Nioh 3’s Hell Rising Story Expansion Launches Next Month

The first major expansion for Nioh 3 has a release date and trailer. Titled Hell Rising, the expansion takes players to a new time period and landmass while introducing new weapons, abilities, and more.

Hell Rising arrives on August 19 and sees players travel to 1651 Edo during the Keian Era to deal with the fallout of the death of Takechiyo, Nioh 3’s protagonist and the future shogun. Players team up with Yagyu Jubei, a one-eyed swordsman, and Rodrigo, a Spanish envoy, to solve new mysteries centering on the Spirit Stones. 

The new Keian Era map features new human and yokai enemies and a fresh Crucible. Players can take them on using the new hoko and shield weapons for both the Samurai and Ninja styles, allowing them to attack using the short spear hoko and defend with the shield, which can also be tossed at threats. 

Additionally, Hell Rising adds the new equipment category called the Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scroll. Defeating enemies sometimes causes them to drop a picture scroll as rare loot; equipping it requires winning an automatically generated battle tied to that scroll. These battles are replayable and allow players to change the scroll’s special effects while strengthening it too. 

Hell Rising also adds a new extreme difficulty unlocked on the third playthrough called the Enlighted One’s Journey. This setting makes it so certain enemies receive a random curse buff that makes them stronger but rewards players with divine-rarity loot upon defeat. You can also improve character builds with divine-rarity Grace set bonuses and other special effects.

Hell Rising will be available for all versions of Nioh 3 on August 19. It is the first of two story expansions planned. The second DLC, Bloody Insurrection, is coming at a later date. For more on Nioh 3, be sure to read our review.