Nioh 3 has a huge world to explore, full of secrets and hidden paths. Unfortunately, some of the paths are blocked by locked doors that can only be opened with the right key.
Most players will come across a locked gate in Mikatagahara and will immediately wonder how to open it. But, after endlessly searching for the key, they will come up empty and no key in sight.
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The main reason for this is that this gate is tied to the progression of the story. If you are wondering how to open the locked gate Mikatagahara in Nioh 3, this guide is for you.
Opening the Locked Gate at Mikatagahara in Nioh 3
To unlock the locked gate Mikatagahara in Nioh 3, players need to progress through the story and complete the “Battle of Futamata Castle” main quest. This main quest starts after defeating Jakotsu-baba in the first Crucible of the game.
After completing The Battle of Futamata Castle, talk to Hattori Hanzo at Hammatsu Castle to start the next mission called. “Battle of Mikatagahara.” During this quest, you can interact with the gate again, but instead of it being locked, it will be unlocked for you. In other words, no key is needed for this gate. As a reminder, I’ve attached the gate location below.
This gate doesn’t lead to much, except that opening it allows you to continue the Battle of Mikatagahara quest. Pursuing this quest eventually led to a clash against Takeda Shingen, one of the most difficult early game bosses in Nioh 3. Prepare for battle by bringing your best weapon and armor.
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Battle of Mikatagahara Quest Rewards
At the end of the Battle of Mikatagahara, which is actually a subquest called “Fiery Assault,” you’ll be tasked with taking down Takeda Shingen from the Crucible. Takeda Shingen is a challenge here, so make sure you come armed with extra Elixirs and other edibles that can resist fire and poison.
After defeating Takeda Shingen, you will have officially completed the Battle of Mikatagahara quest in Nioh 3. The rewards for defeating Takeda Shingen are as follows: Samurai Locks, Basket Blade & Boar Cutter Smithing Text, and Shingen’s Fan. In addition, you will gain a lot of loot drops, from Rare to Exotic tier. The type of loot you get is random due to the RNG nature of the game.
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You’ll also find a new way to combine Burst Attacks, called Burst Breaks. This unique skill allows you to counter Burst Attacks by using your Guardian Spirit Skill instead of switching to a different style. While I like the original approach, I can see the appeal in this ability as it eliminates the need to go back and forth between styles.
Finally, you have the chance to destroy the Crucible and return the region to its normal state. After doing so, he was tasked with defeating Takeda Shingen in his second form during the “Battle of Saigagake” quest. Takeda Shingen is even harder during this quest, so I recommend grinding some levels and setting up your weapons and armor at the Blacksmith.
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- Released
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February 6, 2026
- The ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases, User Interaction
