Nioh 3 Nurikabe Locations & Emotes Guide
Nurikabe are hidden yokai walls scattered throughout Nioh 3 that block secret passages containing valuable loot. Each wall responds to a specific gesture type — use the correct one and the Nurikabe moves aside peacefully. Use the wrong one and you fight it. This guide lists every Nurikabe location with the correct gesture, a complete emotes list organized by type, and how to handle Mujina mimic chests without a fight.
What Are Nurikabe?
Nurikabe are yokai disguised as ordinary stone walls. They appear in missions throughout every era in Nioh 3, always blocking a hidden passage or alcove that contains equipment, materials, or Soul Cores. You cannot walk through a Nurikabe or break it with attacks — the only way to make it move is to perform a gesture (emote) in front of it.
Each Nurikabe responds to one of three gesture categories: Friendly, Neutral, or Aggressive. The wall's glowing aura color tells you which type it wants. Match the category correctly and the Nurikabe peacefully slides aside, granting you access to the treasure behind it. Choose the wrong category and the Nurikabe awakens as a hostile yokai that you must defeat in combat.
How Nurikabe Walls Work
Nurikabe appear as stone walls with a faintly visible yokai face. When you approach within about 5 meters, the wall begins to glow with a colored aura. This aura is your clue to which gesture type the Nurikabe wants. Stand in front of the wall and use any gesture from the matching category to make it move aside.
Each Nurikabe responds to one of three gesture types: Friendly (blue aura), Neutral (yellow aura), or Aggressive (red aura). Any gesture within the correct category works — you do not need a specific gesture, just the right type. For example, a blue-aura Nurikabe accepts Bow, Pray, Wave, or any other Friendly gesture equally.
If you use the wrong gesture type, the Nurikabe will shake once as a warning. Using the wrong type a second time causes it to attack. Once a Nurikabe becomes hostile, you must defeat it in combat (it fights as a large yokai with slow sweeping attacks and high health). Defeating a hostile Nurikabe still grants access to the passage behind it, but the fight is avoidable if you read the aura correctly.
Friendly
Blue glowing aura walls — use any Friendly gesture
Examples: Bow, Pray, Wave
Neutral
Yellow/white glowing aura walls — use any Neutral gesture
Examples: Sit, Whistle, Dance
Aggressive
Red glowing aura walls — use any Aggressive gesture
Examples: Taunt, Flex, Stomp
All Nurikabe Wall Locations
Below is a complete list of every Nurikabe wall in Nioh 3, organized by mission. Each entry includes the mission name, era, exact location description, the correct gesture type, and the reward hidden behind the wall.
| Mission | Era | Location | Gesture | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape from Hitokoto Slope | 1570 CE | After the second shrine, check the hidden alcove on the left behind wooden crates | Friendly | Ochoko Cup x3, random equipment |
| Flames of War | 1570 CE | Underground passage before the boss arena, left wall near the barrels | Aggressive | Soul Core (Gaki), Elixir x3 |
| The Battle of Futamata | 1572 CE | Castle courtyard upper level, behind the collapsed pillar near the second gate | Neutral | Divine Weapon, Amrita x5000 |
| Serpent's Descent | 1572 CE | Cave section after the underground river, right-side dead end before the exit | Friendly | Smithing Text (Serpent Spear), Sacred Water x2 |
| Siege of Mikatagahara | 1573 CE | Fortified camp side passage, between the armory tent and the watchtower | Aggressive | Soul Core (Enki), random armor piece |
| Mountain Passage | 1573 CE | Narrow mountain trail, alcove behind the waterfall halfway up the path | Neutral | Ochoko Cup x5, Summoner's Candle x1 |
| The Burning Temple | 1571 CE | Temple basement, far wall past the flooded corridor on the right side | Friendly | Onmyo Magic Skill Book, Elixir x4 |
| Forest of the Fallen | Ancient | Deep forest clearing, stone wall at the back of the moss-covered ruins | Aggressive | Soul Core (Mitsume Yazura), Spirit Stone x3 |
| Shores of Izumo | Ancient | Beach cave entrance, left wall just inside the sea cave opening | Neutral | Divine Armor, Amrita x8000 |
| Shadow of Edo | 1860 CE | Merchant district alley, behind the locked gate that opens from the rooftop path | Friendly | Ninjutsu Skill Book, Ochoko Cup x4 |
| Yokohama Under Siege | 1860 CE | Warehouse basement, far corner past the stacked shipping crates | Aggressive | Soul Core (Yoki), Sacred Water x3 |
| The Sacred Mountain | 1573 CE | Mountain shrine path, hidden wall to the right of the third torii gate | Neutral | Guardian Spirit Talisman x2, random Divine weapon |
| Burial Grounds of Yamato | Ancient | Inside the largest burial mound, left passage after the central burial chamber | Friendly | Magatama accessory, Spirit Stone x5 |
| Kyoto in Flames | 1860 CE | Burning mansion interior, ground floor room behind the collapsed bookshelf | Aggressive | Smithing Text (Kyoto Blade), Elixir x5 |
| Viper's Sanctum Depths | 1573 CE | Poison cave lower level, wall at the end of the dry alcove above the toxic lake | Neutral | Antidote x10, Soul Core (Tsuchigumo), random Divine armor |
Escape from Hitokoto Slope
1570 CEFriendlyAfter the second shrine, check the hidden alcove on the left behind wooden crates
Reward: Ochoko Cup x3, random equipment
Flames of War
1570 CEAggressiveUnderground passage before the boss arena, left wall near the barrels
Reward: Soul Core (Gaki), Elixir x3
The Battle of Futamata
1572 CENeutralCastle courtyard upper level, behind the collapsed pillar near the second gate
Reward: Divine Weapon, Amrita x5000
Serpent's Descent
1572 CEFriendlyCave section after the underground river, right-side dead end before the exit
Reward: Smithing Text (Serpent Spear), Sacred Water x2
Siege of Mikatagahara
1573 CEAggressiveFortified camp side passage, between the armory tent and the watchtower
Reward: Soul Core (Enki), random armor piece
Mountain Passage
1573 CENeutralNarrow mountain trail, alcove behind the waterfall halfway up the path
Reward: Ochoko Cup x5, Summoner's Candle x1
The Burning Temple
1571 CEFriendlyTemple basement, far wall past the flooded corridor on the right side
Reward: Onmyo Magic Skill Book, Elixir x4
Forest of the Fallen
AncientAggressiveDeep forest clearing, stone wall at the back of the moss-covered ruins
Reward: Soul Core (Mitsume Yazura), Spirit Stone x3
Shores of Izumo
AncientNeutralBeach cave entrance, left wall just inside the sea cave opening
Reward: Divine Armor, Amrita x8000
Shadow of Edo
1860 CEFriendlyMerchant district alley, behind the locked gate that opens from the rooftop path
Reward: Ninjutsu Skill Book, Ochoko Cup x4
Yokohama Under Siege
1860 CEAggressiveWarehouse basement, far corner past the stacked shipping crates
Reward: Soul Core (Yoki), Sacred Water x3
The Sacred Mountain
1573 CENeutralMountain shrine path, hidden wall to the right of the third torii gate
Reward: Guardian Spirit Talisman x2, random Divine weapon
Burial Grounds of Yamato
AncientFriendlyInside the largest burial mound, left passage after the central burial chamber
Reward: Magatama accessory, Spirit Stone x5
Kyoto in Flames
1860 CEAggressiveBurning mansion interior, ground floor room behind the collapsed bookshelf
Reward: Smithing Text (Kyoto Blade), Elixir x5
Viper's Sanctum Depths
1573 CENeutralPoison cave lower level, wall at the end of the dry alcove above the toxic lake
Reward: Antidote x10, Soul Core (Tsuchigumo), random Divine armor
Complete Emotes & Gestures List
All gestures in Nioh 3 organized by type. You unlock new gestures from mission completion rewards, side mission clears, and purchases at the Hidden Teahouse Glory Shop. Any gesture within the correct category works on a Nurikabe — you do not need a specific one.
Friendly Gestures
Blue Aura
- • Bow
- • Pray
- • Wave
- • Beckon
- • Cheer
- • Clap
Neutral Gestures
Yellow Aura
- • Sit
- • Whistle
- • Dance
- • Meditate
- • Shrug
- • Salute
Aggressive Gestures
Red Aura
- • Taunt
- • Flex
- • Stomp
- • Point
- • Intimidate
- • War Cry
Mujina (Mimic Chests)
Mujina are shapeshifting yokai disguised as treasure chests. They look almost identical to normal chests but have subtle visual differences: a slightly different lid shape, faint breathing animation, or a barely visible tail poking out from behind. Experienced players learn to spot them, but they can catch anyone off guard in the early game.
To avoid fighting a Mujina, use ANY gesture before opening the chest. It does not matter which gesture type — Friendly, Neutral, or Aggressive all work. The Mujina will reveal itself peacefully, transform back into its true tanuki form, and give you a reward as thanks for being perceptive. The reward is typically an Ochoko Cup, a consumable item, or a piece of equipment.
Tips & Strategies
- •Always check the aura color before gesturing. Walk close enough to trigger the glow, then step back and observe. Blue means Friendly, yellow means Neutral, red means Aggressive. If you cannot tell the difference between yellow and red, increase your display brightness or check your colorblind settings.
- •You get one free mistake. Using the wrong gesture type causes the Nurikabe to shake but it does not attack immediately. Only the second wrong gesture triggers a fight. If you guessed wrong on the first try, switch to a different gesture category for your second attempt.
- •Assign one gesture from each category to your shortcut menu for quick access. Having Bow (Friendly), Sit (Neutral), and Taunt (Aggressive) on your gesture wheel means you can respond to any Nurikabe within seconds without scrolling through the full list.
- •Nurikabe fights are not especially dangerous but they waste time and resources. The wall yokai has high health and slow attacks. If you do end up fighting one, stay behind it — most of its attacks are frontal slams and sweeps with poor tracking.
- •For Mujina chests, develop the habit of gesturing at every chest before opening it. The reward for correctly identifying a Mujina is always better than what you get from fighting it, and you save time avoiding the combat encounter entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Nurikabe walls are in Nioh 3?
There are 15 confirmed Nurikabe walls across all missions in Nioh 3. They appear in every era — Sengoku, Ancient, and Bakumatsu. Each one guards a hidden passage with unique rewards including Soul Cores, Smithing Texts, Divine equipment, and consumables.
What happens if I use the wrong gesture on a Nurikabe?
The first wrong gesture causes the Nurikabe to shake as a warning but it does not attack. If you use the wrong type a second time, it becomes hostile and you must fight it. You still get the loot behind the wall after defeating it, but the fight is unnecessary if you match the aura color correctly.
Does it matter which specific gesture I use?
No. Any gesture within the correct category works. For a blue-aura Nurikabe, Bow, Pray, Wave, Beckon, Cheer, and Clap all work equally. You just need to match the gesture type (Friendly, Neutral, or Aggressive) to the wall's aura color.
How do I get more gestures in Nioh 3?
You start with a few basic gestures and unlock more by completing main missions, side missions, and purchasing them from the Hidden Teahouse Glory Shop. Some rare gestures are rewards from specific side mission completion. Check the Teahouse regularly as new stock appears after story progression.
Can I fight a Mujina without opening the chest?
No. A Mujina only reveals itself when you either use a gesture near the chest (peaceful resolution) or open the chest directly (hostile transformation). You cannot attack a Mujina chest to force a fight. Using any gesture is always the better option since the peaceful reward is typically better than the combat drop.