Sasaki Kojiro Boss Guide — Way of the Sword

Sasaki Kojiro is the antagonist rival of Way of the Sword and the only confirmed enemy in the game with his own Oni Gauntlet. He appears across multiple acts and fights like no other boss because he can parry you back. The strategy is patience, not aggression.

Stat card

Pre-launch — verified numbers will be added on September 5, 2026 (post-launch).

Historical context

The real Sasaki Kojiro (佐々木小次郎, 1585–1612) was a famous swordsman of the early Edo period and the rival of Miyamoto Musashi. He is best known for dying in their duel at Ganryu Island on April 13, 1612. Way of the Sword reimagines him as an Oni Gauntlet wielder, turning a historical duel into a recurring supernatural antagonist. The character is an original fictional interpretation, not a biographical adaptation.

Phase-by-phase strategy

The confirmed encounter structure has Sasaki Kojiro appearing at least twice: once as a mid-game wall (first major test of Break Issen mastery) and once in late-game with a new moveset. The exact number of phases depends on the difficulty setting; this section will be updated post-launch with the verified move list.

Phase 1 — The first encounter

His opening moves: He opens with a fast two-slash combo, then a long-range thrust designed to punish mashers who try to parry blindly.

Your counter: Block the first two hits, then parry the thrust at the last frame. The thrust has the longest parry window of his kit. After the parry, take exactly two hits of your own and back off.

Common mistake: Trying to combo him after the parry. He can parry back, and his counter-parry does massive damage. The two-hit rule applies harder here than against any other boss.

Phase 2 — The late-game rematch

His new moves: Capcom has confirmed a new moveset for the second encounter. Pre-release coverage describes faster strike chains and an unparryable area-denial attack that forces you to dodge rather than parry.

Your counter: Same principles as Phase 1, but tighter. Watch for the unparryable — when his weapon glows red, dodge backward instead of trying to parry. The phase transition is triggered by an execution window, so make sure you’re saving Break Issen stamina for that moment.

Key principles

1. Two-hit rule, always. After a successful parry, exactly two attacks, then disengage. He can parry your third.
2. Unparryable attacks glow red. When his weapon or body glows red, that’s an unparryable. Dodge, don’t parry.
3. Patience wins. The fight is long. Don’t burn resources early. Stock Oni Armaments for the phase transition, not for chip damage.
4. Execution choice matters. When his stamina empties, take heavy damage if he’s close to death. Take more souls if you need the resources for the next phase or the next fight.

Build recommendations

• Katana spec: faster swing speed lets you get your two-hit combos in more reliably.
• Oni Vision active: highlights all Genma in the arena, including any adds Sasaki Kojiro summons.
• Oni Armaments: stock at least 3 charges before the fight. They are the panic button for breaking his combos.

For the broader combat picture, see the Issen / Break Issen explainer, the boss list, and the Oni Armaments tier list.