Nioh 3: Sub Mission Locations & Interactive Tracking Guide

Before entering a Sub Mission that replays an existing zone in Nioh 3, know this: collectibles don't exist inside them.


The open-world version of Hamamatsu Castle has loot. The Princess Tsubaki Sub Mission that takes you through Hamamatsu Castle has none. Same for Horie Castle, Futamata Castle, the Haunting Caves, Saigagake, Rajomon, Honnoji Temple, and Kiyomizu — sub mission versions of every zone are cleared of their collectible database. Knowing this up front saves a lot of backtracking.


Past that, 30+ Sub Missions across all eras reward Samurai's Locks, Smithing Texts, Secret Skills Texts, and unique weapons that aren't available anywhere else. Every starting point, prerequisite, and full objective list is included on our interactive maps accessed via the Nioh 3 completion hub.


Three Types of Sub Mission


Not all Sub Missions work the same way. Three tutorial missions — Basic Controls, Expanded Controls, and Training Ground — unlock early in Warring States and give no rewards. They exist purely to practice mechanics. Ignore these once you've skimmed them.


The Eternal Rift training series is structured as ranked fights: challenge NPCs in the Eternal Rift to prove mastery of each combat discipline. These are covered in detail below.


Everything else is a story sub-mission — triggered by talking to an NPC, examining a corpse, or completing a prerequisite Myth. These have full objective chains, boss fights, and meaningful rewards.


Most are tied to named historical figures and their personal storylines running parallel to the main campaign. Unlike Myths, they don't require a specific active quest — you trigger them by finding the starting point in the world.


The Eternal Rift Training Series


Nine Sub Missions run in three tiers across three disciplines, each accessible from the Eternal Rift:


  • Novice missions unlock immediately on reaching the Rift.
  • Adept tiers open once you reach Heian.
  • Veteran tiers open once you reach Bakumatsu.


Within each tier, the Warrior series involves Yagyu Munenori, the Ninja series involves Hattori Hanzo, and the Onmyo series involves Saito Fuku.


Veteran rewards include Smithing Texts for the Great Tengu Blade, Swordmaster's Attire, Demontear Sword, Demon Fang Kusarigama, and Iga Jonin Apparel — making the Veteran tier the most valuable source of weapon blueprints in the Eternal Rift outside of Myth completions.


Four Gauntlet Sub Missions: Fight Multiple Bosses in Sequence


These four don't give you one boss — they give you four or five.


  • Takeda's Four Heavenly Kings (Warring States, after The Battle of Saigagake) — defeat Naito Masatoyo, Kosaka Masanobu, Baba Nobuharu, Yamagata Masakage, then Takeda Shingen. Rewards the Mirage Axe Smithing Text.


  • Beneath a Pure White Flag (Heian, after Triple Triumph) — defeat Tomoe Gozen, Nasu no Yoichi, Kajiwara Kagetoki, then Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Rewards the Lilac Switchglaive.


  • Shinsengumi: Best of Five (Bakumatsu, after defeating Tokugawa Yoshinobu) — defeat five Shinsengumi commanders: Nakagura Shinpachi, Saito Hajime, Hijikata Toshizo, Kondo Isami, and Okita Soji. Rewards the Shinsengumi Haori.


  • Shadows of the Three Oni (Final Battle of Edo, after defeating Hiruko) — the only post-game Sub Mission. Defeat the Demon of Pride, Demon of Envy, and Demon of Obsession in sequence. Rewards the Demon God Hammer.


For all four, the bosses don't scale to your level. Return later at a higher level, and the gap becomes significant.


One Detail Every Player Needs to Know


The Demon's Regimen in Warring States has an objective that catches everyone off guard: Follow Hayatemaru, the Scampuss.


A Scampuss named Hayatemaru guides you through the early section of the mission before the Hattori Hanzo duel. Don't attack it.


All Sub Mission Locations


The 33+ Sub Missions visible on our maps are documented with full objectives and prerequisites — Warring States area map covers the densest set, including the Haunting Caves chain, Honda Tadakatsu, the Ryotan Temple apparition (triple weapon reward from Ryomen Sukuna), and the Takeda Four Heavenly Kings gauntlet.


Heian interactive map holds Triple Triumph, The Mystery of Rajomon (Ryomen Sukuna again, this time at Rajomon), and Beneath a Pure White Flag.


Bakumatsu map guide covers the Beast of the Underworld, Kiyomizu Defiled, Crucible Tour, the Shinsengumi gauntlet, and the late-game Drawn to Yokai Incense.


The Final Battle of Edo interactive map holds just one Sub Mission — but it's the hardest one in the game, and you can't even see it until the credits roll.

Name Details
The Way of the Warrior: NoviceEternal Rift

Prerequisite: Reach Eternal Rift and speak to Yagyu Munenori.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the training mission.
  • Defeat all training partners.


Rewards:

  • Samurai's Locks
  • Training Robe
  • Training Hakama
  • Training Robe Smithing Text
The Way of the Onmyo: NoviceEternal Rift

Prerequisite: Reach Eternal Rift and speak to Saito Fuku.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the training mission.
  • Defeat all training partners.


Rewards:

  • Samurai's Locks
  • Awakening Secret Skills Text
The Way of the Ninja: NoviceEternal Rift

Prerequisite: Reach Eternal Rift and speak to Hattori Hanzo.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the training mission.
  • Defeat all training partners.


Rewards:

  • Samurai's Locks
  • Training Robe
  • Training Hakama
  • Training Robe Smithing Text
Training GroundWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Progress The Hamamatsu Incident main mission and reach the Prospect Hill Shrine.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Hone your skills at the Training Ground.


Rewards:

  • None
Expanded ControlsWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Progress The Hamamatsu Incident main mission and reach the Prospect Hill Shrine.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Practice commands specific to your styles at the Training Ground.


Rewards:

  • None
Basic ControlsWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Progress The Hamamatsu Incident main mission and reach the Prospect Hill Shrine.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Practice commands shared by both styles at the Training Ground.


Rewards:

  • None
Origin of the Haunting CavesWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Complete The Demon of the Haunting Caves.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the Sub Mission.
  • Investigate the origins of the Haunting Caves.
  • Defeat the Cavern Ascetic.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Bullhead Cross Spear


Note: The Sub Mission will take you through the Haunting Caves. No collectibles can be found during the Sub Mission.

The Demon of the Haunting CavesWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Start the Abundant Evil Myth and discover The Haunting Caves.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:


Rewards:

  • Yokai Teardrop x2
Becoming Champion of the EastWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Complete Abundant Evil.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Tombokiri
Horie's Fleeting PetalsWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Complete Disaster at Lake Hamana.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the Sub Mission.
  • Search for the legend of Horie Castle.
  • Defeat the Magatsu Warrior.
  • Speak with the princess.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Senjuin Tachi


Note: The Sub Mission will take you through the Horie Castle. No collectibles can be found during the Sub Mission.

Princess TsubakiEternal Rift

Prerequisite: Complete The Hamamatsu Incident and travel to the Eternal Rift.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:

  • Interact with the Eternal Rift Shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the mission.
  • Retrace the spirit's steps.
  • Defeat the warrior's ghost (Otazu no Kata)


Rewards:

  • Samurai's Locks
  • Kamari Hakama


Note: The Sub Mission will take you through Hamamatsu Castle. No collectibles can be found during the Sub Mission.

Vengeful BladeWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Progress The Battle of Futamata Castle and defeat Baba Nobuharo.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the Sub Mission.
  • Investigate the identity of the resentful spirit.
  • Defeat Ippon-Datara.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Ippon Datara's Odachi


Note: The Sub Mission will take you through the Futamata Castle. No collectibles can be found during the Sub Mission.

The Demon's RegimenWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Complete Searching for a Spy and speak to Hattori Hanzo by the house.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:

  • Follow Hayatemaru, the Scampuss.
  • Defeat Hanzo's underlings.
  • Defeat Hattori Hanzo.
  • Speak with Hattori Hanzo.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
The Way of the Warrior: AdeptEternal Rift

Prerequisite: Reach Heian and speak to Yagyu Munenori.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the training mission.
  • Defeat Yagyu Munenori.


Rewards:

  • Samurai's Locks
  • Great Tengu Blade
  • Swordmaster's Robe
The Way of the Ninja: AdeptEternal Rift

Prerequisite: Reach Heian and speak to Hattori Hanzo.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the training mission.
  • Defeat Hattori Hanzo.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Demontear Sword
  • Demon Fang Kusarigama
  • Iga Jonin Greaves
The Way of the Onmyo: AdeptEternal Rift

Prerequisite: Reach Heian and speak to Saito Fuku.

Availability: 1622 CE - Edo


Objectives:

  • Interact with any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the training mission.
  • Defeat all training partners.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Shinto Priest's Hakama
Takeda's Four Heavenly KingsWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Complete The Battle of Saigagake.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:

  • Defeat all formidable enemies:
  • Defeat Naito Masatoio.
  • Defeat Kosaka Masanobu.
  • Defeat Baba Nobuharu.
  • Defeat Yamagata Masakage.
  • Defeat Takeda Shingen.


Rewards:

  • Samurai's Locks
  • Mirage Axe


Tip: If you struggle with this sub-mission, consider fighting the bosses later, after you increase your level, and they will become a lot easier as their levels don't scale.

Groans in the ValleyWarring States - 1572 CE

Prerequisite: Complete The Battle of Saigagake.

Availability: 1572 CE - Warring States


Objectives:

  • Investigate the origin of the groaning.
  • Defeat Kamaitachi.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Evil-Crusher Switchglaive


Note: The Sub Mission will take you through Saigagake Castle. No collectibles can be found during the Sub Mission.

Triple TriumphHeian - 1190 CE

Prerequisite: Complete Thoughts Bequeathed.

Availability: 1190 CE - Heian


Objectives:

  • Speak to Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
  • Defeat Minamoto no Yoshitsune.


Rewards:

  • Samurai's Locks
  • Usumidori
  • Minamoto's Greaves
  • Onzoshi Gauntlets
The Mystery of RajomonHeian - 1190 CE

Prerequisite: Complete Heian Befouled.

Availability: 1190 CE - Heian


Objectives:

  • Interact with the corpse by the rock in the clearing.
  • Visit any shrine and select the Battle Scroll.
  • Start the Sub Mission.
  • Expose Minamoto no Yoritomo's plan.
  • Defeat the yokai and Ryomen Sukuna.


Rewards:

  • Ninja's Locks
  • Ryomen Sukuna's Sword


Note: The Sub Mission will take you through Rajomon in Hachijo. No collectibles can be found during the Sub Mission.

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