How to Unlock Panda Costume in Onimusha: Way of the Sword

TL;DR

• There is no full Panda body costume in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
• The panda-themed cosmetic is the Bamboo & Panda sword appearance — it changes the look of Musashi’s blade.
• It is included in the Deluxe Kit, which comes with the Deluxe Edition ($79.99) and Premium Deluxe Edition ($89.99).
• Standard Edition players do not get it by default.
• You equip it at any Spirit Mirror using the Change Appearance option.
• That option unlocks after completing “The Stage Is Set at Kiyomizu” main quest.

How to Unlock the Panda Costume in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a common search, especially from fans of the original Onimusha Warlords where Samonosuke could dress in a full panda suit. In Way of the Sword, things work a little differently. There is no panda body costume to equip. What exists is a panda-themed sword skin called Bamboo & Panda, and this guide will tell you exactly how to get it, which edition includes it, and how to equip it once you have it.

If you are new to the game and still getting started, check out our tips and tricks guide for beginners before diving into cosmetics. And if you want to see every other cosmetic available, our full sword appearances and cosmetics guide covers the complete picture.

How to Unlock Panda Costume in Onimusha Way of the Sword

Is There a Panda Costume in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?

Short answer: not in the traditional sense. In the original Onimusha: Warlords, beating the game and collecting enough Fluorite unlocked a full panda suit for Samonosuke — one of the most memorable easter eggs in the series. That kind of secret full-body costume does not exist in Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

What the game has instead is a cosmetic system based around sword appearances, outfits, and haori coats. The panda-themed item in this game is the Bamboo & Panda sword appearance, which changes how Musashi’s katana looks. It is a pure visual change — no stat boosts, no gameplay effects.

What Is the Bamboo & Panda Sword Appearance?

The Bamboo & Panda sword skin gives Musashi’s blade a playful, nature-themed look inspired by bamboo and pandas. It is one of four exclusive sword appearances that come with the Deluxe Kit in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Like all sword appearances in the game, it is completely cosmetic. It changes what the blade looks like during combat and cutscenes, but has zero effect on damage, speed, Issen timing, or any other stat.

According to Capcom directly, sword appearances do not alter Musashi’s performance in battle in any way. The items that actually affect gameplay are Charms, which are a separate system managed through the Equipment screen in the main menu.

How to Get the Bamboo & Panda Sword Skin

The Bamboo & Panda skin is part of the Onimusha: WotS — Deluxe Kit. It does not come with the Standard Edition of the game. Here is how to get access to it.

Option 1: Buy the Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition ($79.99) includes the base game plus the full Deluxe Kit. That kit contains four sword skins — Bamboo & Panda, Whittled Oar, Raizan, and Enryuu — along with three charms (Oni Lady, Little Dancer, Mentor), the Red Armor outfit for Musashi, and the Crimson Lotus Oni Gauntlet skin.

You can grab the Deluxe Edition on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and it is also available on the Epic Games Store and Nintendo Switch 2.

Option 2: Buy the Premium Deluxe Edition

The Premium Deluxe Edition ($89.99) includes everything in the Deluxe Kit plus additional haori coats for Musashi, outfits for Okuni and the Oni Lady, and a mini digital soundtrack. Importantly, it does not add extra sword appearances beyond what the Deluxe already gives you. So if the Bamboo & Panda skin is your main goal, the Deluxe Edition at $79.99 is all you need.

Option 3: Wait for Separate DLC

Capcom has stated that some pre-order and edition content may become available after launch through other means. This suggests the Deluxe Kit content, including the Bamboo & Panda sword skin, could eventually be sold as standalone DLC. No pricing or release date has been confirmed yet, but it is worth checking the official Capcom Onimusha page for updates.

How to Claim Your Deluxe Kit Items In-Game

Once you have the Deluxe Edition, you do not get the sword skins automatically the second you boot up the game. You need to claim them at a specific point in the story. Here is how it works.

1. Progress through the main story. Play until Okuni brings Musashi to a Spirit Mirror for the first time. This happens after completing the main quest called “The Ruckus at Rendaino.”
2. Look for the Additional Content option. When you interact with a Spirit Mirror, you should see an Additional Content option in the menu. Select this to claim your Deluxe Kit items, including the Bamboo & Panda sword skin.
3. Claim all available items. Select every item on the list and confirm. They will be added to your inventory.
4. Wait for Change Appearance to unlock. Even after claiming the items, you cannot equip the sword skins immediately. The Change Appearance feature does not become available until you complete “The Stage Is Set at Kiyomizu” main quest. Once that unlocks, you are good to go.

If items are not appearing after claiming, check that your edition’s DLC is properly installed. On PlayStation and Xbox, Deluxe Kit content links to your account automatically. On Steam, confirm the DLC shows as installed in your library.

How to Equip the Bamboo & Panda Sword Appearance

Once the Change Appearance feature is unlocked and your items are claimed, equipping the Bamboo & Panda sword skin takes just a few steps.

1. Find a Spirit Mirror. These act as save points and are spread across every area in the game. If you are unsure how Spirit Mirrors work or where they are, see our Spirit Mirrors guide.
2. Interact with the Spirit Mirror. Open the Spirit Mirror menu by pressing the interact button when standing in front of it.
3. Select Change Appearance. This option appears in the Spirit Mirror menu after you have unlocked it through story progress.
4. Go to the Sword section. Inside Change Appearance, you can modify Musashi’s sword, haori, and outfit separately. Select the Sword option.
5. Choose Bamboo & Panda. Select it from your available sword skins and confirm. The change applies immediately.

You can switch back to the default look at any time by returning to a Spirit Mirror and repeating the process. There is no cost or limit to how often you swap.

All Cosmetics in Onimusha: Way of the Sword — Quick Overview

While you are looking into the panda skin, here is a quick look at everything else you can customise in the game. It helps to know what each edition includes so there are no surprises.

Sword Appearances

• Sealed Curse — Pre-order bonus (Standard/Deluxe/Premium Deluxe editions).
• White Lion — Pre-order bonus (Deluxe and Premium Deluxe editions only).
• Bamboo & Panda — Deluxe Kit (Deluxe and Premium Deluxe editions).
• Whittled Oar — Deluxe Kit. A nod to Musashi’s famous wooden sword at Ganryujima.
• Raizan — Deluxe Kit. Thunder-themed look.
• Enryuu — Deluxe Kit. Fire-themed look.
• In-game unlockables — Additional sword skins can be earned through challenges and boss rematches in the Practice Ground.

Outfits and Haori (Musashi)

• Red Armor — Deluxe Kit. A bold full outfit for Musashi.
• Hellfire Haori, Moonlight Haori, Cloudbiter Haori — Premium Deluxe exclusive haori coats.

Oni Gauntlet Skin

• Crimson Lotus — Deluxe Kit. Changes the look of the Oni Gauntlet but does not affect Oni Armaments or Oni Power abilities.

Outfits for Okuni and the Oni Lady

• These are Premium Deluxe exclusive and include Flower Dance, Goldfish Dance, and Oni Dance for Okuni, and Bird Call, Snow Camellia, and Elegance for the Oni Lady.

Does the Bamboo & Panda Skin Affect Combat?

No, not at all. Like every other sword appearance in the game, Bamboo & Panda is purely visual. Capcom has confirmed that sword appearances do not change damage output, Issen timing, soul absorption speed, or any other gameplay mechanic. You are just changing how the blade looks.

If you want to actually improve Musashi’s combat performance, focus on upgrading your katana and equipping the right Charms. Our katana upgrade guide walks through the progression system, and the charms guide covers which ones give the biggest advantage in combat.

A Note on the Original Panda Costume

For fans who remember the original Onimusha: Warlords, the panda suit there was a proper unlockable secret. You needed to beat the game and collect at least 10 pieces of Fluorite to access it, and it changed Samonosuke’s entire appearance — including in most cutscenes. It was a playful Easter egg that became one of the most fondly remembered parts of that game.

Way of the Sword takes a more modern approach to cosmetics, splitting them across sword appearances, outfits, haori, and gauntlet skins rather than offering a single character-wide costume swap. The Bamboo & Panda sword skin is clearly a nod to that legacy, even if it does not go quite as far as the original panda outfit did.

If the spirit of those unlockable secrets interests you, there are still in-game cosmetics to chase through the Practice Ground and boss rematches. See our full boss list for a look at all the fights you can revisit for rewards, and our guide on unlocking the locked cave doors at Mount Oe if you are still working through the main story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is available now on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. For more on the game, visit the official Capcom website.