Nioh 3 differentiates itself from previous games in the series by emphasizing a fully-fledged open world instead of the traditional mission-based format. While the worlds may not be as expansive as those in other RPGs, they are filled with important items and upgrades that will prove useful in your fight against giant yokai.
In this guide, we’ll cover the important items and activities you should complete before heading towards the main story objective in Nioh 3.
Where to go first in Nioh 3?
After completing the tutorial and the subsequent section on Hitokoto Slope, you’ll find yourself on the outskirts of Hamamatsu Castle . A monstrous creature looms on the horizon, the sky is tinted red, and yokai roam the roads. While you can head straight for the giant bone monster in the sky, the enemies there will likely tear you to shreds if you arrive unprepared. For the best chance of success, it’s best to complete the following steps or find the indicated items first .
Find all the Scampus cats
Scampus is a round, cat-like yokai that can sometimes be found sleeping somewhere in the wilderness. Wake it up, run after it, and pet it when it calms down. This will reward you with Samurai or Ninja locks, which can be used to unlock the corresponding skills .
The routes Scampus takes often hide interesting loot and interactive objects, so be careful when following him.
Find and defeat the Chijiko yokai
Chijiko are ferret-like yokai often seen floating in the air like temari balls . They enjoy being shot at, and if you shoot one down, it will land near you .
Like the Scampuses, Chijiko will reward you with Samurai or Ninja Locks , providing even more skill points to use.
Some Chijiko and Scampuses can also give you additional skills or modify existing ones.
Find and escort the lost Kodama
Kodama are small spirits that inhabit Shrines. Finding and guiding lost Kodama will lead them to Shrines and earn you Kodama Blessing points, which can then be spent on upgrading Elixirs in Nioh 3. Upgrades include:
- More powerful healing from Elixir
- Increased chance of Elixirs dropping
- Taking bonus damage after using an Elixir
- Receiving bonus damage reduction after using an Elixir
You’ll need to find a lot of Kodama if you want to upgrade any of these bonuses more than once, so it’s best to start searching as early as possible and collect as many as possible.
Pray to the Jizo statues
Jizo Statues are somewhat similar to Kodama, but instead of yokai, they’re literally just statues you can pray to. Doing so will grant you Jizo Blessing points, which can be spent on upgrades and bonuses related to Life Corrosion and Forge Orbs .
Life Corrosion in Nioh 3 can be a serious nuisance, as it reduces your maximum health. Jizo’s Blessings will help you combat it more effectively.
How to get the best gear
The best sources of loot early in Nioh 3 are enemy bases and Lesser Forges . Both locations are full of enemies to fight, and after completing them, you’ll be showered with loot.
Minor Forges also have a chance to grant weapons enchanted with Forge Arts . These are powerful skills that cannot be obtained anywhere else. If you reach the maximum Affinity level with a weapon enchanted with a Forge Art, you can use that Art with other weapons of the same type.
Increase your research level
By performing any of the above actions within a specific area, you will increase your exploration level for that region. As your exploration level increases, new items, collectibles, and points of interest will appear on your map , making them easier to find.
Skill “Enhanced Healing with Elixir”
South of the Hojo Shrine is an enemy base where you can obtain the skill “Panacea: Rapid Healing.” It increases healing received from Elixirs by 15%, and this effect stacks with the bonus from escorting lost Kodama . To obtain it, clear the enemy base and then use the key dropped by the bandit leader to open the warehouse.
Skill “Bonus to received Amarita”
North of the Hope Hill Sanctuary (the very first one you’ll find in the region) is a small enemy base occupied by bandits.
Near the archer standing on the scaffolding is a chest containing the “Spirit of Life” skill . It increases the amount of Amarita gained after defeating an enemy by 4%. The bonus is small, but it stacks quickly, allowing you to level up faster than usual.
This enemy base also contains a lost Kodama.
Armor Piercer skill
“Armor Breaker” is a Ninja passive skill that increases the damage of finishing and grab attacks by 10%. To obtain it, travel to the small village between the Ikeda Crossing and Tokaido Shrines. The house at the top of the village hill has a locked door, and the key to it drops from Yamainu, who must be defeated in the center of the village .
Chijiko also hovers above the house with the skill.
Farming Amarita and weapons from the Crucible
Once you’ve entered the main Forge in Hamamatsu Castle, you can begin serious farming for Amarita and Forge weapons. The Forge is filled with powerful enemies, each with a decent chance of dropping Forge weapons, as well as a decent amount of Amarita . Fight your way through the ruined town near the castle until you reach the Yakotsu-Baba boss room. Once you reach this point, you can simply rerun the area or farm Ippon-Dataru near one of the statues.
Excess weapons and armor can be donated to Shrines in exchange for Amarite. Donating weapons with full Affinity will yield more Amarite. Alternatively, they can be dismantled for crafting materials. Use these to create more powerful gear after unlocking the Blacksmith in the Eternal Abyss .
