Emotes in Nioh 3 are far more than just animations for fun. They’re a core mechanic that influences combat avoidance, interacts with hidden enemies (Yokai), opens treasure chests with Mujina, and helps with exploration and social play. Mastering gestures can make your journey through the game easier and more rewarding.
1. How Emotes Works
In Nioh 3, gestures (sometimes called emotes) are character actions you can perform on command — like waving, bowing, or dancing — but the system goes deeper than cosmetic flair. They help you:
- Communicate in co-op sessions without voice chat
- Progress without combat by appeasing or tricking specific yokai
- Reveal secrets and access hidden areas
- Fulfill certain NPC interaction requirements
Unlike many other games where emotes are optional, in Nioh 3, they are used for accessing hidden areas by getting past Yokai enemies and Mimic chests, used to open shortcuts, and get rewards.
2. How to Use Emotes
Emote Wheel
To perform an emote, you must first open the gesture menu, which presents your current set of emotes.
- PS5: Hold R1 then press Options
- Xbox-style controller: Hold RB, then press Menu
- PC (keyboard): Press G
- PC (controller): Hold RB + Menu
Once the wheel is open:
- Navigate with the analog stick/d-pad or mouse
- Confirm a gesture with the button (X on PS5/A on Xbox/left-click on PC)
- The game does not pause when the menu is open — you remain vulnerable to enemy attacks.
Tip: Only open the gesture wheel in safe spots (e.g., after clearing enemies or near a Shrine) to avoid unintended damage.
3. Gesture Categories
Emote Colors
Gestures are color-coded to help in predator-yokai interactions. This categorization matters when dealing with yokai like Nurikabe, who respond not to specific animations but to the color category of the gesture. The three categories are:
| Color | Meaning | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Friendly, positive | Calm/peaceful interactions |
| Yellow | Neutral | Casual or standard interactions |
| Red | Hostile or aggressive | Threatening/taunting gestures |
4. How to Get Past Nurikabe Walls
Nurikabe Wall
Nurikabe are yokai disguised as ordinary walls. They block your path and often guard shortcuts or treasure areas. If you approach one and its eyes open (revealing it’s not a normal wall), you can either fight it or use gestures to make it disappear peacefully without combat.
- Walk close to the wall until it reveals itself and its eyes open.
- Open the gesture wheel.
- Pick a gesture by color category (blue, yellow, or red).
- If the category matches what the Nurikabe wants, it vanishes and lets you pass peacefully.
- You get two attempts; if both are wrong, it turns hostile(red eye) and attacks.
Tip: Look for nearby player graves/revenants — they often show how a past player died, including which color gesture they used. That can hint at which color not to try.
5. How to Get Mujina Chest Rewards
Emote for Mujina Mimic
Mujina are tricky yokai that disguise themselves as treasure chests. When you open the chest, they appear in your likeness. Mujina chests usually have three decorative gold bands on the sides (as opposed to two on normal chests), giving you a hint before even opening.
- Watch the gesture it performs.
- Repeat the exact same gesture.
- If you match it, the Mujina is appeased, drops its loot, and leaves without combat.
- If you choose incorrectly, a fight begins.
The first time you successfully do an emote challenge against a Mujina from the treasure chest, you will unlock a new emote, Overjoyed.
6. How to Buy More Emotes
Trading at Hidden Teahouse
When you start Nioh 3, you have only a basic set of gestures. As you progress, you can acquire more:
- Visit the Hidden Teahouse at the Eternal Rift hub after progressing far enough in the main campaign.
- Speak with Matsunaga Hisahide and select Trade → Gestures.
- Spend Glory (earned from defeating enemies, especially bloody grave summons) to unlock new emotes.
These additional gestures expand your options for co-op communication and increase the variety of interactions you can attempt with yokai.
7. Tips for Using Gestures Effectively
Gestures are not only tools for yokai interaction — they also help you play smarter:
- Arrange Your Wheel: Put your most-used gestures (e.g., specific colors you rely on for Nurikabe) on the first page for rapid selection. Press Ctrl to select an emote and move it around.
- Practice Recognition: Quick identification is key — especially for Mujina encounters, where a fast match improves outcomes.
- Use in Co-op: Gestures like “Point,” “Wave,” or “Thanks” help coordinate with players when voice isn’t available.
- Avoid Combat Unnecessarily: Correct gesture use can save healing items and Ki stamina by avoiding avoidable battles.
