Spirit Veins are special points of interest in Nioh 3 that only become usable after certain prerequisites are met. Players who have come across a Spirit Vein in the game’s overworld will be interested to know what these veins are and how they work.
This guide covers everything related to Spirit Veins in Nioh 3, including how to identify them and how to make them functional. Here are the details.
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What are Spirit Veins in Nioh 3?
How Do Spirit Veins Work in Nioh 3?
In Nioh 3, Spirit Veins are secret traversal spots that can only be used to reach otherwise inaccessible locations by using certain Guardian Spirits. There are six different types of Spirit Veins, each type requiring a different Guardian Spirit to access.
In the overworld, Spirit Veins emit a yellow glow, making them easy to spot in the overworld. On the map, Spirit Veins are represented by a hexagonal icon with art corresponding to the Guardian Spirit it requires.
If you see a locked icon for the Spirit Vein on the map, it means you have yet to earn the allegiance of the Guardian Spirit needed to unlock that vein. If you see a tick icon instead, it means you have already traversed it and have the corresponding Guardian Spirit.
How to Use a Spirit Vein in Nioh 3
How to Get Past a Spirit Vein in Nioh 3
To get past a Spirit Vein in Nioh 3, head to its location in the overworld and step into the yellow light circle. If you have the Guardian Spirit that can traverse that Spirit Vein, you’ll see a prompt to “Traverse” appear on-screen.
Press and hold E (KB/M), R1 (PS5), or RB (Xbox controller) to use it. This will lead you to a new, hidden area where you might find new points of interest, strong enemies, or even special items like Samurai/Ninja Locks. To return, simply find the yellow light circle again to head back.
You do not need to actively equip a Guardian Spirit to traverse a Spirit Vein; merely having it in your inventory is enough.
All Spirit Vein Guardian Spirits in Nioh 3
How to Unlock All Spirit Veins in Nioh 3
There are six Guardian Spirits that are associated with Spirit Veins in Nioh 3. All of them can be unlocked through unmissable main story missions.
|
Spirit Vein Guardian Spirit |
How to Unlock |
|---|---|
|
Nekomata |
Escape the castle with the help of Hanzo Hattori in the main mission “The Fall of Edo Castle” (Edo Period). |
|
Enko |
Defeat Jakotsu-Baba in the main mission “Crucible Manifested” (Warring States Period). |
|
Kongojishi |
Defeat Takeda Shingen in the main mission “Tiger’s Cause” (Heian Period). |
|
Kurama Tengu |
Defeat Great Tengu in the main mission “Sacred Mountain Defiled” (Heian Period). |
|
Oh |
Defeat Minamoto no Yoritomo in the main mission “Frozen City, Blazing Tree” (Heian Period). |
|
Shami-choro |
Defeat Takasugi Shinsaku in the main mission “The Sweet Sound of Strings” (Bakumatsu Period). |
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- February 6, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo
- Publisher(s)
- Koei Tecmo
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
