How to Beat Yoshitsune Phase 3 in Onimusha: Way of the Sword
In phase 3, Yoshitsune's health only drops while Oni Awakening is active. Here is how to steal his Soul Drain, manage the gauge, and finish the duel in 2-4 transformations.
Core problem: in phase 3, Yoshitsune's health barely moves from normal sword hits. You only cut his HP while Oni Awakening is active. Everything else is stamina and soul farming so you can transform again. Die and you restart the whole three-phase fight.
1What to Do the Moment Phase 3 Starts
- 1Stop swinging for health.
Treat regular attacks as stamina tools only. If your Awakening gauge is empty, you are farming, not finishing him.
- 2Play the same phase-2 kit.
Parry and deflect melee strings, perfect-dodge the purple slams, arrows, and grabs. His new move is the center-arena soul vacuum, and that is the real decision point.
- 3On every stamina break, take purple souls.
Not the red damage spark. Purple feeds Awakening and Oni Power. Players who pick red here stall the phase.
2Soul Drain: The Attack That Decides Runs
- 1He jumps to the center and pulls every loose soul.
Hold the gauntlet and steal them yourself. This is how you refill Awakening mid-phase. Shizuka often calls it out before the slash.
- 2When the souls stop flowing, he draws for a huge slash.
Best answer in order: if already awakened, use Onimusha Onslaught to interrupt for the big HP chunk. If not awakened but you have an Armament, fire it for i-frames through the draw. Last resort is Issen or parry, since the timing is tight.
- 3Time it around your gauge.
Do the vacuum with Awakening ready or nearly ready. Absorb first, transform, then Onslaught as he commits to the draw.
3The Kill Loop (2-4 Awakenings)
- 1Fill the gauge.
Issen counters, purple soul breaks, gauntlet on Soul Drain, or Stimulant and Charm of Awakening if you are dry.
- 2Press L3 + R3 to transform.
- 3Spend most of the timer on Issen.
Awakened Issen is easier and is the real HP damage. Do not mash the Onslaught the instant you transform.
- 4Hold the Onslaught until the gauge is almost empty,
or save it specifically to interrupt Soul Drain.
- 5Gauge empty, back to defense.
Farm purple again and repeat. Expect two to four transformations depending on how many Issens you land around each Onslaught.
Key Decisions
| Situation | Right Choice |
|---|---|
| Gauge full at phase start | Transform immediately and hunt Issens. Saving it usually means eating a vacuum with nothing in the tank. |
| Vacuum starting, gauge empty | Steal souls first. Only spend an Armament if you still cannot transform before the slash. |
| Stamina break | Always purple souls, unless he is one hit from dead and you are already awakened. |
| Low on items | Charm of Awakening or Stimulant replaces a dry gauge. Do not enter the phase empty if you can prep. |
Prep Players Actually Credit
- 1Charm of Awakening and Stimulant
to cover a dry gauge.
- 2Fill Awakening before the mission
with pouch swapping at a mirror, then switch back to heals.
- 3Items worth carrying:
Stimulant, Sun-Dried Hozuki, Mirror of Revival, Amulet of Introspection for a wider Issen and parry window.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wasting Awakening in phase 1-2, then entering phase 3 empty.
- Trying to combo his health with a normal sword in phase 3. Only Awakening damage counts.
- Ignoring the vacuum and getting soul-starved and slashed.
- Onslaughting the instant you transform instead of using the window for Issen.
- Over-committing two lights after a parry. He punishes it hard in this phase too.
- Missing the grab or pink 3-hit string and losing half your health plus souls.