The Ill Omen (Dark Roots) main quest in Nioh 3 is one of the Antiquity era missions. It begins immediately after defeating Kusanagi and finishing the Calamity’s Seed quest. It tasks you with cleansing the Spirit Tree Shrine’s Crucible as well as defeating the boss enemy, Hiruko, in a two-phase battle.
This article provides the complete walkthrough for the Ill Omen main quest in Nioh 3.
Ill Omen main quest in Nioh 3: Walkthrough
Go to the Spirit Tree Shrine
As mentioned above, the Ill Omen main quest in Nioh 3 picks up from where the Calamity’s Seed quest ends. Following the cutscene, you must head over to the Spirit Tree Shrine. Simply continue the path straight without worry, as there are no alternate routes for you to get lost.
Activate the platform
Once you reach inside, you will come across a platform that cannot be used due to a lack of power. From here, take the path on your left till you reach a pathway. Then, take a right and climb up the stairs to enter a room.
Defeat all the enemies in the room and then take the stairs. Follow the path till you find a circular area with a Spirit Stone Box. Carry it with you and place it in the cylindrical device ahead to activate the platform.
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Head past the trap
Afterward, take the staircase downstairs by the circular area where you find the Spirit Stone Box. Defeat any enemies you encounter along the way. You will then reach a passage with a trap. Carefully navigate this section without being hit by the fiery blasts and get past them.
You will come across another Spirit Stone Box here. Place it inside the socket to power it. Then continue ahead into the next rooms while fighting off enemies. You will also find another trap here that fires three shots. Just past it, you will find a Nurikabe blocking a passage. Defeat it and go up the stairs, then jump down, and take a left to find a Spirit Stone Box. Carry it and use it to unlock another door in the same room, which leads to a bridge.
Go past the bridge
Once you reach a bridge with a giant enemy on it in the Ill Omen quest in Nioh 3, take the path to your left. Connect the Spirit Stone Box here with the socket to activate a platform. Use it to go upwards. Here you will find a Shrine. Then return to the start of the bridge. Defeat the enemy or run past it and enter the next room.
Traverse downstairs toward the boss
Inside this room, defeat any enemies you find and look for a Spirit Stone Box. Use it to unlock the path ahead. Afterward, take the stairs downward until you come across one more Spirit Stone Box. Use it to activate the platform and ride it upwards to a door.
Unlock the door to enter a hall with a Shrine in front of you. Afterward, head downwards again to the bottom. Defeat all the enemies you find here and reach the final Spirit Stone Box. Use it to access an elevator further downwards.
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Defeat Hiruko in Nioh 3
After getting off the elevator, you will come across a Shrine. Remember, this is your last chance to make any changes before walking into a boss fight. Then simply enter the next room.
A cutscene will ensue here, marking the beginning of your boss fight against Hiruko. The foe is quite formidable so be prepared for a long fight.
You should note that the boss has two combat phases, and the second one takes effect after depleting the foe’s health by 50%.
Once you have beaten Hiruko, a cutscene will trigger, marking the end of the Ill Omen quest. Then you can interact with Himiko to trigger another cutscene, which leads you to the next era and mission of Nioh 3.
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Edited by Virat Fumakia
