The Genma are tougher foes than they might first seem, and as you work your way through Onimusha: Way of the Sword, they’ll get even tougher. If you want to stay one step ahead of them, you’ll need to keep upgrading your sword, your clothing, and your Oni Gauntlet. You can do this at any Spirit Mirror, but you’ll need the materials to do so. These materials range from cloth to iron, but you can get all of them in a few different ways. Whether it’s enemy drops or random encounters, this guide details exactly where you can find upgrade materials—such as Oni and Power Stones–in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
Where to Find Upgrade Materials
Click the links below to learn more about each way you find upgrade materials:
Completing Missions
Both main and side missions offer up quite substantial amounts of upgrade materials including both standard ones like iron and tempered iron all the way up to higher-level materials like Oni Stones and Power Stones. If you’re ever in a bind and need an upgrade quickly, you can look at a mission’s icon on the map to see what materials it’ll give you when you complete it.
Random Encounters
Another strong source of materials can be found by helping out the hapless ordinary citizens of Tokyo when they’re being attacked by the Genma. You can stumble across such events with about as alarming a regularity as you’d expect during a demonic invasion. Take down the Genma mob and go to speak with their erstwhile target, and they’ll give you a reward, which can include upgrade materials.
Small Treasure Chests
Across Kyoto and its surroundings, you can find small treasure chests that look like small, brown/orange boxes. These aren’t marked on the map but frequently contain upgrade materials, so keep your eyes open for them!
Large Treasure Chests
One of the best sources of upgrade materials are the treasure chests that litter Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s map. These treasure chests are quite hard to miss, as they will appear on your map. These are great places to find the rarer Oni and Power Stones, and you’ll need these to upgrade your skills, so if you see one nearby, make opening it your priority!
Buying Upgrade Materials
The game doesn’t make a particularly big fuss about it, but you can also trade in Red Souls for upgrade materials. To do this, you’ll need to complete the Careful What You Wish For mission. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to travel back to Yorimasa’s monument, where you can trade in your hard-won Red Souls for materials. This is a great way to use up your Souls, as they’re not always easy to spend and you’ll be earning a ton. If you’ve got some Souls burning a hole in your pocket, venture to the monument and buy a few upgrades’ worth.