How to play Nobushi Complete Guide – For Honor

Nobushi, otherwise known as Nobu, is a long stick-wielding Samurai in For Honor, known for her damage over time application and distance keeping. With this guide, you can learn to master her.

The first few sections are a quick read, primarily intended for those beginning with Nobushi, whereas the later sections can delve into more depth for those who need it.

Typical Nobushi Strategy

Players typically want to apply her DoT Bleeds before doing any Heavies, while doing her undodgable bash Kick in between combos if possible. At higher-level gameplay, faints become very important, and she can use her Hidden Stance to dodge some attacks and immediately kick from the stance.

Poke the Nest ➝ Kick ➝ Heavy(potentially Death Rattle Form)

This is her Way of the Shark trait, which adds extra damage to someone already inflicted with bleed. This combo has the potential to deal upwards of 90 damage or so, which is most of an opponent’s health bar.

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Nobushi Explained

Conceptually, Nobushi is very simple; her objective is to ensure a bleed on her opponent at all times, then deal high damage, all while having tools at her disposal for extended survivability.

Applying Bleeds

A Nobushi player would try to apply a Bleed effect via Poke the Nest, Slithering Thrust, Cobra Strike, Viper’s Retreat, or Sidewinder Form, then try to use heavies to extend the damage. This takes advantage of her Way of the Shark Hero-specific trait.

Most of her attacks apply 12 Bleed Damage, along with the initial hit used to make those bleeds. This is indicated by the opponent occasionally glowing red, as well as their health bar displaying a red line that shows where their health will end once the bleed is complete.

Way of the Shark

As her Way of the Shark makes it so that attacks deal more damage if they’re bleeding, however, it does not apply to additional bleeds, except to make the bleed deal the same damage in a shorter time frame.

As seen in the moveset, while the opponent is bleeding, Nobushi’s further attacks deal an extra ~25% damage, mainly in the form of normal damage, except for Viper’s retreat, where the bleed does more damage as well.

Hidden Stance

While being attacked, Nobushi can use her Hidden Stance to dodge an attack, then immediately apply a bleed via Cobra Thrust, or Kick to exit Hidden Stance.

This can be seen as Nobushi standing on one leg, while leaning back slightly, allowing her to perform two different moves that usually require a combo immediately.

Basic Combat Guide

Light Attacks

Her lights are a three-hit chain. The first light does 12 damage, the second light does 7 damage, and the third light does around 1 damage but inflicts bleed onto the opponent. You can mix up the sides – don’t always attack from the same direction.

Warning: Don’t spam lights too much as experienced players will parry them. Use them mindfully and mix them with other attacks.

Heavy Attacks

Heavies are two hit chains. First heavy does 24 damage, second does 29 damage. All secondary chain heavies are undodgeable, making them excellent for catching dodging opponents. You can delay them to catch dodges more effectively.

Hidden Stance Usage

This move allows you to dodge opponent attacks or throw out kicks, heavies, or lights. Use it primarily to dodge attacks or get attacks off on your opponent.

Caution: You’re vulnerable to guard breaks while in hidden stance, so don’t overuse it.

Cobra Strike (Side Dodge Light)

This side dodge light causes bleed damage. You can also do a forward cobra strike. After a guard break, push your opponent and go for the cobra strike mixup.

Bleed Damage Buff

When an opponent is bleeding, Nobushi’s undodgeable heavies get buffed from 29 damage to 35 damage. This applies to undodgeables from hidden stance or regular second heavies.

Viper’s Retreat

Hold back on the left stick and press light to perform this move. It applies bleed from a long distance and is excellent for keeping opponents at bay and regrouping. This move is quite safe.

Zone Attack

Zone does 14 damage on the right side (17 when opponent is bleeding) and applies bleed at the end if you let it complete. You can feint the zone and throw heavies in different directions during the zone.

After Parrying

Heavy Parry: Go for Viper’s Retreat immediately, then dodge forward. If they side dodge, guard break them for more damage.

Light Parry: Go straight for a heavy, then potentially Viper’s Retreat and continue pressure.

Advanced Information About Nobushi

While most of what has been covered above is sufficient for most players, if you truly want to dominate at higher ELO and against more challenging opponents, this section provides further information, including timings, optimal combo combinations, and more.

Feats and Gear

Recommended Feats for Dominion

1. Speed Revive – Rapidly revive fallen teammates
2. Smoke Bomb – Temporarily blinds opponents for damage opportunities (Alternative: Arrow Strike for area damage/cleanup kills)
3. Longbow – Moderate damage to make fights quicker
4. Fire Trap – Area damage and area denial

Gear Perks

• Radiant Rebound – 20% move speed for 10 seconds upon spawn/revive
• Remedy – Heal 10 health upon hero kill
• Feline Agility – Movement speed increases with renown level
• Supersonic – 50% move speed in revenge with uninterruptible sprint
• Clever Tactics – Capture zones 50% faster with banner/offerings
• Rise and Dawn – Revive allies to 75% health
• Rapid Refresh – Reduce active cooldowns by 5% on takedown/ally revive

Frame Data Optimization

Key Timings:

• Hidden Stance: 200ms startup, dodges from 100ms onward
• Recovery: 700ms if no follow-up, 400ms with immediate kick/cobra strike
• Lights from Hidden Stance: 400ms (unreactable)
• Viper’s Retreat: 600ms startup, 500ms if buffered during recovery

Advanced Hidden Stance Applications

Option Selects:

• Input on orange indicators to avoid bash/GB mixups
• Use during enemy recovery to force kick/cobra strike 50/50
• Enter after blocked lights to continue pressure mid-chain

Zone Cancel Mixups: Zone → Cancel creates three options: Hidden Stance (timing reset), GB (catches dodges), or let fly (catches parries)

High-Level Combo Sequences

Maximum Damage Combos:

• Bleeding Wall Punish: Heavy → Hidden Stance → Heavy → Kick → Light (78 damage + 12 bleed)
• Corner Trap: Light → Light → Bleed → Hidden Stance → Kick → Heavy → Hidden Stance → Heavy (85+ total)
• Anti-Dodge Sequence: Zone feint → Hidden Stance → Cobra Strike → Heavy → Kick → Light (52 damage + 24 bleed)

Advanced Chain Extensions:

• Pressure Loop: Light → Light → Bleed → Hidden Stance → Light → Heavy → Kick (resets to neutral with advantage)
• Stamina Drain: Zone cancel → Light → Hidden Stance → Kick → Zone cancel → GB (forces opponent out of stamina)
• Range Control: Viper’s Retreat → Forward dodge → Cobra Strike → Heavy → Viper’s Retreat (maintains optimal spacing)

Conditional Combos:

• If opponent dodges early: Zone → Hidden Stance → delayed Kick → Heavy
• If opponent waits: Zone → let fly → Hidden Stance → Cobra Strike → Heavy
• If opponent parries: Zone feint → GB → throw → Cobra Strike → Light → Light → Bleed

Team Fight Combos:

• Multi-Bleed: Viper’s Retreat → unlock → Cobra Strike (different target) → relock → Heavy
• Interrupt Chain: Hidden Stance (dodge enemy attack) → Light → Kick → Heavy (interrupts enemy combo on teammate)
• Setup Combo: Light → Light → Bleed → disengage (lets Shaman teammate bite)

Enhanced Punish Game

Maximum Damage Light Parry:

• Wall available: Heavy → Hidden Stance → Heavy (53 damage, 65 if bleeding)
• Standard: Heavy → Kick → Light (39 damage + 12 bleed)

Heavy Parry Optimization: Against slow recovery heroes: Light → Light → Bleed (26 damage + 12 bleed + pressure)

Enhanced Punish Game

Maximum Damage Light Parry:

• Wall available: Heavy → Hidden Stance → Heavy (53 damage, 65 if bleeding)
• Standard: Heavy → Kick → Light (39 damage + 12 bleed)

Heavy Parry Optimization: Against slow recovery heroes: Light → Light → Bleed (26 damage + 12 bleed + pressure)

The Shark Spiral Sequence

Advanced bleed-enhanced mixup chain:

1. Apply bleed → Hidden Stance during reaction
2. If they wait: Kick → Heavy (45 damage)
3. If they attack: Cobra Strike → Heavy (41 damage)
4. If they dodge: Whiff kick → GB → Cobra Strike (reset with bleed)

Competitive Spacing Control

Optimal Range: 2.5 meters (outside enemy light range, within cobra strike distance)

• Use backward movement during attacks to auto-maintain spacing
• Position for maximum Viper’s Retreat distance while landing

Matchup-Specific Counters

Bash Heroes: Hidden stance on orange flash, bait with movement → cobra strike punish Assassins: Interrupt with hidden stance lights, increase zone cancel frequency Hyperarmor: Never trade, focus on kick mixups over direct damage trading