Nioh 3: NPC Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide

Nioh 3's NPCs don't stay in one place. Honda Tadakatsu is by the path during the Hamamatsu Incident, then at Hamamatsu Castle after the Eternal Rift opens, then at Maisaka Post during Abundant Evil.

Tokugawa Ieyasu moves through three locations. Takasugi Shinsaku occupies three different spots across Bakumatsu.

Finding a character where you last left them is rarely the right expectation — and MapMaster's NPC guide tracks every position every character occupies as the story unfolds. All 40+ NPC locations are included with their exact spawn conditions on the Nioh 3 interactive maps.

Two Types of NPCs: Permanent and Story-Following

Permanent Eternal Rift residents stay in fixed positions once they arrive and don't relocate further.

Hattori Hanzo stands by the house in the Eternal Rift from the moment you first arrive — speak to him to unlock the Way of the Ninja Novice, Adept, and Veteran Sub Missions.

Yagyu Munenori stands outside the shrine building and unlocks the Way of the Warrior sub-missions. Saito Fuku is on the upper level of the building and unlocks the Way of the Onmyo sub-missions.

The Fox-Masked Blacksmith is a permanent resident from The Hamamatsu Incident onwards. None of these moves.

Story-following NPCs relocate as you complete missions and Myths — each new position is a new checklist entry with its own pin.

Missing an NPC interaction at one location doesn't lock you out permanently; the checklist below shows every position they occupy, letting you catch up whenever you return to a completed area.

The Eternal Rift Roster: Who Lives in the Hub

Beyond the permanent trainers, several characters arrive in the Eternal Rift at different story points:

• Matsunaga Hisashide appears in the Hidden Teahouse once you reach Heian. Speak to him immediately — he starts The Value of Perfection Myth and unlocks the Clan Battles system.

• Tatsumaro the Dung Lover relocates to the cave under the Blacksmith building after completing the Putrid Paradise Myth in Heian — give him Dung Balls and Noble Dung Balls to earn Smithing Texts and eventually the Blackened Key.

• The Great Scampuss spawns in the Eternal Rift after you've caught enough Scampusses in the open world — approach the large black Scampuss and give it Scampuss Furballs to earn Handbooks, Ninja's Locks, and transformation abilities.

The Clan Battles System: What Matsunaga Hisashide Offers

Matsunaga Hisashide is one of the most valuable NPCs in the game outside the Blacksmith. Beyond starting The Value of Perfection Myth, he runs the Clan Battles system — a Glory Point economy where you earn points through specific challenges and spend them at his menu on rare Items, Masterpieces (unique cosmetic weapons and armour), Transformations (appearance changes), and Gestures.

This system unlocks the moment Matsunaga arrives in the Eternal Rift after you reach Heian, and it remains available for the rest of the game.

Myth-Gated NPCs: They Won't Appear Without the Right Quest

Two NPCs only spawn under specific quest conditions:

• Mysterious Ninja (Fuma Kotaro) appears in the clearing in northern Iinoya during the Those Who Live in the Shadows Myth — and only during that Myth. Without it active, the clearing is empty. Speak to him after helping defeat the Yokai to progress the Myth and reveal his identity.

• Tatsumaro the Dung Lover only relocates to the Eternal Rift basement after completing the Putrid Paradise Myth in Heian. He cannot be found in the Eternal Rift before that Myth is completed.

All NPC Locations Across All Eras

All 40+ NPC locations are included on the Warring States area map, Heian interactive map, Antiquity map guide, Bakumatsu area map, and Eternal Rift interactive map, with spawn conditions and mission triggers on every marker.