In Onimusha: Warlords, you alternate between two playable characters: the samurai Samanosuke Akechi and the ninja Kaede. Each has a distinct combat style, weapon set, and role in the story, and the game switches between them at specific narrative points rather than letting you choose freely.
Samanosuke is the primary protagonist and the more powerful of the two. He wields the Oni Gauntlet, which allows him to absorb souls and perform the Onimusha transformation. His elemental weapons -- Raizan, Enryuu, and Shiden -- can be upgraded with red souls, making him progressively stronger throughout the game. Samanosuke's combat is built around deliberate, powerful strikes and the Issen counter system.
Kaede is a ninja who relies on speed and agility rather than raw power. She does not have the Oni Gauntlet, so she cannot absorb souls or transform. Her weapon is a shorter blade that attacks faster but deals less damage per hit. Kaede's segments emphasize evasion, quick strikes, and hit-and-run tactics rather than the head-on combat that defines Samanosuke's playstyle.
- Samanosuke: Oni Gauntlet, soul absorption, elemental weapons
- Kaede: Fast, agile, no gauntlet, hit-and-run combat
- Characters switch at narrative points, not by choice
- Samanosuke is more powerful overall
- Kaede offers a different combat rhythm
The character switches are designed to provide variety and prevent any one combat style from wearing out its welcome. Each character's segments are tailored to their strengths, so you are never put in a situation where a character's limitations are unfair.
Samanosuke and Kaede: Character Overview
In Onimusha: Warlords, you alternate between two playable characters: the samurai Samanosuke Akechi and the ninja Kaede. Each has a distinct combat style, weapon set, and role in the story, and the game switches between them at specific narrative points rather than letting you choose freely.
Samanosuke is the primary protagonist and the more powerful of the two. He wields the Oni Gauntlet, which allows him to absorb souls and perform the Onimusha transformation. His elemental weapons -- Raizan, Enryuu, and Shiden -- can be upgraded with red souls, making him progressively stronger throughout the game. Samanosuke's combat is built around deliberate, powerful strikes and the Issen counter system.
Kaede is a ninja who relies on speed and agility rather than raw power. She does not have the Oni Gauntlet, so she cannot absorb souls or transform. Her weapon is a shorter blade that attacks faster but deals less damage per hit. Kaede's segments emphasize evasion, quick strikes, and hit-and-run tactics rather than the head-on combat that defines Samanosuke's playstyle.
- Samanosuke: Oni Gauntlet, soul absorption, elemental weapons
- Kaede: Fast, agile, no gauntlet, hit-and-run combat
- Characters switch at narrative points, not by choice
- Samanosuke is more powerful overall
- Kaede offers a different combat rhythm
The character switches are designed to provide variety and prevent any one combat style from wearing out its welcome. Each character's segments are tailored to their strengths, so you are never put in a situation where a character's limitations are unfair.
Combat Style and Ability Comparison
The combat differences between Samanosuke and Kaede are significant and affect how you approach each encounter. Understanding these differences helps you adapt your playstyle when the game switches characters.
Samanosuke's combat is built around power and the Issen system. His weapons hit harder, and the Oni Gauntlet gives him access to soul absorption, weapon upgrades, magic attacks, and the Onimusha transformation. This makes him versatile and powerful, capable of both sustained combat and burst damage. His Issen window is the standard by which the game is balanced, and mastering it makes him nearly unstoppable.
Kaede's combat emphasizes speed and evasion. Her blade attacks faster than Samanosuke's swords, letting her string together more hits in a shorter window. However, she lacks the gauntlet's upgrades and transformation, so her damage output plateaus earlier. Her segments are typically shorter and feature fewer enemies, compensating for her lower power. Kaede's agility lets her dodge more effectively, and her quick strikes are well-suited to hit-and-run tactics.
| Attribute | Samanosuke | Kaede |
|---|---|---|
| Power | High | Medium |
| Speed | Medium | Fast |
| Soul absorption | Yes | No |
| Weapon upgrades | Yes | No |
| Transformation | Yes | No |
| Magic | Yes | No |
Despite her limitations, Kaede can still perform Issen counters, which are her primary tool for dealing with tough enemies. Her faster attack speed can make Issen timing feel slightly different, so adjust your rhythm when switching characters.
Which Character is Better?
The question of which character is better depends on what you value in combat, but in terms of raw power and versatility, Samanosuke is clearly the stronger character. The Oni Gauntlet gives him advantages that Kaede simply cannot match.
Samanosuke's advantages are overwhelming: soul absorption for healing and upgrades, magic attacks for burst damage and crowd control, the Onimusha transformation for emergency power, and upgradeable weapons that scale throughout the game. He is the character you play as for the majority of the campaign, and his power growth means he becomes increasingly dominant as the game progresses.
Kaede's advantages are more situational. Her speed makes her enjoyable to play, and her segments provide a refreshing change of pace. She excels in hit-and-run encounters where her agility lets her avoid damage that Samanosuke might tank through. However, her lack of upgrades and transformation means she does not scale, and her segments are generally easier to compensate for her lower power ceiling.
- Samanosuke: better overall due to gauntlet and upgrades
- Kaede: better for speed and evasion-focused play
- Samanosuke gets the majority of playtime
- Kaede's segments are shorter and easier
- Both can perform Issen counters
Ultimately, the game is balanced so that both characters are viable in their respective segments. You do not choose between them -- the game alternates automatically -- so the comparison is more about appreciating their different combat rhythms than selecting a main. Most players prefer Samanosuke for his depth and power, but Kaede's segments offer a fun, fast-paced change of pace.