Issen Critical Counter — Master the Parry System
High threatUpdated 2026-06-03
Issen is Onimusha: Way of the Sword's signature counter system. Time a parry frame-perfectly against an incoming attack and you instantly kill most standard Genma in a single cinematic slash. Against bosses, Issen deals massive stagger damage and opens a brief window for free combos. Mastering Issen separates beginners from players who can clear the hardest content without taking damage.
Execution timing
Issen requires pressing the parry button (default: L1 / LB) during the last six frames of an enemy's attack animation. The window is tight—about 100 milliseconds. Visual cues help: a white flash on the enemy weapon marks the parryable frame. Audio cue: a sharp metallic ring when you nail the timing. Practice on slow Genma soldiers in the opening area before attempting it on faster enemies.
| Enemy Type | Issen Window | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Genma Soldier | 6 frames | Instant kill + 3 Red souls |
| Genma Archer | 8 frames | Instant kill + projectile deflect |
| Armored Knight | 4 frames | Heavy stagger + 6 Red souls |
| Boss (all types) | 5 frames | Stagger + damage phase |
Advanced Issen techniques
- Chain Issen: parry multiple enemies in sequence to maintain momentum and style bonuses.
- Air Issen: parry airborne attacks by timing the button press as the enemy descends.
- Issen Cancel: cancel a normal attack recovery into an Issen parry for aggressive play.
Practice Issen in the tutorial area until you can land three in a row consistently. Once comfortable, move to the Genma Bestiary to learn which enemies are worth Issen-countering versus dodging outright.
FAQ
- Can Issen work on every enemy in the game?
- Most enemies can be Issen-countered, but some boss attacks are unparryable and must be dodged. Unparryable attacks always have a red glow instead of a white flash.
- Does Issen work differently on higher difficulty levels?
- Yes. On Hard and above, the Issen window shrinks by two frames and bosses recover faster from stagger. You need tighter timing to land consecutive counters.