Nioh 3 Guide | How to Defeat Jakotsu Baba Boss

Here’s a guide on how to defeat Jakotsu Baba in Nioh 3.

Game Guide by TauxicPandA on Feb 09, 2026

In Nioh 3, you have to keep an eye on several threats at once to beat Jakotsu Baba. To win, you have to figure out what part of the boss is trying to hit you and decide whether to block or use a counter.

Nioh 3, Guide, How to Defeat Jakotsu Baba Boss

Identifying the Active Heads

The boss attacks in three different ways, and you can tell which one is coming by looking for certain glows. When it's ready to attack, the Red Snake Head will shine with fire and stretch out far from the body.

It looks like the Ice Snake Head, but it has a white, cold light around it. The Main Head stays close and works on grabs and staff strikes most of the time. If you go into the Yokai Realm, the Main Head will be much more dangerous.

Nioh 3, Guide, How to Defeat Jakotsu Baba Boss

Dealing with the Red and Main Heads

The Red Snake Head is the slowest of the bunch. It might try to poke at you or swing across the area, both of which are easy to block. If it lifts up and starts to glow for a big smash, use your burst move to break the attack and deal extra damage.

The Main Head uses a staff to slam the ground. This usually happens in a pattern of two or three hits in Nioh 3.

Try to block these or time your parry perfectly so you can sneak in a quick hit between his swings. If the final slam glows red, use a burst break.

In the Yokai Realm, the Main Head might lunge forward or try to grab you with a golden sparkle. It is safer to block the lunge and dodge the golden grab rather than trying to counter them.

Nioh 3, Guide, How to Defeat Jakotsu Baba Boss

Handling the Ice Head

The Ice Snake Head is faster and has more variety in its moves. It often uses a triple poke where the first two hits come out quickly.

Block the first poke, dodge the second, and then block the third to stay safe. It also has a heavy smash that takes a long time to wind up. You can block this or move out of the way in Nioh 3.

Sometimes the Ice Snake Head will swipe four times in a row with a small pause in the middle. As long as you have enough energy, you can simply hold your block through the whole sequence. If you keep your guard up and manage your breath, you can find openings to strike back after the boss finishes its patterns.

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