What to know
- Spirit Veins are traversal mechanics, not combat features
- They unlock through main story progression, not side content
- Each Spirit Vein requires a specific Guardian Spirit
- Previously locked Spirit Veins can be revisited and activated later
Exploration in Nioh 3 goes far beyond fighting enemies and clearing missions. One of the game’s biggest world-design systems is the Spirit Vein traversal network, which allows you to cross gaps, scale walls, and reach areas that are otherwise completely inaccessible. If you’ve ever seen glowing golden paths you couldn’t use, that’s not a bug — it means you haven’t unlocked the right conditions yet.
This guide explains how to unlock all Spirit Veins, what blocks them, and how Guardian Spirits tie directly into their functionality.
What Spirit Veins are and how they work
Spirit Veins are glowing golden traversal nodes embedded into the environment. They are designed to replace traditional ladders or grappling hooks with a supernatural movement system tied directly to Guardian Spirits. Instead of unlocking them with items, keys, or skills, Spirit Veins are activated through spiritual alignment.
When viewed on the world map, Spirit Veins appear as hexagonal icons, and their state tells you everything you need to know:
| Map icon state | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Locked icon | You do not have the required Guardian Spirit |
| Starred icon | You can use this Spirit Vein |
| No icon visible | Spirit Veins not yet unlocked in the story |
This system ensures that exploration expands naturally as you progress, rather than overwhelming you early.
When Spirit Veins first unlock in the story
Spirit Veins are not available at the start of the game. Even if you see them early, they cannot be used until you hit a specific story milestone.
The system unlocks after you defeat Jakotsu-baba and complete the first Crucible mission. This is a mandatory early-game boss encounter and acts as the game’s introduction to advanced traversal.
Once this mission is completed, several major changes happen at once:
- Spirit Veins become visible and interactable
- You receive Enko, your first traversal-capable Guardian Spirit
- The map begins marking Spirit Veins as locked or usable
From this point onward, Spirit Veins are a permanent part of exploration.
Why Guardian Spirits control Spirit Veins
Every Spirit Vein in Nioh 3 is linked to a specific Guardian Spirit ability. This means Spirit Veins are not universal shortcuts — they are tailored traversal challenges that test whether you’ve unlocked the correct spiritual power.
For example, Enko enables wall-running style Spirit Veins that let you traverse vertical or angled surfaces. Later in the game, Spirit Veins may require entirely different movement properties, such as longer air control or heavier impact traversal.
This design serves two purposes. First, it encourages revisiting earlier areas, and second, it prevents sequence-breaking by locking movement options behind story progression.
Guardian Spirits tied to Spirit Veins
Below is a quick-reference table showing confirmed Guardian Spirit requirements tied to early Spirit Veins:
| Guardian Spirit | Spirit Vein function | Where it’s required |
|---|---|---|
| Enko | Wall-running traversal | Early regions |
| Kurama Tengu | Extended aerial traversal | Tenryu River |
| Kongojishi | Heavy-force traversal | Tenryu River |
As you unlock additional Guardian Spirits through the main campaign, more Spirit Veins automatically become usable without needing to re-unlock them manually.
How to activate a Spirit Vein
Step 1
Approach the glowing golden Spirit Vein aura in the environment. You must be within close range for the prompt to appear.
Step 2
Ensure the correct Guardian Spirit is currently active. If the wrong spirit is equipped, the Spirit Vein will remain locked even if you’ve unlocked the correct one previously.
Step 3
Hold the interact button to activate the Spirit Vein. Your character will immediately perform the associated traversal action, such as wall-running or gap-crossing.
This interaction is instant and does not consume resources, making Spirit Veins safe and repeatable traversal tools.
Revisiting unlocked Spirit Veins
One of the most important things to understand is that you are expected to return to earlier Spirit Veins. Many areas in Nioh 3 intentionally present traversal paths before you can use them.
Once the required Guardian Spirit is unlocked:
- The map icon changes from locked to starred
- The Spirit Vein becomes fully usable
- No additional quest or trigger is required
This makes backtracking efficient and rewarding, especially for players aiming for full map completion.
Why unlocking all Spirit Veins early is a good strat
Unlocking every Spirit Vein in Nioh 3 is entirely tied to story progression and Guardian Spirit acquisition. Once the system is introduced through Jakotsu-baba and Enko, the rest unfolds naturally as long as you continue the main campaign and revisit older areas. If a Spirit Vein is locked, it’s not a puzzle you’ve failed — it’s simply a reminder that your journey isn’t finished yet.
Spirit Veins often lead to:
- Hidden paths and optional combat encounters
- Rare loot and upgrade materials
- Alternate routes through dangerous areas
Skipping Spirit Veins can leave large sections of the world unexplored, even if you’ve completed all missions.
