Guardian Spirits | Nioh 3 Wiki


Guardian Spirits are special entities in Nioh 3 that the player can interact with, to accompany them on their journey. While a Guardian Spirit is accompanying the player, they will provide protection, passive buffs, and other bonuses that are unique to it. Guardian Spirits also protect the player from losing their collected Amrita upon death by leaving a grave behind at their death spot. This allows the player to come back to their death location and retrieve the dropped Amrita. However, if the player dies again while attempting to retrieve the Amrita, the Amrita and the grave will both be lost permanently. 

 

Nioh 3 Guardian Spirits Guide

Nioh 3 Ultimate Beginner Guide

 

 

How to Change Guardian Spirits in Nioh 3

The Guardian Spirit accompanying you can be changed. You can do this by going to any of the nearby Shrines, and access the Change Guardian Spirit menu. Each Guardian Spirit provides unique stat bonuses and determines which Guardian Spirit Skills you can use in battle. To use a Guardian Spirit Skill, press L1 + ◻. You can also use Spirit Force to activate a Guardian Spirit Skill. Spirit Force is gained by landing attacks on enemies. The Guardian Spirit Skill icon to the left of your SPirit Force Gauge will show whether you can activate your Guardian Spirit Skill or not. Landing Guardian Spirit Skills is a good way to deplete a yokai's maximum Ki.

changing guardian spirits nioh 3 wiki guide

What are Guardian Spirits in Nioh 3?

Guardian Spirits are entities that accompany the player and lend their strength while in combat as well as during exploration. They can be equipped by players, with each style (Ninja or Samurai) having different options for Guardian Spirits. For example, the Guhin Guardian Spirit is for the Samurai style, while Nekomata is for the Ninja style. These Guardian Spirits will have passive effects when equipped, such as increasing certain Stats or damage with specific attack types.

guardian spirit stats nioh 3 wiki guide

Initially, Guardian Spirits will have three special effects unlocked, with Guardian Spirit Skills and two more Special Effects requiring Crucible Spikes, which can be destroyed when encountered to receive special buffs. These effects and Guardian Spirit Skills are unique to each Guardian Spirit, allowing the player to equip skills that will fit their playstyle.

 

Guardian Spirit Skills in Nioh 3

Each of the Guardian Spirits carries 2 Guardian Spirit Skills, which can be used to aid you in combat when the Spirit Forget Gauge is filled up. While activating these skills can deal heavy damage to enemies and yokai aliike, it can also reduce the enemy's maximum Ki Gauge. Upon using a skill, it will display a cooldown before you may use it again. These Guardian Spirit Skills can be unlocked through story progression. Take a look below for the full list of the Guardian Spirits and their skills.

Living Artifacts in Nioh 3

Attack enemies to fill up your Amrita Gauge, filling it up allows you to activate the Living Artifact. During this time, your Guardian Spirit lends you their strength, where your health and Ki Gauges are replaced with the Amrita Gauge, which shows you how much you have left until the Living Artifact ends. During this time, the damage you receive will be depleted from the Amrita Gauge, but it is not fatal as you are protected by your Guardian Spirit. However, during this time, your attacks do not consume Ki, and your weapons will be infused with the element of the Guardian Spirit you have equipped.

 

 

All Nioh 3 Guardian Spirits

Nioh 3 All Guardian Spirits
Guardian Spirit Special Effects

 

Nioh 3 Guardian Spirits Comparison Table

Quick Search of all Guardian Spirits in Nioh 3

Values listed below are at Enhancement Level 30

Name Element Style attack power icon nioh 3 wiki guide defense power icon nioh 3 wiki guide
enko ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Enko		 Fire Ninja 48 47
golden shachi samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Golden Shachi		 Water Samurai 45 52
guhin samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Guhin		 Wind Samurai 47 47
ho ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Ho		 Wind Ninja 44 52
ho oh ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Ho-oh (Ninja)		 Lightning Ninja 48 48
ho oh samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Ho-oh (Samurai)		 Lightning Samurai 48 48
kongojishi ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Kongojishi (Ninja)		 Fire Ninja 45 50
kongojishi samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Kongojishi (Samurai)		 Wind Samurai 45 50
kurama tengu ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Kurama Tengu		 Wind Ninja 39 32
kusanagi fire samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Kusanagi (Samurai)		 Fire Samurai 50 45
kusanagi ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Kusanagi (Ninja)		 Water Ninja 44 39
kusanagi samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Kusanagi (Samurai)		 Fire Samurai 49 44
murakumo ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Murakumo (Ninja)		 Wind Ninja 50 44
murakumo samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Murakumo (Samurai)		 Lightning Samurai 50 44
narikama tanuki samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Narikama Tanuki		 Water Samurai 41 56
nekomata ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Nekomata		 Electricity Ninja 47 47
oh samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Oh		 Wind Samurai 44 52
shami choro ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Shami-choro		 Electricity Ninja 43 42
shin roku samurai guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Shin-Roku		 Electricity Samurai 43 53
tengen kujaku ninja guardian spirit nioh 3 wiki guide 90px
Tengen Kujaku		 Fire Ninja 48 47

Nioh 3 Guardian Spirit Special Effects

Quick Search of All Guardian Spirit Special Effects in Nioh 3

SPECIAL EFFECT NAME SPECIAL EFFECT SOURCE SPECIAL EFFECT DESCRIPTION
Ailment Resistance
  • Reduces the rate at which all status ailments build up on you.
Amrita Bonus (Inflict Blustered)
  • Charges the Amrita Gauge when you inflict the specified status ailment on an enemy.
  • Bluster: A Wind-based status ailment. Increases Ki consumption and Ki damage received.
Amrita Bonus (Inflict Electrified)
  • Charges the Amrita Gauge when you inflict the specified status ailment on an enemy.
  • Electrified: A Lightning-based status ailment. Reduces attack and movement speed.
Amrita Bonus (Inflict Saturated)
  • Charges the Amrita Gauge when you inflict the specified status ailment on an enemy.
  • Saturated: A Water-based status ailment. Increases damage received from attacks.
Amrita Bonus (Inflict Scorched)
  • Charges the Amrita Gauge when you inflict the specified status ailment on an enemy.
  • Scorched: A Fire-based status ailment. Gradually reduces Life.
Amrita Earned
  • Increases the amount of Amrita you earn.
Amrita Gauge Charge
  • Uses Amrita obtained from enemies to charge your Amrita Gauge at a faster rate.
Archspirit (Guardian Spirit Skill Hit)
  • Grants you the specified Status Enhancement when you hit an enemy with a Guardian Spirit Skill.
  • Archspirit: Increases Spirit Force charge rate.
Auto-Amrita Recovery
  • Instantly recover a portion of the Amrita from your grave upon death.
Auto Life Recovery (Critical)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement when your Life is dangerously low.
  • Auto Life Recovery: Gradually recovers Life over time.
Auto Life Recovery (Onmyo Magic Used)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement when you use an Onmyo Magic item (except Summoning Seals).
  • Auto Life Recovery: Gradually recovers Life over time.
Auto Life Recovery (Purification)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful purification.
  • Auto Life Recovery: Gradually recovers Life over time.
Bluster Accumulation (Enemy)
  • Increases the rate at which you build up the Blustered status ailment on enemies.
  • Bluster: A Wind-based status ailment. Increases Ki consumption and Ki damage received.
Burn Accumulation (Enemy)
  • Increases the rate at which you build up theScorched status ailment on enemies.
  • Burn: A Fire-based status ailment. Gradually reduces Life.
Damage Bonus (Agility)
  • Increases damage dealt in proportion to your Agility.
Damage Bonus (Amrita Gauge)
  • Increases your damage dealt in proportion to the amount of Amrita stored in the Amrita Gauge.
Damage Bonus (Equipment Weight)
  • Increases damage dealt in proportion to the total weight of your equipment.
Damage Dealt (Purification)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful purification.
  • Increased Damage Dealt: Increases damage dealt by attacks
Damage Over Time
  • Increases the amount of damage over time you inflict upon enemies.
Damage Taken
  • Reduces damage taken from attacks.
Damage Taken Over Time
  • Reduces all types of damage over time.
Damage Taken (While Attacking)
  • Reduces damage taken while you are attacking.
Decreased Damage Dealt (Onmyo Magic Hit)
  • Inflicts the specified Negative Effect when you hit an enemy with an Onmyo Magic item.
  • Decreased Damage Dealt: Decreases Attack.
Dodge Ki Consumption
  • Reduces Ki consumed when dodging.
Enemy / Treasure / Amrita / Nigitama Sensor
  • Shows the location of nearby enemies, treasure, Amrita, and nigitama on your compass.
Elemental Damage
  • Increases elemental attack damage.
Enemy Sensor
  • Shows the location of nearby enemies on the compass.
Extended Elemental Weapon
  • Extends the effect of items that imbue weapons with an attribute or element for a period of time.
Faster Ki Recovery (Deflect)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful Deflect.
  • Faster Ki Recovery: Increases Ki recovery speed.
Faster Ki Recovery (Onmyo Magic Hit)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement when you hit an enemy with an Onmyo Magic item (except Summoning Seals).
  • Faster Ki Recovery: Increases Ki recovery speed.
Faster Movement (Evade)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful Evade.
  • Faster Movement: Increases running and dashing speed
Faster Movement (Guardian Spirit Skill Hit)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement when you hit an enemy with a Guardian Spirit Skill.
  • Faster Movement: Increases running and dashing speed
Faster Winded Recovery
  • Reduces the time it takes before you can perform actions again after your Ki has been fully depleted.
Final Blow / Grapple Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Final Blow and Grapple.
Fire Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Fire-based attacks.
Fire Damage Reduction
  • Increases your resistance to Fire-based attacks.
Gold Earned
  • Increases the amount of gold you earn.
Guard Ki Consumption
  • Reduces Ki consumed when guarding against an attack.
Guard Ki Consumption (Critical)
  • Reduces Ki consumption when guarding while your Life is dangerously low.
Increased Arts Proficiency Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Strong Attacks and Martial Arts while Arts Proficiency is active.
Increased Damage Dealt (Deflect)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful Deflect.
  • Increased Damage Dealt: Increases damage dealt by attacks
Increased Damage Dealt (Evade)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful Evade.
  • Increased Damage Dealt: Increases damage dealt by attacks
Increased Damage Dealt (Living Artifact Ends)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement when Living Artifact ends.
  • Increased Damage Dealt: Increases damage dealt by attacks
Increased Spirit Force (Evade)
  • Increases Spirit Force when you successfully Evade.
Item Drop Rate
  • Increases the probability of enemies dropping items when defeated.
Ki Damage vs. Saturated Enemy
  • Increases ki damage dealt to Saturated enemies.
  • Saturated: A Water-based status ailment. Increases damage received from attacks.
Ki Pulse Recovery
  • Increases the amount of Ki recovered by a Ki Pulse.
Ki Recovery Speed (Unscathed)
  • Increases your Ki recovery speed when your Life is at maximum.
Ki Recovery Speed
  • Increases Ki recovery speed.
Life
  • Increases your Life.
Life Drain (Final Blow / Grapple)
  • Restores Life when dealing damage to an enemy with Final Blow or Grapple.
Life Drain (Strong Attack)
  • Restores Life in proportion to the base damage dealt by Strong Attacks.
Life Recovery (Amrita Absorption)
  • Restores Life when you absorb Amrita.
Life Recovery (Soul Core Gained)
  • Restores Life when you obtain a Soul Core.
Lightning Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Lightning-based attacks.
Lightning Damage Reduction
  • Increases your resistance to Lightning-based attacks.
Living Artifact Durability
  • Reduces depletion of the Living Artifact Gauge when you take damage while using Living Artifact.
Living Artifact Duration
  • Extends the duration of Living Artifact.
Luck
  • Increases the probability of obtaining rare items.
Martial Art Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Martial Arts.
Martial Arts Ki Consumption
  • Reduces Ki consumed when using Martial Arts.
Martial Art Ki Damage
  • Increases Ki damage dealt by Martial Arts.
Melee Attack Ki Consumption
  • Reduces Ki consumed by melee attacks.
Melee Damage (Unscathed)
  • Increases damage dealt by melee attacks when your Life is at maximum.
Melee Damage (Yokai Realm)
  • Increases damage dealt by melee attacks within the Yokai Realm.
Melee Damage vs. Scorched Enemy
  • Increases damage dealt by melee attacks against Scorched enemies.
  • Scorched: A Fire-based status ailment. Gradually reduces Life.
Melee Damage vs. Winded Enemy
  • Increases damage dealt by melee attacks against enemies that have run out of Ki and are in a winded state.
Nigitama Sensor
Ninjutsu Ki Damage
  • Increases Ki damage dealt by Ninjutsu.
Onmyo Magic Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Onmyo Magic.
Onmyo Magic Ki Damage
  • Increases Ki damage dealt by Onmyo Magic.
Pleiades (Deflect)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful Deflect.
  • Pleiades: Increases the Amrita Gauge charge rate.
Pleiades (Evade)
  • Grants the specified Status Enhancement after a successful Evade.
  • Pleiades: Increases the Amrita Gauge charge rate.
Pleiades (Guardian Spirit Skill Hit)
  • rants you the specified Status Enhancement when you hit an enemy with a Guardian Spirit Skill.
  • Pleiades: Increases the Amrita Gauge charge rate.
Pleiades (Life Recovery)
  • Grants you the specified Status Enhancement when you recover life.
  • Pleiades: Increases the Amrita Gauge charge rate.
Quick Attack Break
  • Increases your Break stat when performing Quick Attacks.
Reduced Movement (Onmyo Magic Hit)
  • Inflicts the specified Negative Effect whenyou hit an enemy with an Onmyo Magic item.
  • Reduced Movement: Decreases running and dashing speed.
Reduced Spirit Force Consumption
  • Reduces Spirit Force consumed when using a Guardian Spirit Skill.
Saturation Accumulation (Enemy)
  • Increases the rate at which you build up the Saturated status ailment on enemies.
  • Saturation: A Water-based status ailment. Increases damage received from attacks.
Shock Accumulation (Enemy)
  • Increases the rate at which you build up the Electrified status ailment on enemies.
  • Shock: A Lightning-based status ailment. Reduces attack and movement speed.
Soul Core Drop Rate
  • Increases the probability of enemies dropping Soul Cores when defeated.
Spirit Force Bonus (Elemental Damage)
  • Increases Spirit Force in proportion to the elemental damage you deal to enemies.
Spirit Force Bonus (Elixir)
  • Increases Spirit Force when you use an Elixir.
Spirit Force Bonus (Projectiles / Items)
  • Increases Spirit Force in proportion to the damage dealt to enemies with projectiles and other ranged attack items.
Spirit Force Charge Bonus (Amrita Gauge) Increases the rate at which you gain Spirit Force in proportion to the amount of Amrita stored in the Amrita Gauge.
Spirit Force Charge Bonus (Martial Art)
  • Increases the amount of Spirit Force gained when you use a Martial Art on an enemy.
Status Enhancement Duration
  • Extends the duration of your Status Enhancements.
Status Enhancement Duration (Final Blow / Grapple)
  • Increases the duration of Status Enhancements after you deal damage with a Final Blow or Grapple.
Strong Attack Break
  • Increases your Break stat when performing Strong Attacks.
Strong Attack Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Strong Attacks.
Untouched Elixirs
  • Grants a chance for elixirs to remain unconsumed on use.
Untouched Onmyo Magic
  • Gives a chance for Onmyo Magic items to remain unconsumed on use.
Untouched Onmyo Magic (Except Summoning Seals)
  • Gives a chance for Onmyo Magic items to remain unconsumed on use.
Water Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Water-based attacks.
Wind Damage
  • Increases damage dealt by Wind-based attacks.
Wind Damage Reduction
  • Increases your resistance to Wind-based attacks.



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    • Anonymous
      19 Apr 2026 15:38  

      So Nioh 3 has by far the lowest amount of Guardian Spirits of the series and most of them are locked as samurai exclusive and ninja exclusive.

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      • Anonymous
        20 Feb 2026 16:31  

        Samurai got shafted hard just like their skill tree gutted into skill system. I'm not saying they are all bad but the choices are kind of limited mixed with how good the guardian attacks are. Ho-Oh being omnyo when Ninja is defacto the best mage is just sad.

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        • Anonymous
          15 Feb 2026 00:48  

          Great game and for those whining about the lack of guardians, how many DLCs were there for Nioh 2?

          I'm sure more will be added cause if they didn't leave anything to add the you same people will while no new guardians were added .

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          • Anonymous
            14 Feb 2026 18:53  

            So many people hating this game because their expectations are set so high. It is you fault; not theirs. You are a Generation of Entitlement. Gen X never complained when a game came out like this. We enjoyed it.

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            • Anonymous
              13 Feb 2026 05:23  

              Team Ninja act as if they aren't using the same game engine since Ninja Gaiden 1, like dude just return the old Guardian Spirits lmao

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              • Anonymous
                10 Feb 2026 16:31  

                This is disappointing... I truly do hope with dlcs they shall release at least three times the amount of the spirits. They were so good in Nioh 2 and here we are robbed of so many opportunities and cool looking spirits from the previous games. Utterly perplexed with their decision on this.

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                • Anonymous
                  07 Feb 2026 05:02  

                  Bro, is that really it? I really thought since it was open world they were gonna go crazy and put like all their Guardian Spirits from the previous game.

                  This is like nothing. Not to mention the repeating spirits that are in both forms. So the roster is even smaller than it appears.

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