Boss Guides · The Ethereal General
Minamoto no Yoshitsune
In the climactic ethereal confrontation against Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Musashi faces a master of dual-katana phantom swordsmanship. On Action difficulty, Yoshitsune is protected by demonic armor—his true health bar can only be damaged while Musashi is in Awakened Onimusha Form.
Core rule: The Onimusha Awakening damage gate
Unlike previous bosses where normal weapon attacks chip away at both posture and health, Yoshitsune introduces a strict combat rule:
Your entire game plan therefore revolves around rapid posture breaking, maintaining full Awakening charges, and timing your Finisher for maximum lethality.
Phase 1: Dashing lunges & 2-hit combos
Yoshitsune begins by testing your deflect rhythm with high-velocity gap closers and dual-blade cross cuts.
1. Dashing Lunge: Yoshitsune sheathes his secondary sword and slides across the dais in a blink. Stand your ground and tap Guard the moment he decelerates into the thrust.
2. The Two-Slice Trap: He executes a fast horizontal slash followed by a delayed vertical strike. Do not block both. Dodge forward-diagonally through the first swing, then turn and parry the second downward blow for a free posture break.
Phase 2: First stagger & burst window
Once his purple posture meter caps at 100%, Yoshitsune collapses into an extended stagger state.
Immediately trigger Oni Awakening. In Onimusha form, your attacks ignore stagger resistance and inflict amplified Issen damage. When Yoshitsune attempts desperation counter-attacks during Awakening, time your strikes right before his blades hit to trigger Awakened Issen.
Phase 3: Spectral swords & stagger looping
Below 50% HP, Yoshitsune summons ethereal floating swords and begins erratic aerial acrobatics.
The Letter M finisher threshold
Watch the boss health bar closely at the top of the HUD during your final Awakening phase.
When the remaining red health aligns with the capital "M" in "Minamoto", immediately trigger your Oni Finisher. The multi-stage cinematic attack guarantees fatal damage from that point, bypassing his final desperate evasion mechanics entirely.
Recommended charms & build
| Charm / Skill | Type | Strategic Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Power Charm | Offensive | Maximizes damage per second during precious Awakening windows. |
| Charm of Protection | Defensive | Prevents one-shot deaths from aerial plunges on Action difficulty. |
| Charm of Awakening | Soul Meter | Accelerates Oni soul gain to maximize Awakening frequency. |
| Soul Siphon Skill | Passive Ability | Absorbs floating souls while attacking, keeping gauges charged automatically. |
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't Yoshitsune taking any health damage from my weapon attacks?
On Action difficulty, Yoshitsune is immune to direct HP damage in human form. You must fill his purple stagger meter with parries and strikes, then activate Oni Awakening to carve into his red health.
How do I avoid his aerial slam attack?
Do not dodge while he is at the peak of his leap. Wait until his body physically starts plunging downward, then roll sideways or diagonally forward.