A first look just dropped for the new Nioh 3 DLC (Hell Rising). This teaser, alongside the official Team Ninja website, gave us some new information on what to expect in the upcoming DLC. Firstly, the Hell Rising DLC is scheduled to release on August 19, 2026. There is a lot of new content being packed into this game, which includes a new game mode, new weapons and equipment, and even a new stage.
All this and more will be detailed below, as I explain all the new content you can expect from the new Nioh 3 DLC.
New Weapons: Hoko & Shield and Ninja Hoko & Shield
If you wanted a mix between offense and defense, then this weapon set is for you. Having a shield was not really an option in the base game till now. So, this new defensive option will surely open up more play styles that will suit some players; and hopefully get people playing the game in the Samurai mode. The hoko (an ancient type of Japanese polearm) will let you attack while defending with your shield.
However, you are not just limited to this traditional fighting style. Instead, you will also have the option to throw your shield at your enemies, akin to Captain America. Finally, the trailer also showed a new revolver being used, but I did not see any further information on this. So, fans of Bloodborne will surely feel like reuniting with an old friend with the upcoming DLC.
New Stage: Keian Era (Edo, 1651)
The base Nioh 3 had you explore five different eras, each centered around key moments and events in actual Japanese history. The DLC continues that, taking you to another period, the Keian Era (between 1648 and 1652), which actually involved a coup attempt against the Tokugawa shogunate. While I will be the first to admit that the story has not been the main draw for the Nioh series, I did enjoy how Team Ninja took the basic lore of the Nioh franchise and wove it around actual events and time eras.
The story premise goes as follows:
There, following the death of the future Takechiyo, the era of peace has ended, and Edo has been retaken by the Crucible. With the cooperation of a one-eyed swordsman, Yagyu Jubei, and a Spanish envoy, Rodrigo, Takechiyo faces yet another plot revolving around Spirit Stones and an enemy with a strong resentment towards the shogunate.
The description for the Keian Era on the official website also answers some questions on what enemies you can expect to be fighting in this new time period. These will include Yokai, human rebels, and more interestingly, alchemists from foreign lands. This will create a tense situation where your skills will surely be put to the test, because the Nioh 3 DLC is expected to be a step up from the base game’s difficulty, since the majority of the players will have cleared the content and are in the end-game now.
New Game Mode: Enlightened One’s Journey
This works similar to how subsequent DLCs added new game+ cycles to Nioh 2. Here as well, only unlocked after clearing Shogun’s Journey, which is the New Game + for Nioh 3. Secondly, in its own words, it says that it will offer higher level caps, stronger equipment, and more possibilities for getting stronger. So make sure to farm for Yasakani Magatama if you have not done that already, and have your endgame builds in place to take them onwards to NG++
New Equipment: Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls
In a game like Nioh 3, practice leads to perfection. Fighting the same enemies over and over again until you can predict their attacks and match their rhythm and timing is the key to victory. These new Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls can fulfill two purposes: they can let you take part in customizable battles which you can tailor to either have fun or test your limits. You can add modifiers to these challenges to either make the fight easier or more challenging.
I would recommend that you try customizing the scrolls to face enemies (and bosses) you have difficulty with to get in practice, either alone or in co-op. Meanwhile, you can try out other games that were released in 2026 while you wait for the Nioh 3 DLC (Hell Rising) to come out.
