All swords and how to unlock them in Onimusha Way of the Sword
Overview & Key Takeaways
Here's how to unlock all sword skins in Onimusha: Way of the Sword and how to find Lion Dogs.
Musashi's swords are the samurai's main weapons in Onimusha: Way of the Sword to fight the legions of genma escaping from hell. Although he is capable of throwing explosive barrels at enemies and using special Oni weapons, these are circumstantial. Most of the time, it's just him and his swords against the world. Thankfully, you can add some color to his weapons by equipping sword skins.
Here's how to unlock all sword skins in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
[Ed. note: This guide contains spoilers for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, so continue at your own risk!]
How to unlock all swords in Onimusha Way of the Sword
You can unlock most swords by finding Lion Dogs. They appear after you finish the "What Lurks in the Shadows" quest and meet with Lady Murasaki. You can locate these unique dogs in fixed locations on some maps, like Eastern Kyoto. On the other hand, some swords are only available to those who pre-ordered the game or own the deluxe and premium deluxe editions.
Keep in mind that the swords you unlock in the game are merely cosmetics. Changing the skin of Musashi's swords does not change the damage they cause or add any effects to them. You can equip a sword skin by visiting any Spirit Mirror in the game and selecting the "Change Appearance" option.
Below you find all the swords in the game and the number of Lion Dogs you must find to unlock them when applied.
| Sword | Appearance | Requirements | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sakurahime | Find six or more Lion Dogs | "This once-noble blade is stained with the blood of countless victims." | |
| Shishioh | Find 12 or more Lion Dogs | "Said to have been made from the body of a beast slain by a great warrior." | |
| Myogo | Find 18 or more Lion Dogs | "A swordsmith prayed to every god in the land, and this was the result." | |
| Ura-giri | Find 24 or more Lion Dogs | "Filled with the fire of an Oni who was slain for betraying his kind." | |
| Mooncrossed | Find 30 or more Lion Dogs | "This moon-given gift is so beautiful, it's almost frightening." | |
| Kikoku | Find 36 Lion Dogs | "Though beautiful, it is haunted with the night-time wails of weeping Oni." | |
| Sealed Curse | Pre-order the game | "Whether or not the rumors of it being cursed are true, its appearance is certainly unnerving." | |
| The White Lion | Buy the deluxe or the premium deluxe edition | "A special skin for Musashi's sword, as bold and beautiful as a white lion. It imbues any who wields it with courage and conviction." | |
| Bamboo & Panda | Buy the deluxe or the premium deluxe edition | "It may be made from bamboo, but Musashi is fond of wielding it. The panda is a nice touch." | |
| Whittled Oar | Buy the deluxe or the premium deluxe edition | "A skin that will transform Musashi's sword into a wooden oar that can be used to crack the skulls of his enemies." | |
| Raizan | Buy the deluxe or the premium deluxe edition | "A striking skin for Musashi's sword said to be imbued with lightning's power. In fact it is an ordinary blade, despite appearances." | |
| Enryuu | Buy the deluxe or the premium deluxe edition | "A striking skin for Musashi's sword said to be imbued with fire's power. In fact it is an ordinary blade, despite appearances." |
Table images: Capcom via Polygon
How to find Lion Dogs in Onimusha Way of the Sword
Once you complete the "What Lurks in the Shadows," Lady Murasaki will tell you about the Lion Dogs and mark the location of some of them on the map with paw icons. To save the ghostly puppies, you just need to go to their location and interact with them.
Image: Capcom via Polygon
In order to find all 36 Lion Dogs, you will need to progress through the campaign, since more Lion Dog locations appear on the map when you reach certain events in the game. The Curious Cases menu displays the number of dogs and maps where you can locate them.
Here are all the missions you must complete and the number of Lion Dog locations they unlock:
| Quest | Lion Dogs | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| "What Lurks in the Shadows" | 12 | Eastern Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera Temple Nijo-jo Castle Kyoto Imperial Palace |
| "The Roots of All Evil" | 5 | Eastern Kyoto |
| "Okuni's Kabuki Dance" | 5 | Eastern Kyoto |
| "The Demon on the Mount" | 6 | Mount Oe |
| "In the Light of an Icy Moon" | 8 | Eastern Kyoto Arashiyama |
