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Onimusha: Way of the Sword ships two complete controller layouts plus full mouse and keyboard support on PC. The layout is chosen from the Controls section of the System Menu and can be changed at any time.
Controller Layouts
Layout | Design | Suits |
|---|---|---|
Defensive Layout | Splits the offensive and defensive buttons between the left and right sides of the controller | Players who want to fight reactively, since defensive inputs never compete with attack inputs for the same thumb |
Aggressive Layout | Groups most of the action-related buttons on the right side | Players prioritising responsiveness, since attack and ability inputs sit under one thumb |
Capcom's own documentation is written against the Defensive Layout, so any button reference in official material assumes that scheme unless it says otherwise.
Motion Controls
On Nintendo Switch 2, certain actions including attacks can be performed with the Joy-Con 2 controller instead of a button press. Motion input is additive rather than exclusive: the actions it covers can still be performed with ordinary button inputs, so the scheme is an option rather than a separate control mode.
Keyboard and Mouse
PC players can reassign mouse and keyboard commands from a dedicated menu reached through System Menu, then Settings, then Controls, then Mouse and Keyboard Controls. A small number of controls cannot be reassigned. The game displays each binding as a main key with an optional sub key in brackets.
Action | Default Binding |
|---|---|
Move Forward | W |
Move Back | S |
Move Left | A |
Move Right | D |
Examine | F |
Sprint (hold) | Left Shift |
Walk (toggle) | B |
One-Handed Attack | Left Mouse Button |
Two-Handed Attack | R |
G | |
Select Oni Armament (hold) | Left Alt |
Oni Bow (hold) | Left Ctrl |
Core Combat Inputs
The two attack buttons are the foundation of everything else. A one-handed attack is fast and easy to land but deals less damage; a two-handed attack is slower and more easily evaded but hits harder and can break an enemy's guard outright. Which of the two started an exchange also determines how a Blade Barrage is resolved.
Action | Input Timing |
|---|---|
Block | Held. Works from any angle, but repeated blocking drains stamina |
Parry | Block just before the attack lands |
Reflex Dodge | Evade just before the attack lands, against unarmed attacks |
Grab reversal | Evade just before a grab connects |
Battering | Attack plus evade together against a staggered enemy, to drain stamina |
Attack the instant before an enemy attack makes contact | |
Break Issen | Attack near an exhausted enemy |
Chain Issen | Attack again the moment an Issen lands |
Targeted Break Issen | Select a target area with the left stick, then attack. Bosses only |
Assassinate | Attack while behind an unaware enemy |
Environmental attack | Interact near an environmental object such as a cart or a tatami mat |
Lock on | Right stick click. Switch targets with the right stick |
Seal a Rift | Hold the ability trigger near the Rift once every enemy is defeated |
Hold both triggers while exploring Eastern Kyoto |
Deflecting and the Blazing State are not available from the start. Both are unlocked through skill enhancement at a Spirit Mirror, so a control reference read early in the game will be missing inputs that appear later.