Nioh 2 is Team Ninja's soulslike action RPG set in Sengoku-era Japan, where you play as a custom half-yokai warrior. The combat system is among the deepest in the genre with three stances per weapon, ki pulse mechanics, yokai abilities through Soul Cores, and Burst Counters that punish enemy special attacks. Nine weapon types each play completely differently, and the loot system rivals Diablo in its depth with set bonuses, tempering, and soul matching. The endgame Dream of the Nioh difficulty and Depths of the Underworld provide hundreds of hours of min-maxing for dedicated players.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Sashimi Village
Key resources: Burst Counter tutorial, early Soul Cores, Kodama blessings Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Odachi upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Viper's Sanctum
Key resources: Yatsu-no-Kami Soul Core, Snake set pieces, mid-game smithing materials Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Odachi upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo
Key resources: High-level set pieces, late-game Soul Cores, story progression Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Odachi upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Sun Sets on Mount Tenno
Key resources: Story completion, Dream of the Strong unlock, endgame access Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Switchglaive max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Depths of the Underworld
Key resources: Ethereal gear, Scroll of the Damned, ultimate build completion Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Switchglaive max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Sashimi Village — Viper's Sanctum)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Odachi once accessible
Mid Game (Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo)
- Push Odachi to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Switchglaive
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The Sun Sets on Mount Tenno — Depths of the Underworld)
- Max out Switchglaive — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Ki Pulse into stance switch (R1+stance button) recovers MORE ki than a regular ki pulse — always stance switch during combos
- Farm Cherry Blossom Viewing in Daigo during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Nioh 2 Guides
- Nioh 2 Nioh 2 Overview
- Nioh 2 Best Builds
- Nioh 2 Tier List
- Nioh 2 Walkthrough
- Nioh 2 Beginner's Guide
- Nioh 2 Tips & Tricks
- Nioh 2 Weapons Guide
- Nioh 2 Combat Guide
- Nioh 2 Boss Guide
- Nioh 2 Maps & Locations
- Nioh 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Nioh 2, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
