The release for the first DLC, Hell Rising, has been set for August 19, 2026! A First Look trailer has also been released.
The curtain rises on a new tale of conspiracy, told across two major DLCs. The first DLC, Hell Rising, is set in the Keian period and features a version of Edo that has been taken over by the Crucible, where a new intrigue surrounding the Spirit Stones has begun to play out. In addition to the new hoko and shield weapon categories, which combine the offensive capabilities of the short spear with the defensive capabilities of the shield, players can also use the effects of the Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls to fight highly customizable battles over and over again. Furthermore, the new difficulty mode allows players to develop new character builds and create complex strategies. Lastly, new Guardian Spirits, Martial Arts, skills, Ninjutsu, and Onmyo Magic await fans in this DLC. With the combination of fierce, deadly battles and complex progression elements, Hell Rising offers both hardcore fans and newcomers alike a range of exhilarating battles that are iconic to the Nioh series.
■The story of Hell Rising
Our protagonist and appointed shogun, Takechiyo, journeys through time and is led to Edo in the future by an unknown yokai they met in their dreams. 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.
■New open field: 1651 CE – Hell Rising
In 1651, during the Keian era, Edo was supposed to be enveloped in peace. However, the large castle town that was once proof of the shogunate's authority has transformed into a hellish wasteland plagued by the gales of the Crucible. Yokai, human rebels, and alchemists from foreign lands have descended on Edo, creating a battlefield fraught with chaos. With the shogun's absence, areas across the Edo castle town have been overridden with yokai. Amidst tense battles against unknown yokai and new mysteries, new encounters await.
■New weapons: hoko & shield for Samurai and Ninja style
A weapon set that balances the offensive capabilities of the short spear with the defensive capabilities of the shield. The hoko and shield in Samurai Style and the ninja hoko and shield in Ninja Style have many uses in battle, ranging from basic attacks like defending with the shield while attacking with the short spear, to tactical moves like flinging the shield at the enemy.
There will also be new outfits in Western designs, used by the Spanish alchemists who appear in this DLC. Enjoy innovative actions never seen before in the Nioh series with the hoko and shield.
■A cruel and harsh fight to the death against new enemies in Edo
Enemies with unprecedented strength stand in Takechiyo's way, including the one-eyed swordsman, Yagyu Jubei. Dominate fierce battles and obtain new equipment and Soul Cores in order to grow even stronger.
■New equipment: Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls
Fight highly customizable battles over and over again, while carefully selecting the effects of the Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls to create self-imposed challenges.
These Picture Scrolls are a type of item that can be strengthened by winning the unique battles automatically generated for each scroll. Delve into the world within the scrolls and win battles against the yokai in each scroll to unlock that scroll as a piece of equipment to increase your own strength. The combination of enemies, stages, and special rules offer millions of variations. Highly valuable scrolls may also appear at times. Even after a scroll has been unlocked as a piece of equipment, players can change the scroll's special effects and enhancements by winning that scroll's battle once more.
This feature is also available for multiplayer sessions. Train alongside your friends and aim to create the strongest possible party by challenging yourselves on millions of battlefields.
■Highly requested third playthrough: Enlightened One's Journey
The Enlightened One's Journey, a difficulty mode that exceeds the Shogun's Journey difficulty, is now available. In this difficulty mode, certain enemies will be randomly assigned a Curse buff. These enemies will be significantly more powerful, but they are also guaranteed to drop items of divine rarity, allowing players to enjoy a high-risk, high-reward strategy.
Furthermore, this DLC features elements that allow players to further strengthen their character builds, including Grace effects of divine rarity and powerful special effects.
