Upgrade System Overview
Onimusha: Way of the Sword uses a tiered katana upgrade system. Each katana can be upgraded through five tiers, increasing its base damage, scaling with your stats, and unlocking unique passive effects at higher tiers. Upgrades are permanent — they persist through death and carry into New Game Plus.
The upgrade system is accessed through the Forge menu, available at any rest point. You'll spend two types of resources: souls (the universal currency dropped by enemies and bosses) and rare upgrade materials that drop from specific enemy types and treasure chests.
Tier Upgrade Costs
The following table lists the soul costs and material requirements for each upgrade tier. Tier 5 costs have not yet been fully confirmed and will be updated at launch.
| Tier | Soul Cost | Materials Required | Damage Boost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 200 souls | 1x Iron Fragment | +10% base damage |
| Tier 2 | 500 souls | 2x Iron Fragment, 1x Whetstone | +20% base damage |
| Tier 3 | 800 souls | 2x Whetstone, 1x Tempered Steel | +35% base damage |
| Tier 4 | 1,200 souls | 3x Tempered Steel, 1x Spirit Essence | +50% base damage |
| Tier 5 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Tier costs and material requirements are based on the current demo and Capcom's pre-release communications. Final values may change. This guide will be updated with confirmed data at launch.
Required Materials
Each upgrade tier requires specific materials in addition to souls. These materials are not interchangeable — keep a balanced stock of each type.
Iron Fragment
Common crafting material. Drops from basic foot soldiers and small demons. Found in low quantities throughout the first three chapters.
Whetstone
Uncommon material. Dropped by veteran enemies and found in chest rewards. Required from Tier 2 onward.
Tempered Steel
Rare material. Dropped by mini-bosses and elite enemies. Required for Tier 3 and Tier 4 upgrades.
Spirit Essence
Very rare crafting material. Only obtained from boss defeats and select hidden chests. Required for Tier 4 upgrades.
Best Weapons to Upgrade First
Souls are a limited resource, especially in the early game. We recommend prioritizing your upgrades on weapons you'll use throughout the campaign rather than spreading investment thin across every katana you find.
Tier 1 Priority: Onimaru
The Onimaru is your starting katana and remains one of the strongest weapons for the entire first half of the game. Its balanced damage and fast swing speed make it ideal for learning the parry system. Fully upgrade Onimaru to Tier 2 before investing in any other weapon.
Tier 2 Priority: Raizan
Once you've unlocked Raizan (typically in Chapter 3), it's worth bringing it up to Tier 2 as soon as possible. Raizan's charged attacks and longer reach complement Onimaru's faster combos. Having both at Tier 2 gives you strong coverage for the mid-game boss fights.
Tier 3 Priority: Hold Off
We recommend only upgrading one weapon past Tier 2 until you reach the late game. Materials for Tier 3 and above are scarce, and you'll get more value by waiting until you find a weapon with strong innate scaling.
Optimal Upgrade Order
Here's the soul investment path we recommend for most players through their first playthrough:
- Onimaru to Tier 2 (~700 souls total) — covers Chapters 1–4
- Raizan to Tier 2 (~700 souls) — covers Chapters 4–7
- Best-in-slot katana to Tier 4 (~2,500 souls) — covers Chapters 8–endgame
- Alternate weapon to Tier 2 for variety (~700 souls)
Souls are easy to farm, but materials cannot be bought. Always pick up every Iron Fragment and Whetstone you find, even if you don't need them yet. Many players reach Chapter 5 with hundreds of spare souls but no materials to upgrade with.
Material Farming Locations
If you're short on materials before a key upgrade, here are the most reliable farming spots in the demo and early access build:
- Iron Fragment: The Oni Shrine courtyard has 4–6 respawning foot soldiers that drop fragments every run. Farm for 5 minutes to stock up.
- Whetstone: Chapter 2's bamboo forest has two guaranteed drops from veteran archers. Resets on rest.
- Tempered Steel: The mini-boss at the end of Chapter 3 always drops one. Repeat the chapter from the menu if needed.
- Spirit Essence: Only available from boss fights. Don't waste them on Tier 4 upgrades for weapons you plan to replace.
Tier 5 upgrade requirements will be finalized based on launch data. Check back after September 4, 2026 for confirmed Tier 5 costs and material lists.