The Soulslike genre began in 2009 with the release of Demon’s Souls and the birth of Soulsborne games, but it was a niche concept. As FromSoftware tweaked the formula, soon other copycats emerged, including the subject for today, Nioh. The first two Nioh games are well-liked in the Soulslike community, but so far, no one has been able to reach the heights of Elden Ring since that game launched in 2022.
7 Best Tips & Tricks in Nioh 3
Here are a few simple things you can do to change the way you play Nioh 3 while making the overall experience a little easier.
Has that all changed with the release of Team Ninja’s next game? Nioh 3 may not be a perfect experience, but it certainly does a lot right that other Soulslikes should pay attention to. This includes FromSoftware, which isn’t a perfect developer either.
Multiplayer Isn’t As Obscure
Easier To Jump In With Friends/Strangers
Playing a Soulslike game solo is one of the most challenging endeavors a player can undertake, but there are systems in place that can help them out, namely multiplayer. Typically, setups can be more complicated than they are worth, as seen in Elden Ring, which requires specific items, writing in the world, and then matching them for the best results.
It’s much easier in Nioh 3, with various matchmaking options. Players can jump into someone else’s game or open their game up to visitors or friends with a specific room key. Whether players need help with a particular boss or just want to explore with safety in numbers, Nioh 3 has got players protected.
Interesting World Without Relying On Obscurity
No Need To Dive Into A Lore Hole
Soulslikes tend to create deep lore and an atmospheric aura that can be enchanting, immersing players in the world. For those looking for a good story, that’s a problem because it requires additional work, like from Reddit posts or online videos of players breaking down the lore.
While there are certainly additional things players can look up from Nioh 3, like the cultural significance of certain Japanese figures and traditions, the story itself is much more straightforward. The protagonist, Takechiyo, is about to become the Shogun, but his brother, Kunimatsu, becomes consumed by an evil spirit and summons demons to Japan to usurp the throne. From there, Takechiyo gathers forces to aid their attempt to free their brother from the demon’s grasp. It’s not the deepest story, but it is easy to follow.
Weapon Variety And Loot
Players Aren’t Locked Into One Specific Item
In most Soulslikes and Soulsbornes, players can find rare gear and weapons by exploring the world. Sometimes monsters will drop something, too, but it can be incredibly rare. As is tradition for the series, Nioh 3 has a loot-based system akin to Diablo.
What to Do First in Nioh 3?
Here are some of the things you should do to get the best start in Nioh 3.
The chances of monsters dropping weapons and armor are high, but the rarity of certain items can be low. Still, there’s enough variety to help players gain an edge if they grind enough. Also, the weapon variety lets players test out different builds faster than waiting hours to find something new in the world. Also, Nioh 3 has transmog options for RPG fans into that.
The Class System
Giving Players Two Character Builds Is Brilliant
Some Soulslike games start players with classes, which they can change as they level up, like in Elden Ring. Others give players many classes that they can change throughout the game, like Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Nioh 3 falls comfortably in the middle of those two examples because there are only two classes in the game, but players can switch between them on the fly.
In the first two games, players were locked in as a samurai no matter what, but now players can also be a ninja in Nioh 3. What’s more, if players swap between their classes during certain monster attacks, they can counter them, which is an easier-to-understand system than the counter system of Nioh 2. Also, the new Ninja Style is a lot of fun to use, from the fast speeds to the Ninjutsu moves, which dials into Team Ninja’s past with the Ninja Gaiden series.
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Leveled Zones
An Easy Way To Guide Players
Levels kind of don’t mean much in a lot of Soulslikes, as it’s all about stat progression. Levels mean a lot more in Nioh 3, which is a good way to guide players in and out of zones. Players can level up stats like a typical Soulslike, from Constitution to Intelligence, and gear will have levels too, but there are no requirements to using weapons or wearing armor.
Each area of the map will have a general level players should be at, and if they are just below it, right at the level, or slightly above it, they will have an even playing field. If they are significantly above it, like Level 30 in a Level 6 zone, players will immediately notice a difference in their attack power and defenses. It’s a great feeling to know that numbers actually mean something with this zone-based design.
The World Is Not Seamless, But It Is Open And Expansive
More Curated Zones
Elden Ring set the world on fire with its open-world map, which is still the only one of its kind. Nioh 3 comes close, as with each chapter completed, new areas will open up, which will connect to one big world. The game falls in between something like Dark Souls and Elden Ring, which is much more open than most Soulslikes out there, including the two previous Nioh games.
How To Unlock Skills And Increase Skill Capacity In Nioh 3
Gathering Memorandum and Secret Texts is the key to learning new skills in Nioh 3.
Also, the world is more curated without a lot of open areas with nothing in them, ensuring players will constantly be finding something to fight or collect. Also, the game does a good job of dotting the map with icons from chests to Chijiko sightings, meaning that they will always have a helping hand while exploring.
No Need To Upgrade Flasks
Stock Up On All Types Of Items
One of the biggest issues in Soulslike and Soulsborne games is health. In Demon’s Souls, players could stock up on a near infinite amount of healing items, which was changed in Dark Souls to have a recharging healing system via the Estus Flasks. From then on, most Soulslike games adapted this limited rechargeable supply. There are pros and cons to a rechargeable system over a disposable item system, but Nioh 3 finds a good middle ground.
Players start with the ability to carry eight Elixirs, which will replenish at shrines as long as players have a stock of them in storage. Players can replenish their inventory on a mission or while exploring without going to a shrine, which is more beneficial. Players can increase how much healing items will replenish, and how often they drop in specific situations, in a few ways, too, like with Kodama Blessings. With a system like this, players can feel safer alone.
Currency And EXP (Amrita) Are Separate
No Longer A Waste Of Either Resource
Perhaps the best thing Nioh 3 does is separate its leveling-up currency, called Amrita, and its actual currency, Gold. Amrita is strictly used at shrines to level up stats, while Gold is used at shops to buy items.
Elden Ring, for example, has a currency called Runes, which is used for leveling up and buying items. Soulslike systems that use this dual role for currency can often hurt players who will choose not to use the shop system so as not waste an opportunity to level up. Nioh 3 thankfully gets rid of the mind games and makes it simple.
