Nioh 3’s first DLC Hell Rising sends players to a ruined Edo this August

by Paul McNally Last Updated July 28, 2026

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When is the Nioh 3 Hell Rising DLC release date? Hell Rising adds the hoko and shield Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls offer repeatable challenges A third playthrough will be significantly harder

Nioh 3 is heading back to 1651 for its first major expansion, with Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja confirming that the Hell Rising DLC will launch on August 19, 2026.

Available on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, Hell Rising transports players to Japan’s Keian era and introduces a new open-field region, additional weapons, tougher difficulty options and further ways to customise character builds.

A new trailer released alongside the announcement offers an early look at the expansion’s ruined version of Edo, its new enemies and the unusual hoko and shield weapon combination.

When is the Nioh 3 Hell Rising DLC release date?

The Nioh 3 Hell Rising DLC will be released on August 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and PC.

Hell Rising is the first downloadable expansion released for Team Ninja’s dark samurai action RPG and will add a new chapter to the game’s time-spanning story.

The expansion takes place in Edo during 1651, shortly after the death of the future shogun Takechiyo plunges the castle town into chaos.

Players will work alongside one-eyed swordsman Yagyu Jubei and Spanish envoy Rodrigo as they investigate another mystery involving the powerful Spirit Stones and attempt to restore order.

The Keian era will be represented by a new open-field map featuring a wasteland devastated by the gales of the Crucible. Yokai and human rebels roam the region alongside mysterious alchemists who have arrived from foreign lands.

Hell Rising adds the hoko and shield

One of the DLC’s biggest additions is the hoko and shield, a new weapon pairing that can be used across both the Samurai and Ninja Styles.

The hoko is a short spear designed to be used alongside the shield, allowing players to combine defensive blocks with fast thrusting attacks. More unusual techniques will also be available, including the ability to throw the shield directly at enemies.

Hell Rising will introduce further Martial Arts, Ninjutsu abilities, Guardian Spirits and Soul Cores, giving players more options when developing builds or tackling the expansion’s new opponents.

Team Ninja has not yet revealed every ability included in the DLC, although the trailer provides a glimpse at several of the new combat possibilities.

Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls offer repeatable challenges

The expansion also introduces the Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scroll, an entirely new equipment category.

Enemies will occasionally drop Picture Scrolls as rare loot, but players cannot immediately equip them. Each scroll is connected to an automatically generated battle that must first be completed.

After winning the associated encounter, the scroll can be equipped to receive its special effects. Players can also replay these battles to strengthen the scroll and randomly alter one of its bonuses.

The system should provide an additional endgame activity for players interested in repeatedly refining equipment and optimising particular character builds.

A third playthrough will be significantly harder

Players looking for another difficulty spike can attempt Enlightened One’s Journey, a new difficulty setting intended for a third playthrough.

During Enlightened One’s Journey, certain enemies can randomly receive a Curse buff that makes them considerably stronger. Defeating these enhanced opponents can reward players with divine-rarity equipment.

Hell Rising will also introduce divine-rarity Grace set bonuses and additional powerful special effects, giving experienced players more reasons to continue improving their builds.

Nioh 3 is available now on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. The game supports Japanese and English voice acting alongside English, French, Italian, German and Spanish text.

Koei Tecmo is currently offering discounts on the game’s Digital Deluxe and Standard editions for a limited time, although an end date for the promotion was not included in the announcement.

About the Author

Paul McNally has been a prominent games journalist since the 1990s, spending over a decade editing top-selling magazines and websites.

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