Quick Attributes
Raizan is a lightning-element katana in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Its electric strikes can stun enemies and chain through multiple targets, making it ideal for crowd control.
- A lightning-element katana — electric strikes that stun and chain
- Ideal for crowd control — chains through multiple targets
- Base damage, obtain method, and stance type TBD until launch
- Confirmed upgrade path — specific costs and materials to be verified
- Best against enemies weak to lightning
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Katana |
| Element | Lightning |
| Base Damage | TBD |
| Obtain Method | TBD |
| Stance Type | TBD |
| Upgrade Path | Yes |
| Elemental Effect | Stun & Chain |
Overview
Raizan — subtitled Thunder Slash — is a lightning-element katana in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Where the Onimaru (Demon Slayer) carries no fixed element and relies on soul-driven variability, Raizan is defined by its lightning affinity. Electric energy channels through the blade on every strike, and the element expresses in two ways: a stun effect that momentarily locks down enemies hit by charged strikes, and a chain effect that arcs lightning through multiple targets in close proximity.
This makes Raizan the premier crowd-control weapon — when multiple Genma swarm, the lightning chain turns a single strike into area denial. The stun mechanic also creates natural Issen windows: a stunned enemy is an open enemy, and the chain ensures adjacent threats are briefly neutralized while you execute.
Weapon identity, lightning element, stun and chain mechanics, and the upgrade path are drawn from official previews. Specific numbers (base damage, upgrade costs, the full moveset list, stance type) are TBD and will be confirmed against the launch build.
Moveset
The complete moveset — light and heavy strings, stance-specific combos, elemental-charged attacks, and any unlockable techniques tied to the skill tree — will be documented here. The lightning chain mechanic is expected to express differently in each stance, with charged strikes being the primary vehicle for stun and chain. For now, the table is a placeholder.
Moveset — To be verified at launch
Per-stance combo list, inputs, frame data, elemental-charged attacks, and unlockable techniques will be filled in here after we test the full release.
| Move | Stance | Input |
|---|---|---|
| To be verified at launch | — | — |
| To be verified at launch | — | — |
| To be verified at launch | — | — |
Elemental Effects
Raizan's lightning element expresses through two distinct mechanics that define its playstyle:
| Effect | Description | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Stun | Momentarily locks down the target, opening an execution window | Charged strikes |
| Chain Lightning | Arcs lightning through nearby enemies, dealing partial damage to adjacent targets | Charged strikes hitting grouped enemies |
The stun effect synergizes directly with the Issen system — a stunned enemy is an execution-ready enemy, and the chain ensures the surrounding threats are briefly neutralized while you commit to the Issen input. This makes Raizan the safest weapon for crowd-control scenarios where committing to an execution would otherwise leave you vulnerable.
When fighting in tight corridors or arenas with multiple Genma, position so that your charged strike hits the closest enemy — the chain will arc to the rest. This turns a single strike into crowd control, letting you manage stamina and create Issen windows on multiple targets simultaneously. See the Combat System guide for how this layers into the four-tier parry toolkit.
Upgrade Path
Raizan has a confirmed upgrade path. The per-level upgrade costs — souls and any materials required at each tier — will be listed here, cross-referenced with the Soul System guide so you can plan your resource spending. Upgrade nodes are expected to be performed at a shrine; see the Oni Shrine entry. Lightning-element upgrades may scale both base damage and the stun duration or chain range.
Upgrade Costs — To be verified at launch
Per-tier soul and material costs, stat gains, elemental scaling, and the full upgrade tree will be documented here at launch.
| Level | Soul Cost | Materials | Damage Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| +1 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| +2 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| +3 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Best Against
Raizan is the optimal choice against enemies weak to lightning. In the Onimusha framework, elemental weaknesses are tied to Genma faction subtypes — certain demon categories carry inherent vulnerability to lightning, making Raizan's stun-and-chain mechanic devastating against them. The crowd-control profile also makes it the strongest pick for encounters with high enemy density.
| Enemy Type | Effectiveness | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Lightning-weak Genma | Optimal | Elemental weakness amplifies base damage; stun locks them down |
| Swarm / Grouped enemies | High | Chain lightning turns single strikes into crowd control |
| Single heavy brutes | Moderate | Stun creates Issen windows, but chain is wasted on single targets |
The specific Genma subtypes weak to lightning will be documented at launch. Until then, the effectiveness ratings above are based on the general framework of elemental weakness in the Onimusha series and the stun-and-chain mechanics confirmed for Raizan.
Comparisons
How Raizan stacks up against other weapons in the arsenal:
| Weapon | Element | Strength | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onimaru | None / Variable | Two-stance versatility | General-purpose; stance dance for any encounter |
| Raizan (Thunder Slash) | Lightning | Stun & chain | Crowd control; lightning-weak enemies; group fights |
Where Onimaru is the versatile all-rounder that adapts through stances and soul-driven elements, Raizan is the specialist — you equip it when the encounter calls for crowd control or when you know the enemy is lightning-weak. The trade-off is versatility for specialization: Raizan's fixed lightning element means it won't adapt to non-lightning-weak encounters as flexibly as Onimaru's variable element.
Equip Raizan when you're entering a known swarm encounter or when you've identified a lightning-weak Genma subtype. For single-target boss fights or unknown territory, Onimaru's two-stance versatility is safer. The stun-to-Issen pipeline is Raizan's highest-leverage play — charged strikes into Issen on stunned targets is the optimal damage loop for group fights.