Ito Ittosai Duel Tactics Best Builds for Wayfarer Attire
This guide is a complete, actionable walkthrough for defeating Ito Ittosai in a solo duel and reliably farming the Wayfarer Attire armor set in Nioh 3. You’ll get precise movement windows, parry and dodge timings, recommended loadouts for multiple playstyles, and a repeatable farming plan that balances efficiency and safety. The tactics here assume you want to duel him alone (no companions) and maximize drop chances while minimizing time spent. The boss is found in Futamata and only accepts a duel when you are alone; treat this fight like a high-skill one-on-one where patience and reading tells beat brute force.
Why this fight matters and what the Wayfarer Set gives you
Ito Ittosai is a master-level duel boss who tests your parry timing, spacing, and ability to punish recovery frames. The Wayfarer Attire is a light armor set that rewards precision: its set bonuses boost strong attack damage and martial art Ki damage, and the full set activates the Single Sword’s Reverie bonus that synergizes with sword-focused builds and aggressive strong attacks. If you prefer a nimble, high-damage sword or single-sword playstyle, this set is one of the best mid-to-late game light armor options. Pieces of the Wayfarer Set drop from multiple bosses and can be found across Futamata and other regions, making targeted farming viable once you know where to look.
Fight overview and core philosophy
Treat the duel as a rhythm game: observe, punish, reset. Ittosai telegraphs most of his heavy slashes with a wind-up and a step; his projectile attack (burying the blade and releasing a crescent wave) is avoidable by lateral movement or by stepping behind him when timed correctly. He mixes fast two- and three-hit combos with slower, high-damage finishers that leave him open for counters. Your goal is to: (1) avoid big hits, (2) punish recovery windows, (3) maintain Ki (stamina) to keep mobility, and (4) use burst windows to land your strongest attacks or summon seals if your build supports them. Blocking is possible but risky; parry and dodge are your primary defensive tools.
Ito Ittosai moveset breakdown and tells
Three-time slash (rush then triple slash): He dashes forward and strings three slashes. The tell is a short sprint and a raised blade; the recovery after the third slash is your best parry or heavy punish window.
Two-time slash: Similar to the three-hit but shorter; blockable and parryable. Use a quick sidestep or a light parry to avoid chip damage.
Slash and poke: A horizontal slash followed by a thrust. The thrust is slower—dodge to the side and counter immediately.
Crescent projectile: He stabs the blade into the ground and a crescent wave travels forward. Move laterally or step behind him; if you’re mid-attack, back off—this attack has long reach and can punish overcommitment.
Heavy overhead finisher: Telegraphed by a long wind-up; it deals massive damage and leaves him open if you survive it. Use this to bait and punish with your strongest combos.
Core defensive options and when to use them
Perfect parry: High reward against Ittosai’s slower finishers and two-hit combos. Time the parry to the moment the blade connects; a successful parry opens a large punish window. If you’re confident with parry timing, use it to negate damage and land a heavy counter.
Dodge roll: Use for the projectile and to avoid multi-hit rushes. Rolling behind him after the projectile often places you in position for a backstab or heavy combo.
Block: Only when you must; his heavy hits will chip through and can break your guard if you’re low on Ki. Use guard when you’re certain you can absorb the hit and immediately counter.
Ki management: Keep Ki above the threshold for a dodge. Light armor and Ki recovery bonuses help; the Wayfarer Set itself supports aggressive play but doesn’t replace Ki management.
Best general approach by playstyle
Below are recommended strategies tailored to three common playstyles. Each includes core priorities, movement patterns, and punish windows.
Aggressive sword user (single-sword or katana)
Priority: Stunlock and punish recovery frames.
Movement: Close the gap after his three-hit combo recovery; use quick step-ins and light combos to chip Ki.
Punish: After a heavy overhead or the third slash, land a strong attack chain and finish with a heavy finisher. The Wayfarer Set’s strong attack bonus makes this playstyle especially potent.
Nimble dual-wield or ninja style
Priority: Mobility and interrupting.
Movement: Stay behind or to the side; use jump attacks and quick combos to avoid the projectile.
Punish: Use fast combos to interrupt his wind-ups; when he pauses after a combo, land a heavy attack and back off. PowerPyx’s general boss advice for Nioh 3 emphasizes fast weapons and Ninjutsu for keeping bosses off-balance, which applies here.
Ranged / Onmyo hybrid
Priority: Safe damage and summoning.
Movement: Keep distance, bait the projectile, and punish with ranged spells or summoning seals. Use the environment to kite and heal. Summoning seals and Ninjutsu can force openings while you stay safe.
Recommended loadouts and gear choices
Below are three optimized loadouts that work well against Ittosai and synergize with the Wayfarer Attire when you’re farming pieces.
1. Wayfarer Sword Duelist (Primary recommendation)
Weapon: Single sword or katana with high Skill/Heart scaling.
Armor: Equip as many Wayfarer pieces as you can; 3–4 pieces already boost strong attack damage and Ki damage. Full set grants the Single Sword’s Reverie bonus.
Guardian Spirit: Choose one that boosts Ki recovery or strong attack damage.
Accessories: Items that increase Ki recovery and reduce equipment weight.
Tactics: Use strong attacks after parries and recovery frames; keep Ki above dodge threshold.
2. Dual Ninja Stalker
Weapon: Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja style) for fast interrupts.
Armor: Mix Wayfarer torso and legs with light pieces to keep weight low.
Ninjutsu: Shuriken and Uncanny Flame for stagger and chip damage.
Tactics: Stunlock with fast combos, use Ninjutsu to force openings, and finish with a heavy finisher when he’s staggered. PowerPyx recommends this fast-attack approach for many Nioh 3 bosses.
3. Onmyo Ranged Summoner
Weapon: Staff or light sword for quick parry access.
Armor: Light pieces to maintain mobility; Wayfarer head and sleevelets for set bonuses if available.
Spells: Defensive and ranged Onmyo spells; summoning seals to distract.
Tactics: Keep distance, use spells to punish recovery, and summon to create openings for heavy attacks.
Skill and stat priorities
Skill and Heart: Prioritize these for sword builds; they increase damage and strong attack potency.
Stamina: Invest enough to keep equipment load below 30% if you want faster dodges.
Ki recovery: Any passive or guardian spirit that improves Ki recovery is valuable.
Martial Arts: Choose arts that complement your weapon; the Wayfarer Set’s bonuses favor strong attacks and single-sword techniques.
Consumables, Living Artifacts, and Soul Cores
Elixirs: Bring plenty; the duel is punishing and mistakes are costly.
Living Artifacts: Use ones that grant burst damage or healing on demand.
Soul Cores: Save them for critical moments; summoning seals from Soul Cores can create breathing room and force Ittosai into predictable patterns. PowerPyx and community guides recommend using summoning seals to control boss behavior.
Step-by-step duel strategy (phase by phase)
Phase 1: Probe and learn
Start by baiting a few attacks without committing to heavy damage. Watch his tells for the three-hit and projectile. Use light attacks to test his reaction and Ki drain.
Phase 2: Punish recovery
After you’ve learned his rhythm, begin punishing the recovery after his three- and two-hit combos. Land a strong attack chain and back off. If you can parry reliably, use perfect parries on the slower finishers to open huge windows.
Phase 3: Control the projectile
When he uses the ground-stab projectile, sidestep or roll behind him. This often places you in position for a free heavy attack. Avoid overcommitting; the projectile can punish long animations.
Phase 4: Finish with patience
As his health drops, he may mix in faster attacks. Stay patient, keep Ki high, and only commit when you have a clear opening. Use consumables and Soul Cores to secure the final phase.
Farming the Wayfarer Attire efficiently
The Wayfarer Set drops from multiple sources across regions and bosses, including Naito Masatoyo, Kosaka Masanobu, Onryoki, and various enemies and chests in Futamata and other areas. That means you can farm the set by repeatedly running missions that contain these bosses or by targeting the specific areas where Wayfarer pieces spawn. If you prefer boss farming, focus on the shortest mission that includes a guaranteed or high-chance drop source and use luck-boosting mechanics (if available) to increase drop rates.
Efficient farming loop
Pick the shortest mission that contains a Wayfarer drop boss.
Equip gear that increases item drop rate or luck if you have it.
Use a build that clears the mission quickly and safely (Dual Ninja or ranged summoner recommended).
Repeat until you have the pieces you need; swap in Wayfarer pieces as you obtain them to benefit from set bonuses mid-farm.
If smithing texts are available for Wayfarer blueprints, collect those to craft missing pieces at the blacksmith. Game guides list smithing texts and where to find them; check side quests and boss rewards for potential blueprints.
Crafting and smithing notes
If you find Smithing Texts for Wayfarer pieces or related blueprints, you can craft the armor at the blacksmith instead of relying solely on drops. Smithing texts are often rewards for side quests or boss encounters; collecting them reduces RNG and speeds up set completion. Keep an eye on side missions and crucible rewards that list armor smithing texts.
Advanced tips and tricks
Bait the overhead: Use a short dash in and out to bait his heavy overhead; parry or dodge and punish.
Stagger windows: Some builds can stagger Ittosai with repeated light attacks; use this to interrupt his wind-ups.
Use the environment: In the duel arena, use pillars and walls to block line-of-sight for projectiles and to reset the fight if you need breathing room.
Summon visitors sparingly: The duel requires you to be alone for the initial challenge, but once you’re farming the area, summoning AI or players in other missions can help clear content faster. For the duel itself, practice solo to master the timing.
Troubleshooting common problems
I keep getting hit by the projectile: Practice lateral movement and time your approach; if you’re mid-combo, back off when you see the ground-stab animation.
I can’t parry consistently: Lower your equipment weight to improve dodge and parry timing, and practice on weaker enemies to build muscle memory.
Drops aren’t appearing: Rotate missions that contain Wayfarer drop sources and check for smithing texts; RNG can be stubborn, so diversify your farming targets.
Quick reference: do’s and don’ts
Do keep Ki above dodge threshold.
Do bait and punish recovery frames.
Do use Wayfarer pieces as soon as you get them to benefit from set bonuses.
Don’t overcommit to long animations when he can interrupt with the projectile.
Don’t rely solely on blocking for defense.
FAQ
How do I trigger the duel with Ito Ittosai? You must approach him alone; he will only accept a duel if you have no companions with you. He’s located in Futamata inside a house southeast of the Abandoned Bamboo Grove Shrine.
Does the Wayfarer Attire drop only from Ito Ittosai? No. The Wayfarer Set drops from multiple bosses and enemies across regions, including Naito Masatoyo, Kosaka Masanobu, Onryoki, and various enemies and chests in Futamata and other areas. You can also obtain smithing texts to craft pieces.
What’s the best build to farm Wayfarer pieces quickly? Dual Ninja Swords (Ninja style) for speed and interrupt potential, or a ranged Onmyo build for safe, repeatable clears. If you want to use the Wayfarer Set while farming, a single-sword build that leverages the set’s strong attack bonuses is ideal.
Can I craft Wayfarer pieces? Yes, if you find the corresponding Smithing Texts. Smithing texts are often rewards from side quests and boss encounters; collecting them lets you craft armor at the blacksmith.
Any quick parry tips? Practice on weaker enemies to learn the timing, then apply it to Ittosai’s slower finishers. Parry the final hit of his two- or three-hit combos for the largest punish window.
Closing notes and final checklist
Prepare: Equip Ki recovery, light armor, and consumables.
Practice: Spend a few runs learning his tells before trying to farm drops.
Farm smart: Rotate missions with Wayfarer drop sources and collect smithing texts to reduce RNG.
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