Information
Characters
William Adams
William Adams is a pirate who is Welsh. For England he has been hunting the world for Amrita to bring back to England to aid in the war with Spain. After he’s been used up he was set up for execution but managed to escape, though in the process lost his Guardian Spirit. He now is on a long journey to get her back. During his journey he made many friends, allies, and enemies in Japan. William gained Guardian Spirits, he grew in power, fought the greatest of monsters and warriors, while fighting for peace in Japan under Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Edward Kelly
A mysterious villain working for the Queen of England. He has control over the Amrita and is capable of making demons. Edward has stolen William’s Guardian Spirit. An alchemist, he went to Japan to ensure that the current war would be extra bloody, as it would cause more Amrita to form. Like a trickster god he played both sides of Japan. William continued to chase him.
Hattori Hanzo
Hanzo is a legendary ninja and samurai who is in service of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He served back when they were known as the Matsudaira clan and was crucial in defenses of the iga clan of ninjas and the protection of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Known also as Demon Hanzo, he has been tasked by Ieyasu with going to the West for aid and dealing with Yokai along the way. Upon appearing he has become an ally to William and both have entered a mutually beneficial alliance.
Okatsu
The daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, she refused to grow up a princess and chose instead to run away and study the way of the ninja under Demon Hanzo. Okatsu and William have a sort of friendship and feeling of being kindred spirits. A proud and fierce warrior, she resents her father but still seeks for him to rule Japan in a time of peace.
Nekomata
The Guardian Spirit of Hattori Hanzo. He is a bit of a strange creature that has a bit of a comical tinge to him. Upon arrival in the caverns below Nakatsu he befriends William and posses him to act as a guide. Nekomata sacrificed himself and was turned into the twisted White Tiger before being slain by William.
Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga, the Demon of Owari. He was once known as Kipposhi, the Fool of Owari. He rose from a disliked youth of a minor Daimyo to the near-overlord of Japan. Around him many important figures rose, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and many more. He was assassinated by his retainer Akechi Mitsuhide, causing the fall of one of Japan’s greatest, most powerful, and terrifying figures.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Originally known as Kinoshita Hideyoshi, he was a mere soldier who rose up underneath Nobunaga to become one of Japan’s greatest generals. Eventually he became known as Hashibe Toyotomi, after the death of Nobunaga he rose even further and became the ruler of Japan. Hideyoshi planned the ill thought out invasion of Korea and tried to continue Nobunaga’s ambitious ideals. One day Hideyoshi too died leaving a massive power vacuum in Japan that led to the war between the East and West.
Ishida Mitsunari
Formerly a loyal servant of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Mitsunari spent his early years serving his lord with great dedication. After his master’s death he began to sow dissent among others against Tokugawa Ieyasu, who had begun making power plays to take more control over Japan. Sir Ishida took to the west and rallied forces to oppose Ieyasu. One person he took on as an ally was Edward Kelley, he promised Mitsunari his dark magic’s aid in the coming war. After the Battle of Sekigahara Mitsunari retreated to Mount Ibuki where Kelley betrayed him. William defeated him and Tenkai saved his life. Defeated utterly, Mitsunari had no choice but to surrender and submit to his own execution. For the greater good.
Otani Yoshitsugu
One of Ishida Mitsunari’s top generals. He suffers from leprosy and his body is held together via dark magic. Earlier he served under Hideyoshi in both the Kyushu campaign and Korea and formed a deep friendship with Ishida Mitsunari. Yoshitsugu met his end at Sekigahara by the hands of William after turning into a Yokai.
Shima Sakon
A powerful samurai and one of Ishida Mitsunari’s top generals. A close friend of Ishida Mitsunari, he served his lord at all times. Many rumors about him insulted Mitsunari but Shima Sakon always found his lord to be a righteous good man. At the battle of Sekigahara he was defeated by William and went on to survive the battle, becoming a wanderer, an obscured figure.
Yasuke
A samurai of African origins, his original name was lost to history. He came to serve under Nobunaga and was heartbroken when his master was killed. After he preserved Nobunaga’s body and guarded him, preparing him for the day he would once again rise.
Saika Magoichi
Leader of the Saika Ikki, he is the third Saika Magoichi. The name is passed down among them to each leader. His real name is Suzuki Shigetomo. He is a master of firearms and serves the Toyotomi and Ishida even after Hideyoshi’s death.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu, once known as Takechiyo when he was a child. Originally the heir to the Matsudaira, he was taken as a hostage by the Imagawa but Oda Nobuhide had other plans for him. He captured young Takechiyo, helping him meet with Nobuhide’s son, Kipposhi. He would one day be known as Oda Nobunaga. The two formed a friendship which lasted as around them the world changed. Both became Daimyo, both rose in power, both fought together. After Nobunaga’s death Tokugawa allied with Hideyoshi. Again after Hideyoshi’s death Tokugawa saw his chance and made a bid for power. Now he seeks to unite Japan, to bring about a peace with him at the head of it all.
Tenkai
Tenkai is a powerful mage with a lot of knowledge on the Yokai and of magic. He is an old man who covers his face and wears glasses, often appearing to fight the evil that assails Japan. Tenkai eventually revealed that he was really the legendary villain Akechi Mitsuhide, who had assassinated Oda Nobunaga. He saw it as being something he had to do for the greater good, and for the safety of the entire world.
Torii Motatada
An old friend of Ieyasu, as a child he was taken hostage by the Imagawa alongside Ieyasu where he served him then. Later on he aided in the campaign against the Hojo and earned a place at Ieyasu’s side with both his tactics and loyalty. At Fushimi Castle he made a last stand in defense of Kyoto and was killed fighting the forces of the Western Army.
Ii Naomasa
Ii Naomasa is a leadinig general of Tokugawa’s. He has served him since Ieyasu found him early on in his life. Commonly wearing red armor, he is seen as a warrior who is a battle scarred veteran.
Honda Tadakatsu
One of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s lead general. Tadakatsu has served under Ieyasu for a long time. He has shown up with resolve during Ieyasu’s most needed moments and has become known as one of the greatest warriors in the east.
Kuroda Kanbei
A genius strategist who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he was instrumental in Hideyoshi’s rise to power. He was imprisoned by Oda Nobunaga and lived many years in tortured isolation.
Kuroda Nagamasa
The son of Kuroda Kanbei. He served in the Korean campaign and fought under Hideyoshi. Early in life he was a hostage of Oda Nobunaga.
Tachibana Ginchiyo
The daughter of Tachibana Dosetsu, she ruled the Tachibana clan at a young age and was known for her ferocity and strength. She married Muneshige making him heir to the clan.
Tachibana Muneshige
Adopted into the Tachibana family, Muneshige is known as the greatest warrior in the West of Japan. He is married to Ginchiyo and has a mistress named Lady Yachiko.
Kikkawa Hiroie
The son of Kikkawa Motoharu, Shiroie had big shoes to fill and was ill at matching up to the legends of his father, he now leads the Kikkawa clan.
Kobayakawa Hideaki
The son of Kinoshita Iesada, he was later adopted by Toyotomi Hideyashi then again adopted by Kobayakawa Takakage. He now leads the Kobayakawa clan under the Mori. At the battle of Sekigahara he fought on the side of the Western Army but defected turning the tide of the battle and helped ensure the Eastern Army’s victory.
Matsunaga Hisahide
Once a Miyoshi retainer, he was famous for betraying his master, killing the shogun, and burning a great statue of Buddha. Afterwards he was taken into the Oda clan but rebelled often against Nobunaga. Eventually at Shigisan Castle he made a last stand and blew himself up. Seemingly in Nioh he somehow survived.
Senji Tome
A blacksmith who travels with William and aids him on his journeys.
Senji Muramasa
One of Japan’s most famous swordsmiths. He is not the first Muramasa, and he will not be the last. His skill is great as is his understanding of using Amrita in the forging of his weapons. He famously created the weapon of Honda Tadakatsu. Tokugawa Ieyasu distrusts his weapons.
Fuku
An Onmyo Mage.
Marume Nagayoshi
An expert swordsman, Marume studied the blade under his master and spent many years perfecting his form and execution. Known as a master now himself, he aids William in the learning of his katana skills.
Yagyu Sekishusai
A member of the Yagyu clan, he is a famed swordsman who combined military and combat knowledge with philosophies and religions such as Zen, Confucianism, and Buddhism. He has chosen to train William in the way of the sword.
Guardian Spirits
Kato
“Fire elemental. Legend has t that a she-wolf hit by a shooting star in the first month of her pregnancy will give birth to a Kato. These fire-eating hounds are said to cause the forest fires sparked by lightning strikes. Harbingers of house fires and other misfortunes, Kato are venerated as servants of the God of Fire.”
Isonade
"Water elemental. Pronounced ‘EE-soh Nah-day,’ the name means ’ the sea’s caress.’ Following the northern sea winds, Isonade prowls just beneath the surface in search of prey. It uses its powerful tail to entangle and pull victims below the waves. By the time you feel the slightest breeze, it’s already too late. Believing it responsible for stirring up rough seas, local sailors make offerings to Isonade in a prayer for calm sailing.
Daiba-Washi
“Wind elemental. Pronounced ‘DIE-bah WAH-shee,’ the name means ‘horsekiller hawk.’ So called for a mysterious phenomenon in which the wind whips up and horses die suddenly. Observers hve described it as a whirlwind of glowing needles surrounding the hapless animal. Slashing the air in fron of the the horse with a sword will deflect it. On the other hand some actually venerate the Daiba-washi, believing that these same characteristics can shield them from danger.”
Fuze-Ushi
“Fuse-ushi is a bull spirit that protects believers from misfortune. Bovines have long served alongside humans, providing strength in agriculture and other ways to support our lives. For this reason, some civilizations actually ban the consumption of their meat and venerate them as a sign of thanks. Pat its stomach as a sign of respect, and the Fuse-ushi will absorb negative Ki. The great Kuroda Nagamasa decorated his helm with a bull ornament in hopes of becoming a fierce warrior with a heart as gentle as a Fuse-ushi.”
Mizuchi
"Pronounced ‘MEE-zoo-chee,’ this dragon serves as guardian spirit of those who harbor great ambitions. Though they normally reside in the abysses of deep rivers, it is believed that upon their death they ascend to the heavens and transform into celestial dragons. True or not, this belief was so widespread in the Warring States period that many aspiring warriors fervently venerated the Mizuchi.
Raiken
“Pronounced ‘RYE-ken.’ Written with the characters for ‘thunder’ and ‘dog,’ this pair of holy hounds are venerated as protector spirits. Many of the ‘komainu’ statues placed in shrines throughout Japan resemble them. When those who would defile holy ground were struck down with divine lightning, it is the Raiken who loosed the bolts. Legend has it that when Tachibana Ginchiyo’s father, Tachibana Dosetsu, succeeded at cutting lighting, the defeated lightning spirit transformed into a Raiken, and has served as the Tachibana family’s guardian spirit ever since. It is said that every Raiken has a mate, and their true power manifests when they are paired.”
Paired Raiken
“Written with the characters for ‘thunder’ and ‘dog,’ this pair of holy hounds are venerated as protector spirits. Many of the ‘komainu’ statues placed in shrines throughout Japan resemble them. When those who would defile holy ground were struck down with divine lightning, it is the Raiken who loosed the bolts. Legend has it that when Tachibana Ginchiyo’s father, Tachibana Dosetsu, succeeded at cutting lighting, the defeated lightning spirit transformed into a Raiken, and has served as the Tachibana family’s guardian spirit ever since. It is said that every Raiken has a mate, and their true power manifests when they are paired.”
Hi-nezumi
“Pronounced ‘Hee-neh-zoo-mee.’ The Hi-nezumi lens strength to those possessing the will to face difficult problems head-on. In the famed ‘Tale of the Bamboo Cutter,’ one of the objects Princess Kaguya asks her would-be suitors to acquire is a Hi-nezumi fur coat. One suitor tried t take the easy route of purchasing such a coat, and failed the task. Perhaps he would have succeeded if he had faced the challenge with enough determination that a real Hi-nezumi had come to his aid.”
Aya-komori
“Pronounced ‘eye-uh KOH-more-ee,’ this guardian spirit has two sides to its nature. The ‘aya’ part means both ‘string,’ and the metaphorical ‘strings’ that connect people to society and each other. An Aya-komori’s outer self is vivacious and outgoing, but it prefer to reveal its inner self to those trapped by their bonds. Once an Aya-komori has offered its protection, its master may choose to continue coping with their situation or to break free of it entirely; the Aya-komori will help them either way.”
Itokuri
"Pronounced ‘EE-toe COO-ree,’ this spider spirit is not content to merely protect people. It also likes to alter their fates, taking them down a winding path on the way to their destination. As an example, many loathe Matsunaga Hisahide for his villainy, while others remember him as one of the most cultivated gentlemen of his generation. Either way, his influence was huge and far-reaching, though it remains unclear to what extent an Itokuri was involved.
The Itokuri have particular fondness for treasures and historical items that have affected the fates of many. Some people even venerate the Itokuri merely for a chance to associate with such artifacts."
Enko
"Pronounced ‘Enko’ in Japanese, this flame-wreathed guardian
Enemies
Skeleton Warriors
"Yokai taking the form of armored skeletons. Warriors who are unprepared for their death when it comes, or who take their own lives, return as these angry spirits to roam the battlefield and assault the living indiscriminately.
Being half-decayed skeletons, Skeleton Warriors lack stamina, but they feel no pain and will not stop fighting until they are completely destroyed. They often attack in groups armed with swords and spears, so care must be taken not to become surrounded by them."
Dweller
Oni-b
Karakasa Umbrella
Biwa Boku-boku
Lesser Um-Bozu
Mudman
Sentry
Spider
Kappa
Mujina
Yoki
Amrita Fiend
One-Eyed Imp
One-Eyed Oni
Onyudo
Nurkabe
Wheelmonk
Flying Bolt
Raven Tengu
Bosses
Derrick the Executioner
An executioner of London. He is the first boss in the game. For this reason he is quite slow moving and uses slow wide swings in three hit combos. His charge has a delay but a wide area and he can slam the ground. Sometimes he will grab somewhat fast with black and white flames enveloping his hand. During his second phase he gets faster and hits harder but is similar to the first phase. Try to dodge towards his back and hit him in between his attacks. If you have your Living Weapon ready during the second phase activating it will instantly end the battle.
Onryoki
Onryoki is a large demon with chains attacked to its wrists with giant iron balls on each end. This boss is generally slow moving in its first phase. As the first boss it is pretty simple, dodge to the side for its overhead strikes and get in 1-3 hits before retreating. When behind Onryoki it will spin, it is possible to dodge through the balls and chains but it is easier to just back off. For its second phase it gets faster and Onryoki gains combo attacks and a grapple. Try to hug its back as now its main reprisal is a quick swipe that is survivable. If you are far away Onryoki will pick up the iron balls and toss them at you, dodge twice if you aren’t confident in your ability to dodge right no time. If you have a living weapon save it for the second phase and wait for Onryoki to miss a heavy attack that leaves it open afterwards. This boss is weak to poison and resistant to fire.
Hino-Enma
Hino-Enma is a succubus-like Yokai that is very fast. She has wings and can fly and feasts upon men. There are two main phases to this fight, ground phase and flying phase. When she’s in the air she will fire balls of paralysis that will stun you if they connect before swooping down upon you. Don’t dodge too early for either but both are completely avoidable. She can fire the paralysis orbs still while on the ground unless you are too close to her. Up close she has a few quick hit combos that generally do three strikes which you can dodge through then get hits in on her. Don’t stay in on the attack for too long as she’s quick to strike back and you always want to be ready to dodge her grapple attack which resembles a hugging animation. Side note, does not end in a friendly hug. She is weak to lightning and resist wind and paralysis. For this fight its a good idea to have anti-paralysis needles which can be used to get out of the stun.
Nue
Nue is a creature similar to a manticore. It is like a tiger with a great maw, a face like a mask, spines, and exudes lightning. The safest place to stay during this fight is at Nue’s side. It can swipe its tail behind and strikes forwards with its claws. You can bait out these attack while being in relative safety. Sometimes Nue spray poison forwards which is best avoided if possible. The belly of the beast is its weakness. When out of ki Nue is still dangerous as its revival fires two lightning bolts in front of itself which can chain stun and one shot the player. When it is vibrating get ready to move and avoid multiple bolts of lightning. If it rears up it is about to roll, avoid at all costs and dodge to the sides. Nue can also fire a concentrated beam of lightning, move to Nue’s right, your left, and avoid it by getting close to Nue or dodge through the beam horizontally. This boss is weak to water and resists poison and lightning.
Tachibana Muneshige
Tachibana Muneshige is fast, really fast. He is the second boss of the level and you must duel him to proceed. He in my opinion is an easier fight than Nue. His ki management is easy to interrupt. When he is making a circle with his blade rush him and interrupt it as this buffs him. Often afterwards he does an iaito move, where he sheathes his blade and sprints at you. Get ready to dodge and don’t do so too early, this hit will hit hard. If far away he will pull out a bow and fire three shots, one down the middle and one on either side. These can be easily blocked or dodged forwards through. Be aggressive with Muneshige and do not let him regain stamina to allow for multiple critical hits. He also can charge up and do a flurry of swings, stay far away during this and he will use up a lot of stamina doing this. When you see him send his Guardian Spirit Raiken on the ground focus on dodging it when it shoots at you. Muneshige is weak to water and resists lightning.
Great Centipede
The Great Centipede is a massive Yokai made up of multiple pieces of crab rocks that exude poison. This boss is weak to wind, allegedly. It is resistant to earth, poison, and paralysis. Its arena is often filled with poison so it is a good idea to bring multiple antidotes. One can very easily face tank this boss as it does not deal too much damage with most of its attacks other than its slam. You can attack its rear and mid section to break apart the segments which will stun it for a time. The poison spray of the Great Centipede is its weakest attack as you will probably be poisoned already anyway. Anything it fires from its mouth can be easily dodged while its slam requires a bit of extra positioning. When the Great Centipede is approaching while gnashing its mandibles guard to block the hit.
Umi-Bozu
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The Umi-Bozu is a fight that is simply about recognizing patterns. To talk about the fight we also need to cover the arena a bit. It is a medium sized area surrounded by water with three great braziers. By lighting the fires in the level itself these braziers are each lit. At the start of the battle three smaller water monsters spawn where the fires are, each fire lit kills one with three spawning requiring all three fires to be lit for no adds to aid the boss in the fight. If they do spawn they can be ignored while making the rest of the fight more difficult. If you choose to fight them keep your eyes on the boss as the Umi-Bozu likes to fire a beam that one-shots while you’re distracted.
Joro-Gumo
The Jorogumo is one of the easier fights in the game. This boss is allegedly weak to wind. She is mostly slow and a lot of her attacks are delayed. In the fight she’ll spit out webbing on the ground to slow you and also spray it onto you directly to slow you for a time. Avoid the webbing at all costs as it levels the playing field for her. Her weakness is her big spider butt but attacking it will cause her to go into a defensive mode. In it she crawls on the ground with her legs wrapped about her butt. The legs of the Jorogumo are shielded and protect her main body while her torso is still available. When low on health she’ll jump about quickly shooting more webs around the arena. Her two most dangerous attacks are a slow open armed grab, and when she spins as she crawls which both should be avoided at all costs.
Yuki-Onna
The Yuki-Onna is water based and a lot of her attacks are fast moving bursts of damage. Never stand close to her for too long as she will stomp the ground and cause an ice explosion that hits very hard. She can throw her weapon spinning through the air leaving herself vulnerable. Don’t try to do trading of blows with her as she’ll win. When she rears up she is preparing a grappled attack and dodge this as soon as she starts running at you. Fire is your friend for this fight as she is weak to it. From time to time she’ll try to blow a kiss and will send out a spray of frost to slow you down. Over her head she can spawn two kinds of ice shards. One home in on you and fire. The other fire into the ground and explode after a short time.
White Tiger
The White Tiger is very similar to Nue. It is weak to water and resists lightning, poison, and paralysis. From time to time it will meow leaving itself open to attack. This big cat is fast and swipes in front of it. Be way of standing behind the White Tiger as its tail can both spin and grab you. If they split get out from in between them because it means they are about to grab. When it rears up prepare for to dash at you. It can dash once or twice. If you stay in front of the White Tiger for too long it can do a backflip that strikes very hard. Sometimes when doing a backflip it will shoot out hard hitting fire or throw fire bombs around it. The fire you need to dodge through and the bombs can be avoided by staying close to the White Tiger. Finally it can fire a beam of lightning similar to Nue. The same tactic applies, hug its right side or dodge through it. This is the perfect opportunity to get some hits in.
Giant Toad
Giant Toad is a boss that is weak at short range. Try to stick to his backside and back off when he jumps up. When at the front he can swipe and thrust with his spear and deal massive amounts of damage in succession. Just in front of him with his pipe he can smack at close range or spray Yokai realm upon the floor stopping your stamina regeneration. He’s weak to lightning and earth, I suggest lightning as it slows him as well. At long range he can thrust with his spear or use his tongue. Demon Hanzo has a wide variety of ninja tools he can use, such as fire bombs, throwing weapons, and paralysis bombs.
Ogress
The Ogress is a very straight forward fight. She telegraphs every move of hers quite a bit allowing you to prepare to dodge early, but don’t do so too early as a lot of her attacks are delayed. Lady Tsukiyam can swipe, she can jump and land down with a slam, and smash her claws into the ground then bring up rocks which deal damage. When she’s low on health and stamina she’ll summon lilies that create Yokai realm around the arena. This will slow your Ki regeneration and hasten hers. A dangerous attack of hers is a flurry but if you hug close to her face it will go right over your head. Sometimes she’ll breath fire which you need to dodge through. Generally hug her butt. She is weak to water and earth.
Honda Tadakatsu
Honda Tadakatsu is deceptive in his movements. He walks very slowly and telegraphs his attacks heavily but when they strike they are as swift as a coursing river. His attacks hit incredibly hard and he can heal and has a buff as the crystals are controlling him. For this fight you can lead him away from crystals then break them. When all three are broken he’ll be freed and end the fight. Alternatively you can take him head on. Being a spear user, most of his attacks are thrusts with his two main tactics being a charged lunge attack or a quick series of stabs. Try to stick to his backside and note that he is resistant to earth and weak to wind.
Okatsu
Okatsu is the tougher of the two. She’s incredibly fast. You’ll want to conserve your ki and be ready to dodge at any given moment’s notice. The only breathers you’ll get is if you drain her of her stamina and grapple her or knock her down. In between attacks she’ll throw knives in a spread that are best blocked. At times she’ll sheath her blade then rush forward with a powerful blow. As the fight goes on she’ll get faster and activate her living weapon. Okatsu will leap into the air and when she hovers for a second prepare to dodge as she’ll rocket right at you. Her guard is very weak so you can grapple her from time to time. She resists lightning and is weak to water.
Saika Magoichi
Saika Magoichi can be a tough fight depending on your build. High ki regeneration is advised for this fight. Whenever you see him about to fire get ready to block or dodge, blocking his bullets is easy enough. When he throws fire bombs he will throw one or three< be wary of just dodging to the side, and instead try to dodge towards him. Rarely he’ll engage in melee with a few quick hits that deal low damage. When he whistles he’ll summon his Guardian Spirit to send out gusts of wind to where he is facing. Go to the sides to avoid this. When in the air he is very susceptible to ranged attacks and can be easily knocked down then hit while he’s on the ground. Up in the air he can swoop and grab William then throw him to the ground. He is resistant to fire so he takes little damage from the fire in the room. Saika Magoichi is weak to lightning and earth, so I suggest bringing the appropriate Guardian Spirit to be his elemental weakness.
Otani Yoshitsugu
Otani Yoshitsugu is fairly easy as far as bosses go. He focuses mainly on combos that have a poor turning radius allowing him to be easily sidestepped. When his Living Weapon activates he’s a bit dangerous. He can fire waves with his sword swings and do a spinning vertical slash from overhead that should be dodged instead of blocked. If he enters a superman flying pose get ready to dodge as he’ll zip through the air towards you, often doing it twice in a row. Weak to fire, resistant to water, Yoshitsugu presents little of a threat.
Shima Sakon
Of the two bosses in Sekigahara, Shima Sakon is definitely the tougher. He is quick moving with slow wind ups. His grapples and push attacks are very fast but either do no damage or little damage. Shima Sakon likes to control where you are. Watch out for his Living Weapon, as it is lightning and if you take a few hits you’ll get slowed down. If he leaps up into the air try to move as far away as possible. Don’t block his slam or his lightning explosions. Shima Sakon eats through stamina quickly but has a high guard. He is a decent target for grapple attacks.
Gasha-dokuro
The Gasha-dokuro is more of a puzzle than a straight up fight. You need to damage its limbs to allow Tenkai to pin the Gasha-dokuro. When you see purple/pink beams hitting the boss run up the slopes and get ready to hit its head. Manage your stamina well and if you have your Living Weapon ready pop it early right before the skeleton’s head slams onto the raised ground. Each time you break a limb you’ll have an opportunity to do this. In between the boss will slam its tail, feet, and hands wherever you happen to be. In general dodge towards the boss to escape being crushed. After being pinned the Gasha-dokuro will clap its hands at the top of the slope, make sure to drop down before it does this or you’ll be one-shot. This boss is weak to all elemental types and resists poison and paralysis.
Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari is a boss that contains a very quick fight. He is fast himself but also has low health all things considered. Mitsunari is weak to lightning, resists wind, paralysis, and poison. His speed is his greatest advantage in the fight. Watch out for his quick attacks and try to circle around him mid combos. He doesn’t have a good turning radius and leaves himself open from behind. From time to time he’ll swing his sword and fire projectile waves from it, these can be dodged through or blocked. Blocking them is the worse option as they deal raw wind damage which will go through your guard. Try to keep near the top or bottom of the slope in the arena. At times he will charge up a flurry of wave attacks in all directions, these can be dodged or using the elevation difference they can merely go above or below you. When he leaps back up in the air dodge immediately as he’s going to swoop at you with a grapple attack. If he runs out of stamina feel free to dump damage on him but understand he will only be staggered for a bit before reactivating his Living Weapon. Almost the entire fight he will have it active.
Obsidian Samurai
Yasuke is a very simple fight. He uses an axe and a katana. When he has his axe out he is slower, even with his katana he is a bit slow. Circle around him when dodging and hit him from behind. You can repeat much of the tactics used on Honda. The Obsidian Samurai is weak to water and resists lightning, paralysis, and poison. Sometimes he will raise his weapon and buff himself. Rather than using a Living Weapon he’ll do a high leap and slam down with an electrical explosion. Fall back when you see him leap high. If he does a short jump instead he’ll be left wide open after. This fight is again, fairly easy. If you lose sloth it isn’t even a fight anymore he’ll just be a sitting duck.
Oda Nobunaga
Nobunaga is a straight up fight with elemental elements. Yes I just typed that. Nobunaga is very fast but leaves you openings to get him. Dodge towards him and get behind him, he doesn’t have a great turning radius. Watch out as he summons his Living Weapons and Guardian Spirit. It will have a random element and effect. Fire he slams down from above. Lightning will cause bolts to track you similar to Nue. Wind will give him Mitsunari’s sword blasts. Earth will have big AoE’s of blindness. Water will have spots of water AoE and crystal shards. He is very weak to the sloth talisman and will end the fight at 25% health.
Edward Kelley
Edward Kelley is a tricky jerk who likes his spells. Watch out for his Guardian Spirit, he is fond of using it for spacing. He can send it chasing you, run away to the sides. He can send it under, keep moving till it surfaces. It can release in an AoE around him so get ready at any moment to leap back. From time to time he’ll throw spikes underhand really quickly, watch out. If he is running towards you dodge to the side.
He’ll either stab or grab you. Kelley can also teleport and will do so to make you lose focus, get ready to find him and dodge immediately. His guard is weak so its easy to grapple him.
Yamata-no-Orochi
This eight headed serpent is a battle of attrition. Each head is resistant to its corresponding element and weak to all others except for the final head. The heads will have common attacks for all of them. They can spray an element, they can fire a projectile, they can swipe, lunge, and slam. Dodging them is a bit deceptive as you need to dodge a bit late for many of their attacks. It’s easy to get hit from behind when fighting a head so dodge often and back off after a few hits. After each attack the body of the serpent will come closer. After leaving one head behind it will gain all elements and have abilities similar to Nobunaga.
At zero health the head will flop down and its time to grapple attack it for the finishing move.
Hundred Eyes
Hundred Eyes is mostly a simple fight. He swings his staff wide and slams it in front of himself. If you stand at his back he’ll slam his back tendrils down to try and hit you. But it is still mostly safe behind him and you can stay there nearly the entire fight. In front of himself he can do a crossfire with beams that cause discord but its a bit hard to get hit by. When his health gets low enough he’ll stomp his butt down knocking you back if you’re right next to him. He’ll gain a shield and summon floating eyes. Run in circles to bunch them up then kill them with ease. They can drop medicine which is handy. After he’ll get back up and continue the fight. In his new phase he can summon crystals in the air, run to the side until they are all fired. If these hit you they can often be instant death. He’ll also summon the eyes but will continue to fight alongside them.
