Summary
- It is powerful items that drop from yokai enemies, providing stat bonuses and unique combat effects once equipped at Shrines.
- Placed cores in Yang position to summon yokai allies or Yin position for Onmyo Magic buffs, with effectiveness tied to your Magic stat level.
- Enhance using materials and gold will increase the core potency while farming high-level missions and defeating Crucible Wraiths.
The Soul Core is considered among the most valuable items players can collect in Nioh 3. These items provide powerful stat bonuses and combat abilities which improve your effectiveness in battle. Also, these special drops from yokai enemies let you either summon demons to fight alongside or gain magical buffs through Onmyo items. See how to acquire, equip, and enhance Yokai Soul Cores in Nioh 3 in this guide!
What Are Yokai Soul Cores in Nioh 3
These Soul Cores appear as small red pulsing orbs that drop from defeated yokai enemies throughout your journey in Nioh 3. When properly equipped, the cores will grant additional statistics and powerful effects to enhance your character’s combat. Also, different cores offer various benefits including improved defense, enhanced damage output and stamina regeneration.
Moreover, special effects will activate for each soul core depending on your Magic level requirement. So, you have to invest in the Magic stat before you can unlock their full potential. These cores can be stored in your Onmyo Box and can only be equipped or removed at Shrine locations. You can equip multiple cores depending on your build, allowing flexible customization for different weapon types and playstyles.
How to Obtain Yokai Soul Cores
There are several ways on how you can collect Yokai Soul Cores throughout Nioh 3. The most common way is through defeating yokai enemies but the drop rate varies depending on the enemy type. Thus, taking down powerful yokai such as bosses, mini-bosses, and Crucible Wraith versions always drops soul cores.
Usually, the main story missions feature tough bosses which reward you with high-level Yokai soul cores. Enemies marked on the map as golden boxes will provide you with various rewards including their soul cores. Aside from this, you can get soul core rewards from completing side missions, exploring optional yokai realm areas, and annex locations.
Make sure to equip gear that has Soul Core Drop Rate bonuses to increase your chances of obtaining cores. Demons in the Dark Realm also guarantee core drops that make these challenging areas worthwhile for farming. In addition, you’ll get soul cores as well from finding treasure chests hidden throughout story missions or interacting with friendly Yokai.
How to Equip and Use Yokai Soul Cores
Once you obtain a soul core from a defeated yokai, pay a visit to any Shrine and purify it before use. This is a crucial step before equipping the soul core as you’ll lose it along with your Amrita if you die before purifying. After purifying, the cores become available for equipment through the Shrine’s Yokai Soul Core Menu.
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- You can place the Soul Cores in two different positions such as Yang and Yin.
- Placing the core in the Yang position will let you summon specific yokai for a few seconds. This yokai can assist in combat using a Summoning Seal.
- However, you must first defeat the Crucible Wraith version of that yokai to unlock the summoning ability.
- Insert a core in the Yin position to get an Onmyo Magic Item that can either buff your character or attack enemies.
- Take note that you can only place each individual core in one position unless you have duplicate cores of the same yokai.
- You can equip more than one core while in Yin position by leveling up your Magic stat.
- After selecting your desired cores, make sure to equip both the Summoning Seal and Onmyo Magic Items to your shortcut wheel.
Enhancing and Leveling Up Soul Cores
Initially, the Yokai Soul Cores significantly enhance your combat abilities once equipped. However, you can level up it to make it more powerful and enhance its existing effects. Here’s what you need to do:
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- Go to a Shrine.
- Choose the Enhance Core option from the menu.
- Make sure you have Enhancement Materials and gold to increase your core’s level.
Remember that Higher-level cores require rarer materials which you will find in late-game. After enhancement, it will provide you with additional stat boosts and enhance potency of its special effects. You can also use common cores to level up rarer ones more quickly or unlock quests from NPCs to earn Soul Fragments, enhancing cores.
Conclusion
You have to defeat powerful Yokai to guarantee Soul Cores drop in Nioh 3. Aside from it, there are other ways to obtain the soul cores including completing main story missions and side quests. Most importantly, don’t forget to purify it at Shrine upon obtaining it to avoid losing the core once you die.
Writer’s Recommendations
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