- What to know
- Nioh 3 Ki Pulse: Earth details
- Location to unlock Ki Pulse: Earth skill in Nioh 3
- How to unlock it after obtaining the text
- What Ki Pulse: Earth does in combat
- How to trigger Ki Pulse: Earth correctly
- Why Ki Pulse: Earth is powerful mid-game
- Strategic tips for Ki Pulse: Earth skill in longer fights
- Ki Pulse skills in Nioh 3
What to know
- Ki Pulse: Earth is a Samurai passive unlocked via Secret Skill Text.
- The text is found near Driftwood Fortress in the Heian region.
- You must climb a ladder to a shed roof and open a chest to obtain it.
- A perfect Ki Pulse triggers a damaging ground shockwave.
In Nioh 3, Ki Pulse is the foundation of Samurai combat. Ki Pulse: Earth transforms that defensive stamina mechanic into an offensive area-control tool. Instead of merely restoring Ki, a perfectly timed pulse releases a shockwave from your character’s feet, damaging nearby enemies and creating breathing room.
This passive dramatically changes how aggressive Samurai builds function, especially in mid-game encounters where enemy density increases.
Nioh 3 Ki Pulse: Earth details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Skill Name | Ki Pulse: Earth |
| Skill Type | Samurai Passive |
| Region | Heian |
| Landmark | Driftwood Fortress area |
| Unlock Method | Secret Skill Text from chest |
| Skill Cost | 1 Samurai Point |
| Effect | Perfect Ki Pulse releases AoE shockwave |
Location to unlock Ki Pulse: Earth skill in Nioh 3
The Secret Skill Text is located in the Heian region, near Driftwood Fortress. From the fortress area, explore outward along the snowy terrain until you reach a small shed structure.
Near this shed, you’ll find a ladder leading to the roof. Climb the ladder and look for a chest positioned on top of the structure. Opening this chest grants the Secret Skill Text: Ki Pulse: Earth.
In some variations of the route, this area connects to an early snowy Spirit Vein detour off the main path. These side paths often hide advanced Samurai passives behind subtle environmental placement.
The item appears as a purple Secret Skill Text pickup.
How to unlock it after obtaining the text
Once you collect the Secret Skill Text, the skill is not automatically active.
Travel to any Shrine.
Select the option to learn skills from Secret Skill Texts.
Use the text to permanently unlock the skill in your Samurai tree.
Spend 1 Samurai Point to activate Ki Pulse: Earth.
Until you perform this step at a Shrine, the skill will not appear in your available Samurai passives.
What Ki Pulse: Earth does in combat
Under normal conditions, Ki Pulse restores stamina after attacks. With Ki Pulse: Earth equipped, a perfectly timed Ki Pulse also releases a shockwave centered on your character.
The shockwave:
- Deals area damage around you
- Slightly staggers weaker enemies
- Interrupts light pressure
- Creates space after extended combos
The key detail is that it only triggers on a perfect Ki Pulse, not a mistimed one.
This means the skill rewards rhythm and precise timing rather than spam.
Combat behavior comparison
| Situation | Standard Ki Pulse | With Ki Pulse: Earth |
|---|---|---|
| Surrounded by enemies | Ki restored only | Ki restored + AoE damage |
| After long combo | Vulnerable recovery | Shockwave creates space |
| Against humanoids | No chip damage | Constant minor pressure |
| Under Yokai pressure | Must disengage | Pulse can interrupt light aggression |
The difference becomes noticeable in multi-enemy encounters. Instead of backing away after every combo, you can pulse aggressively and maintain control of the fight.
How to trigger Ki Pulse: Earth correctly
To activate Ki Pulse: Earth:
Attack until your Ki drains partially.
Watch the white recovery bar appear.
Press the Ki Pulse input precisely when the white bar meets the red boundary.
If timed perfectly, the shockwave activates instantly.
If mistimed, you only recover Ki without the offensive effect.
Mastering this timing turns you into a constant source of AoE pressure, especially when paired with stance switching and Flux techniques.
Why Ki Pulse: Earth is powerful mid-game
Mid-game encounters in Heian often involve multiple humanoid enemies attacking simultaneously. Ki Pulse: Earth provides passive crowd control without consuming additional Ki beyond the pulse itself.
Because Samurai gameplay already revolves around frequent Ki Pulses, adding damage to each perfect pulse effectively increases your overall DPS without altering your combo structure.
It pairs exceptionally well with aggressive builds that constantly chain attacks and recover stamina in rhythm.
Strategic tips for Ki Pulse: Earth skill in longer fights
In extended duels, the repeated chip damage from shockwaves adds up. Even when the raw damage seems modest, the consistent area pressure disrupts enemy rhythm. Against lighter enemies, the brief stagger window can create openings for follow-up strikes.
Against heavier Yokai, the shockwave will not fully interrupt major attacks, but it still contributes to pressure buildup.
Over time, Ki Pulse: Earth shifts Ki management from being purely reactive into something proactive.
Ki Pulse skills in Nioh 3
In Nioh 3, Ki Pulse skills upgrade the core stamina-recovery mechanic into offensive and utility tools. Perfectly timed pulses restore Ki while triggering effects like shockwaves (Earth), movement recovery, or stance-switch bonuses through Flux. Some variants are unlocked via Secret Skill Texts found in Spirit Veins. Mastering Ki Pulse lets players stay aggressive, control space, and maintain relentless combat pressure.
To unlock Ki Pulse: Earth in Nioh 3, travel to the Driftwood Fortress area in Heian, locate the shed with a ladder leading to the roof, open the chest, and obtain the Secret Skill Text. After using it at a Shrine and spending 1 Samurai Point, the passive becomes active.
Once equipped, every perfect Ki Pulse becomes both recovery and offense. For Samurai players who value aggressive tempo and area control, Ki Pulse: Earth is one of the most impactful early-to-mid game passives you can obtain.
