Quick Answer
Fight Rasho-gan with enough space to read his blade, then parry or deflect familiar attacks. Use the Oni Bow on his tethers and on the large orb he sends toward you; be ready for a follow-up as soon as you finish aiming. When he lifts scenery, look for the connecting thread before the throw. Defeating him at Yasui Konpiragu Shrine leads to the Oni Strength unlock.
- Location
- Yasui Konpiragu Shrine
- Identity
- Wish Warper
- A Genma posing as a deity
- Key tool
- Oni Bow
- Interrupt tethers and ranged setups
- Progression reward
- Oni Strength
- Opens Malice barriers in Kyoto
The false deity at Yasui Konpiragu Shrine
Rasho-gan offers to answer prayers, then twists them into harm. His many limbs come from the people he has deceived, and the shrine’s theme of binding and severing relationships runs through his threads and bladed weapon.
You meet him as Kyoto begins opening up. This encounter matters for exploration: afterward, the shrine guardians grant Musashi Oni Strength, which lets him remove the demonic barriers restricting the city.
Your priorities, in order
- Keep him in view at a distance that lets you read his whole body. Being pressed against him makes his fast follow-ups harder to see.
- Deal with a tether or a large projectile when it appears. These are reasons to switch to the bow, even if you were about to start a melee combo.
- Return to defense as soon as you release the shot. A successful bow interrupt is not permission to keep aiming while he closes in.
- Counter after the sequence ends. If a parry is followed by another wind-up, prepare for that attack before trying to punish.
Use the bow to break his setup
| Situation | Aim for | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| He connects himself to a power-giving tether | The tether itself | Check that the connection is broken, then return to the duel. |
| A large slow orb is coming toward you | The orb | Lower the bow and prepare for the boss following behind it. |
| He raises a building or another large object | The thread holding it | Move out of the throw line if the object is still airborne. |
| Several objects hang above and around him | The connection above his head | Watch what falls and confirm the opening before approaching. |
Win the blade exchanges without rushing
A successful parry can help you take control, but pay attention to what happens next. Rasho-gan can recover into another attack. Watch his weapon and shoulders rather than assuming a fixed number of safe hits.
Deflect is useful when you want to work down stamina; Issen is the higher-risk timed attack. Pick one readable move to practise instead of attempting Issen against every new animation. For an unfamiliar leap or grab, give yourself room and learn the defensive cue before committing.
When the fight becomes busier
As more scenery enters the fight, take shorter turns. Finish an attack, regain a clear view, then look for the next tether or projectile. Your biggest opening may come from stopping his next attack rather than squeezing in another sword hit.
Avoid aiming from directly underneath suspended objects. A step into clearer space can make the connection easier to see and leave a route to escape if you miss. Let the visible thread and falling object tell you whether the interrupt worked.
What to do after winning
Follow the shrine sequence to receive Oni Strength. Back in Kyoto, revisit Malice barriers that previously stopped your progress. The new ability changes which routes you can use, so take another look at blocked paths before assuming you need a different mission.
Direct answers
Frequently asked questions
Where is Rasho-gan?
His story encounter is at Yasui Konpiragu Shrine in Kyoto, where he has been posing as a deity who grants wishes.
What is Rasho-gan’s main weakness?
His tethers create practical interruption opportunities. Use the Oni Bow to break the relevant connection, then handle the follow-up instead of continuing to aim.
What should I do when Rasho-gan throws a building?
Shoot the thread supporting it before he completes the throw. If it is still coming toward you, move out of its path; do not assume the shot worked without checking.
What do I unlock after Rasho-gan?
The shrine guardians grant Oni Strength, allowing Musashi to remove Malice barriers and explore more of Kyoto.