On this page
- Main missions
- 23 in our list (guides report 22–24)
- Point of no return
- The Clash at Rendaino
- Free roam
- Until the final mission
- After the credits
- “Continue” returns you before the finale
01Why mission counts differ
Published walkthroughs list 22, 23 or 24 main missions. The difference is almost entirely in how the closing sequence is split: some lists treat The Clash at Rendaino as the final mission, others list the Shanaoh Castle finale separately as The Way of the Sword.
There is also a short required interlude, The Light of Vengeance (Lady Murasaki, a Kyoto Mystery and sealing a Rift near Kiyomizu), which some guides number and others do not. We use the 23-mission order below and note the interlude separately.
02Main mission order
| # | Mission | Main location | Boss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ruckus at Rendaino | Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple | — |
| 2 | The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu | Kiyomizu-dera | Sasaki Ganryu, Daidara |
| 3 | Kyoto, Corrupted | Eastern Kyoto | — |
| 4 | The Oni’s Apprentice | Rokudo Chinno-ji Temple | — |
| 5 | Careful What You Wish For | Yasui Konpiragu Shrine | Rasho-gan |
| 6 | The Curse of Kiyomizu-zaka Slope | Kiyomizu-zaka | Byakue |
| 7 | A Strength in Refuge | Eastern Kyoto / Oni Sanctuary | — |
| 8 | Patching Up the Pouch | Eastern Kyoto | — |
| 9 | Windswept Kennin-ji | Kennin-ji Temple | Ifuu |
| 10 | An Immortal Talent | Yasaka Shrine | — |
| 11 | What Lurks in the Shadows | Nijo-jo Castle / Underground Laboratory | Nue, Greater Nue |
| — | Interlude: The Light of Vengeance | Kiyomizu area | — |
| 12 | The Roots of All Evil | Toribeno | Dohatsu-ten |
| 13 | Bloodbath on the Bridge | Gojo-ohashi Bridge | Benkei |
| 14 | Shadows Fall | Eastern Kyoto | — |
| 15 | A Tempest at the Temple | Kennin-ji Temple | Burai |
| 16 | To Live is to Suffer | Yasaka Pagoda | Sasaki Ganryu |
| 17 | Okuni’s Kabuki Dance | Kamo River sandbar | — |
| 18 | The Demon on the Mount | Mount Oe | Shuten Doji |
| 19 | A Haunted Distraction | Shijo Street / Yasaka Shrine | — |
| 20 | Storm Chaser | Kennin-ji Temple | Ifuu and Burai |
| 21 | In the Light of an Icy Moon | Arashiyama | Sasaki Ganryu, Dokyo |
| 22 | The Clash at Rendaino | Rendaino | Benkei (Fully Armed) |
| 23 | The Way of the Sword | Shanaoh Castle | Boss gauntlet, Minamoto no Yoshitsune |
03What each act unlocks
| Stretch | Key unlocks to expect | Optional content worth doing now |
|---|---|---|
| Missions 1–4 | Two Celestials, the Practice Grounds and Wind Whipper, Deflect, equipment enhancement | Early Lion Dogs and first townspeople rescues |
| Missions 5–11 | Hozuki Pouch upgrades, Earth-Shakers in the Underground Laboratory | Chance Encounters and the first Mysteries of Kyoto for Charms |
| Missions 12–17 | Firebird Flute in Eastern Kyoto, more Charm slots and skill tiers | Upgrade sword and clothing before Benkei |
| Missions 18–21 | Flashing Void (Mount Oe) and Still Water (Arashiyama)—both easy to miss | Remaining Genma Notes via Oni Vision |
| Missions 22–23 | Ending, Boss Rematch, Carnage / New Game+ | Finish everything before starting mission 22 |
04Missable-item checklist by mission
- Mission 18, The Demon on the Mount: the Flashing Void chest sits in a cave past the Castle Entrance Spirit Mirror—easy to walk past.
- Mission 21, In the Light of an Icy Moon: the Still Water chest is in a tunnel in the Arashiyama swamp, past the Swamp 1 Spirit Mirror.
- The final Genma Note only appears after you defeat the final boss—use “Continue” afterwards to collect it.
- Nothing is permanently lost: after the credits you return to just before the final mission with free roam intact.
05Before The Clash at Rendaino
Trophy roadmaps treat The Clash at Rendaino as the start of the finale. Before speaking to Takamura to begin it, finish open Chance Encounters and Mysteries of Kyoto, collect the materials you need for maximum equipment levels and make a manual save in a separate slot. You can still return after the credits, but doing it now means the final bosses are fought with your best gear.
A separate manual save right before mission 22 lets you jump back for collectibles without replaying the finale.
Frequently asked questions
How many chapters does Onimusha: Way of the Sword have?
The story is split into main missions rather than chapters. Lists range from 22 to 24 depending on how the finale and a short interlude are counted; our list has 23.
Is there a point of no return?
Yes—The Clash at Rendaino starts the finale. After the credits, choosing Continue returns you to just before it, so nothing is permanently missable.
How long is the story?
Most reviewers report roughly 20–25 hours for the main story; a 100% run with the Platinum trophy takes far longer.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources. All text is our own.
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