How to Unlock the Blacksmith and Upgrade Gear in Nioh 3
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
A guide detailing how to unlock the blacksmith, crafting, and advanced soul matching systems in Nioh 3, based on reporting by Polygon.
Team Ninja is back with another punishing test of skill, and if you have been spending your opening hours in Nioh 3 wondering why your inventory is overflowing with useless gear, you are not alone. As detailed in a guide by Ford James over at Polygon, the game holds back one of its most essential systems until you push past the early hurdles. You can explore the Warring States region for hours before gaining access to the crafting NPC, meaning your initial options are largely limited to selling unwanted loot for pocket change.
To finally open up weapon and armor crafting, you need to complete the first crucible dungeon and defeat the boss at the end of the Hamamatsu Incident quest. Doing so unlocks the Eternal Rift, the game's central hub, where you can track down the Fox-masked Blacksmith to the south. Once you have made contact, you gain the ability to forge, remodel, and disassemble gear. Disassembling your loot is almost always the smarter play compared to selling it, as the raw crafting materials yield much better long-term value for your progression.
The progression does not stop there, as crucial features like Soul Matching and Soul Extraction will initially appear greyed out when you first visit the shop. To unlock these advanced upgrade paths, you need to initiate the A Fierce Flame side quest by talking to the blacksmith. Following these objectives leads you to Lake Sanaru and a helpful Scampuss that guides you to Kagutsuchi's Magatama. Bringing that item back activates Soul Extraction, letting you break down gear into rare soul cores to power up your favorite loadouts through Soul Matching.
Tags: Nioh 3, Team Ninja, Action RPG, Guides, Polygon
Original article: Polygon