Why Do Shadows on the Capital? 🎯
Side quests in Nioh 3 often come from spirits with unfinished business. These characters have requests for the player and cannot leave until the task is completed.
What you gain:
✓ Ninja’s Locks (key item)
✓ Divination Board (rare material)
✓ Access to Sudama exchange (optional)
✓ Experience and Amrita
✓ Story context for the region
💡 Pro tip: Exploration level marks almost all side quests on the map, making tracking easy. Look for spirit icons in various areas.
How to Start the Quest 📍
Location: Awawa no Tsuji (southeastern exit)
Step by step:
- Explore Awawa no Tsuji
- Head toward the southeastern exit
- Find the mage spirit
- Speak with him to start quest
Spirit dialogue:
- Needs help in place of the mages
- Something is happening in the area
- Asks for your assistance
You might be wondering: Why isn’t there a marker on the map immediately after accepting? The game gives you freedom in exploration – the marker appears when you approach the target area.
Phase 1: Dark Realm and Enemy Base ⚫
Traveling to the Location
Fast travel point: Tacchi Gate Shrine
Navigation:
- Use fast travel to Tacchi Gate Shrine
- Run north
- Follow the same path as when clearing Lesser Crucible
- You’ll approach an area full of yokai creatures
| Step | Direction | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast travel | Tacchi Gate Shrine |
| 2 | North | Along known path |
| 3 | Target | Enemy base in Dark Realm |
Enemy Base in Dark Realm 👹
Environment: Dark Realm
Enemy count: 6 total
Type: Yokai creatures
What is Dark Realm:
- Area covered in supernatural darkness
- Reduced Ki regeneration
- Increased enemy aggression
- Cannot be removed until all are defeated
Clearing strategy:
✓ Manage Ki carefully – regeneration is slower
✓ One enemy at a time – don’t create chaos
✓ Use Yokai abilities – they don’t consume Ki
✓ Pulse between fights – every bit of Ki helps
❌ Common mistake: Trying to fight all six at once. In Dark Realm, this is suicide – divide and conquer.
After defeating all enemies:
- Dark Realm disperses
- Mage spirit appears
- Tells you to visit Kamo Village
Phase 2: Optional Frozen Ghost Town Shrine 🏔️
Before leaving for Kamo Village, you have an optional opportunity to activate a shrine and find Sudama.
Why Do This?
✓ Unlocks fast travel
✓ Access to Sudama exchange
✓ Trade for smithing texts
✓ Useful for future exploration
How to Get There
Starting point: Funaokayama
Detailed navigation:
- Face the shrine on the hill
- Go to the area on the left
- Drop down into the narrow gap
- At the end find a corpse and wooden boxes
- Break the boxes
- Crouch through the opening to the other side
- Turn right to reach the shrine
Sudama exchange:
| What You Need | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Yokai Teardrops | Smithing Texts |
| Various items | Rare materials |
⚠️ Warning: For Sudama exchange you need Yokai Teardrops. Without them, you cannot trade for smithing texts.
💡 Pro tip: The Sudama at Frozen Ghost Town has rare smithing texts. If you’re building a specific build, this exchange can be very valuable.
Phase 3: Kamo Village and Temple ⛩️
Path to Temple
From enemy base:
- Run west from enemy base
- Reach the shrine
- From shrine go north
- Climb boxes to jump to the other side
- Follow path east
- Climb up to the temple
Final Temple Battle 🗡️
Enemies:
- Several mages (3-4 total)
- One-Eyed Oni (mini-boss)
Battle composition:
| Enemy Type | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Mages | Medium | High |
| One-Eyed Oni | High | Medium |
Winning strategy:
Phase 1: Eliminate mages
- Focus mages first – most dangerous at range
- Quick fights – don’t give time for casting
- Interrupt their spells – use quick attacks
- Use temple environment for cover
Phase 2: One-Eyed Oni
- After mages die focus on Oni
- Dodging is key – has strong attacks
- Punish openings after his heavy attacks
- Ki management – don’t exhaust yourself
💡 Pro tip: Mages are first priority because their spells can hit you even during the Oni fight. Clear them quickly for an easier final phase.
Specific tips:
✓ Use temple pillars to block spells
✓ Yokai abilities on mages for quick elimination
✓ Medium distance against Oni
✓ Wait for grab attacks – biggest opening
Rewards After Completion 🎁
After defeating all enemies in the temple:
Guaranteed rewards:
✓ Ninja’s Locks (key item)
✓ Divination Board (rare material)
✓ Experience points
✓ Amrita
Ninja’s Locks
What it is:
- Special key item
- Used for unlocking advanced content
- Part of ninja build progression
Divination Board
Usage:
- Rare crafting material
- Required for specific recipes
- Valuable for trading
FAQ
Q: What level should I be for this quest?
A: I recommend level 66+. Awawa no Tsuji is a mid-Heian region and the Dark Realm enemy base requires decent level.
Q: Do I need to find Frozen Ghost Town Shrine?
A: No, it’s optional. You can go straight to Kamo Village, but you’ll miss the Sudama exchange.
Q: How do I get Yokai Teardrops for Sudama?
A: They drop from yokai enemies throughout Heian. Stronger yokai have higher drop rates.
Q: Is the temple fight hard?
A: Medium to hard. The combination of mages and One-Eyed Oni can be challenging if you’re unprepared.
Q: Can I summon help?
A: Yes, use summoning items before entering the temple. Highly recommended for first attempt.
Q: What if I die during the quest?
A: You respawn at the nearest shrine. Enemy base clearing progress may reset, so you’ll need to start again.
Q: Are there any valuable items in the temple area?
A: Yes, explore thoroughly before the boss fight. Several chests and collectibles are hidden around the temple.
