Nioh 3 Cestus Guide手甲
Blunt fist weapons designed for breaking enemy Ki. New to Nioh 3, offering aggressive close-range combat with rapid strikes.
Overview
The Cestus is a brand-new weapon type introduced in Nioh 3, offering a fist-fighting combat style that is unlike any other weapon in the series. It excels at one thing above all else — demolishing enemy Ki through relentless rapid punches. When you equip this weapon, you sacrifice range for incredible attack speed and Ki damage, making it the best option for breaking enemy guards and forcing them into a vulnerable state. The Cestus scales primarily with Heart, providing excellent Ki recovery to sustain the aggressive up-close playstyle the weapon demands. In boss fights, the strategy revolves around staying in the enemy's face, rapidly depleting their Ki with rapid combos, then unleashing devastating finishers when they stagger. This weapon rewards fearless, aggressive players who can manage risk at close range.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- • Best Ki damage in the game — the Cestus shatters enemy guards in seconds
- • Fastest attack speed allows the Cestus to chain extremely long combo strings
- • Heart scaling gives Cestus users excellent Ki recovery for sustained aggression
- • New to Nioh 3 — Cestus brings a fresh fist-fighting playstyle to the series
Weaknesses
- • Shortest range of any weapon — the Cestus requires point-blank positioning
- • Low HP damage per hit means Cestus combos need many hits to kill
- • Close-range Cestus combat is inherently risky against powerful bosses
- • Limited crowd control — the Cestus struggles against groups of enemies
Key Characteristics
- •Highest Ki damage output — breaks enemy guard rapidly
- •Very fast attack speed with rapid Cestus punch chains
- •Extremely short range requiring close-quarters combat
- •New weapon type introduced in Nioh 3
Moveset Guide
Fist of the Crimson Lotus (紅蓮拳) is the Cestus's premier skill — a rapid multi-hit punch barrage that absolutely destroys enemy Ki bars in seconds
Combos benefit enormously from Ki Pulse — perfect Ki Pulse between strings to maintain infinite aggression without running out of stamina
Mid Stance provides the safest approach — the balanced speed and block let you safely close distance before unleashing punch combos
Use Low Stance dodge punches to weave through enemy attacks — the weapon's short range means dodging into attacks is essential for creating openings
Against bosses, deplete their Ki with rapid combos first, then switch to High Stance for the most powerful finisher punches on staggered enemies
Stance Guide
High Stance (上段)
High Stance Cestus delivers the hardest punches with maximum stagger. Each hit in this stance does significantly more Ki damage. Save High Stance for damage windows when enemies are already pressured.
Mid Stance (中段)
Mid Stance is the most balanced fist-fighting stance. The weapon gains a usable guard in Mid Stance and moderate punch speed. Use this as your default approach stance.
Low Stance (下段)
Low Stance Cestus is the fastest punch stance with superior dodging. The rapid jabs in Low Stance keep constant pressure while the quick dodge lets you weave through attacks at point-blank range.