Spirit Vein Nioh 3: How to Unlock All Hidden Paths & Areas

In Nioh 3, the traditional invisible walls are replaced by "Spirit Veins"—shimmering golden markers that signify impassable obstacles such as cliffs, massive gaps, or magically sealed walls. Understanding this Metroidvania-style exploration system is key to achieving 100% completion.

What are Spirit Veins?

Spirit Veins are mechanical gates that require a "Compatible Guardian Spirit" to navigate. They appear as glowing golden barriers throughout the open-field map, blocking access to secret areas, shortcuts, and valuable loot.

Guardian Spirit Abilities

Each Guardian Spirit grants unique traversal abilities:

• Enko (Tiger) - Wall Run ability, obtained after defeating Jakotsu-baba
• Raiju (Lightning Beast) - Gap crossing ability for large chasms
• Other spirits - Boulder shattering, water walking, and more

Unlocking Blocked Paths

Early players in the Maisaka region will encounter Spirit Veins that remain locked until they defeat Jakotsu-baba and acquire the tiger spirit, Enko, which grants the "Wall Run" ability.

This system incentivizes backtracking and regional progression. As players raise their "Exploration Level" by completing activities, these veins are highlighted on the map, often leading to:

• Secret caches of high-quality loot
• Shortcuts between major zones
• Hidden Kodama locations
• Optional boss encounters

Exploration Tips

Understanding that specific spirits unlock specific environmental interactions is crucial for players aiming to achieve 100% exploration in the "Dark Sengoku" world. Mark Spirit Vein locations on your map and return once you've obtained the required Guardian Spirit.