Rise of the Rōnin Guide | How to Unlock Kogoro Katsura as Ally

Kogoro Katsura in Rise of the Rōnin presents a faction-based recruitment opportunity where your political alignment determines your access to him.

His availability depends on the story choices you make regarding different political factions throughout the game. This ally offers stealth-oriented abilities and represents one of the more complex recruitment paths in the game.

How to Unlock Kogoro Katsura

There are two ways to get Kogoro Katsura to join your side, based on which group you choose. Both methods become available after completing the "Follow Your Blade Twin" ronin mission, but your political alignment determines which recruitment path you can access.

The first method requires completing the "The Plot to Assassinate Harris" mission for the Anti-Shogunate faction.

If you choose to support the Anti-Shogunate faction during story progression, this mission becomes available and allows you to recruit Katsura through this path.

The second method involves completing the "Seeds of the Daimyo's Bone" mission if you side with the Shogun faction.

Players who choose to support the Shogun faction during key story moments can access this alternative recruitment mission for Katsura.

Your faction choice during "Follow Your Blade Twin" determines which of these missions becomes available.

You cannot access both missions in a single playthrough, making Katsura's recruitment dependent on your political decisions throughout the story.

Combat Abilities and Equipment

Kogoro Katsura's main tool in battle is a katana, and he is an expert at traditional sword fighting. Because sake bottles are his backup weapon, he can throw them at foes to gain tactical benefits in battle.

It's called "Sleeping Kago," and it makes enemies less likely to notice you when you're close to them. This gift that focuses on stealth is useful for players who like to sneak into tasks and complete them without being seen.

Because the sensing area is shorter, you can get closer to enemies without starting a fight.

Bond Level Rewards and Combat Training

When you reach maximum bond level with Kogoro Katsura, he provides training in katana combat techniques. He teaches you the Shinto combat style for your katana, which comes from the Te skill tree. This combat style offers new attack patterns and defensive techniques specifically designed for katana combat.

Shinto is a type of fighting that uses traditional sword moves that focus on accuracy and timing. These methods make one-on-one fighting possible and give you choices for both attacking blows and defensive counters.

Katsura gives you two charm skill points when your bond level is at its highest. You can spend these skill points on the charm skill tree to get new powers that change how you connect with other people, how enemies act, and how you can negotiate with them throughout the game.

Because she has charm skill points, a gift that focuses on stealth, and traditional sword training, Katsura is very useful for players who would rather deal with problems diplomatically and stealthily than directly.

Also, check our Rise of the Rōnin Review and other guides below:

• Rise of the Rōnin Guide | How to Unlock Shinsaku Takasugi as Ally
• Rise of the Rōnin Guide | How to Unlock Ryoma Sakamoto as Ally
• Rise of the Rōnin Guide | How to Unlock Genzui Kusaka as Ally
• Rise of the Rōnin Guide | How to Unlock Gonzo as Ally