How To Get & Use Yokai Soul Cores In Nioh 3

If the soul core system in Nioh 3 has you scratching your head, you’re not the only one. These small red pulsing balls that drop off defeated demons might look like a minor pickup, but they’re one of the most powerful tools in your entire kit. Master them and you’ll have yokai fighting at your side and a whole arsenal of Onmyo magic to throw at enemies. Ignore them and you’re leaving a massive chunk of your build potential on the table.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to get and use Yokai Soul Cores in Nioh 3 — from your very first drop all the way through to upgrading them later in the game.

What Are Yokai Soul Cores in Nioh 3?

Soul cores hold the leftover power of a yokai you’ve defeated. Each one is tied to a specific demon and carries that demon’s abilities with it. Slot them into your Onmyo Box at a Shrine, and those abilities become yours to use in battle — either as a direct summon or as an Onmyo Magic Item, depending on how you equip them.

They’re stored in the Onmyo Box, and you can only equip or swap them out at a Shrine. One important thing to know right away: if you pick up a soul core and die before you’ve had a chance to purify it at a Shrine, that core is lost alongside your Amrita. You’ll need to recover it at your grave before you can use it.

How To Get Yokai Soul Cores In Nioh 3

There are several ways to farm and collect soul cores throughout the game. Here’s a breakdown of every source:

Defeating regular yokai enemies The most common method. Any demon you kill has a random chance to drop a soul core. It’s not guaranteed, but the drops come fairly frequently as you progress through missions and the open field.

Equip gear with Soul Core Drop Rate If you want to farm cores more efficiently, look for equipment that has a Soul Core Drop Rate bonus stat. This directly increases how often demons leave a core behind when they die — well worth prioritising if you’re trying to build out your Onmyo Box.

Crucible Wraiths These are tougher, marked versions of standard yokai that show up on the map. Crucible Wraiths always drop a soul core when defeated, no RNG involved. On top of that, defeating one enhances the Onmyo Magic Item tied to that yokai’s core. They’re marked on the map, so you can hunt them down deliberately.

Demons in the Dark Realm Yokai encountered inside the Dark Realm also have a guaranteed soul core drop. These areas are more dangerous, but the reliable core drops make them excellent farming spots.

Formidable Enemies Scattered across the map as golden box icons, these powerful bosses always drop soul cores along with other rewards when taken down. They’re tougher than regular enemies but completely worth the effort.

Main Quest Bosses Defeating major bosses as part of the main story rewards you with high-level soul cores. These are immediately usable in both Yang and Yin positions — the Jakotsu-Baba core being a solid early example of this.

Friendly Yokai Soul cores can also come from friendly yokai like Chijiko and Scampuss. These can be slotted and summoned just like any other core, which is a nice bonus on top of the help they provide.

How To Use Yokai Soul Cores In Nioh 3 — Yin vs Yang Explained

Once you have a soul core, take it to any Shrine and purify it. From there, head to your Onmyo Box and assign it to either the Yang position or the Yin position. This single choice completely changes what that core actually does for you.

Yang Position — Summon the Yokai

Slotting a core in the Yang position gives you a Summoning Seal. Use it from the shortcut wheel in battle and the yokai tied to that core will appear for a few seconds, fight alongside you, then vanish. It’s great for burst damage, crowd control, or buying yourself breathing room against a tough enemy.

To unlock the Summoning Seal for a specific yokai, you first need to defeat the Crucible Wraith version of that demon. Until you’ve done that, the Yang position for that particular core won’t be available — you’ll only be able to use it in the Yin slot.

Yin Position — Onmyo Magic Item

Placing a core in the Yin position doesn’t give you a summon. Instead it grants you an Onmyo Magic Item — either an attack spell or a buff for your character. Pick it from your shortcut wheel and use it in battle to attack enemies or strengthen yourself.

You can actually place more than one core in the Yin position at the same time, but you’ll need to invest in the Magic stat to unlock additional Yin slots. Levelling up Magic also increases your overall Onmyo Magic Power, which makes every core you have more effective.

Each soul core also comes with special passive effects. These only activate if your Magic level meets the minimum requirement listed on the core — so if you’re ignoring Magic entirely, you’re missing out on those bonuses even when the core is equipped.

How To Equip and Use Soul Core Abilities in Battle

Once you’ve assigned your cores at the Shrine, the actual setup is simple:

• Add the Summoning Seal to your shortcut wheel to summon the yokai assigned to your Yang slot
• Add the Onmyo Magic Item to your shortcut wheel to use the spell or buff from your Yin slot
• Use them freely during fights — both are replenished at zero cost whenever you rest at a Shrine, so there’s no reason to hold back

Just make sure you’ve actually added these items to the shortcut wheel before heading into battle. The Shrine does the equipping; the shortcut wheel is what makes them accessible mid-fight.

How To Upgrade Yokai Soul Cores In Nioh 3

Further into the game, an NPC in the safe area will open up quests tied to the Battle Scroll. Completing these quests lets you enhance your soul cores using Soul Fragments.

To get Soul Fragments, use the Resting Rites option at a Shrine to sacrifice soul cores you no longer need. Any duplicate or lower-quality core you’re done with can be broken down this way. The fragments you earn go toward enhancing the cores you actually want to keep, making your strongest builds even more effective over time.

It’s worth getting into the habit of running Resting Rites regularly rather than letting unwanted cores pile up — the fragments add up and make a real difference when you start pushing into tougher content.

Quick Tips for Getting the Most Out of Soul Cores

• Don’t ignore Crucible Wraiths. They’re on the map for a reason — the guaranteed drop and ability unlock make them high-priority targets.
• Check your Magic stat. If your Magic level doesn’t meet a core’s requirement, those passive bonuses do nothing. Even a small investment pays off.
• Run Resting Rites often. Duplicates are common. Break them down into fragments rather than letting them sit unused.
• Stack Yin slots. The more you invest in Magic, the more Yin cores you can run at once — meaning more Onmyo spells to cycle through.
• Cores replenish for free at Shrines. Spam them without guilt. There’s no reason to save your Summoning Seals or Onmyo Items for a “later” that may never come.

Already in the game and looking to grab your bonus gear? Check out our guide on how to claim your demo and preorder items in Nioh 3 to make sure you’re not missing any free equipment.

FAQs: Yokai Soul Cores in Nioh 3