Nioh 3 New Game Plus (Shogun's Journey)
Shogun's Journey is Nioh 3's New Game Plus mode. It unlocks after beating the final boss and offers harder enemies, Divine-tier loot, and remixed encounters. Everything you earned in your first playthrough carries over — your levels, gear, skills, and Kodama. This is where build optimization really matters, because Divine gear and set bonuses open up powerful synergies that trivialize content if you build correctly, or punish you hard if your setup is inefficient. This guide covers how to unlock NG+, what changes, what carries over, and how to prepare so your first NG+ sessions go smoothly.
How to Unlock Shogun's Journey
- Complete all main story missions through the final boss in Rokuhara
- Watch the ending cinematic and credits
- A prompt appears: "Shogun's Journey is now available"
- Open the Region Select map — a new tab labeled "Shogun's Journey" appears
- Select it to enter NG+ starting from the first region
You can switch between Heir's Journey (NG) and Shogun's Journey (NG+) from the Region Select screen at any time. Your original playthrough remains intact — switching to NG+ does not overwrite anything.
What Carries Over
| Category | Carries Over? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Character Level | Yes | You keep your exact level and all stat points |
| Equipment | Yes | All weapons, armor, accessories, consumables |
| Amrita | Yes | Unspent Amrita carries over |
| Skill Points | Yes | All earned skill points from proficiency and missions |
| Weapon Proficiency | Yes | All proficiency levels and unlocks |
| Kodama Blessings | Yes | All 150 Kodama stay collected |
| Guardian Spirits | Yes | All unlocked spirits and Soul Cores |
| Clan Rank | Yes | Clan pledge and accumulated rank |
| Blacksmith Smithing Texts | Yes | All forging recipes learned |
| Gestures / Titles | Yes | All cosmetic unlocks |
What Resets
| Category | Resets? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Story Progress | Yes | All cutscenes and story missions reset |
| Mission Completion | Yes | All missions show as incomplete |
| Enemy Bases | Yes | All bases return to enemy-controlled state |
| Lesser Crucibles | Yes | All dungeon challenges reset |
| Map Fog | Partial | Shrines stay discovered, but Exploration Level resets |
| Crucible Spikes | Optional | Use Sands of Recollection to restore them |
Difficulty Changes in NG+
| Stat | Heir's Journey (NG) | Shogun's Journey (NG+) |
|---|---|---|
| Enemy Health | 1x (base) | ~2x |
| Enemy Damage | 1x (base) | ~1.5x |
| Enemy Ki | 1x (base) | ~1.3x |
| Amrita Drops | 1x (base) | ~3x |
| Equipment Drop Level | 1-150 | 150-200+ |
| New Rarity Tier | — | Divine (green) |
| Max Level Cap | 150 | 200 (new cap) |
Remixed Enemy Placements
NG+ does not simply scale numbers up. Enemies are rearranged: some regular enemies are replaced by yokai variants, ambush spawn points change, and certain corridors that were safe in NG now have patrol routes. Boss movesets gain 1-2 new attacks in NG+ that they did not use in the first playthrough. Yamagata Masakage, for example, adds a new 3-hit thrust combo in NG+ Phase 2 that he never uses in Heir's Journey.
Divine Gear (Green Rarity)
The main reward for playing NG+ is Divine-tier equipment. Divine items (green glow) are a full rarity tier above Exotic (purple). They start dropping from enemies in Region 1 of Shogun's Journey.
| Property | Exotic (Purple) | Divine (Green) |
|---|---|---|
| Base Stats | Standard | +15-25% higher |
| Special Effects | Up to 3 | Up to 4 |
| Inheritable Slot | Sometimes | Always |
| Set Bonus Slots | 3 (2pc / 4pc / 6pc) | 4 (adds Grace set bonus) |
| Soul Match Cost | Standard | 2x (requires Divine materials) |
| Temper Pool | Standard | Expanded (Divine Umbracite unlocks 10 options/slot) |
The fourth set bonus slot on Divine gear unlocks Grace sets — endgame set bonuses that provide powerful elemental or tactical effects. Grace of Tsukuyomi (Onmyo damage), Grace of Susano (melee scaling), and Grace of Amaterasu (healing) are the most sought after. These only appear on Divine equipment. See the Armor Sets page for full Grace set details.
Sands of Recollection
Sands of Recollection is a system unique to NG+ that lets you selectively restore open-world content that was cleared in the previous cycle.
How It Works
- Access: Open the Region Map and select "Sands of Recollection" from the menu
- Options: Choose to restore Lesser Crucibles, Enemy Bases, or Crucible Spikes individually or by region
- Cost: Free. No items or currency required
- Purpose: Re-farm specific content for Divine loot, Smithing Texts, or Exploration Level progress without restarting the entire region
This is particularly useful for farming specific Lesser Crucibles that drop the Smithing Texts or Divine armor pieces you need. Instead of replaying entire regions, restore just the content you want to re-run.
NG+ Preparation Checklist
- 1.Respec stats for your endgame weapon — remove early defensive padding, max out scaling stat
- 2.Soul Match your best weapon to the highest level possible using NG materials
- 3.Stock up on consumables: Saisetsu-shin's Sake, Elixirs, elemental talismans
- 4.Complete any remaining trophies that are easier in NG (formidable enemies, Kodama)
- 5.Switch Kodama Blessing to Diviner (+25% equipment drop rate) for maximum Divine gear drops
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I unlock New Game Plus in Nioh 3?
Complete the main story by defeating the final boss in Rokuhara. After the credits, Shogun's Journey (NG+) appears on the Region Select screen. You can switch between Heir's Journey (NG) and Shogun's Journey (NG+) at any time from the map.
What carries over to NG+ in Nioh 3?
Everything carries over: all equipment, levels, Amrita, skill points, weapon proficiency, Kodama Blessings, Guardian Spirits, clan rank, and Blacksmith unlocks. The only things that reset are story progress, mission completion status, and enemy base liberations.
What is Divine gear in Nioh 3?
Divine is a new rarity tier (green glow) that only drops in Shogun's Journey. Divine gear has higher base stats than Exotic (purple), can have up to 4 inheritable special effects, and is required for endgame optimization. Divine weapons and armor are the main reward for playing NG+.
Is Shogun's Journey much harder than the first playthrough?
Yes, but manageable if you are properly leveled. Enemies have roughly 2x health and deal 1.5x damage compared to Heir's Journey. However, your equipment from the first playthrough plus Divine gear drops offset the difficulty increase. Most players find Regions 1-2 of NG+ easier than the final regions of NG.