range, it raises one hand and fires three consecutive red orbs toward you. When you see that hand go up, dodge three times in quick succession and you’ll avoid all of them. The second is the Turtle Shell Smash. The Red Kappa jumps off the ground, tucks into its shell, and comes crashing down in a small area of effect. Back away immediately the moment you see it leave the ground. Third is the Shell Spin, where the Red Kappa hops onto its back and spins at high speed around the arena. Keep your distance and wait for it to stop before moving back in.

I’d suggest flanking whenever you can. The Red Kappa’s shell gives it solid resistance from the front, so attacking from the sides or rear will let you deal noticeably more damage. High-break weapons like the Axe work well for pressuring its ki. Watch for the red flash that signals its Burst Attack, a leaping shell slam, and use a Feral or Brute Burst Counter to punish it and create a big opening. Applying the Purified status drains the Red Kappa’s ki gauge rapidly and sets up grapple opportunities that can cut the fight short considerably.

Dealing with Kyokotsu During the Red Kappa Quest

You’ve already encountered Kyokotsu earlier in your journey through Nioh 3, so its moveset won’t be unfamiliar. The challenge here is that it enters the arena as a second active enemy and can be very distracting when you’re trying to focus on the Red Kappa yokai. If the Kyokotsu is interrupting your attacks or chipping at your health from the side, deal with it quickly and then return your full attention to the Red Kappa boss. Once the Red Kappa goes down, the mission ends regardless of whether the Kyokotsu is still standing.

Nobunaga’s Blade Rewards and What You Unlock

After the Red Kappa falls, interact with the glowing orb in the arena to officially complete the mission. The rewards make this Nioh 3 Nobunaga’s Blade final boss encounter well worth the effort: you receive the Ninja’s Locks armor piece, the Swan Spear weapon, and the title “Blessed by the God of Fortune.” Most importantly, you earn the Guardian Spirit Tengen Kujaku.