Rise of the Ronin has several different weapon types, from melee to ranged, but only the former can use Combat Styles. These provide Martial Skills used when holding down R1 and pressing a face button on the DualSense.
Several Combat Styles exist, though you need to unlock them over time. Some are unlocked by forming Bonds with allies, while defeating Fugitives, mini-boss-like enemies in each region, grants access to others. In several cases, you can unlock the same Combat Style from defeating a Fugitive as you would from forming a Bond.
Enhancing a Combat Style requires increasing your Bond with the corresponding ally who taught it and training to achieve a higher rating. This will unlock further Martial Skills for that Style.
If you forget the corresponding ally, go to the Combat Style tab in the main menu, select the weapon type and then the Style in question. Here’s how to unlock all Combat Styles in the game.
All Combat Styles and How to Unlock Them
Katana Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Hokushin Itto-ryu
Acquired after forming a Bond with Ryoma Sakamoto.
Tatsumi-ryu
Acquired after forming a Bond with Yukichi Fukuzawa.
Shinto Munen-ryu
Acquired from Kogoto Katsura.
Yagyu Shingake-ryu
Acquired from Shinsaku Takasugi.
Nioh-ryu
Unlocked by pre-ordering the Standard Edition and by defeating the Blue-Eyed Samurai in Shiba.
Tennen Rishin-ryu
Acquired after forming a Bond with Soji Okita.
Mugai-ryu
Acquired after forming a Bond with Hajime Saito.
Hayabusa-ryu
Acquired after forming a Bond with Yasusuke Sawamura. You can also unlock this early by pre-ordering the Standard Edition.
Aisu Kage-Ryu
Unlocked by pre-ordering the Standard Edition.
Spear Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Hozoin-ryu
Acquired from Aritomo Yamagata
Paired Swords Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Ninten Ichi-ryu
Acquired from Genzui Kusaka.
Kyoshin Meichi-ryu
Eliminate Juzo Inayama. He’s found in the Takanawa region.
Tennen Rishin-ryu
Acquired from Toshizo HIjikata
Odachi Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Nodachi Jigen-ryu
Acquired from Gonzo after sparing him in the Ronin Mission, “Curtain Falls, Curtain Rises” and recruiting him as an ally in Bond Mission, “The Bad Bunch.”
Jigen-ryu
Acquired from Toshimichi Okubo.
Yagyu Shingake-ryu
Acquired from Yoshinobu Tokugawa.
Tennen Rishin-Ryu
Acquired from Isami Kondo.
Shinto Munen-Ryu
Acquired from Shinpachi Nagakura and by defeating Punch-Drunk Kanta in the Yoshida-Shinden region.
Saber Styles
Style
How to Unlock
US Training
Acquired from Matthew Perry and from defeating Grigori the Immortal in the Senzoku region.
Polearm Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Shinto Munen-ryu
Acquired from Shinsaku Takasugi.
Hokushin Itto-ryu
Acquired from Sana Chiba. Also unlocked by defeating Wild Tiger Mio in the Kariba region.
Hayabusa-ryu
Acquired from Yasusuke Sawamura. You can also unlock this early by pre-ordering the Standard Edition.
Greatsword Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Hoshin-ryu
Acquired from Koto Nakazawa and from defeating Yosuke in the Hodogaya region.
Tennen Rishin-Ryu
Acquired from Isami Kondo. Also obtained from defeating Gennai Inoko in the Hodogaya region.
Oxtail Blade Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Kiheitai Style
Acquired from Shinsaku Takasugi. Also obtained by defeating Green-Eyed Sanzaemon in the Hodogaya Region.
Bayonet Styles
Style
How to Unlock
Kiheitai Style
Acquired from Hirobumi Ito. It’s also obtained by defeating Shirodayu Shirame, located in the Hodogaya region.
