Ryu ga Gotoku Ishin (released in Japan in February 2014) is a spin-off game set at the end of the Edo period of Japanese history (known as the Bakumatsu period), a period when the Tokugawa Shogunate came to an end and imperial rule was restored (Meiji Restoration).
Sakamoto Ryoma is living undercover, with a false identity, as "Saito Hajime" in Kyoto. One year earlier, on the eve of the coup d'état of Tosa, Ryoma's foster father, the man who raised him, was murdered before his eyes. The only lead he had to discover who the killer was is that he used the Tennen Rishin style of fighting. This is a style used by the Shinsengumi, so Ryoma infiltrates their ranks, becoming captain of the 3rd Shinsengumi unit, in attempt to find the killer.
Big thanks to Kevin Debrabandere for creating a PDF for the entire Ishin guide. You can download the PDF version of the guide here. Please be advised that the PDF is outdated now, but still contains information for the whole game.
This guide is for the original (2014) release of Ishin. The information contained within may not necessarily be accurate for the 2023 "Like a Dragon: Ishin" remake.
Heat actions work like they do in the previous games - Press the triangle button when prompted.
However, unlike previous games, the heat gauge now "stacks"; you can now build up your heat gauge multiple times over
BASIC HEAT ACTIONS
Name
How to Use
Wall Smash Mastery
Grab an enemy and go near a wall and press triangle
Face Crushing Mastery
Grab an enemy and go near a low fence or wall and press triangle
Finishing Blow Kick Mastery
Go near the side or head of an enemy lying facing down on the ground and press triangle
Finishing Blow Stomp Mastery
Go near the head of an enemy lying face up on the ground and press triangle
Consecutive Strikes Mastery
Holding a one-handed weapon, go near an enemy and press triangle
Smash and Strike Mastery
Holding a two-handed weapon, go near an enemy and press triangle
Heavy Attack Mastery
Holding a heavy weapon, go near an enemy and press triangle
Swing Mastery
Go near the feet of an enemy lying on the ground and press triangle
Throw Down Mastery
Grab an enemy and go near a high place or body of water and press triangle
Bojutsu Mastery
Holding a long pole weapon, go near an enemy and press triangle
Kick Down Mastery
Go near an enemy who is standing next to a high place or body or water and press triangle. This heat action can be only be done with the Sword, Pistol or Wild Dance fighting styles
Dried Plum Mastery
With a dried plum in your inventory, go near an enemy and press triangle
Carrying Pole Swing Mastery
Go near a carrying pole (you can find them lying around on the ground in certain places) and press triangle
Hot Water Mastery
Go near a kettle (they can be found on tables in certain areas) and press triangle
HAND TO HAND
Number
Name
How to Obtain
How to Use
10
Mandarin Orange Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
With a mandarin orange in your inventory, go near an enemy and press triangle
14
Rear Throw Mastery
Defeat Komaki in training and then have the revelation. Then purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid.
To have the revelation, continuously parry enemy attacks until a revelation indicator appears on the screen - press triangle when the screen indicates (will appear after you parry an attack)
Parry an enemy's attack and press triangle
22
Strong Attack Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
Grab an enemy and press triangle
23
Ground Attack Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
Press triangle while performing Strong Attack Mastery
24
Angry Dragon Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
While performing Strong Attack Mastery, do a full rotation (rotate 360 degrees) with the left analogue stick
34
Mistake and Sudden Attack Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
Press triangle when an enemy breaks your hold
37
Tanegashima Prevention Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
Go near an enemy holding a gun and press triangle
39
Swordless Sudden Kill Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
Press triangle when an enemy attacks you with a sword
46
Big Attack Mastery
Get the revelation document as a reward in Scarecrow Mansion training. Then have the revelation, then purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
To have the revelation, keep attacking enemies while you are in "Counter-Attack War Cry" mode. Eventually, while in Counter-Attack War Cry mode, you get a revelation indicator at the top right of the screen (triangle) - you need to be holding R1 and facing the enemy
While in "Counter-Attack War Cry" mode, hold R1 and press triangle when facing a distant enemy
48
Unarmed Reciprocation Mastery
Purchase it in the Hand-to-Hand sphere grid
Press triangle when an enemy attacks you
SWORD
Number
Name
How to Obtain
How to Use
11
Finishing Blow Mastery
Purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
Go near an enemy on the ground and press triangle
17
Sword Mastery
Purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
Holding R1, go near an enemy and press triangle
18
Sword Pursuit Mastery
Purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
Press triangle while performing Sword Mastery
19
Hurling Mastery
Purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
While performing Sword Mastery, do a full rotation (rotate 360 degrees) with the left analogue stick
26
Wall Thrust Mastery
Purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
Go near an enemy standing by a wall and press triangle
Press triangle when an enemy shoots you from a distance
37
Dry Leaf Smash
Complete the Dry Leaf Smash training with Ginryu and then purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
Press triangle when an enemy attacks you from behind
39
Knock Down Flash
Complete all the Ginryu training to receive the revelations document, then have the revelation, then purchase it in the Sword sphere grid.
To have the revelation, continuously use the "Beautiful Technique - Weather Vane" ability (press triangle when an enemy attacks you while you are defending). Eventually, after performing the technique, a revelation indicator will appear on the screen (press triangle).
Press triangle after performing the "Beautiful Technique - Weather Vane" ability
47
Flying Spin Slash
Purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
Press triangle while running to an area which has at least 3 enemies
48
Fine Cutting Mastery
Clear the Wanted Man mission #8 and then have the revelation. Then purchase it in the Sword sphere grid
To have the revelation, continue breaking enemies' guard until the revelation indication appears on the top right of the screen (press triangle when it shows to have the revelation). It will take a long time before it finally shows up, so just keep breaking guard until it finally does
Press triangle when an enemy loses balance
PISTOL
Number
Name
How to Obtain
How to Use
5
Finishing Blow Mastery
Purchase it in the Pistol sphere grid
Go near an enemy on the ground and press triangle
6
Sliding Mastery
Complete all the William Bradley training to receive the revelations document, then have the revelation, then purchase it in the Pistol sphere grid.
To have the revelation, continuously use the "Leaping Shot" ability. Eventually, while running you will have a revelation indicator at the top right of the screen (press triangle). It will take quite a while before it finally shows up, so just continue using the leaping shot ability until it finally does.
Press triangle while running
18
Separate and Shoot Mastery
Purchase it in the Pistol sphere grid
Grab an enemy and press triangle
24
Grasp and Gun Down Mastery
Purchase it in the Pistol sphere grid
Go near an enemy standing by a wall and press triangle
32
Separation Finishing Blow Mastery
Purchase it in the Pistol sphere grid
Press triangle while performing Separate and Shoot Mastery
33
Strike Down Mastery
Get the revelations document via bartering in the Pistol (William Bradley) training area, then have the revelation, then purchase the ability in the Pistol sphere grid.
To have the revelation, continuously use the "Whirlwind Shot" ability in a forward-facing direction (dash forward and press square). Eventually, a revelation indicator will appear (press triangle) after you dash forward and press square.
Press triangle after using a forward-facing "Whirlwind Shot" attack (dashing forward and pressing square to attack)
Press triangle when an enemy attacks you from behind with a sword
40
Rising Shot Mastery
Purchase it in the Pistol sphere grid
Press triangle when you are on the ground
43
Throwing Mastery
Purchase it in the Pistol sphere grid
While performing Separate and Shoot Mastery, do a full rotation (rotate 360 degrees) with the left analogue stick
WILD DANCE
Number
Name
How to Obtain
How to Use
2
Finishing Blow Mastery
Purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
Go near an enemy on the ground and press triangle
10
Dazzling
Purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
Go near an enemy and press triangle (requires the heat gauge to be stacked up at least 5 times)
13
Back Taking Mastery
Purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
Press triangle when an enemy attacks you with a sword
16
Wall Driving Mastery
Purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
Go near an enemy standing by a wall and press triangle
21
Gunfire and Repeated Strikes Combo
Purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
While holding R1, go near an enemy and press triangle
22
Finishing Blow Stab Mastery
Purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
Press triangle while performing Gunfire and Repeated Strikes Combo
23
Full Body Torpedo Drop
Purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
While performing Gunfire and Repeated Strikes Combo, do a full rotation (rotate 360 degrees) with the left analogue stick
29
Leaving Behind Anguish
Get the revelation document as a reward in Scarecrow Mansion training. Then have the revelation, then purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
To have the revelation, keep evading while using the Wild Dance Fighting Style until a revelation indicator appears on the screen (press triangle)
Press triangle while evading and you are near an enemy holding a sword
39
Crowd Dispersion
Complete the Crowd Dispersion training with Ginryu and then purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid
While holding R1, press triangle when facing 4 enemies
41
Blade Edge Dance
Complete all the Ginryu training to receive the revelations document, then have the revelation, then purchase it in the Wild Dance sphere grid.
To have the revelation, continuously use the "Fenghuang Formation" ability (press circle). Eventually, a revelation indicator (press triangle) will appear during the Fenghuang Formation ability.
Press triangle after the second "circle" press of the Fenghuang Formation special ability combo
