Nioh 3 Beginner’s Guide | Gameplay Tips & Tricks

Here’s a beginner’s guide on some gameplay tips and tricks in Nioh 3.

Game Guide by Ragib Rawnak on Feb 06, 2026

Getting a good start in Nioh 3 is all about understanding the world around you. This game is fast and hits hard, so if you do not learn the basics early, you might find yourself stuck. Unlike the older games, this one is an open world, and most of your strength comes from looking around rather than just finishing levels.

Nioh 3 Beginner’s Guide, Gameplay Tips & Tricks

Why You Must Explore

You gain power by being thorough. As you walk through a region, look for Kodama. These small spirits increase the number of Elixirs you get when you come back to life. Having extra healing is the best way to survive a long boss fight. You should also find Six Jizo statues.

They give you buffs for Crucible Trials, like making your Spirit Form charge faster. Make sure to pet every Scampuss and find Chijiko, too.

They give you Samurai Locks and Ninja Locks, which you need to learn new combat moves. Some of the best skills in the game are locked until you find these characters in the wild.

Progressing Your Character

There are five ways to get stronger. The most basic way is to collect Amrita from enemies to raise your level and stats in Nioh 3.

Nioh 3 Beginner’s Guide, Gameplay Tips & Tricks

Next is your equipment. Check every chest you see for Exotic gear, because those items have the most bonuses. The third way is using the Locks you found while exploring to buy moves.

The fourth way involves Soul Cores. You get these by beating Spikes and Lesser Crucibles. You can slot these into your Guardian Spirit to get new attacks and stat boosts. If you want to use more of them, put points into your Magic stat.

Finally, look for Skills and Texts on fallen bodies or in chests. These give you small, permanent buffs that add up over time in Nioh 3.

Master the Combat

You need to learn how to purify the ground. When you fight Yokai, they leave dark puddles that slow you down and help them recover. After you swing your weapon, watch for blue sparks around your character.

Nioh 3 Beginner’s Guide, Gameplay Tips & Tricks

Press the Shift key at that moment to clear the puddle and get your energy back instantly. You also have two stances: Samurai and Ninja. Use the R key to switch between them. If an enemy tries a heavy attack and glows red, swapping your stance at the right time will break their guard and let you land a big hit.

Using the Town Hub

The Eternal Rift is where you go to upgrade. Talk to the Fox Mask Blacksmith to craft new armor. If you finish her mission, A Fierce Flame, you can use Soul Matching.

This is great because it lets you take an old piece of gear you like and raise its level so it stays strong as you progress in Nioh 3.

There is also a Merchant who takes Yokai Teardrops in exchange for rare items and Ammunition. To get extra perks, go to the Hidden Tea House and join a clan. You get a different bonus from each clan, like more health or damage.

Nioh 3 Beginner’s Guide, Gameplay Tips & Tricks

Summoning Help and Revenants

If a fight is too hard, look for blue Benevolent Graves. You can spend Ochoko Cups to bring in an AI partner to help you. To get more of these cups, you have to fight the red Bloody Graves. These are Revenants. They are tough, but they drop the best gear and items.

Just be careful not to kill too many in one area. If you do, the game creates a super-strong Revenant at a specific spot on the map. This enemy can easily be stronger than the main boss of the area, so don't overdo it unless you want a massive challenge in Nioh 3.

Also, check our Nioh 3 Review and other guides below: