The short answer
Your best early weapon is the Two Celestials — the first Oni Armament you obtain, from a story chest at Kiyomizu-dera — because the dual daggers efficiently harvest Yellow Souls that restore health, and with the Two Celestials: Combo Strength skill (hit the heavy button when the blades flash yellow) they deal more damage and generate even more healing souls. Pair them with the Oni Bow for safe ranged pokes, and spend scarce early red souls on skills in this order: Blazing State, Chain Issen, Deflect, Oni Bow Power 1, then the utility specials.
- Best early weapon
- Two Celestials
- First Oni Armament — dual daggers
- Where to get it
- Kiyomizu-dera chest
- The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu story mission
- Why it's S-tier early
- Farms Yellow Souls
- Deals damage and heals at once
- First skill to buy
- Blazing State
- Parry-fed damage engine
- Ranged partner
- Oni Bow
- Weak until Oni Bow Power 1
- Currency
- Red souls
- Scarce early — spend on skills, not items
The pick
Two Celestials: the best early weapon, full stop
The Two Celestials are the first Oni Armament you get your hands on, picked up from a webbed chest at Kiyomizu-dera during the story mission The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu. The twin daggers are built for efficiently harvesting Yellow Souls — the resource that replenishes your health — so they deal damage and sustain you at the same time.
IGN's post-launch testing calls them useful throughout the entire game, which makes them the safest early investment you can make. Unlock Two Celestials: Combo Strength and watch for the blades flashing yellow: hitting the heavy attack button in that window deals more damage and generates even more Yellow Souls.
Red soul priorities
Skills to buy first, in order
At the start of the game you are starved for red souls, so the order you buy skills matters more than what you equip. This priority list comes from post-launch testing of what makes the biggest difference per soul.
Blazing State is the one most players miss — it adds a gauge to the bottom right of the screen that fills as you parry, and a full gauge flips you into a damage-boosted state that also rains more blue souls for your Armaments. Buy it before anything else.
| Priority | Skill | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blazing State | Parries fill a Blazing Gauge; when full, attack damage rises and enemies drop more blue souls |
| 2 | Stealth | Sneak up on Genma for backstabs without alerting the pack |
| 2 | Chain Issen | Press light attack as your first Issen lands to chain instant kills across regular enemies |
| 2 | Deflect | Bounce attacks away while blocking; shreds enemy stamina and can reflect projectiles |
| 3 | Oni Bow Power 1 | Big damage boost to the otherwise lackluster Oni Bow |
| 4 | Two Celestials: Combo Strength | Heavy input on the yellow flash: more damage, more healing souls |
| 4 | Handle Bigger Objects | Throw oil urns, powder kegs and other mid-size scenery |
| 4 | Oni Vision: Destructibles / Treasures | Highlight breakable armor and limbs, treasure chests and Hozuki plants |
Survival math
Yellow souls keep you alive — spend red souls on skills
The soul economy splits three ways: yellow souls restore health, red souls buy skills and upgrades, and blue souls charge Oni Armaments. Early on, red souls are the bottleneck, which is why the skill order above beats any equipment purchase.
Hozuki plants are your other lifeline — they supply upgrade materials and healing charges. The Oni Vision: Treasures skill makes them (and chests) much easier to spot, which quietly speeds up your whole early progression loop.
- Yellow souls = healing; Two Celestials farm them fastest.
- Red souls = upgrades; buy Blazing State and Chain Issen first.
- Blue souls = Armament charge; let Blazing State boost the drop rate.
- Hozuki plants = upgrade materials and healing charges; grab Oni Vision: Treasures to find them.
The runner-up
Pair the daggers with the Oni Bow
The Oni Bow is your early ranged option, and honestly its base damage is a little lackluster. What makes it worth carrying is Oni Bow Power 1 — a cheap skill that meaningfully raises its damage so you can soften enemies before they close in.
Think of the bow as an opener, not a finisher: poke from range, swap to the Two Celestials when contact starts, and let the daggers' Yellow Soul engine carry you through the fight.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
What is the best early weapon in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
The Two Celestials — the first Oni Armament, found in a story chest at Kiyomizu-dera. The dual daggers harvest health-restoring Yellow Souls while dealing damage, and testing after launch confirms they stay useful for the entire game.
Where do I get the Two Celestials?
From a webbed chest at Kiyomizu-dera during the main mission The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu. The story hands them to you — you cannot miss them.
Which skill should I buy first?
Blazing State. Parrying fills a new gauge; when full, your attack damage rises and enemies drop more blue souls, which feeds your Oni Armaments. It is the biggest early power spike per red soul.
Is the Oni Bow worth using early?
Yes, but only after buying Oni Bow Power 1. Its base damage is weak; the upgrade turns it into a reliable opener for softening enemies before they reach you.
Should I buy items or skills with early red souls?
Skills, always. Red souls are scarce in the opening chapters, and permanent upgrades like Blazing State and Chain Issen compound in value while consumables are gone after one use.
Where this comes from
Sources
- IGN Wiki — Skills to Get First
Post-launch tested skill priority order, Blazing State, Chain Issen, Deflect and Two Celestials details.
- Reddit r/Onimusha — Oni Weapons discussion
Series weapon tradition and community expectations for early Oni weapons.
- YouTube — Mastering Issen (ONGBAL)
Issen timing demonstration video referenced for counter practice.