Difficulty levels
Story, Action and Carnage change how hard the Genma hit and how much they can take, and all three scale up as the story goes on. By the last mission an enemy on Carnage has 1.7 times the health and 1.9 times the damage of the same enemy on Action.
Story and Action can be swapped at any time with no penalty. Carnage is locked in once you pick it. Clearing missions on Carnage unlocks costume variants, and finishing the game on it unlocks the True Onimusha achievement.
Story
A difficulty level that lets you focus on the story. Recommended for action game beginners.
(Action Prompts will be set to "On")
Action
A difficulty level for those who like challenging battles.
This difficulty level will keep you on your toes. Recommended for experienced action game players.
Carnage
A difficulty level where a single hit could mean death. A high-stakes mode where carelessness can kill, but victory is all the sweeter.
Please note that once selected, the difficulty cannot be changed.
Multipliers on every enemy's base health and attack, from the game's difficulty rate tables. A row starts at the story step shown and holds until the next one.
| From | Story health | Story damage | Action health | Action damage | Carnage health | Carnage damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ruckus at Rendaino (step 2) | ×0.63 | ×0.59 | ×0.72 | ×0.72 | ×1.44 | ×1.44 |
| The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu (step 5) | ×0.87 | ×0.81 | ×1.00 | ×1.00 | ×1.72 | ×1.90 |
| Kyoto, Corrupted (step 70) | ×0.90 | ×0.81 | ×1.03 | ×1.03 | ×1.72 | ×2.00 |
| Careful What You Wish For (step 80) | ×0.91 | ×0.83 | ×1.05 | ×1.05 | ×1.76 | ×2.04 |
| The Curse of Kiyomizu-zaka Slope (step 4) | ×0.93 | ×0.84 | ×1.07 | ×1.07 | ×1.78 | ×2.06 |
| Patching up the Pouch (step 5) | ×1.01 | ×0.86 | ×1.16 | ×1.16 | ×1.89 | ×2.19 |
| Windswept Kennin-ji (step 30) | ×1.03 | ×0.88 | ×1.18 | ×1.18 | ×1.92 | ×2.24 |
| What Lurks in the Shadows (step 50) | ×1.04 | ×0.90 | ×1.20 | ×1.20 | ×1.96 | ×2.27 |
| The Roots of All Evil (step 5) | ×1.13 | ×1.02 | ×1.30 | ×1.30 | ×2.14 | ×2.49 |
| Bloodbath on the Bridge (step 10) | ×1.16 | ×1.04 | ×1.33 | ×1.33 | ×2.17 | ×2.52 |
| Shadows Fall (step 10) | ×1.20 | ×1.06 | ×1.38 | ×1.38 | ×2.26 | ×2.62 |
| A Tempest at the Temple (step 10) | ×1.28 | ×1.13 | ×1.47 | ×1.47 | ×2.40 | ×2.80 |
| To Live is to Suffer (step 10) | ×1.32 | ×1.18 | ×1.52 | ×1.52 | ×2.50 | ×2.91 |
| Okuni's Kabuki Dance (step 10) | ×1.35 | ×1.20 | ×1.55 | ×1.55 | ×2.54 | ×2.95 |
| The Demon on the Mount (step 10) | ×1.46 | ×1.25 | ×1.68 | ×1.68 | ×2.76 | ×3.26 |
| A Haunted Distraction (step 30) | ×1.50 | ×1.27 | ×1.72 | ×1.72 | ×2.79 | ×3.30 |
| Storm Chaser (step 40) | ×1.58 | ×1.30 | ×1.81 | ×1.81 | ×2.95 | ×3.45 |
| In the Light of an Icy Moon (step 10) | ×1.62 | ×1.33 | ×1.86 | ×1.86 | ×3.00 | ×3.54 |
| The Clash at Rendaino (step 10) | ×1.65 | ×1.40 | ×1.90 | ×1.90 | ×3.15 | ×3.65 |
| The Clash at Rendaino (step 20) | ×1.69 | ×1.43 | ×1.90 | ×1.90 | ×3.20 | ×3.70 |
| Costume | How to unlock |
|---|---|
| Bishamon Sword | Complete "The Way of the Sword." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Gauntlet-Hiding Haori 2 | Complete "The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Striped Haori 2 | Complete "Careful What You Wish For." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Velvet Haori 2 | Complete "What Lurks in the Shadows." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Morning Mist Haori 2 | Complete "Okuni's Kabuki Dance." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Oni Haori 2 | Complete "The Demon on the Mount." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Fireman's Haori 2 | Complete "In the Light of an Icy Moon." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Master's Haori 2 | Complete all stories. Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Outfit: Light Kimono 2 | Complete "The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu." Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Outfit: Master's Garb 2 | Complete all stories. Required Difficulty Level: Carnage. |
| Outfit: Warlord's Armor 2 | Defeat all bosses in the practice ground on the Carnage difficulty level. |
Start again with completed game saved data? You will lose your Oni bow, your red souls, and any equipment enhancements. Some features will become available again as the game progresses.
The full list of what carries over is in the game's own tip: Carrying Over Progress to a New Playthrough.