Onimusha: Way of the Sword Best Skills & Upgrades — What to Unlock First

Updated September 5, 2026

If you're wondering which skills and upgrades to unlock first in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the best choice depends on what is slowing you down.

You have several progression paths available through the Spirit Mirror, including Basic Skills, Special Skills, Sword, Clothing, and Gauntlet enhancements. Resources are limited early on, so spending everything as soon as you can isn't always the most efficient approach.

For a typical first playthrough, I'd prioritize Deflect and Issen-focused combat skills, then invest in Oni Vision if you're exploring Kyoto and collecting upgrade materials. Your equipment upgrades should then follow the problem you're actually having: Sword for offensive power, Clothing for health and stamina, and Gauntlet for Oni Power and Soul absorption.

There isn't one mandatory skill order for everyone. If you're struggling with bosses, you'll get more value from combat upgrades. If you're exploring and collecting everything, Oni Vision can become a much higher priority.

This guide breaks down what to unlock first, which skills are worth prioritizing, when to upgrade your Sword, Clothing, or Gauntlet, and where your Red Souls, Power Stones, and Oni Stones are best spent.

📋 Table of Contents

• How Skills and Upgrades Work
• Best Skills to Unlock First
• 1. Deflect — Best Early Combat Investment
• 2. Issen and Reflex Combo Skills
• 3. Blazing State and Combat Enhancements
• 4. Oni Vision: Treasures
• 5. Absorb Souls While Attacking
• 6. Oni Vision: Destructibles
• What About Environmental Object Power?
• Sword vs Clothing vs Gauntlet
• When to Upgrade Your Sword
• When to Upgrade Clothing
• When to Upgrade the Gauntlet
• Best Upgrade Order by Playstyle
• What Should You Spend Red Souls On?
• Don't Waste Your Upgrade Materials
• Simple Early-Game Upgrade Path
• Skills and Upgrades You Shouldn't Rush
• Fast Skills & Upgrade Checklist
• Frequently Asked Questions

How Skills and Upgrades Work

You manage your major character progression systems through the Spirit Mirror.

The Enhance Equipment / Abilities menu gives you access to:

• Basic Skills
• Special Skills
• Clothing
• Sword
• Gauntlet

The upgrade system becomes available during The Oni's Apprentice. From there, you can return to a Spirit Mirror and improve your abilities and equipment.

The skill trees use several different resources, including Red Souls, Power Stones, and Oni Stones, while equipment enhancements require physical upgrade materials.

The important part is that these systems don't all compete for exactly the same resources.

For example:

• Red Souls are used for many skill upgrades and other purchases.
• Power Stones unlock certain combat abilities.
• Oni Stones are particularly important for Special Skills such as Oni Vision.
• Clothing uses fabric and hide materials.
• Sword uses metal-based materials.
• Gauntlet uses Genma-related materials.

Your three equipment categories also progress independently. You don't have to choose between permanently improving your Sword or Clothing; each has its own material path and enhancement progression.

That means your upgrade decision should depend on both your playstyle and the problem you're currently trying to solve.

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Best Skills to Unlock First

If you want the short version, this is the order I'd recommend for a general first playthrough:

1. Deflect
2. Reflex Combo / other Issen-focused skills
3. Blazing State-related upgrades
4. Oni Vision: Treasures
5. Absorb Souls While Attacking
6. Oni Vision: Destructibles
7. Sword enhancement when damage becomes your problem
8. Gauntlet enhancement when Oni Power becomes limiting
9. Clothing enhancement when health or stamina becomes limiting
10. Situational skills such as Environmental Object Power

This is a priority recommendation, not a mandatory unlock sequence.

The exact availability of several skills depends on your progress through the Oni Portals and story. For example, Reflex Combo, Chain Issen, Deflect, and Blazing State are available through the early Basic Skill progression, while later upgrades unlock after subsequent Oni Portals.

So don't worry if your menu doesn't exactly match the order above.

• If you're struggling with bosses: Move Deflect, Issen and Blazing State-related upgrades higher.
• If you're exploring everything: Move Oni Vision higher.
• If you're constantly short on Red Souls: Prioritize upgrades that improve your ability to generate or preserve resources.

The important idea is simple:

Don't build for a theoretical perfect character. Build for the problem you're actually having.

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1. Deflect — Best Early Combat Investment

If you're looking for the best early combat skill for a typical first-time player, I'd put Deflect near the top.

Your in-game skill description explains that Deflect is performed by holding Guard and pressing the Action Button just before being hit. Successfully deflecting an attack heavily depletes enemy stamina, and the skill can also deflect ranged attacks such as arrows back toward their source.

The current skill data confirms that Deflect becomes available during The Oni's Apprentice and costs 2 Power Stones to unlock, with later Deflection upgrades becoming available after subsequent Oni Portals.

Why Deflect is so useful

Instead of: Block → survive

you can work toward: Deflect → drain stamina → create an opening → attack

That becomes increasingly useful against enemies that pressure you repeatedly.

Current reviews and combat guides also emphasize the importance of precise defensive timing, with parries, Deflect and Issen forming a major part of the game's combat loop.

Deflect priority

• Combat-focused players: Very high
• New players: Very high once available
• Exploration-focused players: High, but Oni Vision may compete for priority

If you're already extremely comfortable with Issen timing, you may get more immediate value from continuing down an Issen-focused path. But for a player still learning the combat system, Deflect is an excellent early investment.

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2. Issen and Reflex Combo Skills

Once you're becoming comfortable with the game's timing, start investing into the Issen-focused combat branch.

Current skill data confirms that Reflex Combo becomes available during The Oni's Apprentice and costs 2 Power Stones to unlock. Chain Issen is also available during the same progression and costs 2 Power Stones.

Why Issen deserves priority

Issen is one of the defining mechanics of Way of the Sword.

The basic idea is simple:

• Wait for the attack → strike at the correct moment → punish the enemy with a devastating counter.

The difficulty is getting the timing right.

If you're still learning enemy attack patterns, don't feel pressured to spend every resource on Issen immediately. If you're already landing counters consistently, however, the investment becomes much more attractive.

Reflex Combo

Reflex Combo is particularly useful because it builds around the game's counter-oriented combat rather than simply increasing raw attack power.

The current progression is:

• Reflex Combo: 2 Power Stones
• Reflex Combo Power 1: 4,500 Red Souls after the 1st Oni Portal
• Ultimate Reflex Combo: 3 Power Stones after the 2nd Oni Portal
• Reflex Combo Power 2: 6,500 Red Souls after the 3rd Oni Portal

So don't look only at the initial unlock cost. The follow-up upgrades also require a meaningful resource investment.

My recommendation

• If you're comfortable with Issen: Deflect → Reflex Combo → Chain Issen / related counter upgrades
• If you're still learning the combat system: Deflect → basic combat improvements → return to Issen upgrades as your timing improves

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3. Blazing State and Combat Enhancements

Blazing State deserves special attention because it rewards successful defensive play.

The current skill data confirms that Blazing State becomes available during The Oni's Apprentice for 2 Power Stones. Its later upgrades improve its range and duration, with those upgrades opening after subsequent Oni Portals.

Parrying fills the Blazing Gauge, and entering Blazing State increases your offensive effectiveness.

Who should prioritize Blazing State upgrades?

They're particularly attractive if you:

• Regularly parry enemy attacks.
• Frequently trigger Blazing State.
• Enjoy counter-based combat.
• Want to improve your performance against bosses.
• Are already comfortable reading enemy attack animations.

If you're still getting hit frequently, however, improving your defensive fundamentals is more important than trying to optimize the end of the combat chain.

Learn the timing first. Then invest deeper into the system.

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4. Oni Vision: Treasures

If you enjoy exploring, Oni Vision: Treasures is one of the best Special Skills to prioritize.

The current skill data lists:

• Oni Vision: Treasures — 2 Oni Stones
• Oni Vision: Treasure 2 — 2 Oni Stones
• Oni Vision: Search Range — 5,500 Red Souls after the 2nd Oni Portal

These upgrades make hidden treasures and Hozuki easier to locate.

Why I rate Oni Vision so highly

This isn't merely a collectible-hunting upgrade. Exploration feeds your other progression systems.

You can find:

• Equipment materials
• Power Stones
• Oni Stones
• Treasure
• Other useful resources

That means better Oni Vision can indirectly help you unlock more skills and equipment upgrades later.

Exploration-first priority

If you're the type of player who checks every corner of Kyoto: Oni Vision: Treasures should move very close to the top of your list.

While exploring, use Oni Vision regularly rather than waiting until you've already cleared an area.

If you're building toward a material-heavy upgrade session, this is also a good companion to our Onimusha: Way of the Sword Red Soul Farming Guide — Best Early Locations & Fastest Methods.

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5. Absorb Souls While Attacking

Absorb Souls While Attacking is more situational than Deflect or Oni Vision, but it becomes attractive for players who want combat and resource collection to work together.

If you're already absorbing Souls frequently during fights, a skill that makes that process more integrated into your combat loop can become increasingly valuable.

Why it matters

Red Souls are an important part of your progression economy. You'll spend them on:

• Skills
• Skill upgrades
• Other progression purchases
• Later material purchases

And material costs can become significant later. Recent launch coverage notes that some higher-tier materials sold through shrine progression can cost more than 8,000 Red Souls, making it worthwhile to manage your Soul reserve carefully.

Who should prioritize this?

Move resource-focused upgrades higher if:

• You're constantly short on Red Souls.
• You frequently absorb Souls during combat.
• You play aggressively.
• You want your combat loop to contribute more directly to progression.

If you already have a healthy Red Soul supply, I'd still put core combat skills or Oni Vision ahead of it.

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6. Oni Vision: Destructibles

Oni Vision: Destructibles is another useful Special Skill for exploration-focused players.

The current skill data lists its cost at: 3,500 Red Souls.

Prioritize it if you:

• Explore thoroughly.
• Hunt for hidden resources.
• Break environmental objects regularly.
• Want to improve material collection.

Don't rush it if you:

• Mainly want boss damage.
• Are short on Red Souls.
• Haven't unlocked the combat skills you actually need.

It's a good example of why there isn't one perfect skill order. A completionist can get much more value from this than a player rushing through the story.

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What About Environmental Object Power?

Your in-game screenshot confirms that Environmental Object Power 1 costs 4,500 Red Souls.

It increases the power of environmental objects when you use them against enemies.

The important question isn't whether the skill works. It does.

The question is whether it deserves your first 4,500 Red Souls.

For most players, I'd say no.

It's useful and can improve a particular combat style, but Deflect, Issen-focused abilities and Oni Vision generally have broader applications.

My recommendation

• Environmental Object Power 1: Useful? Yes. Worth buying eventually? Yes. First upgrade for most players? No.

If you frequently use environmental objects as part of your combat style, move it higher.

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Sword vs Clothing vs Gauntlet

The other major decision you'll face is whether to improve your:

• Sword
• Clothing
• Gauntlet

The good news is that these equipment tracks are independent. You don't permanently sacrifice Sword progression just because you upgrade Clothing.

The better question is: Which stat is currently limiting me?

Current equipment documentation confirms that Clothing, Sword and Gauntlet have separate enhancement paths, each eventually reaching Proficiency Level 5. The journey to each major level involves multiple smaller enhancement steps rather than a single purchase.

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When to Upgrade Your Sword

Upgrade the Sword when enemies are taking too long to kill or you're relying heavily on Issen and Oni Armaments.

Your screenshot-confirmed early Sword enhancement shows:

• Regular Attack Power: +2% → +4%
• Issen Power: +0% → +4%
• Oni Armament Power: +0% → +4%

The displayed material requirement is:

• Whetstone ×2
• Iron ×1

That makes Sword enhancement particularly attractive when you want a direct improvement to offensive output.

Sword priority

• Boss damage problem → Sword
• Slow regular kills → Sword
• Issen-focused build → Sword
• Oni Armament-focused build → Sword is still useful

Later Sword enhancements use increasingly advanced materials, including Tempered Iron and Tamahagane. So don't assume that having enough early Whetstones means you've solved your entire Sword progression.

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When to Upgrade Clothing

Clothing is the better choice when your problem isn't killing enemies but surviving them.

Your screenshot-confirmed early Clothing enhancement increases:

• Health/Stamina: +40 → +60

The displayed materials are:

• Hempen Cloth ×2
• Cotton Cloth ×1

Upgrade Clothing when:

• You're dying during longer encounters.
• You frequently run out of stamina.
• You need more room for mistakes against bosses.
• Your attacks and dodges are being limited by stamina.

Don't automatically prioritize Sword just because damage sounds more exciting. A damage increase doesn't help much if you're repeatedly dying before you can use it.

Clothing's role is straightforward: it increases your Health and Stamina, making it the natural choice when survivability is the problem.

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When to Upgrade the Gauntlet

The Gauntlet serves a different purpose from the Sword and Clothing.

Its upgrades improve your Oni-related capabilities.

Your screenshot-confirmed early Gauntlet enhancement shows:

• Maximum Oni Power: +130 → +170

with:

• Malicite ×2
• Byakue's Talisman ×1

The Gauntlet also improves Soul absorption speed and range as its enhancement track develops. Its separate material path includes Malicite, Malicite Masses, Byakue's Talismans and Dohatsu-ten's Horns.

Prioritize Gauntlet when:

• You rely heavily on Oni Armaments.
• Your Oni Power pool is limiting your options.
• You use Soul absorption frequently.
• You have the required Genma materials available.

The Gauntlet is particularly attractive if you've committed to one or two Oni Armaments rather than trying to spread your resources across everything.

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Best Upgrade Order by Playstyle

There isn't one perfect order, so here's how I'd approach it.

Combat-first

If your priority is defeating difficult enemies and bosses:

• Deflect → Reflex Combo / Issen skills → Blazing State-related upgrades → Sword → Gauntlet

Your goal is to improve: Defensive timing, Counter opportunities, Damage, Oni combat options. This approach fits the game's combat design particularly well because precise parries, Deflect and Issen are central to how difficult encounters are handled.

Exploration-first

If you're searching Kyoto for materials and hidden items:

• Oni Vision: Treasures → Oni Vision: Treasure 2 → Search Range → combat/equipment upgrades

This is one of the strongest long-term approaches because the Oni Vision chain helps you locate the resources needed for later progression.

Resource-first

If you're constantly running out of Red Souls:

• Soul-collection improvements → Oni Vision → combat skills → equipment upgrades

This approach makes sense if your main problem is not the cost of a single upgrade but your ability to keep funding your progression. Remember that some later materials can cost thousands of Red Souls, so keeping a reserve is worthwhile.

Balanced first playthrough

If you don't have a particular build in mind, I'd use:

• Deflect → Issen skill → Oni Vision: Treasures → Blazing State/combat upgrades → Sword → Gauntlet or Clothing based on your weakness

This is the safest general-purpose path.

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What Should You Spend Red Souls On?

Red Souls are easy to spend and increasingly valuable as the game progresses.

Don't assume that having enough Souls for an upgrade means you should immediately buy it.

Before spending, ask:

• Am I dying because I lack damage? → Sword or offensive skill.
• Am I dying because I lack survivability? → Clothing or defensive skill.
• Am I running out of Oni Power? → Gauntlet.
• Am I missing treasures and materials? → Oni Vision.
• Am I constantly short on Souls? → Improve your Soul collection and farming efficiency first.

This becomes increasingly important because later material purchases can become expensive. Current launch reporting has found some shrine materials costing more than 8,000 Red Souls.

If you're running low on Red Souls, our Red Soul Farming Guide — Best Early Locations & Fastest Methods can help you build up your supply before making expensive purchases.

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Don't Waste Your Upgrade Materials

One of the easiest mistakes is assuming every resource comes from the same place. It doesn't.

Clothing

Uses materials such as:

• Hempen Cloth
• Cotton Cloth
• Leather
• Fine Silk Cloth

Sword

Uses:

• Whetstone
• Iron
• Tempered Iron
• Tamahagane

Gauntlet

Uses:

• Malicite
• Malicite Masses
• Byakue's Talismans
• Dohatsu-ten's Horns

Current equipment data confirms these separate material paths.

This means you shouldn't stop exploring just because you've accumulated enough Red Souls. Your equipment may be waiting on a completely different resource.

A useful habit

Whenever you reach a Spirit Mirror:

• Check all three equipment categories.
• If you already have enough materials for an enhancement, consider performing it rather than letting those materials sit unused.

Equipment upgrades progress independently, and the complete equipment system eventually reaches Proficiency Level 5.

If you're still learning the game's core combat systems, it's also worth pairing these upgrades with our Onimusha: Way of the Sword Beginner Guide: 12 Combat Mistakes Every New Player Makes.

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Simple Early-Game Upgrade Path

If you don't want to think about builds, use this.

1. Step 1 — Unlock Deflect — Start improving your defensive options.
2. Step 2 — Pick an Issen skill — Choose the Issen path that fits your comfort level.
3. Step 3 — Get Oni Vision: Treasures — Especially important if you're exploring.
4. Step 4 — Develop your Blazing State/combat path — This becomes increasingly valuable as your parry and counter timing improves.
5. Step 5 — Improve Soul collection — Do this if Red Souls are becoming a major bottleneck.
6. Step 6 — Upgrade your Sword — Do this when damage starts feeling low.
7. Step 7 — Upgrade your Gauntlet — Prioritize it if you're using Oni Armaments heavily.
8. Step 8 — Upgrade Clothing — Move it higher if you're struggling with health or stamina.
9. Step 9 — Add situational skills — This is where Environmental Object Power and other specialized upgrades become more attractive.

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Skills and Upgrades You Shouldn't Rush

Not every upgrade needs to be purchased immediately.

Environmental Object Power

At 4,500 Red Souls, it is a meaningful investment. Buy it if you use environmental objects frequently. Otherwise, spend those Souls on something with broader utility first.

Advanced Oni Vision upgrades

These are excellent for exploration, but if you're currently stuck on a boss, they won't solve your immediate combat problem.

Equipment upgrades that don't address your weakness

• Don't upgrade Clothing simply because you have enough cloth.
• Don't upgrade Sword simply because you have enough Whetstones.
• Think about what is actually slowing you down.

Spreading Oni Armament upgrades too thinly

If you're investing heavily in Oni Armaments, consider committing to one or two that solve problems you regularly encounter rather than spreading resources across every option. That gives each investment a clearer purpose and avoids ending up with several partially developed options.

Expensive later purchases

Don't assume your early-game Red Soul income will always feel comfortable. As progression advances, higher-tier materials can consume large amounts of Souls. Keeping a reserve is often smarter than spending everything immediately.

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Fast Skills & Upgrade Checklist

Before spending your resources, ask:

• ☐ Do I need more damage?
• ☐ Do I need more survivability?
• ☐ Do I need more Oni Power?
• ☐ Am I comfortable with Issen timing?
• ☐ Would Deflect improve my current fights?
• ☐ Am I exploring enough to justify Oni Vision?
• ☐ Do I need more Red Souls?
• ☐ Do I already have the materials for an equipment enhancement?
• ☐ Am I saving enough Souls for later?
• ☐ Am I buying a skill because I need it or simply because I can afford it?
• ☐ Am I spreading my Oni Armament upgrades too thinly?

Simple rule

Upgrade the system that solves your current problem.

That's much more effective than trying to follow a rigid "best build" from the beginning of the game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What skill should I unlock first in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
For most first-time players, Deflect is one of the strongest early combat investments because it expands your defensive options and can heavily drain enemy stamina when performed successfully. If you're already comfortable with counter timing, an Issen-focused skill path can be equally attractive. If you're primarily exploring, Oni Vision: Treasures deserves very high priority.

Is Deflect worth unlocking early?
Yes. Deflect gives you a strong defensive tool and creates offensive opportunities by draining enemy stamina. The skill becomes available during The Oni's Apprentice and costs 2 Power Stones to unlock.

Should I prioritize Oni Vision?
If you explore, absolutely. Oni Vision: Treasures costs 2 Oni Stones and helps reveal hidden treasures and Hozuki. The later Treasure 2 and Search Range upgrades make exploration even more effective.

Should I upgrade my Sword or Clothing first?
Choose based on your current problem. Enemies take too long to kill → Sword. You die too easily or run out of stamina → Clothing. Neither is universally better.

Is the Gauntlet worth upgrading?
Yes, especially if you use Oni Armaments frequently. Gauntlet enhancements improve Oni-related capabilities, including your available Oni Power. Your screenshot-confirmed early upgrade increases Maximum Oni Power from +130 to +170 and requires 2 Malicite and 1 Byakue's Talisman.

What does Oni Vision: Treasures cost?
The current skill data lists 2 Oni Stones for Oni Vision: Treasures.

How much does Environmental Object Power 1 cost?
Your in-game screenshot confirms that Environmental Object Power 1 costs 4,500 Red Souls. It's useful, but I wouldn't make it one of the first purchases for most players.

What should I spend Power Stones on?
Prioritize abilities that directly improve the combat style you're actually using. If you're building around Issen, Reflex Combo and Chain Issen are early candidates. Current skill data lists each at 2 Power Stones when they become available during The Oni's Apprentice.

Should I save Oni Stones?
Yes, especially early in the game. A strong use for them is the Oni Vision chain: Oni Vision: Treasures → Oni Vision: Treasure 2 → Search Range. These upgrades help you find collectibles, equipment materials and additional resources, potentially making later progression easier.

Can I unlock all the skills?
Yes. The game has a completion requirement for learning and upgrading all Basic and Special Skills. The Well-Rounded achievement requires all of them to be learned and upgraded. That means you shouldn't worry about permanently ruining your character by choosing one early upgrade over another. The real question is which upgrade gives you the most useful benefit right now. You can specialize your early progression, then work toward the remaining skills later.

What is the best overall upgrade order?
For a balanced first playthrough, I'd use: Deflect → Issen/Reflex Combo → Blazing State-related upgrades → Oni Vision: Treasures → Soul/resource improvements → Sword → Gauntlet or Clothing based on your weakness. For exploration-heavy players, move Oni Vision higher. For boss-focused players, move Issen and combat upgrades higher. For players struggling to survive, move Clothing higher.

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Final Recommendation

If you just want a simple answer, I'd start with:

• Deflect → Issen-related skill → Blazing State/combat upgrades → Oni Vision: Treasures → Soul/resource improvement → Sword

Then adjust the next upgrade according to your playstyle.

• If you're dying, move Clothing higher.
• If you're relying heavily on Oni Armaments, move Gauntlet higher.
• If you're exploring everything in Kyoto, prioritize Oni Vision.
• And if you're constantly short on Red Souls, improve your Soul collection and farming before spending thousands on situational upgrades.

The biggest mistake is trying to build the "perfect" character too early.

Use your resources to fix the problem you're actually having, and your upgrade path will naturally become much more efficient.

For combat fundamentals that make these upgrades more effective, see our Onimusha: Way of the Sword Beginner Guide: 12 Combat Mistakes Every New Player Makes.

And when you need more Red Souls for the next upgrade, check our Red Soul Farming Guide — Best Early Locations & Fastest Methods.