Onimusha: Way of the Sword Genma Enemies — Types and How to Defeat Them
Updated 2026-06-03
The Genma are the demonic foot soldiers, elites, and horrors that infest Kyoto in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Each type has distinct attack patterns, elemental weaknesses, and optimal approaches. Fighting every Genma the same way will get you killed on Normal difficulty and absolutely obliterated on Hard. This guide breaks down every major Genma type and how to handle them efficiently—check the Genma Bestiary for the full reference table.
Standard Genma types
Genma Soldiers are the most common—they attack in three-swing combos and are easy to parry once you learn the timing. Genma Archers fire from range and retreat when approached. Genma Hounds rush in packs and are weak to sweeping attacks. Shielded Genma Knights require a flanking approach or elemental magic to break their guard. Each drops specific soul types that inform your upgrade priorities.
| Genma Type | Weakness | Soul Drop | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier | Issen parry (3rd hit) | Blue | Parry for instant kill |
| Archer | Close range | Yellow | Dash in, interrupt, combo |
| Hound | Sweep attacks | Red | Low slash clears packs |
| Knight | Elemental magic | Yellow | Flame or Frost breaks shield |
| Flying Demon | Bow / ranged | Red | Shoot down, then melee |
Elite Genma
Elite Genma are tougher variants that appear in specific locations. They have larger health pools, unblockable attacks (marked by red glow), and drop triple the souls. The Armored Oni swings a massive club with slow but devastating arcs. The Shadow Genma teleports and attacks from behind. The Sorcerer Genma casts projectiles and summons minions—kill the Sorcerer first, then clean up the summons.
Check the Genma Bestiary in the Features section for a complete table of every enemy including health values, damage types, and exact Issen window frames.
FAQ
- Do Genma types change on higher difficulties?
- Enemy placements change and new elite variants appear in areas that only had standard enemies on Normal. The base types are the same but behave more aggressively.
- What element is best against most Genma?
- Flame is the most generally useful. Frost is situational against fast enemies. Lightning is best for crowd control against groups of standard soldiers.