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Kengo 2 Sword FAQ
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Version 1.0, last updated 3/10/2003
Researched and written by Jack Power
Questions and comments may be directed to
[email protected] with "Kengo" in the subject line.
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---Notes---
This document was made to help players who imported or plan to import the Japanese version of Kengo
2. When it is released in North America I will update the information as necessary, but most of
this guide will still be useful. Some text was made with a Japanese word processing program. As
such it is best viewed with Japanese text support (Shift-JIS).
Version history
0.9: First release
1.0: Fixed some formatting and typographical errors; added a few more questions and answers
---The Swords---
This is a listing of all the two-star swords in the game and the bonuses they provide. They are in
order as they appear in the game once you've collected them all.
読み 豪腕 切れ 俊敏 見切 精神 頑強 回復
Smith's name Power Slice Quick Abandon Spirit Resolve Recover Total
Mikazuki Munechika 1000 - 200 700 1000 700 400 4000
Kobizen Tomonari 300 -500 -300 200 800 800 600 1900
Houki Yasutsuna 1000 -400 - 1000 900 900 900 4300
Shintou Gokunimitsu 200 -500 - 300 300 600 600 1500
Rai Kuniyuki 800 500 200 500 700 700 400 3800
Rai Kunitoshi 700 400 300 500 800 700 500 3900
Gorou Nyuudou Masamune 1000 - - 900 1000 900 800 4600
Koichimonji 800 300 - 500 600 700 200 3100
Bizen Ichimonji 1000 1000 900 400 700 700 700 5400
Bizen Osafune Mitsutada 500 300 700 600 700 800 400 4000
Bizen Osafune Nagamitsu 700 200 800 500 800 800 200 4000
Mino Kaneuji 400 - - 800 800 600 500 3100
Bizen Osafune Kanemitsu 800 1000 200 400 700 700 700 4500
Chikushuu Samonji 300 500 500 600 600 200 500 3200
Magoroku Kanemoto 600 1000 400 700 1000 700 700 5100
Ise Senji Muramasa - - - 1000 1000 700 1000 3700
Izumikami Kunisada 500 600 - 300 500 700 700 3300
Umetada Meija 700 800 200 400 700 700 400 3900
Echizen Yasutsugu 400 400 400 700 700 700 700 4000
Bizen Tadayoshi 700 1000 600 -500 -300 200 - 1700
Sendai Kunikane 800 700 700 700 500 400 400 4200
Izumikami Fujiwara Kaneshige 800 -300 800 800 300 200 200 2800
Inoue Shinkai 600 -500 200 700 900 1000 700 3600
Iganokami Kanemichi 700 300 300 600 - - - 1900
Tsuda Echizenkami Sukehiro 300 200 300 500 800 600 500 3200
Nanki Shigekuni - -200 - -400 -200 300 300 -200
Nagasone Kotetsu 500 1000 - 400 900 900 1000 4700
Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki 400 - 600 300 500 700 700 3200
Suishinshi Masahide 600 300 200 600 700 700 700 3800
Taikei Naotane - -700 1000 - - - - 300
Izumikami Hirosada - - 800 600 -400 - -300 700
Minamoto no Kiyomaro 200 - 500 500 700 700 400 3000
Izumikami Kanesada 300 300 300 500 800 700 200 3100
Yoshioka Ichimonji 500 300 - - 300 400 600 2100
---Name Pronounciation Guide---
Even if you can read some Japanese, the names of these historical smiths are very difficult because
the game doesn't provide the pronounciation for the kanji (Chinese characters). I couldn't fit this
into the chart above, but it's in the same order. Use this to find out what swords you have and how
to write/say their names in English.
正式名 読み
Smith's Name Pronounciation
三条宗近 Mikazuki Munechika
古備前友成 Kobizen Tomonari
伯耆国安綱 Houki Yasutsuna
新藤五国光 Shintou Gokunimitsu
来国行 Rai Kuniyuki
来国俊 Rai Kunitoshi
五郎入道正宗 Gorou Nyuudou Masamune
古一文字 Koichimonji
備前一文字 Bizen Ichimonji
備前長船光忠 Bizen Osafune Mitsutada
備前長船長光 Bizen Osafune Nagamitsu
美濃金氏 Mino Kaneuji
備前長船兼光 Bizen Osafune Kanemitsu
筑州左文字 Chikushuu Samonji
孫六兼元 Magoroku Kanemoto
伊勢千子村正 Ise Senji Muramasa
泉紙守国貞 Izumikami Kunisada
埋忠明寿 Umetada Meija
越前康継 Echizen Yasutsugu
備前忠吉 Bizen Tadayoshi
仙台国包 Sendai Kunikane
泉紙守藤原兼重 Izumikami Fujiwara Kaneshige
井上新改 Inoue Shinkai
伊賀守金道 Iganokami Kanemichi
津田越前守助広 Tsuda Echizenkami Sukehiro
南紀重国 Nanki Shigekuni
長曽祢虎徹 Nagasone Kotetsu
陸奥守吉行 Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki
水深子正秀 Suishinshi Masahide
大慶直胤 Taikei Naotane
泉紙守祐貞 Izumikami Hirosada
源清麿 Minamoto no Kiyomaro
泉紙守兼定 Izumikami Kanesada
吉岡一文字 Yoshioka Ichimonji
---Swords owned by Kengo---
Most of the Kengo use some of these famous (two-star) swords by default, both in story and versus
mode. If you want their swords, you'll have to hunt them down. I've tried to provide a short
description for each one so you know who to look for.
Sword Owner
Mikazuki Munechika Morooka Ippa (bald, little moustache, up and down slices)
Gorou Nyuudou Masamune Higuchi Sadatsuku (Oval face, blue outfit, lots of counters)
Bizen Ichimonji Tougou Shigetada (thich face, high eyebrows, charging attack)
Bizen Osafune Mitsutada Ooishi Susumu (Stern expression, fast left-right slash)
Bizen Osafune Nagamitsu Sasaki Kojiro (You'll know him when you see him)
Mino Kaneuji Yagyuu Jubei (As if you didn't know, the guy with the eyepatch)
Ise Senji Muramasa Yagyuu Hyougonosuke (Blue and white costume, creepy smile)
Izumikami Kunisada Horibe Yasubei (The bad-ass fighting in the rain in the opening)
Bizen Tadayoshi Okada Izou (narrow set eyes, small jaw, green and brown outfit)
Sendai Kunikane Chiba Shuusaku (Bald, fat frowning face, counterattacks often)
Izumikami Fujiwara Kaneshige Takayanagi Matashirou (Pale sunken face, incredibly fast attack)
Inoue Shinkai Tsuji Gettan (brown hair, ponytail, blue outfit)
Iganokami Kanemichi Araki Mataemon (Squarish face, five o'clock shadow, lunge attack)
Nagasone Kotetsu Kondou Isami (Big fat angry face, white and green outfit)
Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki Sakamoto Ryouma (Thick brown hair, black and sky blue outfit)
---The Stats---
Since the game is not localized yet, I have no idea what these will be renamed in the English
version. I've tried to translate them as closely as I can to the original Japanese without them
sounding as bizarre as they do to me. You can use this information with the chart above to help
decide on the perfect sword for your character.
-Power (豪腕): This is your attack strength. A high Power bonus can make the difference between
killing your opponent in a single blow or leaving him standing and able to counterattack. Also,
having a significant power advantage over your enemy means that you can overpower him even if he's
blocking, and similarly that you can block his attacks with ease.
-Slice (切れ): This is your attack speed. Being able to strike before your opponent can strike you,
and often before he can even react to counter, is extremely helpful. If you are fighting
defensively and relying on parries and counterattacks, Slice is not that crucial, but if you prefer
to use long chain combos, this is the most important stat.
-Quickness (俊敏): This is your movement speed. A high Quickness stat not only lets you outrun and
outmaneuver your enemies, but decreases your recovery (a.k.a. hit-stun) time, leaving you less
vulnerable and in a better striking position. If your power isn't so great, you can use your high
speed (in conjunction with careful use of the L1 button) to simply sidestep attacks.
-Abandon (見切): As in "reckless abandon," or possibly translated as "perception," this is your
defense against sword attacks. Since the katana is such an unforgiving weapon and deals far more
damage than a wooden sword, this stat is very important and can mean the difference between life
and death. While your goal should be to not get hit at all, this insurance is a life saver.
-Spirit (精神): This stat has a dual purpose. First, it increases your health regeneration while in
combat with wooden swords. With a high Spirit rating, you'll see your health practically skyrocket
back up while you're just standing there. Second, it decreases how fast you stop bleeding when cut.
This is critical in long fights or in mission stages so you don't bleed to death.
-Resolve (頑強): This stat is also dual purpose. First, it increases your defense against wooden
sword attacks. I believe this includes a certain character's huge boat oar, but I can't be sure.
It's vital for learning new techniques in the field and when dueling Kengo, because you almost have
to get hit. Second, it decreases how much life you lose while bleeding, which can help save your
life in conjuction with high Spirit.
-Recovery (回復): This stat is simple. It determines how much life you recover at the end of each
day. When this stat is high enough, you can be back on your feet even after a brutal sparring match
without having to sleep in for a day. While unimportant in duels and meaningless in Vs. Mode,
Recovery power is very important after fights so you can be in top condition for tournaments and
meetings with Kengo.
---Frequently Asked Questions---
Q: How many swords are there?
A: There are a total of 103 swords, with 34 of each rank and one no-name sword your character
starts with. If you count your wooden sword, it's 104.
Q: What are the different ranks of swords?
A: They are なまくら (junk), 業物 (exceptional, 1 star), and 大業物 (masterpiece, 2 stars). The
above chart lists the bonuses for only the masterpiece swords. The exceptional ones have only half
the bonuses, and the junk swords don't change stats at all. After you win a duel or tournament,
you'll be told what kind of sword you got. In addition, if you got a 2 star sword, your character
will inspect it the next day.
Q: How do I get them?
A: The first way is to complete a tournament. You'll get your first non-sucky sword this way.
Usually you get 1-star swords, but just recently I got a two-star. The second and easiest way is
the betting matches (4th option down once you are in Edo). Two characters will approach you, state
what sword they have (though even if you can read Japanese, you'll have no way of telling what rank
it is), and you get to choose who to fight. If you win, you get their weapon, and if you lose, you
lose yours so SAVE first. Typically your rivals, a.k.a. the main characters, have a higher chance
of having better swords, but just go with your gut instinct and try to remember which swords you
already have. The last way is to kill Kengo. Each swordmaster has a powerful (2-star) weapon;
consult the list above. After beating them in sparring matches and learning all their techniques,
the next time you meet them they will offer to duel with live swords (press the Square button when
the choice comes up).
Q: What happens if you collect all 103 of them?
A: You become a Pokemon master!! ...uh, no. All that happens is that if you try to do a betting
duel, your opponents will only have no-name swords to wager with. However, collecting all the 2
star swords is vital to get the special ending and unlock certain characters.
Q: Speaking of which, what about Musashi's swords?
A: As far as anyone knows, there's no way to use his two-sword style nor his big-ass boat oar
except for playing as him in versus mode. (Pray for a PAR code.) Regardless, don't worry about
adding his swords to your collection. He likely didn't use anything famous, as Musashi would fight
with whatever he got his hands on (hence the big-ass boat oar).
Q: Do I need to get every 2 star sword to fight musashi?
A: No, you just need to defeat (not necessarily kill) Sasaki Kojiro.
Q: What should I do after collecting every sword in the game? Have I mastered it?
A: Try and collect every technique in the game. That's even more difficult.
Q: Which is the best sword?
A: In terms of sheer numbers, the Bizen Ichimonji is the best. It has good bonuses in all
categories and the highest total. However, the real answer is that whatever sword best suits your
character and playing style is the best. You can either emphasize your character's strengths or
cover your weaknesses. Heck, you might even want to match the sword with your character's outfit.
Sometimes style is more important than stats.
Q: Which is the coolest-looking sword?
A: My vote goes to the Muramasa, which has a beautiful engraving on the lower part of the blade.
However, it's hard to see while fighting. Other than that, the Nagamitsu stands out because it is
actually a good deal longer than the other swords.
Q: Where have I heard some of these names before?
A: Anime and other video games, most likely. In particular, swords by Kotetsu, Osafune, Ichimonji,
Yoshiyuki, Muramasa, and Masamune have been referenced in the Final Fantasy series, the last of
which is often the most powerful weapon in the game.
Q: What's the point of being able to look at the sword without its handle?
A: The blade viewing option becomes available when you get a two-star sword. Japanese smiths signed
the swords they made, as each one is a work of art that could take months of strenuous and careful
effort to produce. With this feature you can see the inscription on the tang and get a closer look
at the blade, both of which were supposedly scanned from the real thing.
Q: Why the heck would I want to put away my sword in the middle of a fight?
A: It enables you to do the iaijutsu (quick-draw) moves. When your sword is sheathed, press R1
immediately followed by circle to perform the attack. Iai draws are extremely fast and damaging,
and dueling with a friend this way is crazy fun. However, you're vulnerable while you sheathe your
sword, and you can't block or counter in that stance unless you learn the right techniques and set
them up beforehand.
Q: Are there any other cool things you can do with your sword?
A: After you kill someone, stand still and press Circle. You'll swing your sword downward to throw
the blood off of it. It's a very cool little effect. Too bad there are no "late hits" like in
Bushido Blade...
Q: I just got killed in one hit... again! Are katanas that sharp in real life?
A: Yes. I once saw a demonstration at a museum where a katana was held edge up and a piece of silk
cloth was dropped onto it. The cloth was cut in half on contact with the blade. Until technology
gives us mono-molecular wires, a good katana is the most deadly bladed weapon you'll find.
Q: Are there any legends behind these swords and swordsmiths?
A: Yes, there are several. First, there's the sword of Sasaki Kojiro. According to most accounts he
did indeed use a sword made by Nagamitsu which he called "Monohoshi no Sao" (Drying Pole). It was a
very long sword, and is well-represented in the game and the opening movie. Next, there are many
stories about Masamune, who (despite what the stats in this game would have you believe) was the
greatest swordsmith who ever lived. His secrets were well-guarded, and I remember reading about the
smith chopping off the hand of a man who tried to test the temperature of the water Masamune used
for tempering. Often mentioned along with him is his student Muramasa, who was apparently a little
disturbed. While Masamune's swords were perfect, sacred weapons, Muramasa's are said to be haunted
by his tormented spirit. There have been several historical accounts of owners of such weapons
having "accidents," nightmares, or urges to draw someone's blood with the sword.
Q: I like swords.
A: That's not a question now, is it Fighter?
---Legal Info---
This document is copyright 2003 by Jack Power.
It is not to be used for profit in any way. If you wish to reference part of it in your own guide,
please ask.
Kengo 2, game data, and all character designs are property of Genki and Crave. Thanks to them for
making the greatest swordfighting game yet.
