Onimusha Way of the Sword: Beat Nue Genma Boss Guide

One of the more approachable bosses in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is also one of the strangest: the lion-like Genma called Nue, a beast-style chimera that mixes close-quarters teeth and claws with dangerous electric attacks from range. You’ll first meet it in the Nijo-jo Castle area, and it returns multiple times during the campaign—so if you only treat it like a standard “parry then punish” fight, it will surprise you.

Quick facts

Nue is a beast-type chimera Genma with a lion look.
It attacks with melee (teeth and claws) and electric ranged attacks (lightning).
First encounter is in the Nijo-jo Castle zone, and it appears again during the campaign.
Fight mechanics are the same across PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Against Nue, parrying/deflecting doesn’t stagger it; “reflexive dodge” is the key defense.
Using the right ability, you can reflect its lightning back to stun it.
You’ll later face the stronger version: Greater Nue, created by Dokyo.

Who Nue is, and why it’s showing up

Nue is categorized as a beast-type chimera, making it feel far more animal than the typical Genma soldiers. Its defining trait is the blend of melee pressure with electricity thrown at you from distance.

In the game’s investigation context around Nijo-jo Castle, the reason behind these experiments comes into focus: Dokyo, one of Yoshitsune’s commanders, is responsible for the horrific work that produces these Genma.

Don’t parry it—dodge it (and use the right timing)

The biggest lesson with Nue is that it doesn’t behave like earlier sword-bosses. When you deflect or parry its attacks, Nue does not get knocked off-balance—so the usual “stop the hit and punish immediately” plan won’t pay off the same way.

Your best defense here is a reflexive dodge. The winning rhythm is simple: use reflexive dodge to get through most of its attacks, then punish only during the openings it creates. In particular, after Nue performs its charge/jump attack, it gets briefly stunned, which is when you want to commit.

Reflect its lightning to flip the fight

Beyond pure evasion, Nue has a signature mechanic that makes the battle feel especially satisfying when you execute it: it fires lightning bolts at you. With the appropriate unlocked skill, you can reflect those lightning projectiles back at Nue.

When timed well, a returned bolt stuns Nue, creating a strong damage window. Staying closer also helps—at short range, it has fewer chances to lean on summoning lightning, pushing the fight toward melee patterns that are easier to read.

Use the environment when it gets defensive

There’s also a practical assist in the encounter area: Stout Pillars can be used to break enemy blocking postures when Nue shifts into a defensive stance. It’s a small tool, but it can turn a stalled exchange into a moment where you can get back to damaging it.

Greater Nue is coming later

If Nue felt tough, it’s worth knowing what’s next. Later in the campaign you’ll face the Greater Nue, described as Dokyo’s most powerful creation and a much harder evolution of the same creature.

Greater Nue shares many of Nue’s moves, but it’s tougher, more resilient, and it brings an even more dangerous electric repertoire to the table.