Last Updated on Sep 7, 2026 @ 21:33:02 PM.
It’s been 20 years since Capcom last dipped its toe into the Onimusha franchise, but now it has returned in a pretty big way with Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Having spent plenty of time working my way through the Genma, fighting huge bosses that like to gleefully mock us at every turn, and finding more hidden items and unlockable skills than you’re likely to without some help, I have some tips and tricks that’ll make your adventure through Onimusha: Way of the Sword considerably easier.
Learn to Parry, and Parry a Lot
With some of the best swordplay since Sekiro, understanding and getting to grips with the gameplay in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is paramount if you expect to finish the game. Some of the earlier enemies aren’t that hard to predict with their humanoid ways of moving, but once you progress and encounter other enemies that move altogether differently, you’ll really need to pay attention to when they’re attacking, and getting that parry timing down. The variety of bosses also makes this more difficult, but give it time, have patience, and soon enough you’ll be a walking, talking, Oni master.
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Smash Everything
It’s not an action-adventure RPG if you’re not smashing everything in sight, right? From ceramic vases that may hide items, to uncovering hidden areas or paths to a secret boss. You need to smash everything all the time. It’ll make your life easier, trust me. You need a huge amount of resources to upgrade your clothing (health), sword (damage) and gauntlet (soul absorption and Oni powers), and it’s better to start off searching constantly than having to grind with them towards the end.
Explore
Linked to the points above, but you need to explore. The map is surprisingly dense once you’ve unlocked it, and there’s plenty of need to revisit the same area again and again, as you unlock more skills and abilities that’ll help you progress. You should explore every little nook and cranny, partly for resources, partly for Genma, and partly for the fun of it. You never know what you might find.
Upgrade Whenever Possible
Onimusha: Way of the Sword doesn’t telegraph itself too well, when it comes to upgrades. With you constantly being barraged with item names that you’ve picked up, status effects and more, it’s easy to miss the notice that you have everything you need to upgrade one of the three types. Check regularly, especially before big fights, and every time you find a new shrine. You won’t regret it, and it’s the best way to keep up to speed with the Genma that are constantly getting stronger throughout your time with the game.
Pick Up Everything
For obvious reasons, be it resource gathering or souls, you shouldn’t leave anything on the ground ever. You’re wasting your time if you do, so always pick it up.
Always Aim for the Head
The bow, as mentioned below, is very useful, but you need to make sure you’re using it to its best ability. It has the capability of one-shotting enemies if they’re unaware, so put the range to good use.
Don’t Forget the Souls
The amount of times I’d finish a fight against multiple Genma and just run off, forgetting the very souls I’d just fought to obtain, is not worth mentioning. It happened a lot, and is easily done. Unlike other games, the Souls here won’t automatically magnetise towards you if you don’t pick them up yourself, so you can and will lose them if you forget. Just hold the Left trigger during a down moment in a fight, or right after its conclusion, and grab all the souls present. You’ll need all three types regularly, so if you want full health, or lots of red souls to upgrade yourself, don’t forget to collect your souls! The gauntlet thanks you.
Use the Bow in and Out of Combat
The bow is unlocked an hour or so into Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and with it comes a weapon you’ll want to use continually in combat, and even sometimes out of it. There are a few telegraphed and obvious moments where you’ll need to use the bow to shoot through a gap, hitting a lock allowing you to open the door. You’ll also be using it for some puzzles when you need to move massive blocks that are in your way. If in doubt, shoot your way out. Oh, and the bow is surprisingly useful against bosses, both in obvious ways and less than. You’ll see.
Don’t Forget About the Map
It may sound silly, but don’t forget to use your map. The streets of Kyoto and beyond are maze like in their construction, and the map will not only allow you to navigate them, but show you where doors are located, how to get into other structures, where chests are, and also things like Oni Portals, shrines and more. You’d be stupid to ignore the map.
Take Your Time in Attack
A surefire way to getting yourself killed in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is to rush into combat without taking a second. The game is not for button bashing, and in fact, that’ll quickly result in you ending up in a muddle. Instead, weigh up your options, who you’re fighting, what their weaknesses are, if any, and how you plan to fight them. Issen attacks? Counters? Reflex combos? Finishers? Figure out your methods and then go for it.
Don’t Ignore the Gauntlet When it Glows
The gauntlet is Musashi Miyamoto’s most useful tool during the game, regularly highlighting hidden items, and of course sucking in the souls you get from fallen enemies. It’ll also regularly glow, and when it does, absolutely do not ignore it. It could be trying to draw your attention to a hidden chest, a new path, something for the story or even new weapons. If it glows, hold the two back triggers and see what it’s trying to show you.
Always Return to the Training Grounds
The Training Grounds is an area introduced to you early on, and you’re forgiven for ignoring it afterwards, thinking you know everything. Well, don’t. Abilities and mechanics are introduced throughout the game, and each one has a training exercise. The reason to do them, beyond mastering the skills? Well, you’ll earn resources for doing so, and as you continue through them, those resources get rarer. It’s worth doing just to get those harder to find resources, to be honest.
Talk to Everyone Whenever You Can
Onimusha: Way of the Sword isn’t open world in the truest sense, but it does have open areas. In these areas you can find all sorts, including NPCs, some of which will have quests for you, others that’ll just want to chat, and then there’s also those that sell items. You want to chat to them all, as you don’t want to miss anything, trust me.
For your next read, check out our tips and tricks for The Blood of Dawnwalker, or our Gamescom preview thoughts of LEGO Skylines.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
