Lesser Crucibles are combat areas scattered across the world of Nioh 3. Each one has a small arena where you need to defeat waves of enemies and destroy the red crucible spike blocking the path. Clearing Lesser Crucible will increase your spirit and unlock more areas to explore. As you need to fight a lot of enemy waves, carry your best gear and healing items. In this guide, we will walk you through all the Lesser Crucible Locations in Nioh 3.
All Lesser Crucible Locations in Nioh 3
Lesser Crucibles are small combat areas where you need to defeat all the enemies, then destroy the red crystal blocking the path. Each Lesser Crucible increases your spirit force to get stronger Guardian Spirit Skills. Nioh 3 has 23 Lesser Crucible locations. Finding and clearing all of them will unlock the Lesser Crucible Eradicator trophy and achievement.
Lesser Crucible | Region / Area | Location |
| 1 | Tenryu River | North of Hamamatsu Post |
| 2 | Tokaido | End of forest path |
| 3 | Hamamatsu | End of the road near the shrine |
| 4 | Maisaka | Bottom of stairs |
| 5 | Lake Sanaru | Southeast of the pirate ship |
| 6 | Lake Mamana | South of Horie Castle Main Keep |
| 7 | Iinoya | Inside a large southern temple |
| 8 | Futamata Road (South) | End of the southern road |
| 9 | Futamata Road (North) | Inside building |
| 10 | Futamata Road (Centre) | Forest area |
| 11 | Kamo Village | The right path from the shrine |
| 12 | Funaokayama | East from shrine |
| 13 | Sagano | Mountain edge |
| 14 | Nishiichi | East of the main building |
| 15 | Hachijo | South from Rajomon |
| 16 | Rokuhara | East from lake |
| 17 | Shichijo | South of Gambling Den |
| 18 | Sanjo | East of Honnoji Temple |
| 19 | Sanjo | From the shrine via the main path |
| 20 | Kiyomizu | Straight from the shrine |
| 21 | Shirakawa | Past shrine |
| 22 | Nijo Castle | West of the shrine |
| 23 | Nijo Castle (North) | Northern castle area |
Lesser Crucible #1 (Tenryu River)
Head towards the north of Hamamatsu Post, and you will find the Lesser Crucible in front of you. The Crucible Spike needs to be broken to increase the exploration area of the Tenryu River. The Lesser Crucible is found towards the path leading to the forest area. To clear it, defeat all 3 waves of enemies, then destroy the Crucible Spike that is blocking the road in front of you.
Lesser Crucible #2 (Tokaido)
You will find this Lesser Crucible at the end of the forest path. To clear it, defeat all three waves of enemies then break the Crucible Spike.
Lesser Crucible #3 (Hamamatsu)
Head to the Hamamatsu Post to find the Lesser Crucible right at the end of the road. From the nearby shrine, take a left path to reach the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #4 (Maisaka)
From the Hamamatsu Castle Town Southern Gate, follow the stairs in front of you. At the bottom of the stairs, you will find the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #5 (Lake Sanaru)
From the pirate ship, go towards the southeast direction to find the Lesser Crucible. Follow the main road, and at the end of it, you will see the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #6 (Lake Mamana)
Head towards the south direction from the Horie Castle Main Keep and pass through the broken buildings. Now, climb up the stairs and pass the Torii Gate to find the Lesser Crucible on the left side.
Lesser Crucible #7 (Iinoya)
From the nearby shrine, go towards the big temple in the southern direction. Enter the temple and take a right turn, and get inside the inner courtyard of the temple. Inside the inner courtyard, you will find the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #8 (Futamata Road)
In the southern part of the Futamata Road area, you will find the Lesser Crucible at the end of the road. Climb up the stairs and take a left turn to reach the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #9 (Futamata Road)
This Lesser Crucible is found on the north side of Futamata Road. Go towards the Crucible Wraith, and follow the road to find the Lesser Crucible inside a building. Enter the building and defeat all the enemies, break the Crucible Spikes and open the road in front of you.
Lesser Crucible #10 (Futamata Road)
In the centre area of Futamata Road, you will find a forest. Follow the main road and climb the tree stump to find the Lesser Crucible on the right side.
Lesser Crucible #11 (Kamo Village)
From the shrine, take the road on the right side and follow it. Defeat all the enemies along the path. At the top end of the path, you will find the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #12 (Funaokayama)
Head towards the east side from the shrine and defeat all the enemies along the way. The Lesser Crucible is found at the end of the road.
Lesser Crucible #13 (Sagano)
Use the Spirit Vein to climb up the mountain in front of you. At the edge of the mountain, you will find the Lesser Crucible. Defeat all the enemies and break the Crucible Spike to explore more areas of the Sagano region.
Lesser Crucible #14 (Nishiichi)
Go towards the east side of the main building. Cross the mountains to reach the Lesser Crucible at the end of the path. Be careful, as in this area, there are many broken houses and lakes where you can fall and lose your health.
Lesser Crucible #15 (Hachijo)
From Rajomon, go towards the south to find the Lesser Crucible in the lake area. Defeat all the enemies and break the Crucible Spike to explore the sea area.
Lesser Crucible #16 (Rokuhara)
From the lake, go towards the east direction and cross the forest to find the Lesser Crucible on the right side.
Lesser Crucible #17 (Shichijo)
From the Gambling Den, go towards the south direction. At the end of the path, you will find the Lesser Crucible. Break the Crucible Spike, and you will be able to explore more areas of Shichijo.
Lesser Crucible #18 (Sanjo)
From the Honnoji Temple, go towards the east by following the main road. Then take a right turn, and at the end of it, you will find the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #19 (Sanjo)
From the shrine, follow the main path and take the left turn. Then take the right turn and move forward to find the Lesser Crucible at the end of the road.
Lesser Crucible #20 (Kiyomizu)
From the shrine, follow the main road, and at the end of it you will find the Lesser Crucible. Break the Crucible Spike to open the road in front of you.
Lesser Crucible #21 (Shirakawa)
From the main building, follow the path towards a shrine. From the shrine, take a left turn, and you will reach the Lesser Crucible at the end of the road.
Lesser Crucible #22 (Nijo Castle)
Head towards the west direction, take a right turn and then a left turn from the nearby shrine to find the Lesser Crucible.
Lesser Crucible #23 (Nijo Castle)
In the Northern area of the Nijo Castle, follow the road to find the Lesser Crucible on the right side. Defeat the enemies and break the Crucible Spike to unlock more exploration areas.
