Samurai and Ninja Locks are essential progression items that unlock powerful abilities in both combat styles. Each Lock converts into exactly one skill point — spend those points in the Martial Arts tree for Samurai techniques or the Ninjutsu tree for Ninja abilities. Without collecting enough Locks, your build stays limited regardless of your character level.
This guide covers every method for obtaining Samurai and Ninja Locks and how to spend them effectively on skills that match your playstyle.
What Are Samurai and Ninja Locks in Nioh 3?
Samurai and Ninja Locks are consumable items — each one grants exactly 1 skill point for its respective combat style when used:
- Samurai’s Locks → 1 Samurai Point → spent on Martial Arts abilities and Samurai weapon skill trees
- Ninja’s Locks → 1 Ninja Point → spent on Ninjutsu abilities and Ninja weapon skill trees
Both systems also unlock Common Arts — universal skills that benefit both combat styles. Each weapon type has its own skill tree within the Martial Arts and Ninjutsu menus, letting you specialise further beyond the base style abilities.
Young Samurai’s Locks vs Samurai’s Locks: What’s the Difference?
You’ll find two named variants in your inventory: Samurai’s Locks and Young Samurai’s Locks (and the same for Ninja). In Nioh 3, both give exactly 1 skill point — there is no difference in value between the regular and Young variants. Use both freely without hesitation.
All Ways To Get Samurai and Ninja Locks in Nioh 3
Completing Missions and Myths in Nioh 3
Main story missions and side quest Myths reliably reward Samurai and Ninja Locks upon completion — this is your most consistent source throughout the game. Missions provide Locks as baseline rewards, so story progression naturally accumulates skill points. Myths — the smaller side quests triggered by exploring and talking to NPCs — typically reward at least one Lock type, sometimes both.
Since you’re completing missions anyway, this method requires zero extra farming.
For help with specific Myths, check out our guide on where to find the man’s family in A Drop of Hope.
Looting Bodies and Corpses Across All Regions
Corpses scattered across every region occasionally contain Samurai or Ninja Locks. The likelihood increases significantly near dangerous enemies or in difficult-to-reach locations — bodies near mini-boss spawns, hidden areas requiring platforming, just before or after Dark Realm sections, and at the end of optional branching paths all tend to carry better loot.
Always check every glowing corpse you encounter. The occasional Lock drop across a full playthrough adds up to a significant number of skill points you’d otherwise miss entirely.
Petting Scampuss and Shooting Down Chijiko
Two specific friendly Yokai types drop Locks when you successfully pet them — and each requires a different approach:
Scampuss — These cat-like Yokai run when you approach. Follow them patiently without sprinting directly at them. Eventually they stop and let you pet them, which triggers a Lock drop.
Chijiko — These Yokai float on balloons and must be shot down with ranged attacks first. Once grounded, approach and pet them for your reward.
Both types appear multiple times across different regions. Whenever you spot one, take the time — the Lock makes the brief detour worthwhile.
Opening Chests in Nioh 3 (All Chest Types Drop Locks)
Chests of all types — small, large, and hidden — have a chance of containing Samurai or Ninja Locks. Never leave a chest unopened if you can reach it. They tend to cluster in rooms behind breakable walls, areas accessible after solving environmental puzzles, upper floors or rooftops, and caves off the main path.
Not every chest contains a Lock, but the habit of opening all of them pays off steadily across the whole game.
Increasing Exploration Level in Nioh 3 (Reach Level 4 for Memorandums)
Your Exploration Level rises as you find secrets, collect items, clear enemy bases, activate Shrines, and discover Kodama, Scampuss, and Chijiko in each region. Higher levels unlock additional rewards including Locks.
Importantly, reaching the final Exploration milestone (level 4/4) in each region rewards you with a Memorandum — which feeds directly into your skill capacity (covered in the next section). Rushing through missions keeps your Exploration Level low and misses both the Lock rewards and the Memorandum milestone entirely.
Check your map regularly to see remaining undiscovered areas and keep your Exploration Level climbing.
For more collectible help, see our guide on finding the Six Jizo Statue head in Water Mill (Maisaka).
How To Use Samurai and Ninja Locks in Nioh 3
How Locks Convert to Skill Points (1 Lock = 1 Point)
Each Samurai’s Lock or Ninja’s Lock gives exactly 1 skill point of its respective type when used. To spend your points, open the main menu and navigate to Acquire Martial Skills/Ninjutsu. You can also access this from any Shrine.
The menu displays three categories for each style:
- Style-specific techniques — Martial Arts for Samurai, Ninjutsu for Ninja
- Common Arts — universal skills available to both styles
- Weapon skill trees — one per weapon type, specific to each style’s compatible weapons
Which Weapons Use Samurai Points vs Ninja Points in Nioh 3
Skill points are style-locked — Samurai Points can only be spent on Samurai-compatible weapons and trees, and Ninja Points on Ninja-compatible ones. Here’s exactly which weapons belong to each:
Samurai Points work on: Swords, Odachi, Dual Swords, Spears, Axes, Switchglaives, Cestuses
Ninja Points work on: Ninja Swords, Dual Ninja Swords, Kusarigama, Splitstaves, Tonfa, Talons, Hatchets
If you’re unsure which style a weapon belongs to, check the Acquire Martial Skills/Ninjutsu menu — weapons only appear under the skill tree that accepts points for them.
How To Unlock Martial Arts and Ninjutsu Skills
Spend points on skills that complement your preferred playstyle. Early-game priorities typically include basic combo extensions for your main weapon, Ki management improvements, and essential mobility skills. Mid to late-game spending shifts toward advanced weapon techniques, powerful finishing moves, and hybrid abilities if you’re building for style-switching combat.
More powerful techniques cost more points — plan ahead rather than spending everything on the first available nodes.
How To Equip Skills: Customize Martial Arts and Ninjutsu
Unlocking a skill doesn’t automatically equip it. After unlocking, open the Customize Martial Arts/Ninjutsu menu to assign skills to specific button combinations. You can’t equip every learned technique simultaneously, so prioritise skills you use frequently over situational abilities.
Both combat styles and all weapon types have separate customisation menus — build different loadouts for bosses, mob clearing, and exploration as needed.
Quest-Locked Skills: The Way of the Warrior and The Way of the Ninja
Some powerful Martial Arts and Ninjutsu remain locked until you complete specific quests in the Eternal Rift. Visit the Eternal Rift, speak with your old masters, and access their training quests via the Battle Scroll at any Shrine:
- The Way of the Warrior — unlocks advanced Martial Arts techniques
- The Way of the Ninja — unlocks advanced Ninjutsu abilities
Complete both to access the full skill trees. These unlocks include some of the most powerful techniques available and are essential for endgame builds.
How To Increase Skill Capacity: Texts and Memorandums in Nioh 3
Getting Locks is only half the system. You can only have a limited number of active skills equipped at once — and that capacity is a separate resource players frequently hit a wall on.
Skill capacity is increased by finding Texts and Memorandums:
- Texts — each one increases your skill capacity for the relevant style by 1. Found in chests, as exploration rewards, and from trading with Sudama.
- Memorandums — you need 4 of the same type to gain +1 capacity. Earned by reaching the final exploration milestone (level 4/4) in each region. For example, reaching exploration level 4 in Tenryu River gives a Ninja’s Memorandum, in Tokaido a Samurai’s Memorandum, and in Hamamatsu a Warrior’s Memorandum.
If you’re unlocking skills but finding you can’t equip them, you haven’t hit a bug — you’ve hit your skill capacity ceiling. Seek out Texts early and consistently push Exploration Level to 4 in each region to stay ahead of this limit.
Finding Handbooks for Hidden Skills in Nioh 3
Certain Martial Arts and Ninjutsu require finding specific Handbooks scattered throughout the world before they appear in your skill trees at all. These are typically hidden in chests behind breakable walls, on corpses in secret rooms, or as rewards for optional mini-bosses.
Once you find a Handbook, the associated skills become available to unlock with your accumulated points. Check every suspicious corner and alternate path — Handbooks represent some of the most unique and powerful techniques in the game and won’t appear in your menu until you physically find them.
If you need extra help during tough encounters, learn how to get and use Ochoko Cups to summon assistance.
For more information about Nioh 3, visit the official Team Ninja website, check it out on PlayStation Store, or grab it on Steam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the fastest way to get Samurai and Ninja Locks in Nioh 3?
Complete missions and Myths consistently for the most reliable Lock income. Supplement by looting every corpse and petting Scampuss and Chijiko whenever they appear. This combined approach provides steady progression without dedicated farming sessions.
How many skill points does each Lock give in Nioh 3?
Each Samurai’s Lock or Ninja’s Lock gives exactly 1 skill point. Young Samurai’s Locks and Young Ninja’s Locks also give 1 point each in Nioh 3 — the “Young” variant has the same value as the regular version, so use both freely.
Can I use Samurai Points on Ninja weapons or vice versa?
No — points are style-locked. Samurai Points can only be spent on Samurai-compatible weapons (Swords, Odachi, Dual Swords, Spears, Axes, Switchglaives, Cestuses) and the Samurai skill tree. Ninja Points work only on Ninja-compatible weapons (Ninja Swords, Dual Ninja Swords, Kusarigama, Splitstaves, Tonfa, Talons, Hatchets) and the Ninja skill tree.
Why can’t I equip more skills even though I have skill points?
You’ve hit your skill capacity limit, which is separate from your skill points. Increase it by finding Texts (each gives +1 capacity) and collecting 4 Memorandums of the same type (also +1 capacity). Memorandums are earned by reaching Exploration Level 4 in each region.
Do I need both Samurai and Ninja Locks or can I focus on one?
You can specialise in one combat style, but collecting both gives more versatility. Common Arts in both skill trees benefit your character regardless of active style, making it worthwhile to invest in both even if you heavily favour one over the other.
Where do I find the Handbooks that unlock hidden skills in Nioh 3?
Handbooks appear in hidden areas throughout different regions — typically in chests behind breakable walls, on corpses in secret rooms, or as rewards for optional mini-bosses. Thoroughly explore every branching path and check suspicious areas to find them. Skills tied to Handbooks won’t appear in your menu at all until the relevant Handbook is collected.
