Ethan Crossfield 
If you’re deciding whether to jump back into Nioh 3 soon, Hell’s Rising is the reason to do it—arriving August 19 with a new Keian Era adventure, fresh enemies, additional weapons and equipment, and an extreme difficulty mode that adds curse-powered combat and divine-rarity rewards.
What’s new in Hell’s Rising (and where it sends you)
Hell’s Rising is Nioh 3’s first major story expansion. It launches on August 19 and transports players to 1651 Edo during the Keian Era. The premise centers on the aftermath of Takechiyo’s death—Nioh 3’s protagonist and the future shogun—and the resulting mysteries tied to the Spirit Stones.
You won’t be traveling alone. The expansion has players teaming up with Yagyu Jubei, a one-eyed swordsman, and Rodrigo, a Spanish envoy, as the new story unfolds.
On the gameplay side, Hell’s Rising introduces a new Keian Era map featuring both new human and yokai enemies. It also brings a fresh Crucible for players to engage with as part of the expansion’s challenge and progression.
New combat tools: weapons, abilities, and a new equipment system
To tackle the expansion’s new threats, Hell’s Rising adds new ways to fight through additional weapons and abilities. A key addition is the hoko and shield setup, usable for both Samurai and Ninja styles. Players can attack with the short spear hoko, defend with the shield, and even toss the shield at enemies.
Hell’s Rising also introduces a new equipment category: the Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scroll. Instead of being straightforward loot you equip immediately, these scrolls function like rare drops that require you to win an automatically generated battle tied to that specific scroll. Once acquired and cleared, players can replay those battles, adjust the scroll’s special effects, and strengthen the scroll over time.
Difficulty spike and long-term progression: Enlighted One’s Journey and more
For players who keep pushing for tougher encounters, Hell’s Rising adds a new extreme difficulty mode called Enlighted One’s Journey. It’s unlocked on the third playthrough.
In this setting, certain enemies gain a random curse buff that makes them stronger, but the mode also rewards players with divine-rarity loot for defeating them. Beyond the immediate rewards, the expansion also expands build options with divine-rarity Grace set bonuses and other special effects, giving endgame-focused players more reasons to refine their setups.
Hell’s Rising will be available for all versions of Nioh 3 on August 19. It’s the first of two planned story expansions, with the second DLC—Bloody Insurrection—set to arrive later.
What players should know
- Hell’s Rising releases August 19 and is Nioh 3’s first story expansion.
- The story takes place in 1651 Edo during the Keian Era, after Takechiyo’s death.
- Expect new human and yokai enemies, plus a new Crucible.
- A new hoko-and-shield weapon approach is available for both Samurai and Ninja styles, including shield tossing.
- A new equipment category, Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scroll, requires winning an auto-generated battle tied to each scroll.
- Enlighted One’s Journey is an extreme difficulty unlocked on the third playthrough, featuring random curse buffs and divine-rarity loot.
Expert View
Hell’s Rising looks designed for players who already like Nioh 3’s loop of mastery: new enemy variety, a weapon approach that changes how you pressure and defend, and progression systems that reward experimentation (especially with the picture scroll battles). If you’re returning specifically for a tougher challenge, the Enlighted One’s Journey mode is the clearest hook—but even without it, the expansion’s new setting and Spirit Stones mysteries give the DLC a solid narrative reason to revisit.
