You’re standing in the Imasho Town tavern. Jubei is loaded with random junk—a frog, some pickled plums, maybe a pair of Western boots. You see Ekei sitting there, looking like he needs a drink, and Kotaro lurking near the ceiling. You want that 100% scenario completion, but the game doesn't tell you a single thing about how these people actually feel. Honestly, the Onimusha 2 gift guide is less of a shopping list and more of a complex political simulation disguised as a Capcom action game.
Most people think gifting is just about being nice. It’s not. It’s about manipulation. If you get too chummy with Magoichi, Ekei starts to resent you. If you focus entirely on Oyu, you might miss out on the best items from the guys. It’s a balancing act that determines who helps you in boss fights, who you play as during the mid-game, and ultimately, which of the five endings you see.
The Weird Science of Gifting
Basically, every time you hand over an item, the game runs a hidden calculation. There’s no progress bar. You just have to read their body language. If a character starts saluting you or doing a special animation when you walk up, you’ve hit the sweet spot.
But here is the kicker: every gift you give to one person slightly lowers the affinity of the other three. You can’t just spam gifts at everyone and expect them all to be your best friend. You have to be surgical. If you want to see Kotaro's unique path, you have to ignore Oyu for a while, because they are effectively rivals in the game's relationship hierarchy.
Why You Should Care About Ranks
The game uses a ranking system (though it’s invisible to you) ranging from G all the way up to V.
- V and S Ranks: These are the holy grail. These are items that perfectly match a character's personality.
- A Ranks: These usually net you the best return items, like Power Jewels or Magic Jewels.
- B Ranks: Interestingly, you actually want B ranks sometimes. If you want the Fossilized Bone—which you need for the Black Necklace (auto-criticals!)—you need to bait Ekei, Magoichi, or Kotaro into giving them to you via B-rank trades.
Onimusha 2 Gift Guide: Who Wants What?
Don't just throw things at them. If you give Kotaro a Green Parrot while you’re in Imasho Town, he’ll get offended. Why? Because the parrot calls him beautiful, and he’ll snap back with, "I am a man, you feathered scum!" Timing and location actually matter.
Ekei: The Boozy Monk
Ekei is probably the easiest to please if you have food or liquor. He’s a simple man.
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- The Big Winners: Ashura Garment (his best armor), Vodka, Wine, and the Folding Fan.
- Surprisingly Good: The Blue Parrot or a well-timed Grilled Fish.
- Avoid: Anything too "refined" or feminine. He’s not here for your hair ornaments.
Magoichi: The Western Obsessive
Magoichi Saika is a scholar and a gunner. He loves history and anything that smells like Europe.
- The Big Winners: Western Boots, Ancient Documents, and the Music Box.
- The "Secret" Combo: Give him a Watermelon first, then follow it up immediately with Salt. He’ll lose his mind. It’s one of the biggest affinity boosts in the game.
- Avoid: Most "ninja" gear. He and Kotaro don't exactly see eye-to-eye.
Kotaro: The Shady Ninja
Kotaro is picky. He likes things that are functional or related to his craft, but he has a soft spot for oddities.
- The Big Winners: Keimyo Hachimaki (headband), the Globe, and the Compass.
- The Food Rule: Do not give him food in Imasho Town. He hates it. Wait until you’re out in the field or in the mines; suddenly, that same Dumpling Cake is a top-tier gift.
- Avoid: Anything that makes him feel "pretty." See the parrot incident mentioned above.
Oyu: The Mysterious Warrior
Oyu is different. She starts with a baseline level of respect for Jubei, unlike the guys who start at zero.
- The Big Winners: The Love Potion (obviously), the Mirror, and the Hair Ornament.
- Practicality: She also appreciates Hard Boots and the Phirangi (a sword).
- Avoid: "Gross" items. Don't give her the Frog or the Rotten Fish unless you want her to hate you.
Trading for Power: How to Get the Best Items
You aren't just giving these gifts to be a nice guy. You’re trading. Every character can give you one Power Jewel and one Magic Jewel. If you don’t engage with the Onimusha 2 gift guide strategy, you’re essentially playing the game on "Hard Mode" because your HP and MP will be significantly lower than they should be.
Each character has a "pool" of items they give back based on the tier of what you gave them.
- High-Tier Trades: Give an A-rank item, and you might get a Crown (which sells for a lot of gold) or a Jewel.
- Mid-Tier Trades: These usually result in medicine or specialized ammo (like Flaming Arrows or Bullets).
- The Fossilized Bone Hunt: To get the Black Necklace, you need three Fossilized Bones. You get one from Ekei, one from Magoichi, and one from Kotaro. You have to trigger a B-rank reaction to get them. It's a bit of a gamble, but usually, giving something "okay but not great" like a History Book or certain foods can trigger it.
The "Wonder Flower" Reset
What happens if you mess up? What if you accidentally gave Oyu a bunch of garbage and now she won't show up to help you fight the boss in the Fog Valley?
Enter the Wonder Flower. This is the game's "undo" button. When you give this to a character, they basically black out and forget your last few interactions. Their friendship level resets. It’s situational, but if you’re trying to pivot your "route" halfway through the game to see a different ending, the Wonder Flower is your best friend.
Actionable Strategy for 100% Completion
If you’re serious about seeing everything this game has to offer, you can't do it in one go. It’s impossible. You need at least four or five playthroughs to see every character's specific sub-missions and endings.
- Playthrough 1: Pick one character (I recommend Oyu) and give them everything they like. Ignore the others. This ensures you get her specific ending and scenario.
- Playthrough 2: Focus on Magoichi. His route gives a lot of backstory on the Saika Renegades.
- The Mining Trick: In the early chapters, go to the Gold Mine and grind for gold. Buy every single item in the Imasho shop. Doing this actually triggers the shop to restock with even better, rarer gifts in the next chapter.
- The "No Gift" Run: Believe it or not, there is a version of the game where you give no gifts at all. It’s lonely, and Jubei has to do everything himself, but it has its own unique flavor.
Final Pro Tip: Watch the Animations
If you’re ever unsure where you stand, pay attention to how they sit. If a character is facing away from you, they don't like you. If they turn to face you, you’re doing okay. If they stand up or perform a unique animation (like Ekei's salute or Magoichi checking his gun), you’ve reached the maximum friendship level for that stage of the game.
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Stop treating the items like inventory clutter. Every piece of junk is a key to a new cutscene. Start by gathering all the items in the Imasho shop and focus your attention on one ally at a time to master the scenario routes. Once you've secured the Power Jewels from your primary ally, feel free to toss a few B-rank items to the others to fish for those Fossilized Bones.