Quick Answer
You can earn sword appearances without buying Deluxe: Lion Dogs open after What Lurks in the Shadows, with a new sword look at each six-dog milestone up to 36. The base game also awards clothing and haori through story progress and challenges. Equip unlocked looks at a Spirit Mirror through Change Appearance; owned DLC is claimed separately at the mirror.
Appearance rewards you can earn in the base game
A paid pack is not required to change Musashi’s look. The campaign awards clothing and haori, while Lion Dog rescues unlock six sword appearances. These rewards change presentation; keep enhancing equipment and selecting charms separately.
Some clothing combinations prevent a separate haori from being worn. If the coat option is unavailable with a selected outfit, try another clothing appearance rather than assuming its combat equipment has been removed.
| What you want | Base-game route | How to follow it |
|---|---|---|
| New clothing | Story and Lady Murasaki objectives; Boss Rematch challenges also award clothing | Check the reward for the objective or challenge you are completing |
| More haori | Main-story progress, including The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu, What Lurks in the Shadows and later story missions | Advance the campaign, then inspect the unlocked haori at Change Appearance |
| A different sword look | Rescue Lion Dogs after What Lurks in the Shadows | Follow paw markers and check the milestone table below |
All six Lion Dog sword appearance rewards
After What Lurks in the Shadows, meet Lady Murasaki and follow the paw icons for her Lion Dogs. Interact with each dog to rescue it. Curious Cases records the count and relevant maps, and more dogs become available as the campaign advances. These rescues are separate from the Lion Dog bonus charm.
| Lion Dogs rescued | Sword appearance | Reward type |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Sakurahime | Cosmetic sword appearance |
| 12 | Shishioh | Cosmetic sword appearance |
| 18 | Myogo | Cosmetic sword appearance |
| 24 | Ura-giri | Cosmetic sword appearance |
| 30 | Mooncrossed | Cosmetic sword appearance |
| 36 | Kikoku | Cosmetic sword appearance |
When the next Lion Dog locations open
If the next sword milestone is out of reach, compare your completed missions with this table before searching an old map again. Use paw markers and Curious Cases to find the dogs currently available to you, then return after the next story gate.
| Complete this mission | New dogs available | Areas to revisit |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
How to claim and change an appearance
Visit a Spirit Mirror to change unlocked appearances. For owned DLC, claim the content at the mirror first. Spirit Mirrors, Equipment → Charms and Change Appearance open separately during the story, so receiving a pack does not open every menu immediately.
- Make sure the game and any owned add-on are installed under the purchasing account.
- Visit a Spirit Mirror and claim the items included with that purchase.
- Open Change Appearance after it becomes available through story progress.
- Select an unlocked outfit, haori, sword appearance or gauntlet appearance.
- For a bundled charm, leave the appearance menu and open Equipment → Charms.
Musashi’s Deluxe Kit appearances
| Appearance category | Included looks |
|---|---|
| Outfit | Red Armor |
| Sword appearances | Bamboo & Panda; Whittled Oar; Raizan; Enryuu |
| Gauntlet appearance | Crimson Lotus |
Why a different outfit does not raise your stats
Change Appearance controls the clothing, sword, haori or gauntlet design. Equipment Enhancement controls the combat growth of clothing, sword and gauntlet. Charms apply their own equipped effects. You can keep an earned sword appearance while improving the underlying weapon and changing your charm pair.
Sakurahime, Kikoku and the Deluxe sword appearances are cosmetic rewards. A fiery or ornate sword design is not a separate Oni Armament, and selecting Red Armor does not replace a clothing enhancement.
If an owned item is missing
Check the name of the pack you own, then compare the categories above. Premium additions are not all part of the base Deluxe Kit. Purchase bonuses such as Sealed Curse or White Lion also depend on the offer attached to your order.
Return to the Spirit Mirror after claiming the pack and check the correct category. A charm will appear in Equipment rather than the appearance picker. If the add-on has not been installed, use your platform’s add-on management screen and reopen the game.
- Install the latest available game update before checking add-on access.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
Can I unlock appearances without buying Deluxe?
Yes. The base game awards clothing and haori through progression and challenges. Rescuing Lion Dogs also earns six sword appearances, from Sakurahime at six dogs to Kikoku at all 36.
Why are no more Lion Dogs showing on the map?
Their locations open in groups after story missions. Check Curious Cases, then compare your progress with the story-gate table. Later groups include Mount Oe and Arashiyama.
Do sword appearance rewards make the weapon stronger?
No. The Lion Dog sword rewards and Deluxe sword skins change appearance. Use sword enhancement, skills and equipped charms for combat improvements.
Is the Lion Dog charm the reward for rescuing dogs?
No. Rescuing Lion Dogs earns cosmetic sword rewards. The Lion Dog charm belongs to an eligible purchase bonus and is managed through Equipment → Charms.
Where do I equip Deluxe charms?
Main Menu → Equipment → Charms. Claim eligible owned DLC at a Spirit Mirror first; the two menus unlock separately during story progression.