Rise Of The Roninposes several decisions throughout the game. For instance, should you pursue the pro or anti-shogunate mission? How do you wish to respond to an ally’s question? Your first of many choices (after several hours working on your Blade Twins in the character creator) will be your Blade Sharpening Origin, the foundational training your character will receive.

But what is a Blade Sharpening Origin, and why does it matter? The Prologue whips through the Kurosu clan’s history, so this detail is easy to miss. However, Blade Sharpening Origin is a straightforward tool to help you begin the campaign. We’ll explain the lore and practical use of Blade Sharpening Origins below.

The Blade Sharpening Origin tutorial card from the character creation process in Rise Of The Ronin.

What Are Blade Sharpening Origins?

In Rise Of The Ronin’s lore, the Kurosu clan secretly began training pairs of warriors known as Veiled Edges. These pairs were trained to become one unit under the tutelage of a teacher known as a Bladesmith. The skills that a Bladesmith imparts to their Veiled Edges is known as the Vailed Edges’Blade Sharpening Origin.

Regarding Rise Of The Ronin’s gameplay,Blade Sharpening Originsarestat presets determining a Veiled Edge’s combat proficiencies. Each Blade Sharpening Origin has a set of recommended weapons and unique special skills obtained at the beginning of the campaign.

Rise Of The Ronin’s Status menu lists your Level, Faction Affiliation, Title, Weapon Proficiencies, Primary Stats, and Secondary Stats.

The Primary Stat Types, Explained

You may have noticed that each Blade Sharpening Origin has a dominant primary stat. For instance, a Killer’s highest stat is Strength, the Seducer’s is Charm, etc. The two exceptions to this rule are theBeginner and Unsharpened origins, which are meant to be well-rounded and challenging presets, respectively.

Each primary stat affects different secondary stats (e.g., Attack, Defense, Stagger, etc.). So, it’s best to know each of the four primary stats if you wish to choose the best Blade Sharpening Origin. Let’s break them down.

The hand of a Veiled Edge holding their blade as a fire burns behind them in Rise Of The Ronin.

For reference,Rare Skill Points (a.k.a. Strength Points, Intellect Points, Charm Points, and Dexterity Points)are unique Skill Pointsrequired to unlock specific skills from the Primary Stat’s skill tree.

The Secondary Stats, Explained

If you want a more specific understanding of your stats, look at yoursecondary stats. These stats are more literal and will help you understand how your Primary Stat choices directly affect your character. Here’s a quick list:

How Should I Choose A Blade Sharpening Origin?

You shouldchoose a Blade Sharpening Origin that caters to your playstyle. Of course, that’s easier said than done if it’s your first time playing Rise Of The Ronin. Fortunately, we thought of some questions that may help you decide.

You could consider your Blade Sharpening Origin choice from various perspectives. But it’s nothing you should stress about. You’ll likely start the game with one origin and later gravitate toward stats, skills, and weapons associated with a different origin.

Your Blade Sharpening Origin is nothing more than the building blocks of your character. It is not a pre-destined plan you need to feel loyal to.