As players may have come to expect from a new Bayonetta game, Bayonetta 3 boasts some of the best hack-and-slash combat of the current console generation. It manages to be both challenging and rewarding, with players encouraged to master their timings to rack up incredibly intricate combos that are reminiscent of some of the earlier Devil May Cry games.
Though much of this comes down to practice and the ability and competency of players, some of the game's many unlockable skills can also play a huge role. The best skills in Bayonetta 3 can help to turn a good player into a great one and make a big difference to a player's score at the end of a verse. Of course, some skills are better than others and should be prioritized as a result.
The following list will focus purely on Bayonetta, her starting weapon (Colour My World), and her first Infernal Demon (Madama Butterfly).
1 Bat Within
Figuring out the perfect moment to dodge in order to initiate Witch Time is going to be vital for those hoping to achieve platinum medals and survive on the game's hardest difficulty settings. As with most things in life, doing so is going to take quite a bit of practice, particularly for those who are new to the Bayonetta franchise.
Thankfully, Bayonetta's Bat Within skill can be incredibly useful while players are still learning, as it allows the Umbra Witch to transform into a flock of bats by hitting the ZR button immediately after taking damage. This not only helps players to escape enemies when they're surrounded but also provides a few seconds of invincibility to prevent them from taking more damage as they do so.
2 Dodge Offset
The Dodge Offset skill features in many PlatinumGames titles, including both of the previous Bayonetta games. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise to learn that players can also use Dodge Offset in Bayonetta 3, nor should the fact that the skill is unlocked from the very beginning of the game; at least not for series veterans, anyway.
Learning how to actually use the Dodge Offset skill in Bayonetta 3 is incredibly important though, at least it is for those hoping to rack up high combo scores and earn those elusive platinum medals. To do so, players need to hold one of the attack buttons down while dodging, which will in turn enable them to offset their current combo and continue it once Bayonetta has finished dodging.
3 Chrysalis
A lot of the earlier verses and chapters in Bayonetta 3 pit the titular Umbra Witch against large groups of weaker enemies. This generally works out pretty well, as it gives players a chance to get to grips with the game's combat without their mistakes leading to their health bars getting absolutely shredded every time they make a mistake. It can, however, be a little tiresome.
Having to move from one enemy to the next can take a lot of time, particularly in larger playing areas. It is possible to shoot enemies from a distance, but, by default, Bayonetta's gun does very little damage. Chrysalis changes all that though, as it allows players to charge up their shot and fire out a powerful laser beam upon releasing the button. This skill perfectly complements the Bullet Climax skill, which powers up players' regular shots and allows them to adjust their aim while firing.
4 Baselard
Baselard is another great skill that can be found on Bayonetta's Colour My World weapon and allows players to quickly close in on an enemy and then hit them with a deadly burst of gunfire. As with some of Bayonetta's gun-related skills, this is particularly useful in verses with larger play areas, though can still come in pretty handy when navigating enclosed spaces as well.
Baselard pairs really well with some of the weapon's other melee skills, most notably Rising Barrel. By chaining the two attacks together and then switching to another target and repeating, players can minimize the chances of them being caught out by a sneaky enemy or projectile, thus preserving their 0% damage for a little longer.
5 Full Monarch Shoot
Pretty much all of the Madama Butterfly skills are useful, but none more so than Full Monarch Shoot, particularly during the early stages of the game. It allows the Infernal Demon to perform a backflip that kicks enemies up into the air; dishing out a decent amount of damage while also providing players with a little respite to regain their bearings and plan their next move.
The thing that makes Full Monarch Shoot so useful is that it works against some of the larger enemies as well, which isn't always the case with Gomorrah's launch attack. Extending the duration of Flutter Kiss with the two Infatuation skills isn't a bad idea either, though only if players actually use Flutter Kiss during combat. If not, Goku Tetsuzanko, which is loosely based on a real martial arts technique, is probably a better use of one's Orbs.
Bayonetta 3 was released on October 28, 2022, and is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.