Combat Counters

Nioh 2 Burst Counter

The Burst Counter from Nioh 2 rewards precise timing over memorization. Here's how it works and how to land it more consistently.

How it works

A defensive technique in Nioh 2 that lets the player counter a Yokai's red, unblockable attack using a specific input tied to the enemy's Yokai type.

  • Each of the three Yokai realms (Human, Feral, Phantom) corresponds to a different burst counter input, shown by the color of the attack warning.
  • Successfully timing the burst counter interrupts the attack and briefly stuns the enemy, opening a window for a strong follow-up.
  • Practicing recognition of the warning color is more valuable than memorizing fixed timings, since enemy attack speed varies.