- Genma Brutes are the workhorse enemy of Way of the Sword. They have 4 attack patterns, are slow and powerful, and are the perfect enemy for practicing parry → Issen combos.
- They appear in groups of 2-6 throughout the game.
- Weak to Lightning (Raizan). Resistant to Fire.
Quick Attributes
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Common Elite Enemy |
| Health | ~200 HP (basic) / ~400 HP (elite, Chapter 2+) |
| Parry Difficulty | Easy-Medium |
| Soul Reward | 80 yellow souls (basic) / 150 yellow (elite) |
| Weakness | Parry + Issen, Lightning element |
| Resistance | Fire element |
| Stagger | On parry |
Last verified: TBD - to be confirmed at launch
1. Enemy Overview
The Genma Brute is a large Genma soldier wielding an axe or heavy club. It is the most common elite in Way of the Sword - the enemy you will fight the most, in the largest groups, from Chapter 1 onward.
Design-wise, Brutes exist to teach the player how to handle multi-enemy encounters. They hit hard, are slow, and stagger cleanly on every parry. They cannot be rushed. Mastering the Brute is the foundation for handling any group fight in the game.
2. Attack Patterns
| Attack | Tell | Parry Window | Counter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overhead Smash (Single) | Raises weapon high | 6 frames | L1/LB then R1 |
| Horizontal Sweep | Side-to-side swing | 5 frames | L1/LB then R1 |
| Ground Slam (AoE) | Jumps and slams ground | 7 frames | L1/LB (during landing) |
| Charge (Phase 2) | Rushes forward | 6 frames | L1/LB then R1 (counter) |
3. Parry Windows
Brute parry windows are 5-7 frames - tighter than Marcellus, but still very forgiving. The Ground Slam is the easiest because of its long airborne tell. The Horizontal Sweep is the hardest because it comes from an off-angle and has the shortest window.
Every confirmed parry triggers a stagger that opens up a guaranteed 2-hit punish combo. Chain three staggers in a row and you have a Kill Issen window.
4. Issen Opportunities
Brutes are the single best training target for the Issen system. Every attack creates a clean Issen window if you parry it:
- After Overhead Smash - 6 frame parry + 20 frame recovery = ideal Issen target
- After Ground Slam landing - the slam takes 1 full second to land, giving you time to charge
- On Charge impact - parry at the moment of impact (not the wind-up) for a confirmed counter
- After stagger chain - parry three attacks in a row, then release Issen on the third stagger
If you can land 5 Issens in a row on a single Brute, you have mastered the system.
5. Group Strategy
Brutes appear in groups of 2-6 throughout the game. The cardinal rule: fight one at a time.
- Use the Oni Gauntlet for AoE. A fully charged Gauntlet swing staggers every Brute in a 270-degree arc, buying you 4-5 seconds of free punish time.
- Pull singles with a bow shot or Issen bait. Brutes are slow - a long ranged weapon will pull one away from the group without aggroing the rest.
- Save Issen for the last Brute. If you commit Issen too early, you will not have the meter for the cleanup swing.
6. Elite Variants
Genma Brute Elites appear from Chapter 2 onward. They have ~400 HP (vs ~200 for basic) and one extra attack:
- Double Smash - two consecutive overheads, each with a 5-frame window. Parry both for an extended stagger window.
Elite Brutes drop 150 yellow souls - nearly double the basic. They are the best early-game soul farming target.
7. Elemental Matchup
Weak: Lightning
Raizan (Lightning katana) deals ~25% bonus damage. A single Lightning strike staggers all Brutes in a small radius, making it the optimal weapon for clearing Brute groups.
Resistant: Fire
Fire-element attacks deal reduced damage. Avoid using Enryuu on Brute groups - the resistance will burn through your stamina meter without paying back the damage.
8. Soul Farming
The Chapter 1 forest contains a guaranteed Brute spawn of 6 basic + 1 elite per clear. With a full Lightning clear:
- 6 Brutes x 80 souls = 480 yellow souls per clear
- 1 Elite Brute x 150 souls = 150 yellow souls
- Total: ~630 yellow souls per ~90 second clear
This is the most efficient soul farming route in Chapter 1. For the full route breakdown, see the Souls Farming Guide.