Locations in Nioh 3 are the areas and places that you can explore in the game. Players can now explore areas that are outside of Missions and freely travel from one area to another, without the need to travel back to the hub. During the Alpha Demo Access of Nioh 3, the game featured a semi-open world experience where players could roam a new area that was unlocked after completing a Main Mission. Players can also go to smaller locations like Enemy Bases, Crucibles, Lesser Crucibles, and enemy hideouts.
Nioh 3 Locations Guide
The story of Nioh 3 will take place across the eras of Edo, Warring States, Heian, and Bakumatsu as Tokugawa Takechiyo travels through time with the help of a mysterious being's powers to confront the calamity known as The Crucible. The story begins in the peaceful Edo period, under the shogunate leadership of Tokugawa Ieyasu. His shogunate ended the era of civil wars, and his authority spread throughout the country. However, this peaceful era was shattered when hordes of yokai wreaked havoc and uprooted the authority established by the Tokugawa shogunate. Due to this phenomenon, Tokugawa Takechiyo must travel across time and end the Crucible that looms over the country.
Edo, 1622 CE
The story of Nioh 3 starts in Edo Castle, where the protagonist, Tokugawa Takechiyo, is preparing for his upcoming Ceremony. It was a peaceful day that would be suddenly overtaken by hell, as hordes of yokai descended upon humans, and the era of peace was shattered.
Warring States, 1572 CE
Warring States, also known as the Totomi Province (present-day western Shizuoka Prefecture), was a contested territory between the Tokugawa and Takeda clans. Accompanied by supernatural beings known as “Yokai,” the Takeda army's fierce assault forced the Tokugawa clan to retreat. Above Hamamatsu Castle, the Tokugawa stronghold, a colossal yokai that summoned the Crucible itself was seated.
Heian, 1190 CE
The ancient capital of Kyoto was sealed in ice and snow by the fierce cold generated from the bitter crucible that engulfed the Imperial Palace. Despite being protected by multiple layers of barriers, yokai roamed freely throughout the road, prompting the Kamakura warriors led by Minamoto Yoritomo to battle these yokai to maintain Kyoto's order.
Bakumatsu, 1864 CE
A future era is twisted beyond recognition after Kunimatsu, who fell into darkness, proclaims himself the eternal shogun. As Edo and nearly all of Japan are swallowed by the Crucible, Kyoto, protected by the sacred Spirit Trees, stands as the final stronghold, where loyalists continue their desperate resistance.
Eternal Rift
An unusual place where people's feelings and regrets gather, and where time itself seems to have come to a halt. Figures of Fuku and others who should be dead also exist here. The Eternal Rift acts as the player hub where they can interact with various NPCs and Merchants.
Antiquity
Antiquity is a realm filled with massive trees and a large flying yokai. The player will be transported here upon completing the last main mission in Heian, and here, they must find their way in this unknown land to purify the Crucible, and learn about the mysterious woman's identity.
Exploration Benefits in Nioh 3
Exploring the world in Nioh 3 will help you when facing enemies in different ways. You can interact with friendly yokai that will increase the maximum number of elixirs you can carry, or learn Martial Arts from them. You can also find Treasure Chests guarded by powerful enemies or locked behind capturing an enemy base. Opening these treasure chests will give you a chance to get rare Items or powerful Armor and Weapons.
Nioh 3 exploration is divided into several periods, starting from the Edo Period, which is the present time in the game, including Warring States, Heian, and Bakumatsu periods. Each era will provide Exploration Level that increases by interacting with special NPCs and finding special Locations.
Some Locations also feature skilled NPCs called Masters, who can invite the player to a duel. Winning against these Masters grant special rewards and also contribute to the Exploration Level of a region or time period. These are types of sub-areas that can be found in Nioh 3:
How Exploration Level Works in Nioh 3
The Exploration Level in Nioh 3 is a mechanic that lets you gain items and various stat increases, while also granting additional Area Information based on your current level. Some benefits include:
- Display the entirety of the map inside the area
- Display location of exploration spots such as Amrita, Myths, Crucibles, and Lesser Crucibles
- Display location of collectibles like Kodama, Shrines, and Treasure Chests
- Increase Base Stats
- Gives Items
Your exploration level is increased by completing Myths (Missions), capturing enemy bases, purifying Lesser Crucibles, and exploring the different areas of the region, like praying at the Six Jizo, Shrines, and Bodhisattva Statues. Additionally, interacting with friendly yokai such as Kodama, Scampuss, and Chijiko will also raise it.
Enemy Bases in Nioh 3
Enemy Bases are sub-locations found within regions in Nioh 3. These are locations where you can find a fixed number of enemies, and you will get a prompt indicating how many enemies you need to defeat before you can capture it. Capturing enemy bases will increase your exploration level, and some will give access to treasure chests or Shrines being guarded by a Kodama.
All Locations in Nioh 3
Special Locations
Warring States
Heian
1622 CE - Edo Period
1572 CE - Warring States
1190 CE, Heian Period
1864 CE, Bakumatsu Period
Anonymous
Love the open world of nioh 3 and the changes make it a better game imho. Instead of tons of stuff littered all over the map that’s basically a waste of time in most games. Everything you can do in the open world impacts your game. Anyone who thinks it’s smaller than nioh 1 or 2, is incorrect. Just different style. Easily 100-150 hours bare minimum.
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