Master Nasu no Yoichi is one of the more unusual master encounters you will run into in Nioh 3, and the reason is simple: this man is an archer, and a genuinely dangerous one. Walk into this fight without a plan and his fire arrows will tear through your health before you even close the gap. This guide covers exactly where to find him, how to approach the fight, and the fastest way to bring him down.

Master Nasu no Yoichi Location in Nioh 3 (Nishiichi, Heian)

You will find Master Nasu no Yoichi in the Heian region, specifically in the Nishiichi area of Sagano. Head to the southwestern corner of Nishiichi and make your way up to the temple above, and that is where you will face him. The encounter takes place during the main Heian storyline, set in 1190 CE and drawing heavily from the historical Genpei War era.

Nasu no Yoichi himself is a real figure from Japanese history, famous for shooting a fan off the mast of an enemy ship from horseback during the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. The game gives you a version of him at the absolute peak of that skill, which tells you everything you need to know about how this fight is going to open.

How to Unlock the Master Nasu no Yoichi Boss Fight

The encounter becomes available as you progress through the main story in the Heian region. Once you have advanced far enough, you can travel to Nishiichi and challenge him at the temple. After you beat him here, he also appears in a second fight during the myth quest “Beneath a Pure White Flag,” where he uses enhanced versions of the same techniques. So this is not the last time you will see Nasu no Yoichi, and everything you learn in this first encounter will carry over.

How to Beat Master Nasu no Yoichi: Close the Gap Without Getting Hit

The single most important thing to understand before this fight begins is that you should never try to trade shots with Nasu no Yoichi at range. His bow attacks deal enormous damage, and at a distance he has every advantage. The moment the fight starts, your focus needs to be entirely on closing the gap, not on attacking.

He will open with arrow fire from far away, and you need to sprint toward him while dodging his shots. Use any cover in the area to break his line of sight and keep moving forward. His most dangerous ranged move is a triple fire arrow volley that spreads out as it comes toward you.

The best way to handle it is to sprint perpendicular to him or dodge toward him at an angle right as he releases, which lets you close distance safely and avoid most of the spread at the same time. Do not stop to attack during this approach. Your only goal is to reach him.

Once you are in close range, the dynamic shifts in your favor. He will still use his bow at short range, but at this distance his shots are slow and easy to dodge. He also switches to a katana, throwing out a three-hit combo that ends with a forward lunge. Block or dodge the first two hits and then dodge through the lunge, which opens up a solid punish window. From here you are in control of the fight and you can start working on finishing him.

How to Use Fire to Defeat Master Nasu no Yoichi Quickly

Once you are close, the fastest path to ending this fight is getting Nasu no Yoichi on fire and keeping him there. Use your fire bombs as soon as you are in melee range, and use both types you have available. The fire debuff deals significant ongoing damage and is the key to a quick win here. The key is to not let it expire, so keep reapplying it the moment it runs out.

I also strongly suggest using the Demon of Envy Summoning Seal if you have it. You unlock this Onmyo Magic ability by defeating the Demon of Envy, and once equipped it lets you summon a friendly Demon of Envy yokai into the fight. It deals solid fire damage, draws Yoichi’s aggression, and gives you breathing room to stay aggressive yourself.

If you have not fought the Demon of Envy yet and want to pick up that seal before coming here, take a look at our Nioh 3 Demon of Envy guide for a full walkthrough on how to beat him. Between your fire bombs, your fire talismans, and the Summoning Seal, Nasu no Yoichi will go down quickly once the debuff is stacked.

Nasu no Yoichi Rewards and What Comes Next

After you defeat Master Nasu no Yoichi, you will receive the Handbook: Falcon Strike, a Fan-Piercing Bow, and pieces from both the Blessed Sleeve Set and the Lilac Set. The Falcon Strike handbook is the main prize here, giving you access to a new technique.

The Fan-Piercing Bow is worth keeping if you are running any kind of ranged build alongside your melee. And as I mentioned, you will meet Nasu no Yoichi again in the myth “Beneath a Pure White Flag” with tougher versions of his moves, so use this first fight to get a feel for his attack patterns. See you in the next guide, and take care.