Yokai are a type of NPC and Enemies in Nioh 2. 妖怪 (Yokai) are powerful entities that are natural to the Yokai Realm ("Dark Realm" in-game). The convergence of the human and dark realms manifests as swirling grey smoke and approaching it will spawn a Yokai. Sometimes, the Dark Realm expands to an entire area of a Nioh 2 level, affecting your character's perception and abilities.
Yokai in Japanese Folklore
The word Yokai is used in Japanese to refer to spirits and demons: a combination of "bewitching and apparition", but are not necessarily seen as evil, as some are thought bring good luck.
Japanese folklore often represents these creatures as having animal features or shapeshifting abilities and attributes them the domain of the world between life and death. Please see the Lore page to understand more about overall Japanese history and the setting of the game.
The Dark Realm
The Dark Realm is the profoundly mysterious, sinister yet beautiful realm within which yokai dwell. In human form, you will see your Ki recovery decrease dramatically but gain Yokai Force faster while inside the Dark Realm. Yokai, however, draws power from this shadowy realm, becoming ever more fearsome within its borders.
To disperse the Dark Realm, one only needs to destroy the creature whose impure energy generates it.
Purification
Purify the Yokai Realm: Successfully regain the maximum amount from a Ki Pulse performed within the Yokai Realm. Purifying the Yokai Realm will remove it from that area.
Successfully regaining the full Ki from a Ki Pulse causes the Ki to resonate in the area. This resonance has the power to purify a manifestation of the Yokai Realm.
Yokai in Nioh 2
The Yokai of Nioh 2 can drop Soul Cores, which can be purified and attuned with a Guardian Spirit to unlock a Yokai Skill. Additionally, these enemies can drop powerful Yokai Weapons.
- Also, see Yokai Shift
Friendly Yokai
Hostile Yokai
Enenra
A yokai composed of smoke and darkness, born from the grudges of humans who met their untimely ends in the Dark Realm.
Gaki
Gaki is a yokai that was once human, cast down to Gakido upon dying due to the sins it committed during its lifetime.
Ippon-Datara
Ippon-Datara is a one-legged, one-eyed yokai. It is most commonly encountered in the vicinity of mines and it is believed to have gained its unsightly form after years of harsh labor as a blacksmith.
Karakasa Umbrella
A yokai in the shape of an umbrella. It has a single large eye at its center and a single leg in place of a handle.
Kappa
Kappa are diminutive Yokai with green skin, a dish-like depression on their heads, and a turtle-like shell on their back.
Magatsu Warrior
Magatsu Warriors are armored warriors and corpses that have transformed into yokai by the power of the spirit stones.
Oni-bi
Oni-bi resemble floating balls of fire. They are formed when the elemental power of fire, water, wind, lightning or earth coalesces around the will of a dead soul.
Toxic Slime
Toxic slime has a malleable body that is very resistant to attacks, so the key to repelling one is to aim for its glowing core.
Yatsu-no-Kami
Yatsu-no-kami is a serpent god with a horn made of countless blades protruding from its forehead.
Yoki
A human turned fiend by the power of Amrita. Also known as a form of oni, a muscular, horned humanoid dwelling in the mountains.
Enki
An Enki is a monkey that has been transformed by Amrita into a yokai after a lifetime of cruelty and abuse by humans.
Lesser Umi-bozu
Ko-umi-bozu, literally "small-umi-bozu" are the resentful souls of samurai who died fighting at sea.
Mitsume Yazura
Mitsume Yazura is a three-eyed, eight-faced yokai, born when the souls of various beasts combined.
Karasu Tengu
Karasu Tengu, giant Tengu with wings like a crow's, has been known to humans since ancient times.
One-Eyed Oni
Yatsu-No-Kami
Yatsu-no-kami is a serpent god with a horn made of countless blades protruding from its foreheard.
One-eyed Imp
Rokurokubi
These yokai feature elongated necks, although they are indistinguishable from regular humans when their neck is reteracted.
Snowclops
The Snowclops are one-eyed yokai that leave behind bizarre tracks in the snow- a trail of single footprints that ends abruptly.
Tatarimokke
A Tatarimokke is formed when a large number of resentful spirits coalesce to form a giant owl.
Wheelmonk
Koroka
Koroka were once old stone lanterns, and are considered a type of "tsukumogami" (an item that has acquired a spirit.)
Namahage
As yokai that appears in legends from the Oga peninsula in northern Dewa Province, the namahage are viewed as savage servants of the gods.
Spider
Spiders are carnivorous arthropods. Under the influence of Spirit Stones, they metamorphose into gigantic yokai that prey on humans.
Tesso
A Tesso was originally a monk who died while bearing a grudge, transforming into a giant rat yokai.
Gyuki

Gyuki is an enormous yokai with the legs of a spider and head of a bull.
Kasha
A Kasha (literally "fire chariot") is a yokai that snatches corpses and spirits them away to hell.
Lady Osakabe
Lady Osakabe is a yokai that has possessed an entire castle, lending the building her life force.
Magatsu Warrior
Magatsu warriors are armored warriors and corpses that have transformed into yokai via the power of the spirit stones.
Onyudo
O-nyudo (oh-NYOO-doh) are yokai that take the form of a gigantic monk and are said to be former novices who were unable to fully leave the lay world behind and broke vows of their temple.
Otakemaru
Otakemaru is considered one of Japan's three greatest yokai, alongside Tamamo-no-Mae and Shuten Doji.
Red Kappa
The red kappa is a special kind of kappa found in the land of Tono in northern Mutsu Province.
Ryomen Sukuna
Ryomen Sukuna's unusual form is composed of two demons, red and blue, who are joined at their backs.
Shuten Doji
Shuten Doji is considered one of Japan's three greatest yokai, alongside Tamamo-no-mae and Otakemar
Kiryoki
While Kiryoki bear a resemblance to the yokai Enki, they wield a unique weapon that is able to change its form
Bakegani
Bakegani is giant crab yokai that have made many an appearance in folktales told all over Japan.
Fox Spirit
The fox spirit is a fox-based yokai that is highly intelligent and possesses strong magical powers.
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- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Ryomen Sukana is my new favorite metaphor for our political system.
- Anonymous
- Anonymous
Live in peace with these abominations? Keep fighting the good fight out there and slay them all!!!
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