Issen is one of the most effective combat moves in the game Onimusha: Way of the Sword. If done successfully, it will allow you to defeat your average enemies in an instant and give major damage in HP and stamina to more powerful foes. In this guide we teach you How to Perfectly Hit Issen and Chain Issen Every Time.
While easy to comprehend, the real challenge in the move comes from getting the timing right. Fortunately for you, there is a sure-fire way of knowing when to do the move.
Table of contents
What Is Issen?
Issen is basically a flawless counterattack. You do not wait until your enemy hits you; rather, you attack at an extremely specific point in their attack animation. It can be done using both one-handed and two-handed attacks. There is no requirement to target any enemy to use Issen, and the ability becomes accessible to you just right after the initial tutorial of the game. For regular enemies, Issen will always result in a kill. For boss and stronger enemies, it does major damage to HP and stamina. It can be incredibly difficult to hit Issen on a consistent basis so in this guide we will tell you how to Perfectly Hit Issen and Chain Issen Every Time.
How to Perform Issen
The key to Issen isn’t reacting to the moment an enemy’s weapon is about to hit you. Instead, you should time your move to coincide with the start of the forward motion of the enemy’s swing. Generally, the attack process of your enemy will always go through a series of steps:
- The enemy starts pulling his/her weapon backward.
- The weapon has reached the most distant point from you.
- The enemy starts pushing the weapon forward.
- And you start attacking.
Of course, timings will vary from one attack and enemy to another. Do not push the attack button when the enemy is just about to attack you. Push the attack button at the end of his weapon pull-back and at the beginning of its forward movement.
The White-Weapon Visual Cue
It’s worth noting that there is another element that will make your Issen training much simpler. Observe the enemy’s weapon. While the enemy is attacking, the weapon will turn white for a split second.
As soon as it does that, becomes normal again, the moment to perform Issen starts. Thus, you have a handy sequence to remember:
weapon turns white → becomes normal again → attack.
It’s worth noting that sometimes the visual effect may not be easy to spot, especially during intense battles. That means that knowing the attack animation itself is crucial for your Issen training. Remember that it only serves as a confirmation of the correct timing.
Why Issen Timing Changes Between Enemies
There isn’t one universal button press that works against every attack.
Different enemies have different:
- Weapon speeds
- Attack animations
- Wind-up durations
- Swing trajectories
- Attack patterns
A fast attack may require an almost immediate reaction, while a slower weapon gives you much more time to recognize the wind-up. The important thing is to identify when that particular attack transitions from its backward movement into its forward strike. Once you learn that rhythm, Issen becomes much more predictable.
And yes, this gets considerably more complicated when an enemy doesn’t have a sword. You are better off parrying or dodging those attacks.
Chain Issen: Turning One Counter Into Three
Having learned the regular Issen, you will be ready to take things up a notch with Chain Issen. Chain Issen is an unlocked ability which enables you to continue the Issen on to the next enemies after successfully executing an Issen. The base ability of this attack lets you continue the Issen attack up to two more enemies after the first Issen.
How to Unlock Chain Issen
Chain Issen can be obtained from the start of the game for only two Power Stones. With the progress in the skill tree, it is possible to develop your ability, which will allow you to increase the total number of enemies that you can attack and increase damage output. In addition, Chain Issen becomes especially useful when you are surrounded. Not being limited to killing one enemy by using Issen, you can clear your area from all enemies at once.
How to Perfectly Time Chain Issen
This is where the fun starts.
Chain Issen requires a very tight timing window, but Once you’ve figured out the visual indicator, it actually becomes easier to execute Chain Issen compared to normal Issen.
And that’s due to the fact that the game tells you exactly how the timing window starts and how it ends. At the start of the Issen technique, pay attention to the moment when your sword becomes white. That flash of white means that the window of opportunity for performing Chain Issen opens up.
You then have to execute your next action within this time frame. The window will close when you see the full screen white flash.
In other words, the timing is as follows:
Flash of white sword → execute next Chain Issen input → full screen flash of white = window closed.
Pressing the button afterwards means that you’ve missed the window of opportunity.
The Chain Issen Rhythm
Rather than thinking of Chain Issen as button mashing, think of it as following a visual rhythm.
First Issen
Enemy attack → weapon flash → attack → Issen
Chain Issen
Initial Issen → sword flashes white → input → full-screen flash
The mistake many players make is trying to anticipate the next enemy instead of watching the visual feedback from the current attack.
Don’t guess.
Watch the flash.
The game is effectively telling you when to perform the next input.
Listen Instead of Watching
The audio cues in this game are extremely valuable. If you find yourself having difficulty with timing your Issen, blocking, reflecting or dodging, then try listening to the audio cues that come along with the enemy’s attack.
The game actually does a very good job of providing accurate audio feedback. In terms of the Issen, the key sound to listen for is the “CLANG” sound when the enemy’s sword becomes white. The CLANG is the cue for you.
When you hear it, hit the attack button. It is especially helpful when performing the Chain Issen.
One of the easiest things for someone to do is concentrate so hard on the animation of the enemy that you attack prematurely. You see the enemy’s weapon near its peak and anticipate his attack and press the attack button before the timing actually comes.
Bosses and Larger Enemies
Bosses and larger enemies can be slightly more difficult because their visual cues aren’t always as obvious.
The white glimmer is still useful, but sometimes it can be extremely subtle.
This is where the audio becomes even more valuable.
Listen for the rushing-air sound that accompanies their attacks.
It can sound something like a “WHOOSH”, and it becomes progressively louder as the attack approaches.
Pay attention to that increase in volume.
When the rushing sound reaches its loudest point, that’s your cue to act.
Depending on the situation, that can mean:
- Issen
- Block
- Deflect
- Dodge
The underlying principle is the same:
Listen to the attack approaching rather than relying exclusively on what you see.
This is particularly helpful against large enemies whose attack animations can be difficult to read because of their size, speed, or camera positioning.
Issen is one of those mechanics that feels incredibly rigid at first glance. But once you understand what the game is trying to make you look out for, everything becomes very clear.
You need only master the first parry technique, get a feel for the flash attack, and then use that timing in Chain Issen. After doing that, enemies that seemed like too much to handle suddenly become very easy to deal with.
For more articles on other indie games, please check out the links below:
- Desktop Explorer Walkthrough Hub
- DragonSword: Awakening Walkthrough Part 8 – Chapter 7
- Lootbound Beginner’s Guide
- Beast of Reincarnation Walkthrough – Chapter 1: Seedling (Part 1)
- The Relic: First Guardian Best Early Game Tips and Tricks
- DragonSword: Awakening Walkthrough Part 9 – Chapter 8
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