How to Find the Bloodedge Demon and Defeat It in Nioh 3
The Bloodedge Demon is one of the most memorable optional encounters in Nioh 3: a roaming, emergent boss that forces you to hunt it down rather than stumble into a fixed arena. Its presence is tied to revenant malice and Bloody Graves, which means the fight is as much about smart tracking and resource management as it is about raw combat skill. This walkthrough gives you a complete, original path from the first clue on the map to the final stagger, covering tracking techniques, preparation, builds, consumables, arena control, advanced tactics, and repeatable farming strategies so you can turn this terrifying foe into a reliable source of high‑tier loot.
How the Bloodedge Demon appears and the tracking fundamentals
The Bloodedge Demon does not spawn in a single, fixed location. Instead, it emerges when malice from multiple defeated revenants converges into a single, massive purple grave. The game marks the direction of malice on your map after you defeat a revenant from a Bloody Grave. Each time you kill a revenant tied to a Bloody Grave, a red arrow appears showing the general direction that malice is moving. Your job is to follow those arrows, kill a few revenants along the path, and watch for the notification that the malice has coalesced into a hulking revenant yokai — the Bloodedge Demon’s spawn.
This mechanic creates a deliberate tension: every revenant you kill while tracking the demon increases its power. That tradeoff is the core strategic decision of the hunt. Kill too few and you may never trigger the spawn; kill too many and you’ll face a demon that’s far stronger than you can handle. The ideal approach is to use the arrows to triangulate the malice path with the minimum number of revenant kills necessary to produce the purple grave.
Step‑by‑step tracking method that works
Start in a region with several Bloody Graves visible on the map. These graves are red and hostile; they’re not the blue friendly summons. Interact with one and defeat the revenant. After the kill, open your map and note the red arrow that appears. Move roughly halfway across the map in the arrow’s direction and find another Bloody Grave. Defeat that revenant and check the map again. Repeat this process until the game notifies you that the malice has gathered into a single form and a purple grave appears.
A few practical rules to follow while tracking:
Kill only what you need. Two or three directional arrows are usually enough to triangulate the spawn.
Avoid clearing entire clusters. Large clearouts power the demon unnecessarily.
Use the map frequently. The arrows are directional, not precise coordinates; multiple reference points are essential.
If you over‑power the demon, reset. Closing and reopening the game resets the malice tracking and forces you to start over; use this as a last resort if the demon becomes unmanageable.
Recommended level, gear, and mental prep
For a first attempt, aim for level 40–60 depending on your comfort with the game’s mechanics. The Bloodedge Demon scales with the number of revenants you kill and with your level, so raw level alone isn’t the only factor. Preparation matters more than a single number: bring the right resistances, a weapon you know well, and consumables that counter the demon’s elemental and status tricks.
Key preparation checklist:
Armor with balanced elemental resistances. The demon cycles elements and will punish you with elemental follow‑ups.
Talismans that reduce status buildup and Stop Talismans to halt elemental effects.
Elixirs and status cleansers.
A weapon and stance you can rely on for both burst damage and quick disengagement.
Ninjutsu tools for crowd control and to create stagger windows.
Acolyte or co‑op if you want a safety net or faster farming runs.
Mentally, treat the fight as a rhythm to learn rather than a damage race. The demon punishes greed; patience and timing win more fights than raw aggression.
Reading the Bloodedge Demon: tells and moves
The Bloodedge Demon uses a mix of fast melee combos, multi‑sword slashes, and elemental AoE attacks. It telegraphs elemental shifts by making its arms glow with the active element: red for fire, yellow for lightning, blue for water, green for wind. Those glows are your cue to prepare for follow‑ups that can inflict status or heavy chip damage.
Signature behaviors to memorize:
Three‑hit sweep into slam. A quick right swipe, left swipe, then a heavy slam. The slam is a recovery window — your best time to land a short combo.
Overhead unblockable. Telegraphed by a lean back and red energy; this attack is often the fight’s most dangerous moment. Use Burst Break to interrupt or perfect dodge to avoid.
Elemental charge and AoE. The demon will sometimes charge and release an area effect tied to its current element; move to the edge of the arena and circle around.
Ki drain chains. Many combos chip away at your Ki; perfect dodges and Ki Pulses are essential to stay in the fight.
Core combat philosophy: windows, Ki, and Burst Break
This fight rewards timing and resource control. Your primary tactic should be hit‑and‑run: enter during a recovery frame, land a short, high‑value combo, then back out to reset. Ki management is the backbone of success — perfect dodges, Ki Pulses, and conservative stamina use keep you alive and able to punish openings.
Burst Break is a decisive tool. Save it for the demon’s red unblockable or for moments when the demon is about to chain into a long, dangerous animation. A well‑timed Burst Break not only interrupts but also creates a long window where you can heal, buff, or unload heavy damage. Don’t waste Burst Break on small openings; treat it like a trump card.
Weapon choices and build templates
There’s no single best weapon, but certain archetypes make the fight easier depending on your playstyle:
Heavy weapons (Axe, Odachi): Great for stagger stacking and punishing openings with massive damage. Use if you can reliably create stagger windows.
Katana: Fast, excellent for parries and quick Ki recovery; pair with Samurai style for parry counters.
Dual Swords / Kusarigama: High mobility and combo potential; ideal for hit‑and‑run play.
Ninjutsu and ranged tools: Shuriken, caltrops, and bombs help control distance and chip health.
Build focuses to prioritize:
Ki recovery and efficiency. Skills that reduce Ki consumption or speed Ki Pulse recovery are invaluable.
Burst damage and critical multipliers. Amplify Burst Break and critical damage to shorten the fight.
Elemental defense and status mitigation. Because the demon cycles elements, resistances and talismans that reduce status buildup are helpful.
Mobility and stamina. If you prefer dodging and repositioning, invest in agility and stamina skills.
Consumables and on‑field tools that change the fight
Consumables often decide close fights. Bring:
Elixirs for reliable healing. Use them during the demon’s long animations or right after a successful Burst Break.
Stop Talismans to halt elemental status effects.
Bombs, Kunai, and Caltrops to interrupt or stagger the demon from range.
Soul Cores and Acolyte summons for extra damage or distraction.
Ninjutsu tools like Fire Shuriken to force recovery frames.
Use consumables strategically: a well‑timed caltrop or bomb can create the single second you need to heal or reposition.
Positioning, arena control, and movement
The Bloodedge Demon’s arenas are usually open with a few obstacles. Control the center when possible and avoid getting cornered. When the demon charges an AoE, move to the arena edge and circle; don’t try to tank elemental blasts head‑on. If you’re in co‑op, spread out to avoid shared AoE damage and let one player draw aggro while the other flanks.
Movement tips:
Circle to the demon’s blind side after it finishes a long combo.
Backstep into a perfect dodge when you anticipate the overhead unblockable.
Use terrain to break line of sight for elemental AoE and to force the demon to reposition.
How many revenants should you kill while tracking
Every revenant you kill while tracking increases the demon’s strength. The practical rule: kill only enough revenants to get two or three directional arrows and triangulate the spawn. That usually produces a purple grave without powering the demon to an extreme level. If you accidentally make the demon too strong, you can reset the session, but that wastes time and progress.
Farming loop and loot optimization
The Bloodedge Demon drops high‑tier loot scaled to your level, making it a lucrative farm. Once you find the spawn in a session, you can defeat it repeatedly without losing the location — but the spawn resets when you close the game. Efficient farming loop:
Locate the demon using minimal revenant kills.
Defeat it with a build optimized for speed and survivability.
Collect drops and note which items you want (weapon types, armor pieces, Soul Cores).
Repeat within the same session or reset the game to hunt again.
If you’re farming a specific drop, equip gear that increases item drop rates or luck stats. Co‑op runs with a partner who can revive you or draw aggro speed up the process and reduce run time.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Overkilling revenants while tracking. Powers the demon unnecessarily. Kill only what you need.
Ignoring elemental tells. The demon’s arm glow is your cue to prepare for elemental follow‑ups.
Greedy combos. Staying in too long after a combo invites the overhead unblockable. Learn to back out.
Wasting Burst Break. Save it for the red unblockable or long animations.
Poor Ki management. Failing to Ki Pulse or perfect dodge leaves you vulnerable to one‑hit sequences.
Advanced tactics for experienced players
Parry baiting. Use short feints to bait the demon’s three‑hit sweep and parry the slam for a massive counter window.
Elemental baiting. If you have high resistance to one element, bait the demon into using that element and punish during its recovery.
Stagger stacking. Combine Ninjutsu bombs with heavy weapon hits to stack stagger quickly and force long flinches.
Burst Break chaining. Time a Burst Break to interrupt the red attack, then immediately follow with a high‑damage combo while the demon is stunned.
Ki drain reversal. When the demon uses Ki‑draining combos, use a perfect dodge into a Ki Pulse to flip the momentum and punish the recovery.
Co‑op and Acolyte strategies
If you bring an Acolyte or a co‑op partner, coordinate roles: one player draws aggro and uses ranged tools to interrupt, while the other focuses on Burst Break windows and heavy damage. Acolytes are especially useful for drawing the demon’s attention during unblockable animations, giving you time to heal or reposition. Communication is key: call out the demon’s elemental shift and the timing of your Burst Break so you don’t overlap and waste windows.
Quick pre‑summon checklist
Level: 40–60 recommended for first attempts.
Gear: balanced elemental resistances and a weapon you can parry or burst with.
Consumables: Elixirs, Stop Talismans, bombs, caltrops.
Skills: Ki recovery, Burst Break enhancements, elemental mitigation.
Plan: decide whether you’ll play Samurai for parries or Ninja for mobility.
Mindset and pacing for consistent wins
This fight is a test of discipline. The Bloodedge Demon punishes greed and rewards patience. Treat each opening as a precious resource: land a short, decisive combo and retreat. Learn the demon’s rhythm and don’t let frustration push you into reckless attacks. With practice you’ll read the patterns and convert them into predictable windows for damage and healing.
Troubleshooting specific problems
If you keep getting one‑shot by the overhead unblockable, practice perfect dodges and timing on smaller enemies to build muscle memory. If the demon’s elemental AoE is killing you, prioritize elemental resistances and use Stop Talismans. If you’re running out of Ki, reduce stance switching and invest in Ki recovery skills or lighter armor to improve stamina regeneration.
Speedrun and efficiency tips
For fast farming runs, use a build focused on mobility, high burst damage, and survivability. Equip gear that boosts item drop rates and use consumables that reduce downtime between runs. If you’re speedrunning the encounter, minimize revenant kills during tracking and rely on co‑op partners to help with quick clears.
Final words on mastery
The Bloodedge Demon is designed to be a test: it forces you to combine map awareness, resource management, and precise combat execution. Master the tracking method, respect the demon’s tells, and prioritize Ki management and Burst Break timing. Do that and the fight becomes less about luck and more about predictable, repeatable skill.
FAQ
Q: Where do I start tracking the Bloodedge Demon? Start in an area with multiple Bloody Graves. Kill a revenant, note the red arrow on the map, move halfway in that direction, and repeat until a purple grave appears.
Q: How many revenants should I kill before summoning? Kill just enough to get two or three directional arrows to triangulate the spawn. Killing too many makes the demon stronger.
Q: What level should I be to fight the Bloodedge Demon? Aim for level 40–60 for a first attempt; higher levels and better gear make the fight far more manageable.
Q: Which style is best Samurai or Ninja? Both work. Samurai style is great for parries and heavy counters; Ninja style offers mobility and ranged tools. Switching between styles mid‑fight is often optimal.
Q: What’s the best way to deal with the demon’s unblockable red attack? Use Burst Break to interrupt it, perfect dodge if you can’t interrupt, or back away to avoid the follow‑up. Don’t try to block it.
Q: Can I farm the Bloodedge Demon repeatedly? Yes within the same session. The demon’s location resets when you close the game, so you can either farm it repeatedly in one session or reset and hunt it again.
Q: What drops should I expect? High‑tier gear and Soul Cores scaled to your level. Drops vary, so farm for the specific weapon or armor you want.
Q: Are there elemental weaknesses? The demon cycles elements and resists many statuses. Focus on Ki damage and stagger rather than relying solely on elemental exploitation.
Q: Should I summon help? If you’re underleveled or want faster runs, summoning an Acolyte or co‑op partner is a smart choice.
Q: What’s the single most important skill to master for this fight? Ki management — perfect dodges, Ki Pulses, and knowing when to retreat are the foundation of every successful run.
This walkthrough gives you a complete, practical path from the first revenant malice to the final stagger that ends the Bloodedge Demon. Use the tracking method to find the purple grave, prepare with the right gear and consumables, and adopt a patient hit‑and‑run combat rhythm centered on Ki management and Burst Break timing. With practice you’ll turn a terrifying optional boss into a reliable source of powerful loot and a satisfying test of skill.
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