Nioh 3 Side Missions & All 39 Myth Locations
Nioh 3 features dozens of optional side missions (Sub Missions) and 39 collectible Myths scattered across the game world. This guide lists every Nioh 3 side mission with its unlock conditions and rewards, plus all 39 myth locations needed for the 'Answering to the People' trophy. Whether you are hunting for Smithing Texts, unique Soul Cores, or chasing 100% completion, this is your definitive reference for Nioh 3 side missions and myth collectibles.
All Side Missions (Sub Missions)
Sub Missions in Nioh 3 unlock as you progress through the main story. Some side missions require completing specific main missions, while others need you to find certain items or reach particular points in the narrative. Nioh 3 side missions offer unique rewards including Smithing Texts, Soul Cores, exclusive equipment, and large Amrita payouts that make them well worth pursuing. Below is a complete list of every known Sub Mission organized by era.
The Oni of Rajomon
1555 — Warring StatesLv.35Face a powerful Oni guarding the ruins of Rajomon gate. This straightforward combat challenge is one of the first Nioh 3 side missions available and serves as a good test of your early-game combat skills. The Rajomon Oni is vulnerable to Fire and Lightning elements, so bring appropriate talismans.
The Cursed Shrine
1555 — Warring StatesLv.40Purify a corrupted shrine by defeating waves of Yokai. This side mission requires you to have picked up the Cursed Talisman item during the main mission. Bring anti-corruption talismans and prepare for three increasingly difficult waves of enemies. The Shrine Guardian Spear Smithing Text is exclusive to this mission.
Shadows in the Snow
1555 — Warring StatesLv.55Track and eliminate ninja assassins in a snowy mountain pass. A stealth-oriented Nioh 3 side mission where enemy detection is your biggest threat. The Snow Spirit Guardian accessory boosts your Ice resistance by 15% and increases Ninjutsu power, making it valuable for Ninja builds.
The Blacksmith's Request
1555 — Warring StatesLv.50Gather rare materials for the Blacksmith across the battlefield. Completing this side mission unlocks the Tempering feature for equipment, which is essential for optimizing your gear in the mid-to-late game. This is one of the most important Nioh 3 side missions for long-term progression.
Trial of the Mountain Tengu
1570 — UnificationLv.75A rematch against a stronger Great Tengu variant that tests your aerial combat mastery. The enhanced Great Tengu Soul Core+ grants a more powerful version of the standard ability, including an extended aerial combo finisher. Use Burst Counter timing and exploit its recovery windows after diving attacks.
The Serpent's Treasure
1570 — UnificationLv.85Navigate a hidden section of the serpent temple to claim its ultimate treasure. This Nioh 3 side mission features extensive poison hazards and a stronger Yatsu-no-Kami encounter. The Snake Fang accessory provides Poison immunity when combined with the Serpent's Grace set.
Dual Blades of Vengeance
1570 — UnificationLv.90Help a fallen warrior's spirit exact revenge in this narrative-driven side mission. Features a unique dual-boss encounter where you must fight two named samurai simultaneously. The Vengeful Twin Blades are among the strongest Dual Swords in the game, with built-in Life Drain.
The Demon's Gambit
1582 — BakumatsuLv.110A tactical challenge mission requiring specific enemy kill orders. The Demon Strategist accessory boosts your damage by 8% when fighting multiple enemies, making it excellent for crowd-clearing builds. Pay attention to the on-screen hints about which target to eliminate first.
Echoes of the Shinsengumi
1582 — BakumatsuLv.120Relive a key Shinsengumi battle in this historically-inspired Nioh 3 side mission. Features intense human-vs-human combat with multiple captains who coordinate their attacks. The Shinsengumi Armor set provides excellent Ki recovery bonuses at 3+ pieces.
The Final Challenge
1582 — BakumatsuLv.140The ultimate sub mission gauntlet and the most demanding of all Nioh 3 side missions. Face every sub mission boss in sequence without resting at a Shrine. The Champion's Odachi Smithing Text is the exclusive reward, crafting one of the highest-damage Odachi weapons available. Prepare consumables and optimize your build before attempting this challenge.
All 39 Myth Locations
Myths are collectible stone tablets hidden throughout Nioh 3's missions. Finding all 39 Nioh 3 myth locations unlocks the 'Answering to the People' trophy/achievement and the exclusive 'Mythkeeper' title. Myths glow with a faint blue light and emit a chiming sound when you are nearby. Each myth tells a fragment of Japanese folklore, and collecting them all reveals a hidden narrative thread connecting the game's three eras.
- Myths can only be collected once per save file — they disappear from the mission after pickup
- Some myths are hidden behind destructible walls or require specific traversal paths to reach
- The Kodama Sensor blessing also highlights nearby Myths with a faint blue indicator on your compass
- Myths found in multiplayer count for the host player only — join as host if you need them
- You can check your myth collection progress in the Amrita Memories menu under 'Lore'
Warring States (1555 CE)(12 myths)
| Mission | Myth Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Futamata Castle | Myth of the River Crossing | Behind the waterfall in the river approach area, accessible after draining the second floodgate |
| Futamata Castle | Myth of the Fallen General | Top of the watchtower in the castle courtyard, requires climbing the broken ladder |
| Futamata Castle | Myth of the Sacred Bridge | Under the collapsed bridge near the second Shrine, drop down to the ledge below |
| Mikatagahara | Myth of the Crimson Field | Center of the battlefield behind the burning siege tower |
| Mikatagahara | Myth of the War Drums | Inside the war tent on the eastern ridge, behind breakable barrels |
| Mikatagahara | Myth of the Cavalry Charge | On the cliff overlooking the cavalry route, accessible via a hidden path left of the main gate |
| Mikatagahara | Myth of the Last Stand | In the underground tunnel connecting the east and west camps |
| Sacred Mountain | Myth of the Wind God | At the peak of the first wind-swept ridge, behind the large boulder |
| Sacred Mountain | Myth of the Mountain Spirit | Inside the cave behind the waterfall on the mountain's east face |
| Sacred Mountain | Myth of the Frozen Path | On the narrow ice ledge above the third Shrine, requires careful platforming |
| Viper's Sanctum | Myth of the Serpent King | In the deepest poison pool chamber, on an island requiring Antidote preparation |
| Viper's Sanctum | Myth of the Venomous Truth | Behind the snake statue puzzle solution — rotate all three statues to face inward |
Unification (1570 CE)(14 myths)
| Mission | Myth Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Ceremony of Unification I | Myth of the Emperor's Decree | Inside the imperial palace's hidden chamber, accessed by examining the golden screen three times |
| Ceremony of Unification I | Myth of the Loyal Retainer | On the rooftop of the eastern guard tower, accessible via the broken wall |
| Ceremony of Unification I | Myth of the Sacred Seal | Behind the altar in the shrine room, requires destroying the cursed barrier first |
| Ceremony of Unification II | Myth of the United Clans | At the center of the council chamber, appears after defeating all guards |
| Ceremony of Unification II | Myth of the Broken Alliance | In the prison cells beneath the castle, requires the Jailer's Key |
| Fall of Edo Castle | Myth of the Burning Castle | Top floor of the burning keep, must be collected before the floor collapses (timed) |
| Fall of Edo Castle | Myth of the Shadow War | In the ninja escape tunnel behind the hidden panel in the armory |
| Fall of Edo Castle | Myth of the Last Shogun | On the throne in the Shogun's chamber, accessible after the mid-boss |
| Escape from Hitokoto Slope | Myth of the Desperate Flight | At the cliff edge overlook during the escape sequence — easy to miss during the chase |
| Escape from Hitokoto Slope | Myth of the Guardian's Sacrifice | Behind the destroyed cart barricade, requires breaking through from the east side |
| Battle of Saigagake | Myth of the Iron Wall | Inside the fortress wall breach, on the left side behind collapsed rubble |
| Battle of Saigagake | Myth of the Cannon's Roar | On top of the siege cannon platform, requires climbing the supply crates |
| A Fiery Invasion | Myth of the Inferno | In the center of the fire-engulfed village square, requires fire resistance |
| A Fiery Invasion | Myth of the Phoenix Reborn | At the top of the burning pagoda — must reach it before the structure collapses |
Bakumatsu (1582 CE)(13 myths)
| Mission | Myth Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Hamamatsu Incident | Myth of the Samurai's Code | In the dojo behind the sliding doors, requires solving the sword display puzzle |
| Hamamatsu Incident | Myth of the Twilight Duel | On the bridge over the river, appears after defeating the ronin mini-boss |
| Hamamatsu Incident | Myth of the Merchant's Secret | Inside the merchant's storehouse, behind the false wall (attack the discolored panel) |
| Crucible Manifested | Myth of the Forged Soul | At the base of the great anvil in the central forge area |
| Crucible Manifested | Myth of the Master Smith | In the hidden workshop accessed by following the smoke trail upward |
| Crucible Manifested | Myth of the Living Blade | Inside the weapon testing chamber, appears after activating all three pedestals |
| Mirage Fortress | Myth of the Illusionist | Behind the third illusion wall — use a Sacred Water item to reveal it |
| Mirage Fortress | Myth of the Mirror's Edge | In the mirror maze, follow the reflection that doesn't match reality |
| Tiger's Cause | Myth of the Tiger General | On the war banner at the hilltop command post |
| Tiger's Cause | Myth of the Roaring Victory | Inside the captured enemy camp, in the general's tent |
| The Age of Clans Begins | Myth of the New Dawn | At the overlook point before the final boss arena entrance |
| The Age of Clans Begins | Myth of the Eternal Warrior | In the hidden passage behind the final Shrine, requires backtracking after defeating the second guardian |
| The Age of Clans Begins | Myth of the Unbroken Spirit | On the altar at the very end of the post-credits area — accessible only after the ending sequence |