Quick Answer
Create openings with the correct defense: parry suitable strikes, deflect to damage enemy stamina, and dodge attacks that cannot be parried. Issen is a timed attack just before the enemy hits; Break Issen follows a stamina break. When a boss offers multiple targets, choose between damage, resources, or removing a threat according to the fight in front of you.
- Issen
- Timed counterattack
- Break Issen
- Stamina-break opening
- Parry
- Create space and build Blaze
- Deflect
- Damage enemy stamina
Four actions that are easy to mix up
| Action | When you use it | What you are trying to gain |
|---|---|---|
| Parry | Time your guard to an incoming suitable attack. | An opening and progress toward Blazing State. |
| Deflect | Use the deflection input on a suitable incoming attack. | Stamina damage; some projectiles can be returned. |
| Issen | Start your attack just before an enemy strike lands. | A powerful counter with demanding timing. |
| Break Issen | An enemy’s stamina has been depleted. | An execution or a boss target choice. |
Look for an opening before looking for a body part
Start by asking what stopped your last attack. If the enemy was still swinging, the problem was timing. If it blocked your strike, you need an answer to the guard. If an effect on the floor hit you, moving to a safe position matters before targeting anything.
A visible horn, crystal, eye, or tail does not automatically carry a damage bonus. Let the actual interaction guide you: an exposed Break Issen target, an interruptible tether, or an attack that leaves the enemy recovering.
- Watch one complete attack sequence before choosing your punish.
- Keep the enemy and the space beside it in view.
- Stop the combo early enough to respond to the next cue.
- After a stamina break, look at the available target choices rather than repeating the same input automatically.
Different bosses give you different opportunities
| Enemy | Opportunity | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Daidara | Charge recovery and a Break Issen target choice | Counter after a dodge; decide whether you need souls or damage. |
| Rasho-gan | Threads connecting the boss or suspended objects | Use the Oni Bow to disrupt the setup. |
| Regular Nue | Recovery after a body attack | Use a brief counter after Reflex Dodge. |
| Greater Nue | Tail target during a stamina break | Consider cutting the tail to reduce pressure. |
Should you take damage or souls?
Choose the target that solves the current problem. If you have resources but the boss is nearly finished, immediate damage can shorten the dangerous part of the attempt. If your abilities are unavailable because you lack souls, recovery may help you survive and create the next opening.
A removable body part adds another question: will disabling it make the rest of the encounter easier? This is why the best choice is not always the target with the largest immediate hit.
| Your situation | Consider |
|---|---|
| Low resources; more fighting remains | The soul target, when offered. |
| Resources ready; boss close to defeat | The damage target. |
| A particular limb keeps catching you | A removable body-part target, when offered. |
| You cannot tell what the options do | Read the current prompt rather than guessing from a previous boss. |
In a group, create space before collecting
Enemy positioning changes the value of a good counter. When a parry knocks a suitable foe toward its allies or the surroundings, use that breathing room to move, recover, or attack the isolated target. Do not assume every large boss can be knocked around the same way.
After a kill, look for a moment to absorb the souls. If another enemy is winding up, handle that threat first. The useful loop is clear a threat, regain control, collect, then choose the next target.
Where the Genma come from
In Way of the Sword, Genma cross from hell into the human world as Malice overflows. Dokyo also creates new horrors in a laboratory beneath Kyoto, including Greater Nue and parasitic creatures. Her experiments are part of the threat; they are not the origin of every Genma.
The game tells a new story without requiring the earlier games. An enemy name or explanation from an older Onimusha should not be treated as a weak-point rule for this one.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
Is Issen the same as Break Issen?
No. Issen is a counterattack timed just before a hit lands. Break Issen becomes available after an enemy’s stamina is depleted and can offer different targets against bosses.
Does every Genma have a glowing weak spot?
Do not assume so. Use the target prompts and actual combat interactions rather than treating every distinctive body part as a damage multiplier.
Is parrying always the best defense?
No. Some attacks cannot be parried or deflected. Read the move and use the appropriate dodge or counter; the right defense matters more than forcing one technique.
Did Dokyo create all the Genma?
No. Genma already exist in hell and cross into Kyoto through the Malice-related invasion. Dokyo creates particular new horrors in her laboratory.