Best Route To The Swordsmiths Hammer Fast In Nioh 3 |
This guide covers everything you need to complete A Fierce Flame in Nioh 3 and obtain the Swordsmith's Hammer as early as possible. If you want a reliable early-game boost, this quest is one of the best side myths to prioritize. Below you’ll find a concise route, traversal tricks, combat tactics, inventory and upgrade advice, optional detours, troubleshooting, and a full FAQ. Read the quick route if you want to rush the reward, or follow the detailed sections for a complete, safe run that also nets extra loot and smithing texts. Throughout the guide I’ll highlight the most important actions and call out the keywords you should watch for in menus and dialogue.
How to Trigger A Fierce Flame
A Fierce Flame becomes available after you unlock access to the Eternal Rift and speak with the Fox-masked Blacksmith who appears there. The blacksmith’s request is simple: she needs Kagutsuchi's Magatama to stoke a special furnace and asks you to retrieve it from a shrine on an island in Lake Sanaru. If you’ve progressed through the early main missions and opened the Rift, return to the blacksmith and accept the myth. The quest will appear in your mission log and place an objective marker on your map. If the marker doesn’t show, open the map and look for the Maisaka region; the shrine sits on a small rocky island in Lake Sanaru.
Fast Route Summary (Speedrun Friendly)
If you want the Swordsmith's Hammer fast, follow this condensed route: fast travel to the nearest unlocked shrine in Maisaka, head north toward Lake Sanaru, drop to the left wooden ledge before the broken bridge, follow the lower cave path beneath the bridge, clear the short gauntlet, break the Crucible Spike, cross the bridge to the island, hug the right-hand side to find wooden platforms and a northern ledge, ascend to the shrine, pick up Kagutsuchi's Magatama, fast travel back to the Eternal Rift, and hand the magatama to the Fox-masked Blacksmith. Skip optional fights and loot to shave minutes off the run.
Detailed Route and Traversal Tricks
From the Maisaka shrine, head north along the main road. The path is mostly linear but includes a broken bridge that blocks the direct approach to the island shrine. Don’t attempt to jump the gap; instead, look for a narrow wooden ledge on the left side of the approach. Drop down to that ledge and follow it around the cliff face. This detour leads to a cave entrance and a lower path that skirts beneath the broken bridge. The game often places a small creature (a Scampuss-like NPC) near the bridge; it will roll or move and reveal the lower route visually. If you don’t see the creature, the left-side ledge is still the correct traversal.
The lower path contains a short gauntlet with a mix of humanoid bandits and yokai. Use the environment to funnel enemies one at a time. Narrow corridors favor parry and counterplay; open areas favor dodging and repositioning. After the gauntlet you’ll reach a destructible Crucible Spike blocking a small bridge—use a heavy attack or a short combo to shatter it. Cross the bridge to the island and hug the right-hand side of the island’s perimeter. Wooden platforms and scaffolding on the right lead to a safer ascent that bypasses the most dangerous patrols. If you prefer to loot, the southern detour contains extra gear and set pieces; otherwise, continue to the shrine at the island’s highest point.
Combat Tactics for the Route
The enemies on this route are a mix of human bandits and yokai such as water-based or snake-like foes. For humanoids, rely on parry and quick counters; for yokai, watch for wind-up animations and use guard breaks or elemental attacks to stagger them. If you use Onmyo magic, a single binding talisman or a well-timed talisman can neutralize a dangerous yokai long enough to clear the area. Keep your stance balanced: mid-stance for mobility, low-stance for quick combos, and high-stance for heavy posture damage if you’re using a heavier weapon. Consumables matter—bring elixirs, a poison cure if you expect status effects, and a couple of throwing knives to interrupt ranged enemies. If you’re underleveled, funnel enemies into chokepoints and pick them off one at a time.
How to Secure Kagutsuchi’s Magatama
The shrine on the island contains Kagutsuchi's Magatama. Interact with the shrine to collect the magatama; the interaction is instant and does not spawn a boss. Be mindful of ambush points—enemies can spawn if you linger near the shrine, so grab the magatama and fast travel back to the Eternal Rift as soon as possible. If you want to clear the island first, do so quickly and avoid unnecessary fights; the shrine interaction is the only required action to complete the myth.
Turning the Magatama in for the Swordsmith’s Hammer
Return to the Eternal Rift and speak to the Fox-masked Blacksmith. Hand over Kagutsuchi's Magatama to complete A Fierce Flame. The reward is the Swordsmith's Hammer, a smithing text, and additional small drops depending on RNG and difficulty. The hammer unlocks early crafting and upgrade options that can significantly accelerate your progression. After receiving the hammer, open your forging menu and check for new recipes or upgrade paths that the smithing text unlocked.
Why the Swordsmith’s Hammer Matters Early
The Swordsmith's Hammer is valuable because it unlocks early crafting and upgrade options that can outpace the normal progression curve. Use the hammer to craft or upgrade a weapon that complements your build: prioritize attack speed and critical for fast samurai builds, or raw damage and posture break for heavy weapon builds. The smithing text you receive often teaches a unique weapon or upgrade path—inspect your smithing list and plan which weapon will give you the biggest immediate power spike. If you’re aiming for a fast clear of early missions, a single well-upgraded weapon can make a dramatic difference.
Inventory, Gear, and Upgrade Recommendations
Before attempting the run, ensure your primary weapon is at least one upgrade above base. If you’re a katana user, keep your weapon in mid-stance for mobility and switch to low-stance for quick finishers. Heavy weapon users should focus on guard and spacing to avoid being overwhelmed by yokai reach attacks. Equip a quick-switch secondary weapon for stagger windows and a talisman or two for crowd control. Consumables: bring multiple elixirs, a poison cure, and a handful of throwing knives. If you have smithing materials, consider pre-upgrading a weapon to reduce time spent farming after you obtain the hammer.
Optional Loot and Side Benefits
The fastest route skips optional loot, but the southern detour on the island contains valuable items: a Soshu Dual Uchigatana, random armor pieces, and ascetic sleeves. If you want to maximize gear, take the detour and loot corpses before ascending to the shrine. These items can help if you’re struggling with the gauntlet or want to diversify your loadout. Additionally, completing the myth may unlock follow-up dialogue or chained myths from the Fox-masked Blacksmith—check back after completion to see if new smithing options or side quests appear.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you can’t find the shrine, verify you’ve unlocked the Maisaka shrine for fast travel; otherwise you’ll be forced to walk from a farther region. If the Scampuss-like creature isn’t present, follow the left-side ledge and cave path beneath the broken bridge—its position can vary slightly. If enemies keep respawning, rest at a nearby shrine to reset enemy placements before attempting the shrine interaction again. If you don’t receive the Swordsmith's Hammer after turning in the magatama, double-check that you completed the shrine interaction and returned to the Fox-masked Blacksmith; the reward is guaranteed upon proper completion.
Co-op and Scaling Notes
The quest scales well in co-op. Bringing a partner who can draw aggro while you secure the shrine makes the run easier and faster. The Swordsmith's Hammer reward is granted to the host upon completion; co-op partners still benefit from the cleared area and any drops they pick up. If you plan to run this with friends, coordinate who will pick up the magatama and who will return to the Rift to hand it in—communication saves time.
Speedrun and Efficiency Tips
For speedruns, skip optional fights and loot. From the Maisaka shrine, sprint north, drop to the left ledge, follow the cave, break the Crucible Spike, cross the bridge, follow the Scampuss route to the northern ledge, jump back to the main island, ascend to the shrine, pick up the magatama, and fast travel back to the Eternal Rift. Use sprint-jump to clear small gaps and spirit veins to cross larger ones. Keep camera tight in narrow corridors to avoid missing jump prompts. Use elixirs only when necessary and avoid combat unless it blocks your path.
Build-Specific Advice After You Get the Hammer
Katana / Fast Builds: Use the hammer to craft a weapon with high attack speed and critical. Prioritize upgrades that increase attack and critical damage to maximize DPS.
Heavy / Axe Builds: Focus on weapons with high posture break and raw damage. The hammer can unlock upgrades that let you break enemy posture faster, which is crucial for heavy builds.
Onmyo / Magic Users: Use the hammer to craft a weapon that complements your talismans and spells. A weapon with good elemental scaling will amplify your magic damage.
Hybrid Builds: If you run a mixed melee/magic build, craft a versatile weapon that scales with both physical and elemental stats to keep options open.
Roleplaying and Lore Notes
The Fox-masked Blacksmith is a memorable NPC who ties smithing lore to the world’s myths. Handing over Kagutsuchi's Magatama not only rewards you mechanically but also deepens the narrative around smithing and the Eternal Rift. If you enjoy lore, talk to the blacksmith after completion—she often has additional lines that hint at other myths or smithing secrets.
Complete Walkthrough (Step-by-Step)
Progress the main story until the Eternal Rift is unlocked.
Enter the Rift and speak to the Fox-masked Blacksmith to accept A Fierce Flame.
Fast travel to the Maisaka shrine.
Head north toward Lake Sanaru.
Before the broken bridge, drop to the left wooden ledge and follow the cave path beneath the bridge.
Clear the short gauntlet of humanoids and yokai, using chokepoints and parry where possible.
Break the Crucible Spike blocking the bridge.
Cross the bridge to the island and hug the right-hand side to find wooden platforms and a northern ledge.
Ascend to the shrine at the island’s highest point and interact to collect Kagutsuchi's Magatama.
Fast travel back to the Eternal Rift and hand the magatama to the Fox-masked Blacksmith.
Receive the Swordsmith's Hammer, smithing text, and additional rewards.
Open your forging menu and use the hammer to craft or upgrade a weapon that suits your build.
Minimal Bullet Checklist (for quick reference)
Accept myth from Fox-masked Blacksmith in Eternal Rift
Fast travel to Maisaka shrine
Drop to left ledge under broken bridge
Clear gauntlet, break Crucible Spike
Cross bridge, ascend island via right-hand platforms
Collect Kagutsuchi's Magatama at shrine
Return to Rift, hand magatama to blacksmith
Claim Swordsmith's Hammer and smithing text
Final Practical Tips
Keep a single talisman or binding spell ready for dangerous yokai, and a poison cure if you expect status effects. Use spirit veins to cross gaps quickly and sprint-jump to avoid falling from scaffolding. If you’re underleveled, funnel enemies into narrow corridors and pick them off one at a time. After you receive the Swordsmith's Hammer, plan which weapon to upgrade first—this single choice can reshape your early progression.
FAQ
How do I unlock A Fierce Flame? Progress the main story until the Eternal Rift is accessible, then speak to the Fox-masked Blacksmith inside the Rift to accept the myth.
Where is Kagutsuchi’s Magatama located? It’s at the shrine on the rocky island in Lake Sanaru in Maisaka. Use the left-side ledge under the broken bridge and follow the lower cave path to reach the shrine quickly.
What enemies will I face on the route? Expect a mix of humanoid bandits and yokai such as water-based or snake-like enemies. Use parry for humanoids and guard breaks or elemental attacks for yokai.
What’s the fastest route to the shrine? Fast travel to Maisaka shrine, head north, drop to the left wooden ledge, follow the cave path under the broken bridge, break the Crucible Spike, cross the bridge, follow the northern ledge route, and ascend to the shrine.
What do I get for completing the myth? You receive the Swordsmith's Hammer, a smithing text, and additional small rewards. The hammer unlocks early crafting and upgrade options.
Can I miss the Swordsmith’s Hammer? No. The hammer is a guaranteed reward for completing A Fierce Flame. If you don’t receive it, ensure you completed the shrine interaction and returned the magatama to the blacksmith.
Is the Scampuss required to find the path? No, but the creature acts as a helpful visual guide. If it’s not present, follow the left-side ledge and cave path beneath the broken bridge.
Should I clear optional loot? Optional loot on the southern detour includes useful gear. Skip it for the fastest completion; take it if you want extra items or a slight power boost.
Does difficulty affect the reward? Difficulty may affect the quality of additional drops, but the Swordsmith's Hammer and the smithing text are guaranteed upon completion.
Can I complete this quest in co-op? Yes. The quest scales in co-op and is easier with a partner who can draw aggro while you secure the shrine.
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