Onimusha: Warlords features four upgradeable weapons for Samanosuke, each with distinct stats, elemental properties, and combat characteristics. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon is essential for optimizing your combat strategy and adapting to different enemy types. This section provides a comprehensive stat comparison of all four weapons at their maximum upgrade level.
The Raizan (Thunder Sword) has a base attack power of 85 at max level, with lightning elemental damage that adds approximately 20 bonus damage per hit against most enemy types. Its attack speed is the fastest of all weapons, with a 3-hit combo that executes in approximately 2.1 seconds. The Raizan's magic attack is a forward lightning bolt that deals 150 damage to a single target and has a moderate charge time of 1.5 seconds. The Raizan is particularly effective against water-based and metallic enemies, who take 50% additional damage from lightning.
The Enryuu (Fire Sword) has a base attack power of 95 at max level, with fire elemental damage that adds approximately 25 bonus damage per hit. Its attack speed is moderate, with a 3-hit combo that executes in approximately 2.5 seconds. The Enryuu's magic attack is a fireball that deals 180 damage to a single target with a small area-of-effect splash. The Enryuu is particularly effective against plant-based and ice-based enemies, who take 50% additional damage from fire. The Enryuu also has the widest attack arc of any weapon, making it effective against groups of enemies.
The Shiden (Wind Sword) has a base attack power of 75 at max level, with wind elemental damage that adds approximately 15 bonus damage per hit. Its attack speed is moderate, with a 4-hit combo that executes in approximately 2.8 seconds. The Shiden's magic attack is a wind blade that deals 120 damage to all enemies in a line, making it the best magic attack for crowd control. The Shiden is particularly effective against flying enemies and enemies with projectile attacks, as the wind element can deflect certain projectiles.
The Bishamon Sword has a base attack power of 120 at max level, with no elemental damage but the highest raw attack power in the game. Its attack speed is the slowest of all weapons, with a 3-hit combo that executes in approximately 3.2 seconds. The Bishamon Sword's magic attack is a devastating energy wave that deals 250 damage to all enemies in front of the player, making it the most powerful magic attack in the game. The Bishamon Sword does not have elemental weaknesses or strengths, dealing consistent damage to all enemy types, and its high raw damage compensates for the lack of elemental bonuses against most enemies.
Weapon Stat Comparison Table
Onimusha: Warlords features four upgradeable weapons for Samanosuke, each with distinct stats, elemental properties, and combat characteristics. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon is essential for optimizing your combat strategy and adapting to different enemy types. This section provides a comprehensive stat comparison of all four weapons at their maximum upgrade level.
The Raizan (Thunder Sword) has a base attack power of 85 at max level, with lightning elemental damage that adds approximately 20 bonus damage per hit against most enemy types. Its attack speed is the fastest of all weapons, with a 3-hit combo that executes in approximately 2.1 seconds. The Raizan's magic attack is a forward lightning bolt that deals 150 damage to a single target and has a moderate charge time of 1.5 seconds. The Raizan is particularly effective against water-based and metallic enemies, who take 50% additional damage from lightning.
The Enryuu (Fire Sword) has a base attack power of 95 at max level, with fire elemental damage that adds approximately 25 bonus damage per hit. Its attack speed is moderate, with a 3-hit combo that executes in approximately 2.5 seconds. The Enryuu's magic attack is a fireball that deals 180 damage to a single target with a small area-of-effect splash. The Enryuu is particularly effective against plant-based and ice-based enemies, who take 50% additional damage from fire. The Enryuu also has the widest attack arc of any weapon, making it effective against groups of enemies.
The Shiden (Wind Sword) has a base attack power of 75 at max level, with wind elemental damage that adds approximately 15 bonus damage per hit. Its attack speed is moderate, with a 4-hit combo that executes in approximately 2.8 seconds. The Shiden's magic attack is a wind blade that deals 120 damage to all enemies in a line, making it the best magic attack for crowd control. The Shiden is particularly effective against flying enemies and enemies with projectile attacks, as the wind element can deflect certain projectiles.
The Bishamon Sword has a base attack power of 120 at max level, with no elemental damage but the highest raw attack power in the game. Its attack speed is the slowest of all weapons, with a 3-hit combo that executes in approximately 3.2 seconds. The Bishamon Sword's magic attack is a devastating energy wave that deals 250 damage to all enemies in front of the player, making it the most powerful magic attack in the game. The Bishamon Sword does not have elemental weaknesses or strengths, dealing consistent damage to all enemy types, and its high raw damage compensates for the lack of elemental bonuses against most enemies.
Bishamon Sword: Pros, Cons and Acquisition
The Bishamon Sword is the ultimate weapon in Onimusha: Warlords, boasting the highest raw attack power and the most powerful magic attack in the game. It is a late-game weapon that requires significant effort to obtain, making it a reward for dedicated players who have thoroughly explored the game and collected all hidden items. This section analyzes the Bishamon Sword's strengths, weaknesses, and acquisition process in detail.
Pros: The Bishamon Sword's primary advantage is its raw attack power of 120, which is significantly higher than any other weapon in the game. This means that even against enemies with elemental resistances, the Bishamon Sword deals more damage than elemental weapons with their bonuses. The magic attack is a screen-clearing energy wave that deals 250 damage to all enemies in front of the player, making it invaluable for crowd control and boss damage. The Bishamon Sword also has a unique visual effect where each swing leaves a trail of golden energy, which is satisfying to look at even if it does not affect gameplay.
Cons: The Bishamon Sword's main drawback is its slow attack speed. At 3.2 seconds for a full combo, it is approximately 50% slower than the Raizan. This makes it more difficult to land full combos on fast-moving enemies, and the slow recovery after each swing leaves you vulnerable to counterattacks. The Bishamon Sword also lacks elemental damage, meaning it does not benefit from the 50% bonus damage that elemental weapons deal to vulnerable enemies. Against enemies with specific elemental weaknesses, the Bishamon Sword may actually deal less damage per hit than an appropriately matched elemental weapon, despite its higher base attack power.
Acquisition: The Bishamon Sword is obtained by collecting all 20 Fluorites hidden throughout the game and returning them to the item collector NPC in the keep. This requires thorough exploration of every chapter, solving several Trick Box puzzles, and accessing optional areas such as the Dark Realm. The Bishamon Sword cannot be obtained before Chapter 7 in a normal playthrough, as several Fluorites are located in areas that are only accessible in the later chapters. In New Game Plus, the Bishamon Sword is available from the start if it was obtained in the previous playthrough, making it an excellent tool for speed runs and S-Rank attempts.
Best Use Cases: The Bishamon Sword is best used against bosses and tough individual enemies where raw damage is more important than attack speed. It is particularly effective against the final boss, Fortinbras, whose large hitbox makes it easy to land slow but powerful swings. For regular combat encounters with multiple fast enemies, the Raizan or Enryuu are generally better choices due to their faster attack speeds and elemental damage.
Raizan: Pros, Cons and Best Use Cases
The Raizan (Thunder Sword) is widely considered the most versatile and reliable weapon in Onimusha: Warlords, offering an excellent balance of attack power, speed, and elemental utility. It is the first elemental weapon obtained in the game (Chapter 2) and remains relevant throughout the entire playthrough, making it the go-to weapon for most combat situations. This section provides a detailed analysis of the Raizan's strengths, weaknesses, and optimal use cases.
Pros: The Raizan's greatest strength is its attack speed. At 2.1 seconds for a full 3-hit combo, it is the fastest weapon in the game, allowing for quick damage output and rapid Issen follow-ups. The lightning element is effective against the widest range of enemy types in the game, as many enemies are either neutral or weak to lightning. The Raizan's fast attack speed also makes it the easiest weapon to use for Issen chains, as the quick recovery after each swing provides more opportunities to time the critical hit input. The magic attack, while not the most powerful, is quick to execute and can be used as a reliable ranged option.
Cons: The Raizan's base attack power of 85 is the lowest of all weapons, meaning it takes more hits to defeat enemies compared to the Enryuu or Bishamon Sword. Against enemies that are resistant to lightning (primarily thunder-based demons and certain bosses), the Raizan's effective damage is further reduced, making it a poor choice for these encounters. The magic attack's single-target nature also limits its utility in crowd control situations, where the Shiden's line attack or the Bishamon Sword's energy wave are more effective.
Best Use Cases: The Raizan excels in fast-paced combat against individual enemies or small groups. It is the ideal weapon for Issen-focused playstyles, as its fast attack speed and quick recovery provide the best windows for timing critical hits. The Raizan is also the best weapon for the Three-Eyes (ninja demons), whose speed and mobility make them difficult to hit with slower weapons. Against bosses, the Raizan is a solid all-around choice that provides consistent damage output, though the Bishamon Sword may be preferable for bosses with large hitboxes where raw damage is more important than speed.
For speedrunners, the Raizan is the weapon of choice due to its early availability, fast attack speed, and effectiveness against most enemy types. Most speedrun strategies focus on maxing the Raizan as quickly as possible and using it for the majority of the game, switching to other weapons only for specific encounters where elemental weaknesses provide a significant advantage. The Raizan's lightning magic is also useful for speedruns as a quick ranged option that can defeat enemies from a distance without needing to close in for melee combat.
Enryuu and Shiden: Situational Analysis and Which Weapon for Which Situation
The Enryuu (Fire Sword) and Shiden (Wind Sword) are the second and third elemental weapons obtained in Onimusha: Warlords, each serving specific situational roles that complement the Raizan and Bishamon Sword. Understanding when to use each weapon is key to maintaining combat efficiency throughout the game. This section provides a situational analysis of both weapons and recommendations for when to switch to each.
Enryuu (Fire Sword): The Enryuu is the best weapon for crowd control due to its wide attack arc, which can hit multiple enemies in a single swing. Its fire element is particularly effective against plant-based enemies and ice-based demons, dealing 50% bonus damage to these types. The Enryuu's magic attack (fireball) is the second most powerful single-target magic attack in the game, dealing 180 damage with a small splash effect that can hit adjacent enemies. The Enryuu is recommended for encounters with groups of zombie demons, which are weak to fire and often appear in clusters. The Enryuu is also effective against the Barabatub (large armored demons), as the fire element can burn through their armor over time, dealing additional damage even when your attacks are blocked.
Shiden (Wind Sword): The Shiden is the most specialized weapon in the game, with the lowest base attack power but unique utility that makes it invaluable in specific situations. Its wind element can deflect certain projectile attacks, making it the best weapon for encounters with archer demons and other ranged enemies. The Shiden's magic attack (wind blade) is the best crowd control magic in the game, hitting all enemies in a line for 120 damage each. This makes it ideal for hallway encounters where enemies are lined up in a narrow corridor. The Shiden's 4-hit combo is the longest in the game, providing more hits per combo string but at a lower damage per hit, making it less efficient for single-target damage but useful for maintaining combo chains for soul absorption bonuses.
Weapon Switching Strategy: The most effective combat strategy in Onimusha: Warlords involves switching between weapons mid-combat to adapt to changing situations. The D-pad allows instant switching between your three equipped weapons, and mastering this mechanic is essential for high-level play. A common strategy is to use the Raizan as the default weapon for most combat, switch to the Enryuu when facing groups or fire-weak enemies, and switch to the Shiden when facing ranged enemies or when crowd control magic is needed. Against bosses, start with the Bishamon Sword (if available) for maximum damage, and switch to the Raizan if the boss's attack patterns require faster reactions.
Elemental Weakness Reference: For quick reference, here are the elemental weaknesses of the most common enemy types. Soldier demons are neutral to all elements. Three-Eyes are weak to lightning (Raizan). Zombie demons are weak to fire (Enryuu). Barabatub are weak to fire (Enryuu). Flying demons are weak to wind (Shiden). Bosses generally do not have specific elemental weaknesses, with the exception of Gogandantess (weak to lightning) and Fortinbras phase 1 (weak to fire). Memorizing these weaknesses and switching weapons accordingly will significantly improve your combat efficiency and reduce the number of hits needed to defeat each enemy type.