Onimusha: Way of the Sword Mask Puzzle Solution
Last verified: Sep 8, 2026 · Release edition
The mask puzzle blocks the Underground Laboratory route during "What Lurks in the Shadows." The answer is hidden in the light passing through four matching masks outside the chamber, but you can use the exact shooting order below if you want to move on immediately.
Face the four hanging masks and number them 1 to 4 from left to right. Equip the Oni Bow, then shoot the third, fourth, first and second masks in that order.
Where to Find the Mask Puzzle
You encounter this mandatory puzzle while exploring the Underground Laboratory in the main mission "What Lurks in the Shadows." After finding the sealed door with a face-shaped mechanism near the Underground Level Three Spirit Mirror, follow the available route until you enter the chamber containing a caged mask and four hanging targets.
The item in the cage is the key to that earlier door. You cannot force the cage or use a melee attack to bypass the puzzle; the hanging masks must be hit with arrows in the correct sequence.
How to Read the Shadow Clue
- Stand in the puzzle chamber and face the four hanging masks above the cage.
- Turn around toward the wall with four circular windows. Each window contains a matching mask.
- Step back through the doorway so you can see the light and shadows from the other side of that wall.
- Count the bright openings in each projected mask. One opening marks the first target, two marks the second, and so on through four.
Matching those opening counts to the targets inside produces the position order 3, 4, 1, 2. The clue is based on shape and light rather than color, so the left-to-right numbering remains the clearest way to follow it.
Exact Mask Shooting Order
Return to the cage, look directly at the four hanging targets and number their positions from left to right. Do not renumber them from the entrance or the window side.
| Shot | Target position | Where to aim |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mask 3 | Second from the right |
| 2 | Mask 4 | Far right |
| 3 | Mask 1 | Far left |
| 4 | Mask 2 | Second from the left |
In one line: second from right → far right → far left → second from left.
What to Do If the Puzzle Resets
A wrong hit returns the targets to their starting state. There is no timer and no lasting penalty, so wait for the movement to finish and restart from Mask 3. If the sequence keeps failing, check that you are:
- using the Oni Bow, not a melee attack;
- numbering the targets while facing the cage;
- starting again at 3 after any missed or incorrect shot; and
- aiming at one mask at a time so an arrow does not strike the neighboring target.
Where to Use the Unsettling Mask
Landing all four shots in the correct order opens the cage below the targets. Collect the Unsettling Mask, then retrace your route to the sealed face door near the Spirit Mirror. Interact with the center of the door to place the mask in its mechanism and open the path deeper into the laboratory.
Return to the Chapter 3 walkthrough when you are ready to continue the Nijo-jo story route.
Mask Puzzle FAQ
What is the mask puzzle order in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?
Face the four hanging targets, number them left to right, and shoot them with the Oni Bow in the order 3, 4, 1, 2.
Where is the clue for the mask puzzle?
Turn away from the cage and step outside the chamber. The circular windows hold matching masks, and the number of bright openings visible in each projected mask tells you when to shoot its target.
Is the mask puzzle timed?
No. A wrong or missed shot resets the sequence, but there is no time limit or lasting penalty. Begin again with the third mask from the left.
What does the mask puzzle unlock?
It opens the cage containing the Unsettling Mask. Place that item in the sealed face door near the Spirit Mirror to continue through the Underground Laboratory.