Iga Ninja

The fictional Ten Braves of Sanada stand as elite enemies in the Defiant Honor story mode.

In the Defiant Honor downloadable content for the 2017 action role-playing game Nioh, the Sanada Ten Braves appear as a specific group of enemies rather than generic Iga ninja. Set during the Siege of Osaka, these fictional ninjas are depicted assisting the warlord Sanada Yukimura. The player character, William 'Anjin' Adams, confronts and defeats these braves in battle before finally facing Sanada Yukimura himself. This encounter marks a significant turning point in the game's narrative expansion.

Quick Facts

Key antagonists: William 'Anjin' Adams
Affiliation context: Assisted Sanada Yukimura during the Siege of Osaka

Lore & Background

The Sanada Ten Braves are a fictional group that assisted Sanada Yukimura during the Warring States era, specifically the late Sengoku period and its immediate aftermath. While often associated with ninja traditions, this specific group is tied to the Sanada clan rather than the Iga province. In Nioh's Defiant Honor DLC, they are not portrayed as a unified faction of Iga assassins but as individual adversaries encountered by William Adams. The game places these historical-fictional figures in the Siege of Osaka setting, where they serve as formidable obstacles before the player reaches the warlord Yukimura.

Reader's Guide

Players encountering the Sanada Ten Brave enemies in Nioh should note they are part of the Defiant Honor downloadable content released for the 2017 game. These enemies appear specifically during missions set at the Siege of Osaka. To progress, players must defeat these braves before engaging the final boss, Sanada Yukimura. Unlike Iga ninja who might operate independently or for hire against Tokugawa and Oda clans as per general history, these specific entities in Nioh are bound to the Sanada cause.

Did You Know?

Sarutobi Sasuke and Kirigakure Saizō are the only two members of the Ten Braves who appear frequently in popular depiction.
The story of the Sanada Ten Braves first became well known through the novel Sanada Sandaiki, published in the late Edo period.