Onimusha: Way of the Sword - How to Buy Leather and Iron Upgrade Materials
Stop grinding chests. Once Yorimasa's shop is unlocked you can buy Leather and Iron/Tempered Iron with Red Souls - but stock is limited and only expands after story progress.
Core problem: players keep running dry on Leather (clothing and Hozuki pouches) and Iron/Tempered Iron (sword). The shop is the fastest fix once unlocked - but inventory is finite, expands only after story beats, and players who check it once and leave end up scrambling for the last few pieces.
1How to Buy the Materials
- 1Complete the shrine quest.
Finish the mission that purifies Yasui Konpiragu shrine and saves the Oni spirit (often called "Careful What You Wish For"). After that, Yorimasa starts selling items for Red Souls at his monument.
- 2Go to Yorimasa's Monument.
Fast-travel to the shrine/monument tied to that quest. The stone-stack shrine area where you fought Rasho-Gan is also reported to sell a limited stock of materials. Talk to Yorimasa and open the shop.
- 3Check stock after every major story beat.
Do not look once and leave. The inventory expands several times after main missions. Later stock includes Leather, Fine Silk, Iron/Tempered Iron, and Tamahagane. Early on you mostly see basics; mid-to-late game is when Leather and Tempered Iron appear in useful amounts.
- 4Spend Red Souls on the limited stock.
Stock is finite. If you have the souls, buy every Leather and Iron/Tempered Iron you can each time the inventory updates.
- 5Confirm you can actually use them.
Rest at any Spirit Mirror - Enhance Equipment/Abilities. Clothing uses Leather; the sword uses Iron then Tempered Iron. They do not compete with each other.
Key Decisions
| Decision | Answer |
|---|---|
| Buy now or save souls? | Buy the upgrade materials. Souls are plentiful from combat; missing 1-3 Leather at the end of the game is the common pain point. |
| Shop or chests? | Use the shop to plug holes. Small unmarked chests and loose world pickups still give Iron and Leather (some respawn), but that is slower than buying when stock is available. |
| NG+ note | Upgrade materials do not carry over. Max what you can on the current run if you care about the clothing/pouch trophies before starting Carnage. |
Common Mistakes
- Checking the shop only once right after unlocking it, then ignoring it for hours.
- Spending all Red Souls on skills and stones so nothing is left when Leather and Tempered Iron finally appear.
- Assuming shop stock is infinite. It is not - restock and expansion are tied to story progress.
- Forgetting pouches also eat Leather - the Default and Regeneration pouches especially.
If the Shop Is Still Short
- 1Run side missions.
Hover the map to preview Leather and Iron rewards before committing.
- 2Open small brown chests around Kyoto.
Players report some of them respawn.
- 3Kill Genma instead of skipping them.
Combat feeds both souls and drops, which is what funds the shop in the first place.