Nioh 3: Key Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide
Unlike story-related quest items, the Nioh 3 keys—such as the Bloody Iron Key, the Pagoda Key, and the Iron Key—are essential tools for unlocking restricted sectors, fortified residences, and hidden chambers that are otherwise inaccessible.
Without these keys, you’ll find yourself staring at "Locked from the other side" prompts while some of the game's best loot remains just out of reach. Securing these items is the only way to bypass environmental barriers and claim the treasures hidden within the game's most dangerous strongholds.
Keys are rarely left lying around in the open. They are the symbols of authority and are usually held by those in power within a region:
- Many keys are dropped specifically by Elite Enemies or Field Bosses. These powerful Yokai or human commanders act as the literal gatekeepers to the next sub-section of a map.
- Capturing an Enemy Base often culminates in a duel with a leader who carries the key to the base’s Valuable Chest or a shortcut leading back to a Shrine.
Finding these keys does more than just open doors; it provides a significant boost to your overall progression:
- Locked areas almost always contain Valuable Chests with rare Craft Guides, Smithing Texts, or Ethereal-tier equipment (in NG+).
- Many keys open gates that create permanent shortcuts between Shrines or Spirit Veins, drastically reducing the time it takes to reach a boss after a failed run.
- Reaching a previously locked area often triggers the discovery of new Chijiko or Kodama, pushing your regional Exploration Level toward that vital Level 4 milestone.
To prevent you from wandering aimlessly through the ruins of Edo or the fortresses of the Warring States, the Map Master team has documented the exact location of every Key in Nioh 3.
Our Interactive Maps pinpoint the specific mob you need to defeat or the corpse you need to loot, along with clear instructions on which door each key unlocks. Use the links in the table below to find the keys you need to clear the map efficiently.
| Name | Map Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pagoda KeyWarring States - 1572 CEPagoda Key | Warring States - 1572 CE | The Pagoda Key can be obtained by looting one of the two corpses on the back porch of the corrupted Iinoya temple, after clearing the Lesser Crucible. |
| Dirty KeyWarring States - 1572 CEDirty Key | Warring States - 1572 CE | Dropped by the large Yamainu patrolling in the village. Used to unlock the door of the house with the chest inside. |
| Bloody Iron KeyWarring States - 1572 CEBloody Iron Key | Warring States - 1572 CE | The Bloody Iron Key is dropped by the bandit leader found in the southern Tenryu River Enemy Base. Use it to open the temple door in the camp and access the large chest. |
| Maisaka Six Jizo Statue HeadWarring States - 1572 CEMaisaka Six Jizo Statue Head | Warring States - 1572 CE | Found on top of the rock on the upper side of Maisaka village. Use it to repair the Six Jizo. |
| Horie Castle Cell KeysWarring States - 1572 CEHorie Castle Cell Keys | Warring States - 1572 CE | The Horie Castle Cell Keys can be obtained by looting the corpse at the edge of the inner courtyard in Horie Castle. The keys are used to open the Cell Door in the cave under the castle, where the Lake Hamana Kodama is being locked. |
| Mountain Temple KeyWarring States - 1572 CEMountain Temple Key | Warring States - 1572 CE | The Mountain Temple Key is obtained from Ii Naotora in Hamamatsu Castle when you start Ii's Memento Myth. Use it to open the Mountain Temple gate near Mikatagahara Junction Shrine. |
| Abandoned Shrine KeyWarring States - 1572 CEAbandoned Shrine Key | Warring States - 1572 CE | The Abandoned Shrine Key is obtained by looting the farmer's corpse on the upper ledge on the eastern side of the Futama tea farm. Use the key to open the Abandoned Shrine Gate to the north. |
| Grubby Iron KeyHeian - 1190 CEGrubby Iron Key | Heian - 1190 CE | The Grubby Iron Key is obtained automatically after clearing the Funaokayama Enemy Base. |
| Blackened KeyEternal RiftBlackened Key | Eternal Rift | The Blackened Key can be obtained by gifting Dung Balls to Tatsumoro the Dung Lover in the Eternal Rift. You can use the key to open the locked door on the upper floor of the blacksmith building. |
| Tarnished Iron KeyHeian - 1190 CETarnished Iron Key | Heian - 1190 CE | The Tarnished Iron Key is obtained by defeating the Onryoki on top of the Horinji Temple Bridge. The key is required to open the locked door of the northern Sagano Temple. |
| Sagano Six Jizo Statue HeadHeian - 1190 CESagano Six Jizo Statue Head | Heian - 1190 CE | |
| Mibu Temple KeyBakumatsu - 1864 CEMibu Temple Key | Bakumatsu - 1864 CE | The Mibu Temple Key is a very important key you'll receive in the Nijo Castle area from Takasugi Shinsaku. The key comes as a reward for helping him deal with Nagakura Shinpachi during the Peerless Katana Myth. The key is used to open the Mibu Temple Main Gate. |
| Mibu Six Jizo Statue HeadBakumatsu - 1864 CEMibu Six Jizo Statue Head | Bakumatsu - 1864 CE | Found outside the tunnel on the upper side of Mibu Temple. Be advised that you'll have to fight another Mujina. After you defeat the Mujina, carry the head and use it to repair the Six Jizo inside the tunnel. |
| Kiyomizu Six Jizo Statue HeadBakumatsu - 1864 CEKiyomizu Six Jizo Statue Head | Bakumatsu - 1864 CE | Found on a ledge halfway up the pillar behind the Six Jizo in Kiyomizu. You can reach it by dropping from above, after you activate the nearby Spirit Vein. Carry the head and use it to repair the Six Jizo below. |
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