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Controls and tips

The game's own tips menu, all 88 entries with their full text. 50 of them carry a button prompt, which makes this the move list too, so the switch below swaps every prompt between the pad and the keyboard.

Only entries with a button prompt

Locking Onto a Target

Press Lock on

Press Lock on to lock onto a target, fixing them in the center of the screen. To switch between targets, use Switch target left and Switch target right.

Basic Attacks

Press Light attack or Heavy attack

Press Light attack for a one-handed attack, and Heavy attack for a two-handed attack. One-handed attacks deal less damage, but are easier to land. Two-handed attacks deal more damage, but are more easily evaded.

Blocking

Hold Guard

Attacks can be blocked from any angle, but repeated blocking will deplete your stamina, so it's best not to rely on it too much.

Parrying

Press Guard Just Before Being Hit

Blocking just before an enemy attack lands will trigger a parry. Parrying weapon-based attacks will open up a window of vulnerability. The larger the window, the more impressive effects you'll see.

If an enemy collides with an object or another enemy after being parried, they will suffer significant stamina damage, among other unpleasant effects.

Blazing State

Press Guard Just Before Being Hit

Parry enemy strikes to fill your Blaze Gauge and enter the Blazing State, during which time you will deal greater damage. You will remain in the Blazing State until the Blaze Gauge empties.

While in the Blazing State, deflecting an armed attack will deal major stamina damage, and can prove very effective against bosses. Enemies attacked while Blazing will also generate more blue souls.

Reflex Dodging

Press Dodge Just Before Being Hit

Anticipate your opponent's moves to avoid damage. After evading an unarmed attack with a Reflex Dodge, counter to reduce their stamina.

Reflex Combos

Reflex Dodge to Fill Reflex Gauge, Then Press Light attack or Heavy attack

Filling your Reflex Gauge will enable you to unleash a deadly Reflex Combo. The quickest way to fill it is to Reflex Dodge unarmed attacks, but any Reflex Dodge will help at least a little.

Issen

Press Light attack or Heavy attack Just Before Being Hit

You can dodge an attack and hit back with a deadly counter, but it requires even more precise timing than a parry or a Reflex Dodge.

Chain Issen

Press Light attack or Heavy attack Right When an Issen Lands

Allows continuous Issen attacks to be performed against enemies. Pressing Light attack or Heavy attack when an Issen attack lands will trigger a Chain Issen, and pressing Light attack or Heavy attack again when that lands will cause it to continue.

Deflecting

Press Hold guard + Interact Just Before Being Hit

You can deflect enemy attacks to significantly deplete enemy stamina. Arrows and other such ranged projectiles can also be deflected.

Deflecting doesn't provide an opening for follow-up attacks like parries do, but makes up for it by rapidly pushing the enemy towards exhaustion.

Stamina and Break Issen

Break Issen: Press Light attack or Heavy attack Near Exhausted Enemy

Without stamina, the body cannot do as the mind wishes. Land attacks on enemies, or deflect theirs, to deplete their stamina, making them exhausted and open to Break Issen attacks.

When an enemy's stamina is low, their body will turn red and crack. Depleted stamina will recover over time, so keep a close eye on your opponent if you want to exploit the advantages it offers.

Break Issen and Bosses

Use Move to Select a Target Area, Then Press Light attack or Heavy attack

You can target specific areas when hitting a boss with a Break Issen. Parts are marked with symbols whose colors indicate their effects. Red indicates extra damage, while purple means plenty of souls.

Blade Barrages

Press Light attack or Heavy attack During a Blade Barrage

Crossing swords with the enemy will initiate a Blade Barrage. To break it, you'll need to execute a different attack to the enemy— forging ahead with the same move will only result in defeat.

To break a Blade Barrage, you'll need to initiate a different attack than the one with which you started. So if it was a one-handed attack, press Heavy attack, and if it was two-handed, press Light attack.

Blade Locks

Press Light attack or Heavy attack Repeatedly

Battering

Heavy attack + Dodge Toward Enemy Whose Stance Is Broken

Break an enemy's guard and you can batter them into submission. When an enemy is staggered, press Heavy attack + Dodge to set about them mercilessly, significantly reducing their stamina.

Assassinations

Press Light attack or Heavy attack When Behind Enemy

It's possible to fell an enemy in one blow by sneaking up on them from behind. Just don't move too quickly, lest you blow your cover!

Attacking While on a Ladder

(On a Ladder) Attack: Light attack Block: Guard

You can still attack and defend while climbing a ladder. Press Light attack to swing your sword above you, and Move back + Light attack to attack below.

The Oni Bow

Hold and Release Bow

You can use your bow to attack enemies and activate certain objects from afar. Arrows are particularly effective when targeting specific body parts. Your shots can be charged to increase their damage.

Floating Rock Cores

Shoot the cores within clusters of floating rocks to bring them crashing down, dealing damage to any enemies underneath.

Using Environmental Objects

Approach Object and Press pop

Certain objects can be interacted with during battle by pressing Interact. Make good use of them to turn the tide of battle in your favor.

Dealing with Fire (Burning)

Evade Repeatedly with Dodge

While burning, you will gradually lose health. Evading repeatedly puts out the flames, as do items such as Minor Miracle Cures, which will also prevent reignition.

Ablaze: Burning while Oil-Soaked

Be wary of catching fire when oil-soaked—you will be set "ablaze," meaning you burn more fiercely and for longer than usual, resulting in a rapid loss of health.

Tactics I

Battles with Bosses

Not only will parrying open up opportunities to attack, it will also fill the Blaze Gauge. While in the Blazing State, you will deal more health and stamina damage, so try to parry as much as possible.

Deflecting while in the Blazing State will significantly deplete an enemy's stamina, making it much easier to exhaust them. In boss battles, try to make the most of every ability at your disposal.

Tactics II

Reacting to Your Enemy

Different enemy actions require different reactions. Unarmed attacks must be met with Reflex Dodges, grabs require you to perform grab reversals, and unavoidable attacks must be parried or deflected.

An enemy's guard can be broken down with two-handed attacks, but Oni Strength will break it instantly. Oni Strength can also help deal with enemies that have equipped shields, or adopted a countering stance.

Tactics III

Understanding Issen Attacks

Issen attacks are powerful, but very tricky to execute. However, some enemies will telegraph their moves more obviously than others, making Issen attacks easier.

The ultimate aim of the Issen is to embrace danger in order to exploit an enemy's most powerful attacks.

While Awakened, it will become easier to perform Issen against all enemy attacks. Aside from grabs and unblockable attacks, this can be the perfect opportunity to turn your foe's attacks against them.

Absorbing Souls

Hold Hold absorb

The souls you absorb with your gauntlet will produce different effects depending on their color. The more you absorb at once, the greater their effect.

Yellow Souls

Yellow souls are sometimes left behind by defeated enemies. Absorb them to restore your health. The lower your health, the more your enemies will leave behind.

Red Souls

Absorbing red souls will make various enhancements available. They are left behind by fallen enemies, and finishing an enemy with a Break Issen will make even more of them appear.

Blue Souls

Absorbing blue souls will fill the Oni Power Gauge, enabling you to use Oni Armaments. Blue souls appear when you land attacks on enemies, and more will appear the lower the Oni Power Gauge is.

Purple Souls

Land attacks with Oni Armaments or Break Issen to extract purple souls. Absorbing them will fill the Awakening Gauge, which will enable you to initiate an Oni Awakening.

Oni Vision

Hold/Press Hold absorb + Command

Use Oni Vision to make visible that which is hidden to human eyes. The Oni Gauntlet will glow brightly when hidden objects are nearby.

Oni Glyphs

Hold/Press Hold absorb + Command

Scattered across Kyoto are Glyphs only decipherable to the Oni. To read them, you must use Oni Vision, which has the power to reveal that which is hidden.

Destroying Malice Barriers

Hold Hold interact in Front of a Malice Barrier

Malice Barriers are formed from high concentrations of Malice, and can only be rent asunder by feats of Oni Strength.

Oni Strength

Press Heavy attack + Dodge

Oni Strength can be used to destroy armor and shields, and is more effective at breaking an enemy's guard than two-handed attacks.

Oni Agility

Press Interact Near Certain Walls

Oni Agility will charge your legs with superhuman ability, allowing you to reach areas that are usually inaccessible. Press Interact while wall running to leap to from one wall to another.

Countering While Wall Running

Press Guard While Wall Running

You can block while wall running, and can even counter blows by blocking right before an attack lands.