Nioh 3 is the first new entry in the hardcore action role-playing game series by Team NINJA in over 6 years, and a lot has changed since the second entry.
While the basic combat mechanics and loot system are rooted in the franchise's history, the third entry introduces many changes and additions that can leave even veterans a little confused.
In this Complete Walkthrough and Guides Hub, you will find everything you need not only to successfully complete your journey through time and conquer the high-difficulty challenges launched on April 27 but also to have tons of fun while doing so, starting from the Warring States period, which can be experienced in the massive free demo available on PC and PlayStation 5.
Table of contents
Overview
Nioh 3 is a hardcore action role-playing game where players control Takeichiyo Tokugawa (who can be fully customized at the beginning of the game via a deep character creator) as they journey through time to seek and defeat their treacherous brother Kunimatsu, who has unleashed Yokai in the land and is using the fabled Spirit Stones to become the shogun in place of his sibling.
Besides featuring another story which sees the appearances of real-history figures like Ieyasu Tokugawa, Nioh 3 features a combination of old and new mechanics that enhance the series' challenging experience, but that may take some time to get used to, especially if you're coming straight from previous entries in the series.
If you're feeling lost in this sprawling adventure, our Essential Tips guide will help you come to grips with the most important mechanics in the game and start having fun right from the get-go.
Story Progression
Unlike previous entries in the series, which had players pick missions from several regional maps, Nioh 3 features multiple open-field maps that let you explore different locations and reach the main mission locations directly while engaging in plenty of side content.
At end of these, which play like the classic closed-off missions from previous entries in the series, you will have to defeat the fearsome bosses to destroy the Crucible and progress the story. This will unlock new regions of the open-field maps and brand-new maps.
Even before the first Warring States period map opens up, you will have to contend with powerful bosses that can be frustrating to take down. This is the case of Yamagata Masakage, who will bar your way as you make your way through Yokai at the start of the game.
Combat
The most significant change to Nioh 3's combat system, aside from the ability to jump and briefly engage in aerial combat, is the introduction of two fighting styles: Samurai and Ninja.
Samurai Style plays like the characters from the first two entries in the series, allowing players to wield select weapons in three different stances and unleash powerful Martial Arts, which can be enhanced with the Arts Proficiency system.
Ninja Style, on the other hand, is a faster combat style that can use Ninjutsu skills to disrupt enemies, deal elemental damage, and avoid enemy attacks with superior agility.
Both fighting styles can also be further empowered by Guardian Spirits, which grant access to two elemental skills each that replace the Yokai Skills from Nioh 2 and the powered-up Living Artifact state, which replaces Living Weapon from the original Nioh and Yokai Shift from Nioh 2.
With so many combat options available, Nioh 3 can get overwhelming. If you are having trouble executing some of the many Martial Arts, you should change this setting ASAP.
In case you are feeling confused about the Nioh 3 combat flow amidst Samurai Style with its three stances and Ninja Style, you are not alone. To learn the basics of this flow and how Arts Proficiency and Ninjustsu tie the two styles together, check out our Mastering Nioh 3 Combat and Arts Proficiency Flow guide.
A deep dive into the best Guardian Spirits to use will go live soon.
Character Progression
Basic character progression in Nioh 3 is deeply rooted in the traditional soulslike system: earn enough Amrita by defeating enemies or using Spirit Stones, and once a certain threshold has been reached, you can Level Up at Shrines to increase one of your seven stats, which weapon types scale off from. Passives attached to gear also activate if a specific stat is high enough.
Likewise, returning from its predecessors are multiple Skill Trees for the Samurai and Ninja Styles and all weapons, which can be used to unlock the Martial Arts that define each weapon and style.
New to the Nioh series are Skills and the Skill Points required to activate them. Learned by completing specific tasks, these skills empower both the Samurai and Ninja Style and provide bonuses for both. Among them are some game-changing skills like The More the Merrier
Rounding up the Nioh 3 character progression mechanics are Soul Cores. Dropped by Yokai, these can be set in the Onmyo Box at the Shrine in either Yin or Yang position to get access to either Onmyo magic spells or the ability to summon Yokai to unleash their signature attacks. Although much has changed over the previous entries in the series, the magic system is still quite useful, and a proper Talisman setup allows you to utterly destroy the most powerful enemies, including bosses.
If the huge number of Martial Arts and Ninjutsu is confusing you, these are the Essential Samurai and Ninja Styles Martial Arts to learn as quickly as possible to take better advantage of the game's combat mechanics.
Traversal
Doing away with the classic linear design of the previous entries in the series, Nioh 3 introduces open fields that replace the top-down maps of its predecessors. These maps are filled with side content to complete, including the Myth sidequests, formidable enemies, Crucible Wraiths and tons of treasure.
While traversal is always conducted on foot, you will unlock new traversal skills as more Guardian Spirits join you. They will also provide you with the power needed to unlock new areas and take advantage of the Spirit Veins to reach previously inaccessible areas.
A deep dive into some easy-to-miss Traversal secrets will be going live soon
Loot System
The Diablo-style loot system returns in Nioh 3. By exploring the open fields and defeating both humans and Yokai, you will be able to find all sorts of loot ranging from Samurai and Ninja weapons to helmets, armor, gauntlets, graves, and accessories, coming in four rarity levels which determine how many passive skills they grant once equipped.
After reaching a certain point in the story, you will also unlock the Blacksmith, who will forge you weapons depending on the Smithing Texts you have found and customize them in different ways.
Among the weapons in Nioh 3, the most unique are Crucible Weapons. Though hard to come by, you can easily farm Crucible Weapons in the early game for some tangible benefits.
A deep dive into the loot system will be going live soon
Online Features
Nioh 3 features the same online multiplayer features as its predecessor. Besides allowing for asymmetrical multiplayer by interacting with the red and blue player graves, allowing you to fight their characters and receive assistance, the game also features co-op multiplayer which allows you to either join another player seeking help or allowing others to join you.
The asymmetrical mechanics have been further expanded in Nioh 3 by introducing the Bloodedge Demon, a malignant Yokai that gathers the spirits of defeated Revenants appearing in different places all over the open-field maps.
A deep dive into the Revenant mechanics and the Bloodedge Demon will be going live soon.
All guides based on a full playthrough conducted in the Steam 1.01 and 1.03 version. Screenshots captured from the same version.
Last updated: February 9, 2026
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
