All Abilities in Onimusha: Way of the Sword and How to Unlock Them

In addition to the different pieces of equipment you can obtain in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, you'll also have access to a large number of abilities that can be unlocked through the Growth menu at any Spirit Mirror. These abilities can improve basic combat techniques, enhance their effects or unlock entirely new moves. They are a fundamental part of character progression, and completing the game will be much harder if you ignore them.

How to unlock new abilities

The number of abilities available to you at the beginning is very limited, with only a handful to choose from. While some are unlocked automatically as you progress through the story, to gain access to more you'll need to find the Oni Gates scattered throughout Kyoto. Only by finding them will you be able to unlock some of the most powerful abilities.

Basic abilities

These are all the basic abilities available in the Spirit Mirror's Growth menu. They are primarily general combat abilities. These upgrades require red souls and Power Stones:

Instant Kill branch

These abilities focus on Issen attacks, a classic mechanic from the series that allows you to instantly kill regular enemies or deal massive damage if you attack just before an enemy's strike hits Musashi. This branch also includes counterattacks following perfectly timed dodges, which are essential against certain bosses.

• Issen: available by default. Allows you to perform extremely powerful Issen attacks. Don't confuse this with Break Issen, which is performed against an enemy whose Stamina Gauge has been completely depleted.
  
  • Reflex Combo: requires Power Stone x2. Adds a Reflex Gauge that fills when you perform Reflex Dodges. Once full, you can unleash a Reflex Combo.
  • Reflex Combo Power 1: requires 4,500 red souls. Increases the damage dealt by Reflex Combos.
  • Ultimate Reflex Combo: requires Power Stone x3. Increases the number of attacks performed during a Reflex Combo.
  • Reflex Combo Power 2: requires 6,500 red souls. Further increases the damage dealt by Reflex Combos.
  • Chain Issen: requires Power Stone x2. Allows you to chain Issen attacks between up to three enemies, even if their Stamina Gauges haven't been depleted. This only works with regular Issen attacks, not Break Issen.
  • Issen Power 1: requires 4,500 red souls. Increases Issen damage.
  • Chain Issen: Chain Length 1: requires Power Stone x3. Allows you to defeat up to four enemies with a Chain Issen.
  • Chain Issen: Chain Length 2: requires Power Stone x3. Allows you to defeat up to five enemies with a Chain Issen.
  • Issen Power 2: requires 6,500 red souls. Further increases Issen damage.

Deflection branch

These abilities focus on deflecting attacks and exploiting enemies whose stamina has been depleted. From gaining combat advantages through well-timed defense to sending projectiles back at enemies, everything in this branch revolves around mastering your guard.

• Break Issen Combo: available by default. Allows you to chain Break Issens between multiple enemies whose Stamina Gauges have been completely depleted. Don't confuse this with Chain Issen from the previous branch.
  
  • Deflect: requires Power Stone x2. Allows you to deflect enemy attacks, heavily depleting their stamina and even sending certain projectiles back at their source.
  • Deflection Power 1: requires 4,500 red souls. Deflecting attacks depletes more enemy stamina.
  • Deadly Deflection: requires Power Stone x3. Increases the damage dealt when ranged attacks are deflected back at enemies.
  • Break Issen: Red Soul Yield: requires 5,500 red souls. Break Issens extract more red souls from defeated enemies.
  • Deflection Power 2: requires 6,500 red souls. Further increases the amount of enemy stamina depleted when deflecting attacks.
  • Blazing State: requires Power Stone x2. Adds the Blaze Gauge, which fills by successfully parrying attacks. Once full, Musashi enters the Blazing State and temporarily deals more damage.
  • Blazing State: Range: requires Power Stone x3. Increases the range of your sword attacks while in the Blazing State.
  • Blazing State: Duration: requires Power Stone x3. Extends the duration of the Blazing State.

Oni Bow branch

These abilities focus on the Oni Bow, your only dedicated ranged weapon. Its unlimited magical arrows allow you to eliminate enemies outside your sword's reach or precisely target weak points.

• Oni Bow: available once you obtain the Oni Bow. Allows you to fire magical arrows without consuming ammunition or the Oni Power Gauge.
  
  • Oni Bow Power 1: requires 3,500 red souls. Increases bow damage.
  • Oni Bow: Ultimate Charged Attack: requires Power Stone x2. Allows you to charge the bow even further before firing.
  • Oni Bow: Charge Time: requires 5,500 red souls. Reduces the time needed to fully charge the bow.
  • Oni Bow: Arrow Duration: requires Power Stone x3. Enemies pierced by arrows cannot recover stamina until the arrow disappears.
  • Oni Bow Power 2: requires 6,500 red souls. Further increases bow damage.

Assassination branch

These abilities focus on stealth, allowing you to instantly kill unaware enemies from behind. Some abilities can also terrify nearby enemies, leaving them vulnerable to instant kills.

• Assassination: available by default. Allows you to instantly kill unaware enemies from behind.
  
  • Stealth: requires 3,500 red souls. Makes it harder for enemies to detect you while you approach them.
  • Stealth: Assassination Boost: requires 4,500 red souls. Makes it harder for surrounding enemies to detect you even after performing an Assassination.
  • Stealth While Running: requires 5,500 red souls. Reduces detection by enemies even while running.
  • Petrify: requires Power Stone x2. Killing an enemy can cause nearby enemies to freeze with fear, allowing you to kill them with a single strike.
  • Petrify: Number of Targets: requires Power Stone x3. Increases the number of nearby enemies that can be Petrified.
  • Petrify Stronger Enemies: requires Power Stone x3. Allows stronger types of enemies to be Petrified.

Traversal and Items branch

These abilities are related to exploration, consumable items and your equipment. They allow you to move faster, improve item drops, carry more Charms and gain other useful benefits.

• Flat-Out Sprint: requires Power Stone x2. Increases your movement speed after sprinting for a certain amount of time. Only works in Eastern Kyoto.
• Environmental Object Power 1: requires 4,500 red souls. Increases the damage dealt by environmental objects such as carts, planks and explosive pots.
• Items: Effect Duration: requires 5,500 red souls. Increases the duration of certain item effects.
• Items: Number Found: requires 5,500 red souls. Makes consumable items more likely to appear when breaking pots or boxes. This doesn't increase the amount of upgrade materials found in chests.
• Environmental Object Power 2: requires 6,500 red souls. Further increases the damage dealt by environmental objects.
• Items: Quick Use: requires Power Stone x3. Allows you to use items more quickly.
• Absorb Souls While Attacking: requires Power Stone x2. Allows you to absorb souls automatically while attacking, although it doesn't work with every attack.
• Soul Absorption: Yield 1: requires 5,500 red souls. Increases the number of souls that can be absorbed.
• Soul Absorption Bonus Boost: requires Power Stone x3. Increases the bonus earned when absorbing a large number of souls in succession.
• Soul Absorption: Yield 2: requires 6,500 red souls. Further increases the number of souls that can be absorbed.
• Charm Capacity 1: requires Power Stone x2. Allows you to equip up to 2 Charms at the same time.
• Charm Capacity 2: requires Power Stone x3. Allows you to equip up to 3 Charms at the same time.

Special abilities

Special abilities are directly tied to Oni powers. These upgrades require red souls and Oni Stones:

Oni Vision

These abilities are related to Oni Vision, which makes hidden elements in the environment easier to spot. This includes points of interest, consumables, Treasures, material containers and even certain story-related elements.

• Oni Vision: unlocked automatically as part of the story. Allows Musashi to perceive things hidden from normal sight.
  
  • Oni Vision: Destructibles: requires 3,500 red souls. Makes destructible environmental objects and breakable enemy body parts easier to spot.
  • Oni Vision: Treasures: requires Oni Stone x2. Makes hidden Treasures and Hozuki in the surrounding area visible.
  • Oni Vision: Treasures 2: requires Oni Stone x2. Automatically reveals nearby Treasures and Hozuki while outside combat.
  • Oni Vision: Search Range: requires 5,500 red souls. Increases the detection range of Oni Vision.

Oni Strength

These abilities are related to Oni Strength, which allows you to interact with heavy objects. It can be used to destroy Malice Barriers, throw objects and even tear corruption pillars from the ground to use against enemies.

• Oni Strength: Destroy: unlocked automatically as part of the story. Allows you to unleash powerful attacks that are particularly effective at breaking enemy guards and armor.
  
  • Handle Bigger Objects: requires 3,500 red souls. Allows you to hurl powder kegs, oil pots and other heavy objects at enemies.
  • Handle Even Bigger Objects: requires 4,500 red souls. Allows you to pick up corruption pillars and swing them at enemies.
  • Oni Strength: Destruction Speed: requires Oni Stone x2. Reduces the time needed to destroy Malice Barriers.
  • Oni Strength: Slice: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows you to perform charged one-handed attacks by holding the one-handed attack button.
  • Oni Strength: Slice - Charge Time: requires 6,500 red souls. Reduces the time needed to charge Oni Strength: Slice.
  • Oni Strength: Chop: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows you to perform charged two-handed attacks by holding the two-handed attack button.
  • Oni Strength: Chop - Charge Time: requires 6,500 red souls. Reduces the time needed to charge Oni Strength: Chop.

Oni Agility

These abilities are related to Oni Agility, which allows you to move rapidly in certain situations. It isn't just useful for wall running: some upgrades also allow you to perform Issen attacks and Reflex Combos in response to ranged attacks, something that is extremely useful against certain bosses.

• Oni Agility: Wall Run: unlocked automatically as part of the story. Allows you to run along certain walls and cross gaps or chasms.
  
  • Oni Agility: Fall Recovery: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows you to recover in mid-air after being sent flying by an enemy attack, letting you get back into the fight more quickly.
  • Issen: Range: requires Oni Stone x2. Allows you to respond to ranged attacks such as arrows or Kubi Akari energy projectiles with an Issen.
  • Reflex Combo: Range: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows you to perform Reflex Combos in response to ranged attacks such as arrows or Kubi Akari energy projectiles.

Oni Awakening branch

These abilities are related to Musashi's Onimusha form. They extend the duration of this state and increase the power of the special attack available while it is active.

• Oni Awakening: allows Musashi to assume his Onimusha form once enough purple souls have been absorbed to fill the Awakening Gauge. Unlocked automatically as part of the story.
  
  • Oni Awakening: Duration: requires Oni Stone x3. Extends the duration of Oni Awakening.
  • Onimusha Onslaught: Power: requires 8,500 red souls. Increases the power of Onimusha Onslaught, the special attack available during Oni Awakening.

Oni Armaments branch

These abilities are related to the Oni Armaments, your supernatural weapons. They can unlock new attacks and combos, increase their power or duration, and enhance their unique special abilities.

• The Two Celestials: unlocked after obtaining The Two Celestials. Allows you to use the Armament by consuming Oni Power.
  
  • Two Celestials: Combo Strength: requires Oni Stone x2. Pressing the Skill button at the correct moment during a Two Celestials combo increases its damage and generates more yellow souls.
  • Two Celestials: Power: requires 4,500 red souls. Increases the power of the Two Celestials.
  • Two Celestials: Combo Strength+: requires Oni Stone x3. During a powered-up attack, press the Skill button when the Two Celestials flash before the final hit to deal additional damage and generate more yellow souls.
• Wind-Whipper: unlocked after obtaining the Wind-Whipper. Allows you to use the Armament by consuming Oni Power.
  
  • Wind-Whipper: Power/Duration: requires Oni Stone x2. Increases the whirlwind's duration and power.
  • Wind-Whipper: Power: requires 5,500 red souls. Increases the power of the Wind-Whipper.
  • Wind-Whipper: Range: requires Oni Stone x3. Increases the size and range of the whirlwind.
• Earth-Shakers: unlocked after obtaining the Earth-Shakers. Allows you to use the Armament by consuming Oni Power.
  
  • Earth-Shakers: Charge Level: requires Oni Stone x2. Allows the Earth-Shakers to be charged even further before attacking.
  • Earth-Shakers: Power: requires 5,500 red souls. Increases the health and stamina damage dealt by the Earth-Shakers.
  • Earth-Shakers: Charge Time: requires Oni Stone x3. Reduces the time needed to charge the Earth-Shakers, making them much more effective against bosses.
• Firebird Flute: unlocked after obtaining the Firebird Flute. Allows you to use the Armament by consuming Oni Power.
  
  • Firebird Flute: Charged Shot: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows you to charge the firebird attack and launch the entire flock at once in a powerful strike.
  • Firebird Flute: Power: requires 5,500 red souls. Increases the power of the Firebird Flute.
  • Firebird Flute: Projectiles: requires Oni Stone x3. Each attack launches two birds instead of one, allowing you to fire a total of six birds in three volleys. When several enemies are present, the birds can automatically target different foes.
• The Flashing Void: unlocked after obtaining The Flashing Void. Allows you to use the Armament by consuming Oni Power.
  
  • Flashing Void: Break Issen: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows you to use the Flashing Void on an exhausted enemy to perform a Break Issen, extracting more red souls if the attack defeats them.
  • Flashing Void: Power: requires 6,500 red souls. Increases the power of the Flashing Void.
  • Flashing Void: Break Issen Combo: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows the Flashing Void to perform a Break Issen against multiple exhausted enemies at once.
• Still Water: unlocked after obtaining Still Water. Allows you to use the Armament by consuming Oni Power.
  
  • Still Water: Golden Wave Gauge: requires Oni Stone x3. Allows up to three Golden Wave Gauges to be filled and consumed together to unleash a much more powerful Golden Wave attack.
  • Still Water: Golden Wave Power: requires 6,500 red souls. Increases the power of Golden Wave.
  • Still Water: Duration: requires Oni Stone x3. Extends the duration of Still Water.