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Nioh 3 Hell Rising DLC Takes Players to the Keian Era
KOEI TECMO Europe and Team Ninja have announced that Nioh 3’s first DLC, Hell Rising, will launch on August 19 for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam.
The expansion sends players to Edo in 1651 during the Keian era, where the castle town has fallen into chaos following the death of the future shogun, Takechiyo. With the help of the one-eyed swordsman Yagyu Jubei and Spanish envoy Rodrigo, players will investigate new mysteries tied to the Spirit Stones while facing yokai, human rebels, and foreign alchemists.
Edo Becomes a Hellish Open-Field Map
The new Keian-era map is described as a hellish wasteland shaped by the gales of the Crucible. That means players can expect another open-field space with the same tension that defined the base game, where exploration, enemy placement, and sudden high-risk encounters all feed into the challenge.
The DLC’s premise also pushes Takechiyo further through time, continuing Nioh 3’s broader structure of moving across different eras and regions. The original game already covered locations such as Edo Castle, Totomi during the Warring States era, Kyoto in the Heian era, and the Bakumatsu era. Hell Rising now adds another fractured version of Edo to that timeline.
Hoko and Shield Adds New Combat Options
The DLC will also introduce the Hoko and Shield as new weapons for both Samurai and Ninja Styles. The weapon set combines short spear attacks with shield-based defence, giving players a mix of offence and protection. It also includes more tactical moves, such as throwing the shield at enemies, which should give both styles new ways to control space during combat.
That addition matters because Nioh 3 is built around switching between Samurai and Ninja approaches. A weapon that can support both defensive play and aggressive pressure could open up fresh build options, especially for players already deep into endgame progression.
Picture Scrolls and New Difficulty Raise the Challenge
For players looking for more punishing encounters, Hell Rising adds Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls. These are rare equipment items tied to automatically generated battles. To equip a scroll, players must first clear the associated challenge. Battles can then be replayed to strengthen the scroll, alter its effects, and create tougher self-imposed challenges.
The DLC also introduces Enlightened One’s Journey, a new difficulty setting for players attempting a third playthrough. In this mode, certain enemies can receive a Curse buff that makes them more dangerous, but defeating them can reward players with divine-rarity items.
New divine-rarity Grace set bonuses, stronger special effects, Guardian Spirits, Martial Arts, Ninjutsu, Onmyo Magic, and Soul Cores will also be added.
Nioh 3 Discounts Are Running for a Limited Time
To mark the DLC reveal, limited-time discounts are also available for Nioh 3. The PlayStation Store sale runs until August 12, while the Steam sale runs until August 10. The base game also has a free demo on PS5 and PC, supporting solo play and online multiplayer for up to 3 players, with save data carrying over to the full game.
Nioh 3 launched in February, and Hell Rising now gives experienced players a strong reason to return. Between the Keian-era map, new weapons, harsher difficulty, and expanded endgame systems, Team Ninja is clearly building the first DLC around players who want more than a simple story add-on.
