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Musashi cuts through a Genma with an Issen counterattack

Onimusha: Way of the Sword player guide · Official previews · September 2026

Swordplay defense: what to use and when

Block to survive an unfamiliar sequence, Parry to create an opening, Deflect to damage stamina, Issen when you know the exact timing, and dodge attacks that cannot be met blade-to-blade.

Reviewed by Onimusha: Way of the Sword Wiki editorial team5 min readUpdated 2026-09-04Official previews · September 2026

01 / Prerequisites

What to know before you start

  • ✓Complete the opening combat tutorial.
  • ✓Check your platform’s control layout.
  • ✓Practice on a standard Genma before testing the timing on a boss.

02 / Decisions

Follow the sequence in order

  1. 01

    Start with Block

    Hold guard while learning a sequence. Blocking covers most directions and even ranged attacks, but each hit spends stamina, so treat it as a safe observation tool rather than the final answer.

  2. 02

    Turn recognition into a Parry

    Press guard as the strike lands. A successful Parry sweeps the blow away and can leave the enemy open; repeated success also builds toward Blazing State.

  3. 03

    Use Deflect to attack stamina

    Deflect does not create the same immediate stance break as a Parry, but it deals heavy stamina damage and can return projectiles. Emptying stamina opens Break Issen.

  4. 04

    Attempt Issen on a known tell

    Begin your attack in the narrow moment before the enemy blow connects. The window is stricter than a normal Parry, but the reward is one of Musashi’s strongest counters.

  5. 05

    Dodge the wrong kind of contact

    Punches, kicks, and other non-sword attacks may not be parryable or deflectable. A precisely timed dodge can become a Reflex Dodge and later feed a Reflex Combo.

03 / Common mistakes

Avoid the wrong read

Do not let a full block string empty your stamina.

Do not assume every red or forceful attack has the same defensive answer.

Do not practice Issen by watching only the UI; read the attacker’s movement.