Nioh 3: Main Mission Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide
Nioh 3's story runs through 15 Main Missions — a single linked chain where completing one unlocks the next, each gating access to a new era, a new Guardian Spirit, or the Eternal Rift services that define character progression.
Every mission is marked on the Nioh 3 interactive maps with its complete objectives, boss pins, NPC locations, prerequisites, rewards, and more — an interactive walkthrough, not just a location database. Access the full resource via the Nioh 3 guide hub.
15 Main Missions, One Chain: How Story Progression Works
Each Main Mission has a prerequisite — usually completing the mission immediately before it.
Completing the final boss of each era unlocks travel to the next, opening both the new open-world region and the Guardian Spirits tied to completing that story beat.
Guardian Spirits obtained through Main Mission progression are required to access specific Crucible Spikes and Crucible Wraiths gated behind Spirit Veins — meaning story completion directly dictates how much of the open world is reachable.
All missions are replayable through the Battle Scroll at any Shrine after completing them. Nothing is permanently missable.
The Hamamatsu Incident: The Most Important Story Milestone
The Hamamatsu Incident is the mission that transforms the game. Completing it unlocks the Eternal Rift hub, the Fox-Masked Blacksmith, the Guiding Mirror, and the full time-travel system — all at once.
Before this mission, progression is linear. After it, the open world of Warring States fully opens alongside every Eternal Rift service including the Sudama Merchant in the basement, the Master duel system, and Soul Match.
The Hamamatsu Incident is also the prerequisite mission before any Myth or Sub Mission becomes available.
All 15 Main Missions Across All Six Maps
- Warring States (5 missions): The Battle of Hitokoto Slope → The Hamamatsu Incident → The Battle of Futamata Castle → The Battle of Mikatagahara → The Battle of Saigagake. Highlights: Anayama Nobutada and Baba Nobuharo in Futamata Castle, Yamagata Masakage and Takeda Shingen in Mikatagahara, Takeda Shingen again in Saigagake (the unlocking fight for the Kongojishi Guardian Spirit and access to Heian).
- Heian (3 missions): The Age of Clans Begins → Heian Befouled → A Cause Too Great. Highlights: Great Tengu in the Age of Clans Begins, Kajiwara Kagetoki and Ibaraki Doji in Heian Befouled, and Minamoto no Yoritomo in A Cause Too Great — whose defeat unlocks the Oh Guardian Spirit and travel to Antiquity.
- Antiquity (2 missions): Calamity's Seed → Ill Omen. Highlights: the Spirit Tree Crucible and the first encounter with Hiruko. Defeating Hiruko in Ill Omen unlocks Return to Edo and Takechiyo's return to 1622 CE.
- Return to Edo (1 mission): To the Beginning — Gozuki then Tokugawa Kunimatsu. Rewards: Brother's Dual Katana and Brother's Sandals — story-context items that carry significant narrative weight.
- Bakumatsu (3 missions): A New Era → Those Left Behind → Final Hope. Highlights: Takasugi Shinsaku in A New Era, Enenra and Nuribotoke in Those Left Behind, and Tokugawa Yoshinobu in Final Hope — whose defeat unlocks the Final Battle of Edo.
- Final Battle of Edo (1 mission): What Makes A Shogun — the finale. Defeat Hiruko-possessed Kunimatsu, then decide Kunimatsu's fate. The choice at the end affects the closing cutscene but does not lock any trophy or collectible.
The Final Choice in What Makes A Shogun
After defeating the final boss, the game prompts you to decide Kunimatsu's fate. The decision affects the ending cutscene only — both choices lead to the credits, neither locks a trophy, and neither blocks post-game free-roam access.
The entire open world and all replay options remain available regardless of which option you choose.
All 15 missions in Nioh 3 are fully documented across the Warring States area map, Heian interactive map, Antiquity map guide, Return to Edo interactive map, Bakumatsu area map, and Final Battle of Edo map guide, with full objectives and reward lists.
| Name | Map Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| The Hamamatsu IncidentWarring States - 1572 CEThe Hamamatsu Incident | Warring States - 1572 CE | Prerequisite: Complete The Battle of Hitokoto Slope. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| The Battle of Hitokoto SlopeWarring States - 1572 CEThe Battle of Hitokoto Slope | Warring States - 1572 CE | Prerequisite: Complete the Prologue. Objectives:
Next Mission (s): |
| The Battle of Futamata CastleWarring States - 1572 CEThe Battle of Futamata Castle | Warring States - 1572 CE | Prerequisite: Complete The Hamamatsu Incident. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| The Battle of MikatagaharaWarring States - 1572 CEThe Battle of Mikatagahara | Warring States - 1572 CE | Prerequisite: Complete The Battle of Futamata Castle. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| The Battle of SaigagakeWarring States - 1572 CEThe Battle of Saigagake | Warring States - 1572 CE | Prerequisite: Complete The Battle of Mikatagahara. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| The Age of Clans BeginsHeian - 1190 CEThe Age of Clans Begins | Heian - 1190 CE | Prerequisite: Travel to Heian. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| Heian BefouledHeian - 1190 CEHeian Befouled | Heian - 1190 CE | Prerequisite: Complete The Age of Clans Begins and travel to the Kamo Village region. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| A Cause Too GreatHeian - 1190 CEA Cause Too Great | Heian - 1190 CE | Prerequisite: Complete Heian Befouled. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| Calamity's SeedAntiquity - 247 CECalamity's Seed | Antiquity - 247 CE | Prerequisite: Complete A Cause Too Great. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| Ill OmenAntiquity - 247 CEIll Omen | Antiquity - 247 CE | Prerequisite: Complete Calamity's Seed. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| To the BeginningReturn to Edo - 1622 CETo the Beginning | Return to Edo - 1622 CE | Prerequisite: Complete Ill Omen in Antiquity. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| A New EraBakumatsu - 1864 CEA New Era | Bakumatsu - 1864 CE | Prerequisite: Complete To the Beginning. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| Those Left BehindBakumatsu - 1864 CEThose Left Behind | Bakumatsu - 1864 CE | Prerequisite: Complete A New Era. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| Final HopeBakumatsu - 1864 CEFinal Hope | Bakumatsu - 1864 CE | Prerequisite: Complete Those Left Behind. Objectives:
Rewards:
Next Mission (s): |
| What Makes A ShogunFinal Battle of Edo - 1622 CEWhat Makes A Shogun | Final Battle of Edo - 1622 CE | Prerequisite: Complete Final Hope. Objectives:
Rewards:
|
© MapMaster.io 2024. All rights reserved.