What to know
- A Drop of Hope is a short side quest with a clear start–finish loop
- You must interact with a spectre near Prospect Hill to begin
- The quest involves retrieving medicine and resolving a Yokai encounter
- Completion rewards valuable Ninja skill points
Side quests in Nioh 3 often look simple on the surface but can waste time if you miss a trigger or take the long route. A Drop of Hope is one of those quests. When done efficiently, it’s fast, combat-light, and rewarding—especially if you’re investing into Ninja skills early.
This guide walks you through the fastest and cleanest way to complete the quest without unnecessary detours.
Nioh 3 A Drop of Hope details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Quest name | A Drop of Hope |
| Starting area | Near Hamamatsu Shrine |
| Key locations | Prospect Hill, bandit camp, Yokai shack |
| Main objective | Retrieve medicine and resolve the wife’s fate |
| Mandatory boss | One large Yokai |
| Reward | Ninja skill points |
Location of A Drop of Hope quest
Begin by fast traveling to the Hamamatsu Shrine. From there, head toward Prospect Hill. In a clearing along this route, you’ll find a spectre standing alone.
At first, the spectre may appear unresponsive. This is intentional.
To activate the interaction properly, lure a nearby enemy into the clearing and defeat it close to the spectre. Once this condition is met, the spectre becomes interactable and begins the quest dialogue.
Speaking with the spectre and accepting the task
After the trigger, speak to the spectre and exhaust all dialogue. He will explain his situation and ask you to find medicine. This conversation is what officially starts the quest—leaving before finishing the dialogue will prevent progression.
Once complete, your next destination is very close.
Finding the medicine at the bandit camp
From the spectre’s location, move toward a nearby bandit camp. This area contains multiple enemies, including several archers, who can quickly overwhelm you if ignored.
Clear the camp methodically, prioritizing archers first to reduce incoming pressure. After all enemies are defeated, search the ground carefully. You’ll find a body lying on the ground, which contains the medicine quest item.
Pick it up to advance the quest.
The wife’s fate and the Yokai encounter
After returning to the spectre, the quest takes a darker turn. He will now ask you to find and “kill” his wife. This does not involve a human enemy.
Continue further down the map until you encounter a large Yokai blocking the path. Defeating this Yokai is mandatory. While it looks intimidating, it functions like a standard elite enemy rather than a full boss, making the fight manageable with cautious Ki usage.
Once the Yokai is defeated, look nearby for a small shack. Enter it to discover the wife’s remains, which resolves this portion of the quest.
Completing A Drop of Hope
Return to the spectre one final time and speak with him. This closes the quest and rewards you with Ninja skill points, making it especially valuable if you’re building toward Ninja tools, mobility, or stealth-based abilities.
Do not leave the area before this final conversation, or the quest will remain incomplete.
Why this quest is worth doing early
A Drop of Hope is a compact, story-driven quest that rewards careful attention rather than brute force. By activating the spectre correctly, clearing the nearby bandit camp, and resolving the Yokai encounter efficiently, you can secure Ninja skill points with very little downtime.
A Drop of Hope stands out because it:
- Requires minimal travel
- Has clearly defined objectives
- Rewards Ninja skill points, which are harder to come by early
Once you know the trigger conditions and item locations, the entire quest can be completed very quickly, making it an efficient stop during exploration.
