Miyamoto Musashi will spend a lot of his time fighting Genma in Onimusha: Way of the Sword, but you can’t simply keep attacking and expect to win every encounter. The enemies can hit hard too, so learning when to defend yourself is just as important as knowing how to attack.
One of the most useful mechanics for this is Issen. It gives you a way to turn an enemy’s attack into a powerful counterattack, and once you get the timing down, it can make some fights much easier.
In this guide, I’ll explain what Issen does and how you can perform it consistently in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
How to Use Issen in Onimusha Way of the Sword
Issen is essentially a counterattack that lets you punish an enemy at the exact moment they are about to hit you.
It works differently from simply blocking an attack. Blocking protects you but gradually uses your stamina, while parries and deflections focus more on defense and disrupting your opponent.
Issen combines defense and offense into one move. If you land it successfully, Musashi immediately strikes back with a powerful attack that can take a large amount of health from an enemy.
Against weaker Genma, a successful Issen can even kill them outright.
Issen also becomes even more powerful when combined with skills such as Chain Issen, which lets you continue the counterattack against additional enemies after successfully landing the first one.
How to Perform an Issen
The most important part of performing an Issen is timing.
When an enemy starts attacking, don’t immediately press the block button. Instead, watch the incoming attack and wait until it is just about to connect with Musashi.
At that moment, press either the light attack or heavy attack button:
- Light Attack: A/X
- Heavy Attack: Y/Triangle
If you press the attack button at the correct moment, Musashi will perform a lightning-fast counterattack.
The timing window is small, so don’t worry if you miss it several times while learning. The important thing is to start recognizing the moment an enemy’s attack is about to land rather than simply reacting as soon as they begin moving.
Practice Your Issen Timing
If you’re struggling to land Issen consistently, I recommend spending some time in the Practice Grounds.
The practice area gives you a safe place to learn enemy attack timings without having to worry about losing health during a real encounter.
Start by watching the enemy’s attack animation and try to identify the moment just before the hit connects. Once you can recognize that timing, begin pressing your light or heavy attack at that point.
With enough practice, you’ll start reacting to the attack naturally instead of having to think about the timing every time.
Use Issen to Turn Defense Into Offense
The biggest advantage of Issen is that it rewards you for playing patiently.
Instead of rushing toward an enemy and constantly attacking, you can wait for them to make the first move and then punish them with a well-timed counter.
This becomes especially useful against enemies with predictable attack patterns. Once you learn their moves, you can anticipate when an attack is coming and prepare your Issen accordingly.
Just remember that not every attack should automatically be countered. If you’re unsure about the timing, blocking or dodging is usually safer than taking a hit while attempting a risky Issen.
Chain Issen
Once you’re comfortable with regular Issen, you can make it even more effective by unlocking Chain Issen.
After successfully landing your first Issen, press the light attack button again at the correct moment. If you get the timing right, Musashi will transition toward another nearby enemy and give you another attack prompt.
This allows you to chain multiple Issen attacks together, potentially taking out several basic Genma without giving them much time to respond.
For groups of weaker enemies, Chain Issen can be one of the most satisfying ways to clear a fight. The key is getting comfortable with the initial Issen first. Once that timing becomes consistent, adding the follow-up attacks becomes much easier.
Final Tips for Issen
Issen is one of those mechanics that becomes much stronger once you stop trying to force it.
Watch your enemies, learn their attack animations, and wait for the right moment instead of repeatedly pressing the attack button. If you miss the timing, don’t panic. You can always fall back on blocking, parrying, or dodging.
Once you start recognizing enemy attack patterns, Issen can become one of your most reliable tools for dealing heavy damage while staying on the defensive.