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Almost every Souls-like game out there uses the same healing system: you have healing flasks, or anything equivalent to this mechanic borrowed from the Dark Souls games, and you use them whenever you want, and once you run out of those flasks, you can replenish them by resting at shrines (bonfires in Dark Souls).
In Nioh 3, the principle is quite similar, but the mechanic itself has its own specific rules. Since this action RPG from Team Ninja isn't the classic Souls-like (it follows its own set of rules), you might find all these healing mechanics quite puzzling, especially if you're a newcomer to the series.
If that's the case, we've prepared a guide for you in which we will try to explain everything regarding healing mechanics, from the basic question of how to heal to the more complicated ones on how to replenish healing items and, finally, how to upgrade them, so without further ado, let's begin.
How the Healing Works
The main item for healing in Nioh 3 is called Elixir, and the game will teach you thoroughly how to use it. If you've missed this tutorial by any chance, you'll have to enter the main menu by pressing the options key, and inside the 'Equipment' tab, navigate to the fourth section where you'll be able to set different shortcuts.
Set the elixir in the first shortcut, and you'll be able to use it. By default, the elixir should be set to the up arrow on the D-Pad, but if you choose some other command when setting the shortcut, it will be there.
You can set the elixir shortcut from the 'Items' menu as well by finding elixir under the 'Usable Items' tab, clicking on it, and choosing 'Set as Shortcut'.
Now, during the combat or out of it, you can heal by pressing the dedicated button. By default, you'll have eight elixirs at your disposal, and once you run out of them, you'll need to replenish them.
How to Replenish Elixirs
Praying at shrines replenishes elixirs, and this mechanic is the same as in all other Souls-likes, but with a small twist. While praying, you can replenish only four elixirs, while the other four can be added to your inventory if you collect them through exploration.
Once you have eight in total, every next elixir will go to the storage, and if you die and respawn, apart from the mandatory four, you'll draw from the storage additional ones if you have any, up to eight, which is the limit you can carry. If the storage is empty, you'll get only four, and you'll be able to collect more through exploration.
The elixirs can be found on the corpses you can loot, inside the chests, and as a drop loot after killing enemies. The drop rate of elixirs depends a lot on the upgrades you can unlock.
How to Upgrade Healing Items
Regarding the number of elixirs, it cannot be upgraded; you'll have eight of them, and it will remain that way to the end of the game. However, some other things regarding the healing system can be upgraded.
The one entire set of collectibles will be tied to the health upgrades, and it is called 'Blessing'. While exploring the world, you'll be finding friendly Kodama yokais and the Six Jizo statues. Kodama will grant you Kodama Blessing, while Six Jizo grants you Jizo Blessing.
Kodama Blessing can be used to upgrade the elixir drop rate, which means the bigger the level, the higher the chances of elixir being among the loot you find. Also with Kodama, you'll upgrade the efficiency of elixirs and gain the bonus for the Spirit Force (the special attack tied to Guardian Spirits that accompany you on your journey).
Kodama will allow you to upgrade some passive stat buffs that will be applied after using the elixir as well. Each of the five upgrades inside the Kodama Blessing has three levels, and each level requires more Kodama Merits.
Jizo Blessing is gained by praying at the dedicated locations where you'll find Jizo statues. Those health upgrades are similar to the previous ones, but they're tied to the Crucible (the world of Yokai you'll enter occasionally). Being inside this world and taking damage will cause your character to gain life corrosion (an effect that permanently shortens your life force). Those upgrades will see to those problems, making your character more resistant to those effects.
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