Nioh 3 Guide: How to Find and Defeat the Bloodedge Demon

The Bloodedge Demon represents one of Nioh 3's most rewarding challenges. This randomized optional boss drops premium gear scaled to your level, but finding it requires understanding a hidden tracking system the game never explains. Here's the thing: you'll need to hunt Revenants and follow their malice energy to pinpoint this demon's ever-changing location.

What Makes the Bloodedge Demon Special?

Unlike standard bosses in the Nioh 3 Boss List, this formidable enemy spawns at completely random locations that change every time you reboot the game. You'll find it marked by a massive purple grave surrounded by smaller red Bloody Graves, but getting there requires detective work.

The demon scales to your level and grows stronger with each Revenant you defeat during the tracking process. What most players miss is that this scaling system means you can farm it repeatedly at any point in your playthrough for level-appropriate legendary gear.

How to Track Down the Bloodedge Demon

Malice energy shows direction

The tracking system relies on defeating Revenants from Bloody Graves scattered throughout the world. Here's your step-by-step hunting guide:

Step 1: Find Revenant-Heavy Areas

Look for clusters of Bloody Graves in open areas rather than near boss arenas. Enemy Base entrances and mission starting points typically have multiple graves grouped together. The key here is finding spots where you can quickly defeat several Revenants without traveling far.

Step 2: Defeat Revenants and Watch for Malice

When you kill a Revenant, watch carefully for the notification: "The direction of the Revenant's malice has been marked on the map." You'll see red essence disperse from the defeated enemy, flowing in a specific direction.

Open your map immediately. Red arrows now point toward the Bloodedge Demon's general location. These arrows show direction, not exact distance, so you'll need multiple reference points.

Red arrows triangulate position

Step 3: Triangulate the Location

The smart approach involves strategic positioning. Kill one Revenant, note the arrow direction, then travel roughly halfway across the map and defeat another. The intersection of these arrow paths reveals the demon's approximate location.

Pro tip: Don't kill too many Revenants during your search. Each defeated Revenant makes the Bloodedge Demon stronger, and you'll want to save some challenge reduction for the actual fight.

Step 4: Locate the Purple Grave

You'll know you've found the right spot when you see a towering purple energy pillar surrounded by additional Bloody Graves. This distinctive marker is impossible to miss once you're in the correct area. Interact with it by holding R1 (PlayStation) or RB (Xbox) to summon the boss.

Combat Strategy: Beating the Bloodedge Demon

This four-armed nightmare hits like a freight train and combines elemental attacks with relentless melee combos. You'll want to be at least Level 25 before attempting this fight, though higher is always better.

Elemental Attack Patterns

The demon's arms glow with different elemental energies that telegraph its attack types:

Recommended Combat Approach

For Samurai Players:

Switch to Low Stance with your heaviest weapon. The Nioh 3 Weapon Tier List ranks axes highly for this exact scenario. You'll want to:

1. Master Deflect timing - The demon's four-armed assault requires precise parries
2. Poke between attacks - Don't commit to long combos
3. Use charged heavies - When the demon recovers from combos
4. Flux aggressively - Switch stances during Ki Pulse to maintain pressure

Deflect parry timing window for Nioh 3

For Ninja Players:

This fight becomes significantly easier with ranged tactics. Stock up on projectiles and follow this rotation:

1. Gunpowder and Shrapnel Projectiles for consistent damage
2. Evade Ninjutsu to refresh your ammunition
3. Aim for the back when the demon focuses elsewhere
4. Kite around obstacles to create safe zones

What most players miss: The demon's AI can get stuck on environmental objects like carts and buildings. If you spawn it in a crowded village area, use this to your advantage.

Burst Break Opportunities

When the demon gathers red energy for an unblockable attack, don't run away. Instead, Burst Break directly into it for massive Ki damage. The demon stands still during these wind-ups, giving you time to heal or reapply buffs if needed.

Time your Burst Break for the moment just before the attack releases. A successful counter can stagger the demon, opening it up for a devastating combo.

Multiplayer Advantage

Expedition menu setup in Nioh 3

The Bloodedge Demon becomes far more manageable with help. Use the co-op feature at Shrines:

1. Navigate to Expeditions > Story Mode > Create Room
2. Wait for another player or invite a friend
3. Summon an Acolyte from blue graves if available
4. Coordinate elemental attacks to build status effects

With two players, one can draw aggro while the other uses ranged Ninjutsu from the Best Ninjutsu guide to chip away safely.

Rewards Worth the Struggle

Defeating the Bloodedge Demon grants substantial rewards that scale with your level:

Guaranteed Drops:

• 10 random equipment pieces (typically purple rarity or higher)
• Bloodedge Demon Soul Core (changes element based on Guardian Spirit)
• Umbracite for forging and reforging
• Bloodedge Demon's Blood crafting material
• Massive XP boost proportional to your level

Soul Core Benefits

The Bloodedge Demon Soul Core functions differently depending on placement:

• Yang Position: Summons the demon for a devastating elemental combo attack matching your Guardian Spirit's element
• Yin Position: Grants access to Carnage Talisman, which boosts melee attack power at the cost of reduced defense

This versatility makes it one of the most valuable Soul Cores for both offensive and defensive builds.

Knowing Which Era to Search

After your first Bloodedge Demon victory, you'll receive helpful notifications when interacting with Shrines:

• "A Bloodedge Demon has appeared" - It's in your current era/map
• "A Bloodedge Demon has appeared in a different era" - Check the other two regions

The game features three major eras you'll visit during the main story. If you're not seeing red arrows after defeating Revenants, the demon spawned in a different era entirely.

Advanced Farming Strategy

Once you've mastered the fight, the Bloodedge Demon becomes an excellent farming target. Here's your optimal farming loop:

1. Locate the demon using minimal Revenant kills (3-4 maximum)
2. Defeat it repeatedly without closing the game
3. Collect and compare gear between attempts
4. Reboot for new location only when ready for fresh challenges

The demon respawns instantly after death, making it perfect for farming specific gear types or Soul Cores with ideal stat rolls.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Killing Too Many Revenants: Each defeated Revenant buffs the demon. Stick to 4-6 maximum during your search to keep difficulty manageable.
• Fighting Underleveled: Level 25 is the bare minimum. You'll have a much better time at Level 30+ with upgraded gear from previous bosses like Yamagata Masakage.
• Blocking Instead of Dodging: The demon's elemental attacks deal chip damage through blocks and drain Ki rapidly. Prioritize dodging for most attacks, blocking only when necessary.
• Ignoring Environmental Advantages: The spawn location varies wildly. Some areas have tight corridors that limit your movement, while others offer open spaces perfect for Ninja kiting strategies.

The Bloodedge Demon represents Nioh 3's philosophy of rewarding skilled, persistent players. Once you've mastered the tracking system and combat patterns, this optional boss transforms from a nightmare into a reliable source of premium gear. The randomized location keeps each hunt feeling fresh, while the scaling difficulty ensures the challenge remains relevant throughout your entire playthrough.