Nioh 3 Soul Core Guide: Mastering Yin and Yang
If you played Nioh 2, you probably think you know how Soul Cores work, but Team Ninja decided to throw that knowledge in the trash and build a confusing new system just to mess with us.
In the previous games, you attuned a core and turned into a demon for two seconds. Simple. In Nioh 3, they have overcomplicated it with the Onmyo Box and a Yin/Yang positioning system. It is a headache at first glance, but once you understand it, it is actually infinitely more flexible.
If you are staring at a menu full of greyed-out text or wondering why you can't summon that cool weasel demon you just killed, here is how the new magic system actually functions.
The Core Mechanic: Yin vs. Yang
This is the single most important change. When you go to a Shrine to attune a Soul Core, you now have to choose a "Position." This isn't just flavor text, it completely changes what the core does.
The Yang Position (The Summon) This is the classic style. If you slot a core in Yang, it acts as a Summon.
Usage: You press the button, the Yokai appears, does a big attack, and vanishes.
Cost: Uses Anima (the purple bar).
Best For: Burst damage, breaking enemy Ki, or applying status effects instantly.
The Yin Position (The Spell) This is the new stuff. If you slot a core in Yin, it turns the core into a Consumable Item (Onmyo Magic).
Usage: It adds a set number of items to your shortcut bar (e.g., "x4 Lightning Shots").
Cost: None. It refills when you touch a Shrine.
Best For: Buffs, debuffs, and free ranged damage without spending Anima.
The Strategy: You want a mix. Use Yang for your heavy hitter (like Ippon-Datara) to stun bosses. Use Yin for utility (like Sudama) to get free elemental spells so you don't have to waste skill points in the magic tree.
Why Are My Skills Greyed Out?
You equipped a shiny new boss core, but all the special effects are dark grey and not working.
This is the Stat Threshold system.
Every Soul Core has requirements listed at the bottom, usually Magic or Intellect. If you do not meet the stat requirement, you get the attack, but you lose all the passive bonuses (like "+10% Yokai Ability Damage").
Yang Cores usually scale their requirements with Magic.
Yin Cores usually require Intellect or Skill to unlock their full duration/potency.
This is why I told you in the Stats Guide not to dump all your points into just Strength. You need a baseline of Magic/Intellect just to turn your gear on.
The Best Early Game Soul Cores
There are hundreds of cores, but most of them are trash. In the early Warring States period, there are three you need to hunt down immediately.
1. Ippon-Datara (The Hammer)
Where: Found near the second shrine in the "Crucible Manifested" mission.
Why: It is the king of stun. The hammer smash flattens enemies and virtually guarantees a "Winded" state on humans. Put this in Yang.
2. Kamaitachi (The Weasel)
Where: The open-world boss in the Maisaka area (look for the whirlwind).
Why: It is an AOE shredder. It spins around dealing Wind damage. If you put it in Yin, it gives you speed buffs. If you put it in Yang, it clears crowds.
3. Sudama (The Little Purple Guy)
Where: Trade with Sudamas using Teardrops (from Hot Springs) until they drop their own core.
Why: This is the secret weapon for magic users. Slotting this in Yin gives you free Thunderstorm Shot Talismans. These summon lightning bolts that deal massive damage. It is practically a cheat code for the first region.
Guardian Spirits & The Living Artifact
Your Soul Cores live inside your Guardian Spirit.
In Nioh 3, the "Super Mode" is called the Living Artifact. Instead of just turning into a demon, you activate a powered-up state where your weapon becomes a glowing beacon of pain.
Spirit Force: This is the yellow bar. You charge it by hitting enemies.
Guardian Skills: You now have 1 (later 2) skills attached to the Spirit. These are essentially "Ultimate" versions of Yokai abilities.
Pro Tip: Do not hoard your Spirit Force. It charges surprisingly fast. If you are in a bad spot, pop a Guardian Skill to cancel your stagger animation and get breathing room.
Quick Reference: Yin vs. Yang Effects
To help you decide where to slot your new toys, here is a breakdown of how the popular early cores change based on position.
Upgrading Your Cores
Don't ignore the Resting Rites menu at the Shrine.
You will pick up duplicates of the same core constantly. Use Resting Rites to mash them together (Soul Fusion) to increase the rank of your main core. A Rank 9 Ippon-Datara hits way harder than a Rank 1 version.
If you have trash cores you don't need, sacrifice them to get Shiftling Skills, which are passive upgrades for the magic system itself.
That is the magic system in a nutshell. Stop trying to melee everything and let the spirits do the heavy lifting for you.
