Players seeking to bypass some of the grinding for upgrade materials in Onimusha: Way of the Sword can now purchase a variety of essential components from a vendor in the game's hub world. The shop, managed by Yorimasa at the Yasui Konpiragu shrine, expands its inventory to include key crafting items after the player completes a specific quest.
This addition offers a way to mitigate the game's padding, which often involves repetitive tasks to gather materials like cotton and iron for incremental upgrades to damage, health, stamina, and the Oni power gauge. While these upgrades are not mandatory for progression, particularly for skilled players who may not need them, they significantly impact the experience for most players. The system does not evolve over the course of the game, and rarer materials are used for unlocking abilities on the skill tree.
Unlocking the Vendor and Inventory
After completing the quest to purify the Yasui Konpiragu shrine and save its guardian Oni spirit, Yorimasa will begin selling items for red souls, the primary currency earned from defeating enemies. Players may overlook this shop, failing to revisit it as its inventory expands after each major story mission. The expanded stock includes important crafting materials such as Leather, Fine Silk, Tempered Iron, Tamahagane, Malacite Mass, Byakue's Talisman, and Dohatsu-ten's Horn.
While basic materials like cotton cloth and regular iron are readily available early on, the five upgrade tiers for clothing, swords, and gauntlets require a substantial number of components. Without dedicating significant time to sidequests or thorough exploration for chests, players are unlikely to naturally accrue enough materials to max out their gear within a typical playthrough. The vendor's finite supply can supplement these findings, particularly in the mid- to late-game, helping to alleviate the pacing issues caused by material hunting.
Acquiring More Red Souls
Even with the ability to purchase materials, the cost of higher-tier items, which can exceed 8,000 souls, can quickly deplete a player's reserves. To manage finances and avoid a late-game cash crunch, several strategies can be employed.
Prioritizing the skill tree node that increases red soul rewards early in the game will lead to greater earning potential over time, allowing for more purchases later. Additionally, utilizing consumable items like Red Soul Suckers before engaging large groups of enemies or before finishing off powerful foes can significantly boost soul acquisition. Finishing enemies with the Flashing Void Oni armament, available later in the game, also grants bonus red souls.
For players dedicated to maximizing soul gains, upgrading the Reaper's Charm provides a baseline 15% buff to earned souls when equipped. However, this requires an early investment and consistent use of the charm, which may not appeal to all players, especially if acquired late in the game. The limited supply of purchasable materials also means that eventually, players will need to rely on grinding souls regardless of purchasing options.