How to Unlock Oni Awakening - Onimusha Way of the Sword

What is Oni Awakening?

Oni Awakening is a gameplay mechanic staple in the Onimusha Series. In lore, it allows anyone with the Oni Gauntlet to transform into an empowered Oni Form, which drastically increases their power. The form was officially introduced in Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny.

How to Unlock Oni Awakening

In Way of the Sword, the form is unlocked in a story mission. Simply play through the main mission, The Demon on the Mount all the way to the boss fight, Shuten Doji. Clear the first two phases of the fight, and then the form is unlocked in the last phase.

Oni Awakening Overview

Activating Oni Awakening

When you unlock Oni Awakening, you unlock a new meter called the Awakening Gauge. When this meter is full, you can activate Oni Awakening. Once the gauge is empty, Musashi reverts back to his human form. To fill the Awakening Gauge, absorb Purple Souls dropped by enemies.

Main Downsides

There are two main drawbacks to this form.

First, the Oni form does not last forever. It is dependent on your Awakening Gauge. Once the Oni Form begins, the Awakening Gauge depletes automatically.

Second, Oni Armaments are unavailable when in this form. Musashi only has his swords to use to fight back.

Near Invulnerability

When in the Oni Form, Musashi takes no damage to his stamina and health. Instead, any damage you take goes into the Awakening Gauge instead.

Easier Issen

In your Oni Form, Issens are easier to execute. The window for them is bigger, thus you can perform greater damage more often.

Oni Onslaught

If your Awakening Gauge is near empty, you can execute a unique finisher called Oni Onslaught. This deals massive damage to your enemies at the expense of depleting what is left of the Awakening Gauge.

How to Use Oni Awakening Effectively

You are invincible, but not unstoppable

You are invulnerable to damage when in the Oni Form, but you won't be forever. Not only does the Awakening Gauge go down every second in Oni Form, any damage you take goes to the Awakening Gauge. This means that the Awakening Gauge will deplete faster when taking damage. So make sure you dodge and Issen as much as possible.

Issen, like a lot

If you cannot dodge, counterattacking is your only other option. Oni Awakening makes the window for Issen bigger, so use them more to keep your Oni Form longer.

Use Oni Onslaught at the End

Oni Onslaught uses all your Awakening Gauge, thus ending the Oni Form. Make use of everything in Oni Awakening and use Oni Onslaught until you are nearly out of Awakening Gauge.

Equip the Still Water Oni Armament

A lot of Purple Souls are needed to fill the gauge. Use the Still Water Oni Armament to gain more of them. The weapon extracts Purple Souls as it causes shockwaves on the enemy. The Oni Armament can be found during the mission, In the Light of an Icy Moon.

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