- What to know
- List of 7 must-unlock skills in Nioh 3
- #1 Aerial Mastery improves Ki control mid-combat
- #2 Defense Mastery II strengthens survivability instantly
- #3 Dodging reduces stamina strain for ninja builds
- #4 Purify Yokai Realm: Spirit restores Ki efficiently
- #5 Quelling Requiem improves farming efficiency
- #6 Spiritualism increases Guardian Spirit uptime
- #7 Defense Mastery I stabilizes early progression
- Rewards and progression benefits
- Early skill priority strategy for smooth progression
What to know
- All seven skills are available in the first main map of Nioh 3.
- They significantly improve Ki management, defense, and Spirit Force gain.
- Both Samurai and Ninja builds benefit equally from these unlocks.
- Most are tied to Shrines, side missions, or mini-boss encounters.
Right from the opening region of Nioh 3, you can unlock a set of skills that dramatically smooth out combat difficulty. Whether you lean toward precise samurai counters or agile ninja play, these passives reduce Ki strain, increase survivability, and improve farming efficiency. If you are struggling with stamina management or Yokai Realm pressure, these upgrades change the experience fast.
List of 7 must-unlock skills in Nioh 3
| Skill Name | Skill Tree | Type | Effect | Best For | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Mastery | Ninja | Passive | -10% Ki consumption mid-air | Combo-heavy builds | Temple Ruins Cemetery Shrine |
| Defense Mastery II | Samurai | Passive | +14 Defense | All builds | Omomijo Junction Shrine |
| Dodging | Ninja | Passive | -10% Ki consumption when dodging | Ninja mobility builds | Haunting Cave Rimstone Pool |
| Purify Yokai Realm: Spirit | Samurai | Passive | +3 Spirit Force on perfect Ki Pulse in Yokai Realm | Samurai sustain builds | Futamata Castle area |
| Quelling Requiem | Common | Passive | +10% Soul Core drop rate | Farming builds | Futamata Castle Storehouse |
| Spiritualism | Common | Passive | +5 Max Spirit Force | Guardian Spirit users | Juji Fortress East |
| Defense Mastery I | Samurai | Passive | +6 Defense | Early survivability | Maisaka Post Shrine |
#1 Aerial Mastery improves Ki control mid-combat
Aerial Mastery reduces Ki consumption by 10% while you are airborne. If you frequently launch enemies or follow up with mid-air strikes, this passive lets you extend combos without exhausting your stamina bar. It is especially useful when chaining high stance attacks or maintaining pressure after launching Yokai.
How to unlock Aerial Mastery skill in Nioh 3
- Travel to the Temple Ruins Cemetery Shrine in the first region.
- Locate and destroy the nearby Crucible Spike.
- Interact with the Shrine to access the skill unlock.
- Spend the required skill points in the Ninja tree to activate Aerial Mastery.
Once equipped, you will notice smoother Ki flow during aerial strings, especially in prolonged engagements.
#2 Defense Mastery II strengthens survivability instantly
Defense Mastery II grants +14 Defense, which is a significant boost early on. In Nioh 3’s early-to-mid game scaling, flat defense increases drastically reduce chip damage and allow you to survive mistakes that would otherwise force a retreat.
How to unlock Defense Mastery II skill in Nioh 3
- Reach the Omomijo Junction Shrine.
- Access the Samurai skill tree.
- Unlock Defense Mastery I if required as a prerequisite.
- Invest points into Defense Mastery II.
This skill alone can noticeably reduce incoming damage from both human and Yokai enemies.
#3 Dodging reduces stamina strain for ninja builds
Dodging reduces Ki consumption by 10% whenever you evade. Since ninja builds rely heavily on mobility and quick repositioning, this passive lets you dodge more often without entering Ki exhaustion.
How to unlock Dodging skill in Nioh 3
- Head to the Haunting Cave Rimstone Pool Shrine.
- Search for a nearby chest in the cave area.
- Open the chest to obtain the skill unlock.
- Activate it in the Ninja skill tree.
If you depend on quickstep timing and backflips, this skill makes stamina management far more forgiving.
#4 Purify Yokai Realm: Spirit restores Ki efficiently
This skill increases Spirit Force by 3 when you perform a perfectly timed Ki Pulse inside a Yokai Realm. It also restores the maximum possible Ki. In areas covered by Yokai corruption, this effectively turns a dangerous mechanic into a resource engine.
How to unlock Purify Yokai Realm: Spirit skill in Nioh 3
- Travel to the house near Futamata Castle close to Koguchi Junction Shrine.
- Defeat your mirror character encounter.
- Return to the Shrine menu.
- Unlock the skill in the Samurai tree.
If you are comfortable with precise Ki Pulse timing, this skill drastically improves endurance in corrupted zones.
#5 Quelling Requiem improves farming efficiency
Quelling Requiem increases Soul Core drop rates by 10%. If you are farming for specific Yokai abilities or building out Guardian Spirit synergies, this passive saves significant grind time.
How to unlock Quelling Requiem skill in Nioh 3
- Visit Futamata Castle Storehouse Shrine.
- Defeat mini-boss Anayama Nobutada in the temple area.
- Locate the chest inside the temple.
- Unlock the skill from the Common Skills tree.
For players focused on progression and loot optimization, this is one of the strongest utility passives early on.
#6 Spiritualism increases Guardian Spirit uptime
Spiritualism increases maximum Spirit Force by 5. That means more frequent Guardian Spirit skill usage and improved burst potential in boss fights.
How to unlock Spiritualism skill in Nioh 3
- Reach Juji Fortress East Shrine.
- Destroy the Crucible Spike in the area.
- Return to the Shrine interface.
- Unlock Spiritualism in the Common Skills section.
This upgrade pairs especially well with Spirit-focused samurai setups.
#7 Defense Mastery I stabilizes early progression
Defense Mastery I grants +6 Defense. While smaller than its second tier, it is accessible earlier and stacks directly with Defense Mastery II.
How to unlock Defense Mastery I skill in Nioh 3
- Speak to Honda Tadakatsu near Maisaka Post Shrine.
- Complete the side mission he provides.
- Access the Samurai skill tree.
- Unlock Defense Mastery I.
Stacked together, both Defense Mastery skills provide +20 total Defense, which is substantial in early regions.
Rewards and progression benefits
| Skill | Primary Benefit | Long-Term Value |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial Mastery | Better combo sustainability | Strong in advanced builds |
| Defense Mastery II | Major damage reduction | Scales well into mid-game |
| Dodging | Improved stamina efficiency | Core for agile builds |
| Purify Yokai Realm: Spirit | Ki and Spirit recovery | Excellent in corrupted zones |
| Quelling Requiem | Faster Soul Core farming | Speeds up build crafting |
| Spiritualism | Higher Spirit Force cap | More Guardian Spirit use |
| Defense Mastery I | Early survivability boost | Foundation for tank setups |
Early skill priority strategy for smooth progression
When combined, these passives reduce Ki drain, increase defense by +20, boost Spirit Force gain, and improve loot drops. Instead of constantly managing exhaustion and survivability, you gain breathing room in fights. That freedom lets you experiment with stance switching, aggressive playstyles, and Yokai ability chaining without being punished as harshly.
These seven skills dramatically smooth out the early difficulty curve in Nioh 3. By improving Ki management, defense, Spirit Force capacity, and farming efficiency, they turn demanding encounters into manageable battles. If you unlock them early, you will feel the difference immediately.
If you want the biggest immediate impact, prioritize Defense Mastery I and II first. Next, secure Dodging or Aerial Mastery depending on your build preference. Then move into Spiritualism and Purify Yokai Realm: Spirit for resource optimization. Finally, pick up Quelling Requiem once you begin farming Soul Cores intentionally.
