A Drop of Hope is one of the many Myths you’ll encounter while exploring Nioh 3. These side quests often involve helping NPCs or clearing Yokai from specific areas. This particular Myth tells a tragic story while rewarding you with valuable progression items.
This guide covers the complete walkthrough for A Drop of Hope, including how to trigger the ghost, where to find the Physick medicine, and the exact location of the man’s family in Hamamatsu.
What Are Myths in Nioh 3? (Side Quests Explained)
Myths function as Nioh 3’s side quest system. They’re shorter than main story missions but provide meaningful rewards and world-building. Most Myths involve one of two formats:
- NPC requests — Help a living character or fading ghost complete unfinished business
- Yokai extermination — Clear out specific dungeons or areas infested with enemies
You’ll encounter Myths naturally while exploring regions. Fading ghosts appear at specific locations and trigger quest dialogue when approached. There are 39 Myths total in the game. Completing all of them unlocks the Answering to the People trophy and achievement.
A Drop of Hope is Myth 2 and falls into the NPC request category, tasking you with delivering medicine to a deceased man’s family.
How To Start A Drop of Hope in Nioh 3 (Tenryu River)
Head to the northwest section of the Tenryu River region, near the cliff edge by the river. From the Hamamatsu Gate Shrine, head west and then north along a pathway that leads to a ledge by the river. You’ll find a fading shadow above a corpse in the middle of the path. Interact with it to begin the quest.
The ghost explains that bandits killed him while he was traveling with medicine meant for his sick wife. The Physick he carried was stolen during the attack. After the dialogue ends, your objective updates and a marker appears showing the bandit camp to the southwest.
Why the Ghost Won’t Respond (Trigger Requirement)
If the ghost appears unresponsive when you approach, this is intentional — not a bug. The spectre won’t become interactable until you lure a nearby enemy into the clearing and defeat it close to the ghost. Once that condition is met, the interaction prompt activates and the quest dialogue begins. If you’ve arrived at the location and nothing is happening, look for a nearby enemy, pull it into the clearing, kill it, then interact with the shadow again.
Where To Find the Physick Medicine in the Bandit Camp
Follow the objective marker southwest from the ghost’s location. You’ll find a small bandit camp with armored enemies looting corpses and patrolling the area. There are also Crucible Wasps on the path to the camp that can be handled with Ninjutsu.
Clear all enemies before searching for the medicine — fight while searching wastes time and resources.
Priority target: Use your bow or rifle to kill the archer on the rocks first. They become a significant headache if left alive while you’re dealing with ground enemies.
Watch for the Hidden Guard Behind the Destroyed Building
There is one guard hiding behind the destroyed building in the camp who is not easily seen when approaching from the north. Sneak around the campfire and stealth kill this enemy before engaging the head bandit, otherwise you risk getting flanked mid-fight.
Which Corpse Has the Physick? (Two Bodies in Camp)
There are two corpses in the center of the camp near the bonfire. The front one has no quest item. The Physick is on the corpse at the back — it appears as yellow loot. Interact with it to pick up the medicine and update your objective.
After you retrieve the Physick, the ghost appears next to you, pleased it’s been recovered. He mentions where his house is and urges you to make your way there. Your new task is delivering the medicine to his wife in Hamamatsu.
Where To Find the Man’s Family in Hamamatsu (A Drop of Hope)
Travel to Hamamatsu Post Town — head south from the bandit camp, follow the road, and it leads directly into the town. Activate the Hamamatsu Post — Terrace Shrine on the way; it acts as your respawn point if you die to the Yokai roaming the ruins and serves as your navigation anchor for the family’s house.
From the Terrace Shrine, the family’s house is two doors away. Walk straight into the circular search zone from the Shrine. You’ll know you’ve found the correct house because a Yoki is standing guard directly in front of the door.
Recommended level: Complete this quest before attacking Hamamatsu Castle. Aim to be at least level 12–13 to avoid being overwhelmed by the tougher Yokai patrolling the town.
How To Defeat the Yoki Guarding the Family’s House
The Yoki blocking the house entrance hits harder and has more health than regular Yokai you’ve encountered up to this point, but it functions like an elite enemy rather than a full boss — manageable with careful Ki usage rather than requiring a specific strategy.
Use both combat styles effectively:
- Ninja Style — Quick attacks, dodges, and mobility to avoid heavy hits
- Samurai Style — Timed blocks and counterattacks for high-stance damage
Switch between styles based on the Yoki’s attack patterns. When it winds up for heavy swings, use Ninja Style for quick dodges. During recovery windows, swap to Samurai Style for punishing strikes. Focus on depleting its Ki gauge to create extended vulnerability windows for high-damage follow-ups.
Once defeated, the path into the house opens.
A Drop of Hope Ending and Rewards (Omamori, Ninja’s Locks)
Enter the house after killing the Yoki and interact with the corpse inside. A brief scene plays showing that the man’s family has already passed away. Despite your efforts, you arrived too late. The family’s death is predetermined — no matter how quickly you complete the quest, the outcome cannot be changed.
The tragic conclusion completes the Myth. You receive:
- Omamori — protective charm
- Ninja’s Locks — skill progression item for Ninja abilities
These rewards provide tangible progression benefits despite the somber story outcome. Ninja’s Locks in particular are worth prioritising early — unlocking Ninja abilities improves your combat options significantly across later missions.
For more collectible guides, check out our walkthrough on finding the Six Jizo Statue head in Water Mill (Maisaka).
Tips for Completing Myths (Side Quests) in Nioh 3
Talk to every ghost you encounter. Fading spirits scattered across regions trigger Myths when approached. They’re easy to miss if you’re focused only on main objectives — some only appear when you enter a region for the first time, so explore thoroughly.
If a ghost won’t respond, kill a nearby enemy. Some quest NPCs have a proximity trigger requiring combat in the area before dialogue activates. Don’t assume an unresponsive ghost means a bug — look for enemies nearby first.
Clear combat areas completely before looting. Many Myths involve retrieving items from bandit camps. Kill everything first, then search — fighting while hunting for items wastes time and the item you’re looking for may not be the first thing you find.
Check both corpses when two are present. As with the Physick in this quest, quest items aren’t always on the most obvious body. When an area has multiple interactive corpses, check all of them.
Mark Shrine locations. Shrines serve as essential navigation anchors for Myth objectives. Many quest destinations are described relative to nearby Shrines — activating them as you go makes finding targets significantly faster.
Complete Myths before major area assaults. A Drop of Hope is easiest before the Hamamatsu Castle attack. Many Myths share this pattern — completing them during open exploration is easier than backtracking into contested zones.
If you need assistance with difficult sections, learn how to get and use Ochoko Cups to summon helpful NPCs.
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
Where exactly is the man’s family house in Nioh 3’s A Drop of Hope?
The family’s house is in Hamamatsu Post Town, two doors from the Hamamatsu Post — Terrace Shrine. Activate the Shrine first as a navigation anchor, then walk straight into the search zone. The correct house has a Yoki standing guard directly in front of the door.
What rewards do you get for completing A Drop of Hope in Nioh 3?
You receive an Omamori protective charm and Ninja’s Locks. The Ninja’s Locks are particularly valuable early in the game as they unlock new Ninja combat abilities that improve your effectiveness across later missions.
How do I trigger the ghost at the start of A Drop of Hope?
If the ghost appears unresponsive, lure a nearby enemy into the clearing and defeat it close to the shadow. The spectre only becomes interactable after this combat trigger condition is met. Once an enemy is killed nearby, the interaction prompt activates normally.
Which corpse in the bandit camp has the Physick medicine?
There are two corpses near the bonfire in the center of the camp. The Physick is on the back corpse, not the front one. It appears as yellow loot. The front corpse drops nothing relevant to the quest — go straight to the back body.
How do I defeat the Yoki guarding the house in A Drop of Hope?
Switch between Ninja and Samurai combat styles based on the Yoki’s attacks. Use Ninja Style for quick dodges during heavy wind-up attacks, then swap to Samurai Style during recovery windows. Focus on depleting its Ki gauge for extended vulnerability periods. Aim to be at least level 12–13 before attempting this fight.
Can you save the man’s family in A Drop of Hope?
No. The family has already passed away by the time you arrive. The outcome is predetermined regardless of how quickly you complete the quest — you’re fulfilling the dead man’s final wish rather than racing against a timer.
