Onimusha Partner System Advanced Guide: Combo Links, AI Behavior & Synergy Builds

Partner System Overview and Available Characters

Onimusha's partner system allows you to fight alongside AI-controlled allies in certain sections of the game. While the partner AI is not perfect, learning how to work with it effectively can make tough fights much easier.

Available Partner Characters

There are three main partner characters in Onimusha, each with different strengths and weaknesses:

• Kaede (Ninja): Fast attacks, high mobility, uses shuriken for ranged attacks. Weak defense but excellent at distracting enemies. Joins in Chapter 3.
• Ekei (Monk): Slow but powerful attacks, high defense, uses healing magic. Best partner for survival. Joins in Chapter 6.
• Magoichi (Gunner): Ranged specialist, uses musket for high damage from distance. Fragile in melee but great for ranged support. Joins in Chapter 9.

Partner Availability

Partners are not available at all times. They join and leave at specific story points. You can also summon partners in certain areas using the Partner Bell item (unlocked in Chapter 5). In NG+, partners are available more frequently and have improved stats.

Partner Stats and Scaling

Partner stats scale with your progression. They automatically level up as you progress through chapters, gaining health, attack power, and new abilities. In NG+, partners start at a higher base level and gain levels faster. You can also upgrade partner equipment at the blacksmith using special partner-only upgrade materials found throughout the game.

Partner Combo Links and Tag-Team Attacks

The most advanced aspect of the partner system is partner combo links -- coordinated attacks where you and your partner strike in sequence for bonus damage. Mastering these can significantly increase your total damage output.

How Combo Links Work

A partner combo link is triggered when you attack an enemy at the same time as your partner. If both attacks connect within 0.5 seconds of each other, it triggers a "Link Attack" that deals 1.5x total damage and has a chance to stun the enemy. You can tell a link was successful by the blue spark effect and the "Link!" text that appears.

Triggering Links Consistently

The key to consistent combo links is understanding your partner's attack patterns and timing your attacks to coincide with theirs. Each partner has different attack rhythms:

• Kaede: Attacks in fast 3-hit combos. Time your heavy attack to land at the same time as her third hit.
• Ekei: Attacks slowly with heavy blows. Time your light attack combo to start just before his attack lands.
• Magoichi: Fires shots at regular intervals. Time your melee attacks to land just after each shot.

Chain Links

You can chain multiple links together for increasing bonuses. The first link gives 1.5x damage, the second gives 2.0x, and the third gives 2.5x. To chain links, you need to keep attacking in sync with your partner without breaking the rhythm. If more than 2 seconds pass between links, the chain resets.

Chain links are most effective against bosses, where both you and your partner can focus on a single target. With good timing, you can maintain a 3-link chain for most of a boss fight, dramatically increasing your total damage.

AI Behavior Manipulation and Positioning

The partner AI follows specific rules and patterns. Learning these rules allows you to predict and manipulate your partner's behavior, making them much more effective in combat.

AI Priority System

Partner AI follows a priority list when deciding what to do:

1. Heal you if you are below 30% HP (Ekei only)
2. Attack the enemy closest to you
3. Attack the enemy with the lowest HP
4. Attack any enemy in range
5. Follow you if no enemies are nearby

Understanding this priority system lets you influence who your partner attacks. If you want your partner to focus on a specific enemy, position yourself near that enemy and make sure it is the closest enemy to you.

Positioning for Maximum Effectiveness

Where you stand relative to your partner and enemies has a big impact on their effectiveness. Here are key positioning strategies:

• Flanking: Position yourself on one side of an enemy and let your partner attack from the other side. This flanking position means the enemy cannot block both of you at once, and you are more likely to trigger combo links.
• Kiting: If you need breathing room, run away from enemies and your partner will follow, creating distance. This is useful for healing or repositioning.
• Tanking: With Ekei (high defense), you can let him take aggro while you attack from behind. Run circles around enemies and Ekei will usually face them, drawing their attacks.

AI Limitations

The partner AI has several limitations you should be aware of:

• Partners cannot Issen or use advanced techniques
• They sometimes get stuck on terrain or in doorways
• They do not use healing items on themselves (only on you, in Ekei's case)
• They have trouble with flying enemies and platforming sections
• On hard mode, partner AI does not improve, but enemies deal more damage to them

Partner Synergy Builds by Character

Each partner works best with specific player builds and equipment. Here are the optimal synergy builds for each partner character.

Kaede Synergy Build

Kaede works best with a fast, aggressive player build that matches her speed. The idea is both of you attack quickly and build up chain links rapidly.

Recommended Weapon: Raizen (lightning katana) or Hyoutan (ice dual blades). Fast weapons match Kaede's attack rhythm and make combo links easier to time.

Recommended Accessories: Attack Speed Ring (+15% attack speed) makes your attacks match Kaede's rhythm better. Combo Link Amulet (increases link damage by 20%) amplifies the benefit of linked attacks.

Playstyle: Stay close to Kaede and attack the same target. Use fast combos and try to time your heavy attacks to land with her combo finishers. The high-speed chain links build stun quickly, letting you stun-lock tough enemies.

Ekei Synergy Build

Ekei is the survival partner. Pair him with a damage-focused build and let him handle healing and tanking while you deal damage.

Recommended Weapon: Enryuu (fire longsword) or Doshin (earth axe). Slow, high-damage weapons work well because Ekei's slow attacks are easier to link with heavy weapons.

Recommended Accessories: Damage-boosting accessories like the Crimson Amulet (+10% ATK when HP > 80%) and Oni Gauntlets (+25% heavy attack damage). You do not need defensive accessories because Ekei heals you.

Playstyle: Let Ekei draw aggro and attack from behind. Use heavy attacks for big damage. When your health gets low, Ekei will heal you automatically (if he has MP). Ekei's healing spell restores 30% of your max HP and has a 30-second cooldown.

Magoichi Synergy Build

Magoichi is the ranged partner. Pair him with a melee build that can hold enemies in place while Magoichi shoots them from range.

Recommended Weapon: Shippuu (wind spear) for crowd control and knockback. You want to keep enemies grouped up so Magoichi can hit multiple targets with each shot.

Recommended Accessories: Ranged Support Amulet (increases partner ranged damage by 30%). Stamina Ring (+20% stamina) so you can keep attacking and controlling enemy movement.

Playstyle: Stay between Magoichi and the enemies. Use knockback attacks to keep enemies from reaching Magoichi. Group enemies together with crowd control attacks to maximize Magoichi's multi-target damage.

Hard Mode Partner Tactics

On hard mode, partners are both more important and more fragile. They deal the same amount of damage but die much faster because enemies hit harder. Here is how to use partners effectively on hard difficulty.

Partner Survivability on Hard Mode

On hard mode, enemies deal 1.8x more damage, which means your partner dies 1.8x faster. Kaede is especially fragile -- she can die in 2-3 hits from basic enemies on hard mode. Ekei is the most durable partner and can survive 5-6 hits thanks to his high defense.

To keep your partner alive on hard mode:

• Equip partner-specific defense upgrades (found in chests and shops)
• Avoid pulling large groups of enemies (the partner AI cannot handle multiple strong enemies at once)
• Use healing items on your partner (partner healing items are available from Chapter 5 onward)
• If your partner dies, you can revive them with a Partner Elixir (consumes one from your inventory)

Hard Mode Partner Strategy

On hard mode, think of your partner as support rather than a damage dealer. Their main value is:

1. Distraction: Enemies focus on your partner sometimes, giving you breathing room
2. Flanking: Enemies cannot block both of you at once
3. Stun building: Combined attacks build stun faster
4. Healing (Ekei only): Free healing every 30 seconds

Do not rely on your partner for raw damage on hard mode. Their damage is negligible compared to yours. Their real value is in the tactical advantages they provide.

Best Partner for Hard Mode

Ekei is unanimously the best partner for hard mode. His healing ability alone makes him invaluable. With Ekei, you effectively get a free 30% HP heal every 30 seconds, which is worth a huge amount of healing items over the course of a playthrough. His high defense also means he stays alive longer than the other partners, providing more consistent support.

Partner Upgrade Priority and Investment

Partners can be upgraded using special materials, but these materials are scarce. You need to carefully choose which partner to invest in based on your playstyle and goals.

Partner Upgrade Materials

Partners are upgraded using Partner Orbs, which are found in chests, dropped by mini-bosses, and sold by the merchant. There are approximately 20 Partner Orbs available in a single playthrough, enough to fully upgrade one partner or partially upgrade two. In NG+, you can find more Partner Orbs, enough to max all three partners across multiple playthroughs.

Upgrade Effects

Each partner has 5 upgrade levels. The upgrades improve:

• Level 1: +10% attack, +10% health
• Level 2: New ability (varies by partner)
• Level 3: +15% attack, +15% health
• Level 4: Improved special ability
• Level 5: +20% attack, +20% health, ultimate ability

Investment Priority

If you play aggressively and want damage: Invest in Kaede first. Her damage output at max level is the highest of any partner, and her shuriken barrage ultimate ability deals massive AOE damage. She is great for speedruns and damage-focused playthroughs.

If you value survival and play on hard mode: Invest in Ekei first. His healing becomes more potent at higher levels, and his ultimate ability (Party Shield) makes both of you temporarily invulnerable. This is extremely powerful on hard mode.

If you prefer ranged combat: Invest in Magoichi. His damage output at range is unmatched, and his ultimate ability (Bombardment) calls in cannon fire that devastates groups of enemies. Great for players who like to keep their distance.

For most intermediate players, we recommend investing in Ekei first (survival and healing are always useful), then Kaede or Magoichi depending on preference.

Advanced Partner Techniques and Glitches

Beyond the basics, there are several advanced partner techniques that experienced players use. Some are intended mechanics, others are glitches or exploits.

The Partner Swap Glitch

There is a well-known glitch that allows you to switch which partner is active at any time, even in areas where partners are normally not available. To perform it: open the menu, go to the partner screen, press a specific combination of buttons (varies by version), and you can summon any partner. This glitch works in most versions of the game but was patched in some re-releases. It is considered cheating by the speedrunning community for most categories.

Infinite Partner Healing Trick

With Ekei as your partner, there is a way to get more frequent healing. If you run far enough away from Ekei that he teleports to you (partner teleport range is about 30 meters), his healing cooldown resets. This means you can get a heal, run away until he teleports, and then get another heal immediately. This is useful for tough fights but is somewhat tedious to perform. It is also technically an exploit.

Partner Oni Awakening

In NG+, partners can enter a powered-up state similar to Oni Awakening. This happens automatically when the partner's health drops below 20% and they have a full "Partner Gauge" (a hidden meter that fills during combat). During this state, the partner deals 2x damage and is invincible for 10 seconds. You can trigger it intentionally by letting your partner take damage, but it is risky because they might die before the gauge is full.

Partner Issen Assist

An advanced technique: if your partner attacks an enemy at the same time you perform an Issen, it counts as a "Partner Issen" that deals 2x normal Issen damage and has a wider hitbox. The timing is tricky because you need both your Issen and your partner's attack to connect within a small window. But when it works, it is one of the highest-damage single attacks in the game.