Just how important is flux and stance switching?

[Daemok]

I'm enjoying the game (especially the loot system), but I'm new to the Nioh series. I'm finding flux and stance switching to be a bit tedious. I'm trying to get these mechanics down from the start, but they feel overly cumbersome. Trying to fit in extra button presses with such a fast paced game feels like a little much.

1. Is flux needed to play the game well? I can handle regular flux OK about half the time right now, but flux 2 just feels like way too much for my brain at this point. Wondering just how necessary this mechanic is. At first I thought I could get a flux 2 buy going from low stance to mid and back to low, but it seems it doesn't work like that, making it even more complicated.

2. I've been building my skill tree for low stance kusarigama and pretty much just staying in low stance all the time. I liked the idea of lots of dodging, low ki consumption, and fast attacks all in one stance. After watching some tutorials though I feel like this is going to get me into trouble later. Seems like most tutorials suggest using low stance purely for evasion and mobility. I'm worried my damage will simply be too low later in the game in low stance. Is it viable to build around one stance, or will I just be gimping myself way too much?

[Bithound]

Not required to enjoy the game. But you can slot different active skills into different stances. So stance switching gives more versatility. Also there are buffs a character will get from fluxing.

[Silver Nightbane]

Flux is something that you kind of get used to since it gives you a means of getting a good chunk of your Ki back, which means it gives you better ways of being more aggressive or to give you that precious chance to roll away and heal.

I have a friend who is playing with me and while he DOES know how to Ki Pulse, he barely uses it and he's doing fine... except it takes him far longer to win boss fights or kill certain enemies in general.

[Rasluka]

I think Flux stance switching becomes more important if you're running C agility since the stamina regen is painful.

[Daemok]

Wow, thanks for feedback everyone! Figured I might get a response or too at the most, so all of this is really helpful.

I think for now I will just concentrate on learning flux 1, flux 2 feels like more of a hindrance than a help right now. I've started mixing in some mid stance here and there though, mainly when I get surrounded by more than one enemy. High stance just feels way to slow to me right now.

[Remi]

I've been using high stance Glaive exclusively and while I have flux unlocked, just Ki-pulsing and continuing to attack in high stance feels like better dps uptime. Especially because you can initially only learn so many weapon skills that trying to get all of them for more than one stance might prove difficult. I guess once you have all skills in NG+++ or so you can switch freely and combo like in a fighting game.

[Hekk]

Stance dance is rather unimportant unless you build for it - good use of ki pulse is more important.

[Scottyfaic]

or just flux when your ki pulse is maxed.

[AH-1 Cobra]

Flux is optional if you're using a weapon like fists with A in agility. I would have to retrain my approach to use mechanics like this. I typically favor mid stance with most weapons, most of the time, with the occasional swap to high stance to use specific attacks against specific enemies, but the bread and butter for me is mid stance on most weapons. Some weapons got good high stance moves, like kusarigama has a ball sling attack with good reach and damage in high stance, and I used that to press enemies that were dangerous to approach.

It already took me awhile to get in the habit of regularly using the feral burst counter to avoid attacks, I was so familiar with Nioh 1 not having stuff like this. I should probably be using the actual oni attacks more, because I typically got a topped off gauge most of the time. The fire and ice spin to win move can put confusion on mobs, and I got it slotted but forget to use it most of the time.

[Dregora]

Flux/ki pulse is semi important, stance dancing is not important at all.

[Donaldo Trumpado]

I feel like using Flux if you know your combos really well is pretty important to keeping yourself topped up, but you have to work at your muscle memory and understand the delayed timing

[Soul XCV]

It's like playing Dante in Devil May Cry and only using Swordmaster for example.
You can definitely get by without T/RG/GS but you're only limiting the extent of the combat's depth and the options you have in big boss fights.
Each stance has its own purpose, and the game becomes really really enjoyable and there is so much depth to be discovered if you learn stance switching.
For example, Enenra's multi-tornado projectile can be either blocked with mid stance, then switch to high to punish him; or dodged to the side with low, spam dodge till you get to his back, switch to high, then do massive damage. Staying in high forever has really bad mobility and will get you killed a lot.

[Mavi]

Daemok님이 먼저 게시:

Wow, thanks for feedback everyone! Figured I might get a response or too at the most, so all of this is really helpful.

I think for now I will just concentrate on learning flux 1, flux 2 feels like more of a hindrance than a help right now. I've started mixing in some mid stance here and there though, mainly when I get surrounded by more than one enemy. High stance just feels way to slow to me right now.

That's a good approach. Just learn things one by one. Doing flux 2 will be easy after you can do flux 1 easily. Because that's just one more button. When you do a ki pulse you can just hold the button instead of letting go and press one of the other stances buttons. This triggers flux.

At first it seems stressful and your combat abilities temporarily get worse while learning. That's normal. After a while it won't be a thing anymore.

[󠀡]

Flux 1 is good at any point, Flux 2 is really good in early game when you're starved for Ki after your combos. I don't need to Flux 2 at ALL in Dream of the Nioh because off all the effects that give you Ki/regen/reduce ki usage etc.

[Powercrank]

well i beat the entirety of NG without using flux 2 at ALL because i misunderstood the description. I'm even using a heavy armor build that's pretty starved for ki. so it's far from necessary (yet).

[Prince & Emperor]

To help with Flux 2 on a controller: depending on what stance you start with, you can roll your thumb on the face buttons for a super easy Flux 2 (works best when starting in high stance > low>mid>high again)

Though in general Flux 1/2 let you ki pulse BEFORE filling your red bar to full and still regaining most if not more than your ki spent. So instead of waiting for a perfect ki pulse, pulse early and flux so you get all your ki back and still are able to dodge for example. Do note the timings on both flux 1 and 2 are very generous too.