Onimusha: Way of the Sword offers a variety of charms that can improve Musashi's combat abilities, but not every charm provides the same level of value. Some are excellent for general combat, while others are better suited to specific playstyles or situations.

In this Onimusha: Way of the Sword charm tier list, we'll rank all 15 charms from S Tier to C Tier, explain what makes each one useful, and cover how to obtain them. Whether you're looking for the best charms for combat or trying to get the best possible start as an Onimusha beginner , this guide will help you choose the right options for your build. And if you're continuing your journey away from your PC, OSLink lets you play remotely Onimusha: Way of the Sword from your mobile device, making it easier to keep exploring and working on your charm collection wherever you are.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Charm Tier List Overview

Not every charm offers the same level of value. This Onimusha: Way of the Sword charm tier list ranks each charm based on:

• Combat impact – How much the charm improves your overall performance.

• Consistency – How often you can benefit from its effect.

• Core mechanics – How well it works with systems like parrying, stamina, Issen, Blaze, Reflex, Awakening, and Oni Armaments .

• Versatility – Whether it works across different situations and playstyles or is mainly useful in a specific scenario.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Charm Tier List

Note: A lower-tier charm isn't necessarily bad. The ranking simply reflects its overall usefulness compared with the other charms , especially for a general-purpose build.

S-Tier Onimusha: Way of the Sword Charms

S-Tier charms provide the strongest overall value in Onimusha: Way of the Sword . These four stand out because they directly improve important combat systems and remain useful across a wide range of encounters and playstyles.

1. Charm of Zeal

Rank: S Tier

Advantage: Blaze Gauge Increase Rate +10%

The Charm of Zeal is one of the best all-around charms because it helps you build the Blaze Gauge faster. Since parrying is an important part of the game's combat, players who consistently land successful parries can reach Blaze more quickly and gain its combat benefits more often.

The +10% increase is also one of the stronger gauge-related bonuses available, making this charm useful throughout the game rather than only in a specific situation. Its combination of a strong bonus and synergy with a core combat mechanic is what puts Charm of Zeal firmly in S Tier.

How to Get Charm of Zeal

Complete the “Pale Lights in a Night Sky” Chance Encounter . The charm is awarded as a reward for completing the encounter.

2. Oni Strength Charm

Rank: S Tier

Advantage: Oni Armament Power +6%

The Oni Strength Charm is an excellent choice for players who make frequent use of Oni Armaments. The +6% power bonus improves the effectiveness of these special weapons and abilities, giving you more value whenever you activate them.

What makes this charm particularly strong is the variety of Oni Armaments available. They can provide different benefits, including powerful attacks, area damage, burning effects, stamina damage, and other utility. Because of this versatility, increasing their overall power has value across many different combat situations.

How to Get Oni Strength Charm

Complete the “Some Unfinished Monkey Business” Mystery of Kyoto . This Mystery becomes available after completing “Worm-ly Ways,” which rewards the Blazing Charm.

3. Inner Strength Charm

Rank: S Tier

Advantage: Issen Power +5%

The Inner Strength Charm focuses on one of Musashi's most powerful combat techniques: Issen and Break Issen . These attacks reward precise timing and can deal devastating damage, making even a relatively small power increase highly valuable.

The +5% Issen Power bonus may look modest on paper, but the importance of Issen itself makes this charm much stronger than the percentage suggests. For players who are comfortable with precise counters, Inner Strength can significantly improve the payoff from one of the game's most rewarding combat mechanics.

How to Get Inner Strength Charm

Complete the “Something in the Water” Mystery of Kyoto . You must first complete “A Wife's Prayer” to unlock this Mystery.

4. Charm of Stamina

Rank: S Tier

Advantage: Stamina Recovery Speed ​​+10%

The Charm of Stamina earns its S-Tier position because stamina is important to almost every defensive aspect of combat. Blocking consumes stamina, while managing your stamina effectively helps you stay mobile, defend yourself, and create opportunities against enemies.

A +10% stamina recovery rate provides consistent value instead of depending on a particular enemy, status effect, or special situation. Whether you're learning the combat system or facing tougher enemies later in the game, faster stamina recovery is something you can benefit from throughout your entire playthrough.

How to Get Charm of Stamina

Complete “The Growling Ghost” Chance Encounter . The charm is awarded after completing the encounter and returning to the quest giver to claim the rewards.

A-Tier Onimusha: Way of the Sword Charms

A-Tier charms are still excellent choices and can make a noticeable difference in combat. However, compared with the S-Tier options, their benefits are either more dependent on your playstyle, slightly more limited in scope, or tied to specific combat situations.

1. Sadist's Strength Charm 

Rank: A Tier

Advantage: Attack Power Against Enemies Affected by Status Ailments +8%

The Sadist's Strength Charm is a powerful offensive option when you can consistently take advantage of burning, ablaze, or oil-soaked enemies. The +8% damage bonus gives Musashi a meaningful boost against enemies affected by these conditions.

Its biggest limitation is that the bonus is conditional. You need to create or encounter the relevant status effect before benefiting from the damage increase, which makes it less universally useful than the S-Tier charms. Still, with the right Oni Armaments and a playstyle built around status effects, Sadist's Strength can be extremely effective.

How to Get Sadist's Strength Charm

Complete the “Clear Space, Clear Mind” Chance Encounter to receive the charm as a reward. 

2. Charm of Dexterity

Rank: A Tier

Advantage: Reflex Gauge Increase Rate +10%

The Charm of Dexterity is an excellent choice for players who rely heavily on dodging and perfect-dodge mechanics. Its +10% Reflex Gauge Increase Rate lets you build the Reflex Gauge faster, giving you more opportunities to make use of powerful Reflex Combos.

The bonus is particularly valuable for players who have mastered the timing of perfect dodges. However, it is more playstyle-dependent than the S-Tier charms, since players who rely more heavily on parries, blocks, or other defensive options will get less value from it.

How to Get Charm of Dexterity

Complete the “Noisy Neighbors” Chance Encounter to obtain the charm. 

3. Charm of Oni Power

Rank: A Tier

Advantage: Oni Power Gauge Increase Rate +4%

The Charm of Oni Power helps you fill the Oni Power Gauge faster, allowing you to access Oni-related abilities more frequently. Since Oni Armaments provide powerful offensive and utility options, having faster access to the gauge can be valuable during difficult encounters.

The main reason it remains in A Tier rather than S Tier is the relatively modest +4% increase. The effect is useful and consistent, but it does not provide as direct a boost as the +6% power offered by the Oni Strength Charm. For players who frequently use Oni abilities, however, this is still a very strong option.

How to Get Charm of Oni Power

Complete the “Restless Spirits” Chance Encounter to receive the charm as a reward.

4. Fencer's Strength Charm

Rank: A Tier

Advantage: Regular Attack Power +8%

The Fencer's Strength Charm provides a straightforward +8% boost to regular attack power , making it one of the easiest charms to benefit from. Regular attacks form the foundation of Musashi's combat, so the bonus remains useful against almost any enemy.

However, the charm focuses specifically on regular attacks rather than improving one of the game's more powerful combat systems such as Issen, Blaze, or Oni Armaments. That keeps it just below the S-Tier options, although its consistency makes it an excellent general-purpose choice.

How to Get Fencer's Strength Charm

Complete “The Faceless” Mystery of Kyoto to obtain the charm.

5. Charm of Awakening

Rank: A Tier

Advantage: Awakening Gauge Increase Rate +4%

The Charm of Awakening increases the rate at which the Awakening Gauge fills, allowing you to reach Awakening more frequently. This can be particularly useful during difficult encounters where having access to Awakening at the right moment can turn the tide of a fight.

Its main drawback is the relatively small +4% gauge increase rate . The effect is valuable, but the modest bonus prevents it from competing with the stronger S-Tier charms. Even so, players who regularly build around Awakening can get excellent value from it.

How to Get Charm of Awakening

Complete the “A Fishy Story” Chance Encounter to receive the charm as a reward.

B-Tier Onimusha: Way of the Sword Charms

B-Tier charms are useful additions to a build, but they do not provide the same level of overall impact as the higher-ranked options. Their effects can still be valuable, especially in the right situation, but they are generally more replaceable or limited compared with S- and A-Tier charms.

1. Blazing Charm

Rank: B Tier

Advantage: Blazing State Duration +3.0 sec

The Blazing Charm extends the amount of time Musashi can remain in the Blazing State by 3 seconds. This can provide extra time to take advantage of the increased combat opportunities available while Blazing, making it a useful choice during encounters where you can consistently make use of the state.

The problem is that its value depends on actually entering and benefiting from Blazing State. Unlike charms that continuously improve stamina, regular attacks, or core gauges, this effect is more situational. That makes Blazing Charm a solid B-Tier option rather than a must-have charm.

How to Get Blazing Charm

Complete the “Worm-ly Ways” Mystery of Kyoto to receive the charm as a reward.

2. Charm of Protection 

Rank: B Tier

Advantage: Health Lost When Hit by Enemy Attack -4%

The Charm of Protection provides a straightforward defensive benefit by reducing the health lost when Musashi is hit by enemy attacks. This makes it a dependable choice for players who are still learning enemy patterns or who occasionally take unavoidable damage during tougher encounters.

However, the 4% reduction is relatively small, and the game's combat rewards avoiding damage through well-timed parries, deflects, and dodges. Because of that, the charm improves survivability without having enough impact to compete with the stronger offensive and combat-focused options.

How to Get Charm of Protection

Complete “The Night Parade” Mystery of Kyoto to obtain the charm.

3. Charm of the Healer

Rank: B Tier

Advantage: Increases the Amount of Health Restored When Healing

The Charm of the Healer is a useful sustain-focused charm that increases the amount of health restored when you heal. This can become more valuable during difficult encounters, particularly when you need to make every healing opportunity count.

Its weakness is that it only provides value when you actually use healing. Players who are confident with the game's defensive mechanics and avoid taking frequent damage may get much less benefit from it. With other charms offering more consistent combat advantages, the Charm of the Healer settles comfortably into B Tier.

How to Get Charm of the Healer

The charm is obtained through main story progression, rather than a Chance Encounter or Mystery of Kyoto. It is awarded during “The Stage is Set at Kiyomizu.”

C-Tier Onimusha: Way of the Sword Charms

C-Tier charms are the most situational options on this list. They can still be useful for specific purposes, but their effects are either too narrow or have less direct impact on combat compared with the higher-tier choices.

1. Charm of Purification

Rank: C Tier

Advantage: Rate of Health Loss When Affected by Malice -20%

The Charm of Purification reduces the health you lose while affected by Malice, giving you extra protection when dealing with this specific hazard. The 20% reduction is actually quite substantial when the effect is active, so the charm can be useful in situations where Malice is a major threat.

The issue is consistency. Unlike stamina, regular attacks, or combat gauges, Malice is not something you are dealing with during every encounter. That makes the charm highly specialized and difficult to justify over a more universally useful option, placing it in C Tier.

How to Get Charm of Purification 

Complete “The Blessed Man” Mystery of Kyoto to receive the Charm of Purification as a reward.

2. Reaper's Charm

Rank: C Tier

Advantage: Red Soul Absorption Amount +5%

The Reaper's Charm increases the amount of Red Souls you absorb by 5%. This can be helpful when farming Red Souls for purchases and upgrades, giving you slightly more value from the enemies you defeat.

However, its benefit is primarily tied to resource collection rather than combat performance. It does not make Musashi stronger, more durable, or more effective during fights, which makes it difficult to recommend over charms that directly improve combat. For farming-focused situations, it has value, but as an everyday combat charm, it belongs in C Tier.

How to Get Reaper's Charm

Complete the “An Ugly Business” Chance Encounter to receive the charm as a reward.

3. Charm of Enticement 

Rank: C Tier

Advantage: Increased Genma Encounter Rate in Eastern Kyoto

The Charm of Enticement increases the likelihood of encountering Genma in Eastern Kyoto. This can be useful if you specifically want more enemy encounters for additional combat or resource farming.

The problem is that its effect is extremely niche. It does not directly increase Musashi's combat power, and the increase in encounter frequency is relatively small. Since its usefulness is largely limited to a particular area and purpose, it offers much less overall value than the other charms on this list.

How to Get Charm of Enticement

Complete the “The Odd Couples” Chance Encounter to obtain the charm.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Charm Recommendations

The best charm setup depends on how you play Onimusha: Way of the Sword. If you want a simple all-purpose setup, prioritize the S-Tier charms, while more specialized builds can swap in A- or B-Tier options.

Quick recommendation: If you're unsure which charm to equip, start with Charm of Zeal or Charm of Stamina . For players who actively use Oni Armaments and Issen, Oni Strength Charm and Inner Strength Charm are excellent choices.

Conclusion 

That's it! You now know how all 15 charms in Onimusha: Way of the Sword rank, what makes each one useful, and which options are worth prioritizing for different playstyles. For most players, the S-Tier charms are the best place to start, but the right ultimately depends on how you approach combat. Once you've chosen your preferred charms, you can continue exploring Kyoto and improving Musashi wherever you are with OSLink . It lets you play the PC version of Onimusha: Way of the Sword remotely from your mobile device, so your journey doesn't have to stop when you're away from your PC.