Nioh 3 Collectibles Guide: Every Kodama and Scampuss

Hunting down every Kodama and Scampuss in Nioh 3 fundamentally reshapes your progression, because each hidden spirit boosts your Elixir reserves and shrine blessings before major boss walls. Players who rush past these small green figures miss out on Kodama Merit, which directly upgrades the buffs available at every shrine. This guide lays out a region-by-region path so you can secure all collectibles without backtracking for hours.

Regional Collectible Density and Kodama Placement Logic

Nioh 3 distributes its collectibles unevenly across the Bakumatsu era regions. The central map sections are deliberately light on hidden items, but the temple complexes and multi-tier shrines hold dense clusters of Kodama locations, Scampuss spawn points, and hot spring caches. Community reports from players who have completed full clears indicate that roughly 40% of all collectibles sit inside temple interiors, while the remaining 60% scatter across cliff paths, rooftops, and guarded courtyards. Understanding this split prevents you from wasting time sweeping empty middle zones.

Before you start a regional clear, you need to know which categories exist and how they affect your run — Kodama (green spirits that grant blessing slots), Sudama (purple variants that trade items), Scampuss (rolling cat yokai that drain Anima), and Hot Springs (one-time Amrita boosts tied to trophy progress). The following table breaks down the core collectible types and their immediate value, including how Kodama placement density shifts between main missions and Twilight variants of the same map.

Kodama and Six Jizo statues share a similar merit-based system, but they do not compete for the same pool. According to the IGN wiki overview, Kodama Merit increases blessing levels at shrines, while Jizo Merit grants separate passive buffs that stay active as you move through the Warring States. Both systems reward exploration, so ignoring one while focusing on the other will leave your build underpowered for late-game missions.

Kiyomizu Temple Cluster and Early Kodama Rewards

The Kiyomizu region is the first major test of your collectible awareness, because its temple layout hides multiple Kodama behind destructible walls and elevated walkways. Hardcore Gamer's dedicated Kiyomizu guide notes that the bulk of the region's collectibles sit inside the temple grounds rather than the surrounding forest, which means you should clear the interior first before sweeping the outer cliffs. The middle zones between temples are intentionally sparse, so do not waste Treasure Sense uptime there.

Kiyomizu Interior Kodama Path

Start at the main prayer hall and work clockwise along the outer corridor. The first Kodama sits behind a breakable screen near the incense burner, while the second hides above a collapsed beam that requires a short ladder climb. A third green spirit spawns only after you clear the Yoki ambush in the side garden, because the game gates that spawn behind a combat trigger. This pattern repeats throughout Nioh 3, so if a Kodama does not appear where community maps show it, check whether you have cleared the nearby enemy group.

The following checklist covers the critical early-game Kiyomizu pickups that most players miss on a first pass — and the reason they slip past is structural: two Kodama are tucked behind breakable lattice walls only visible with Astral Sight active, while a third requires a precise drop from the east veranda onto a lower roofline during the post-Nurikabe collapse. Missing these in the Kiyomizu Interior Kodama Path locks you out of the Shrine's blessing tier until you backtrack from the Mount Hiei waypoint, costing roughly 12 minutes per missed pickup.

• Kodama behind the breakable screen in the main prayer hall
• Kodama above the collapsed beam near the rear stairs
• Kodama behind the Yoki ambush trigger in the side garden
• Scampuss on the rooftop accessed from the broken fence
• Hot spring in the cave behind the waterfall

How Early Kodama Blessings Change Your Run

Every Kodama you return to a shrine increases the level of that shrine's blessings, which means your Elixir respawn count and Amrita gain climb steadily through the first region. The PowerPyx boss guide specifically recommends gathering all possible collectibles in the first three sub-regions before facing the early boss, because the buffs and extra Elixirs make a measurable difference in survivability. You also earn Ninja Points and Samurai Points from exploration milestones, which unlock additional skills that complement your shrine blessings.

Scampuss Spawn Logic and Hot Spring Overlaps

Scampuss are round, cat-like yokai spirits that follow you for a limited time and attack nearby enemies. Their spawn locations overlap with several hot spring locations, which creates efficient dual-pickup routes if you know where to look. Unlike Kodama, Scampuss do not grant permanent merit, but they provide a temporary combat ally that can trivialize miniboss encounters when you find one right before an arena. The internal guide on Scampuss locations covers the full regional breakdown, but the key interaction is that Scampuss respawn at specific shrines after you rest.

Scampuss and Hot Spring Dual Routes

Because Scampuss and hot springs often share the same hidden side paths, you can combine your collection sweeps. A hot spring discovery restores your health and grants a permanent regional reward, while the nearby Scampuss gives you an immediate combat advantage for the next enemy cluster. The table below maps three common dual-pickup scenarios and what you gain from each:

The Sagano region's Scampuss spots are covered in more detail in the Scampuss locations guide, which includes the exact spawn conditions for each bamboo grove encounter. What matters for a collectible-focused run is that you never skip a hot spring just because you already found the nearby Scampuss, since the hot spring grants a separate regional completion flag that contributes to your overall checklist.

Six Jizo Statues and Merit Allocation Priority

Six Jizo statues are the second merit-based collectible type, and they appear more frequently in temple-heavy regions like Kiyomizu. Each statue you pray at grants Jizo Merit, which you can allocate toward minor passive buffs at shrines. The IGN Six Jizo guide confirms that these buffs function similarly to Kodama blessings but remain active across multiple regions, making them slightly more valuable for long-term progression. Players who ignore Jizo statues often find themselves short on passive ki recovery or elemental resistance by the mid-game.

Jizo Merit vs. Kodama Merit Investment

You cannot max out both merit trees simultaneously in the early game, so you need a priority order based on your playstyle. The table below compares the two systems across the attributes that matter most for a collectible-focused run:

Your choice here feeds directly into how you route your collection sweeps. If you prioritize Elixir respawn count, hit every Kodama in the first three regions before investing in Jizo statues. If you are dying to elemental damage, the Kodama merit guide breaks down the exact blessing thresholds and what each Jizo statue contributes to your passive defenses.

Efficient Collectible Sweep Strategies by Region

A full collectible clear requires more than just knowing where each item sits. You need a route that minimizes backtracking, because many regions force you to choose between a direct main path and a winding side path that hides multiple pickups. The PowerPyx boss guide's opening advice reinforces this: gathering collectibles in the first three sub-regions not only boosts your Amrita and Elixirs but also unlocks skills that make the rest of the sweep faster. The Crucible Wraith encounter in the first mission also unlocks Soul Core potential, which can speed up combat during your collection runs.

Route Planning with Treasure Sense

Treasure Sense is your most important tool for efficient sweeping, because it reveals nearby collectibles on your minimap even through walls. Activate it before entering any temple interior or multi-tier shrine, then clear the area in a clockwise pattern to avoid missing hidden rooms. Community data suggests that the majority of missed Kodama sit behind destructible objects, so always carry a weapon with high break damage when you are on a collection route.

The following priority list helps you decide what to grab first when you enter a new region, because Treasure Sense only reveals Kodama, Sudama, Scampuss locations, Hot Springs, and Locks of Hair within a 30-meter radius — it cannot flag Scattered Fragments or Dark Realm chests. Start by sweeping the main path for Kodama to lock in their Kodama Blessing bonuses (e.g., Healer Blessing for +12% Elixir drop rate), then branch into side caves for Hot Springs since each one grants a permanent +10 HP to your Max Ki Recovery pool. Save Locks of Hair for last — they only unlock Samurai Skill Points and Shiftling Skill Points, which you can bank until you reach a Shrine to respec.

• Grab all Kodama in the region's temple interior, since they grant permanent blessing upgrades

• Find every hot spring to unlock health regeneration points for future deaths

• Collect Six Jizo statues for passive buffs that persist across regions

• Pick up Scampuss last, since they are temporary and respawn at shrines anyway

Avoiding Backtracking with Chapter Progress Tracking

The chapter structure in Nioh 3 dictates which regions you can access at any given time, so you should track your collectible progress per chapter rather than trying to clear everything in one pass. The chapter guide lists every main mission and side quest in order, which helps you know when a previously locked region opens up for a return sweep. Backtracking is unavoidable for a 100% collectible run, but you can minimize it by clearing each region fully before moving to the next chapter.

Kodama Blessing Optimization and Endgame Rewards

Once you have collected a large number of Kodama across multiple regions, you unlock higher blessing tiers at every shrine. These blessings stack with your Kodama Merit allocation, creating a feedback loop where more collectibles lead to stronger shrine buffs, which in turn make further collection easier. The official Steam page confirms that the Kodama Netsuke Charm is included in the Digital Deluxe Edition, which provides an additional passive benefit for collectors who want to optimize their shrine interactions from the start.

Blessing Tier Breakdown and Regional Impact

Each shrine in Nioh 3 tracks your Kodama progress independently, but the blessing tiers scale globally based on the total number of Kodama you have found. This means that even if you focus on one region early, the shrines in other regions still benefit from your overall collection count. The table below shows how blessing tiers scale with your total Kodama count and what each tier unlocks:

Because blessing tiers scale with total Kodama count rather than per-region count, you should prioritize quantity over regional completion when you are early in the game. Every Kodama you find contributes to the global tier, even if you have not completed any single region's full checklist yet.

Hot Spring Completion and Hidden Area Unlocks

Some hot springs in Nioh 3 sit behind hidden walls or require specific traversal tools that you only unlock later in the story. When you discover a hot spring, the game permanently marks it on your map and grants a regional completion flag that contributes to your overall collectible percentage. The internal hot spring guide documents which springs reveal hidden areas, because several of them open up new paths to otherwise unreachable Kodama or Scampuss spawns.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Kodama are in Nioh 3?

The exact total varies by region, but community data suggests between 8 and 12 Kodama per major region across the Bakumatsu era. The central map sections are lighter, while temple complexes hold the densest clusters. A full clear requires revisiting locked areas after story progression unlocks new traversal tools.

Do Kodama blessings carry over to New Game+?

Yes, your Kodama Merit allocation and blessing tiers persist across playthroughs. However, you must re-collect the physical Kodama in each region if you want to re-upgrade that specific shrine's local blessings. The global blessing tier based on total count remains active from the start of New Game+.

What is the fastest way to find all collectibles?

Activate Treasure Sense before entering any temple or multi-tier area, then sweep clockwise through interiors first. Focus on Kodama and Six Jizo statues for permanent rewards, grab hot springs for health regen points, and leave Scampuss for last since they respawn at shrines. Clear each region fully before advancing the story to minimize backtracking.

Can I miss any collectibles permanently?

No, Nioh 3 does not have permanently missable collectibles. Every Kodama, Scampuss, hot spring, and Six Jizo statue remains accessible through chapter replay or post-game free roam. The only limitation is that some areas require story progression or traversal upgrades before you can reach their hidden pickups.

Do Scampuss count toward 100% completion?

Scampuss count toward regional completion percentage but are not required for the main story path. Since they respawn at shrines after you rest, you can farm them for temporary combat allies even after discovering their spawn points. Hot springs and Six Jizo statues carry more weight for permanent completion rewards.