Lion Dogs are a set of 36 hidden collectibles spread across Kyoto and a few outlying maps in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Rescuing every one unlocks new sword appearances and completes the For the Love of Dog trophy and achievement. They sit behind Malice, tucked inside buildings, and along the edges of each area, so knowing the region and the nearest Spirit Mirror is the fastest way to clear them all.
Quick answer: Complete the mission “What Lurks in the Shadows” to make Lion Dogs appear, then collect all 36 (marked by pawprint icons on the map) before the Point of No Return ahead of “The Clash At Rendaino.” The trophy pops the moment you rescue the 36th.
When Lion Dogs unlock and what they give you
Lion Dogs do not exist on the map until you finish “What Lurks in the Shadows.” After that point, they show up as pawprint icons, making them easy to track once you know the area to search. Rescuing them grants the ability to change your sword’s appearance, and collecting the full set is required for 100% completion.
One timing rule matters. The Lion Dogs placed on maps outside central Kyoto will not spawn until that map is fully liberated and its final boss is defeated. If a pawprint is missing from a region you thought was done, the map is not yet cleared.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Lion Dogs 1-3)
| # | Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | Behind the Malice Barrier on the path heading north from the Nio-nom Gate Spirit Mirror. |
| 2 | Inside the room where you fight Sasaki Ganryu at the Temple Grounds. |
| 3 | In the burning town to the west of the waterfall. |
Nijo-jo Castle (Lion Dogs 4-6)
| # | Location |
|---|---|
| 4 | Along the main path in the Gardens west of the Nijo-jo Castle Entrance Spirit Mirror. |
| 5 | Just south of the Palace Interior Spirit Mirror in Kyoto Imperial Palace. |
| 6 | Just north of the Nue Pond Spirit Mirror. |
Mount Oe (Lion Dogs 7-12)
| # | Location |
|---|---|
| 7 | On the main path heading forward from the Mount Oe Entrance. |
| 8 | On the west side of the house (outside) that sits north of the Ruins Area I Spirit Mirror. |
| 9 | In the attic of the building just south of the Ruins Area II Spirit Mirror. |
| 10 | After taking the elevator down from the Castle Entrance Spirit Mirror, follow the short path north. |
| 11 | Inside a house east of the Cave I Spirit Mirror. |
| 12 | Right beside the Storehouse Spirit Mirror. |
Arashiyama (Lion Dogs 13-15)
| # | Location |
|---|---|
| 13 | In a house at the dead end of the village west of the Hozu River Spirit Mirror. |
| 14 | In the center section of the bridge south of the Togetsu-kyo Bridge Spirit Mirror. Reach it from the Hozu River Spirit Mirror. |
| 15 | Just outside the house north of the Temple Spirit Mirror. |
Eastern Kyoto (Lion Dogs 16-36)
This region holds the largest cluster, with several centered on Emma’s Hall and the Yasaka Pagoda area. Work outward from each Spirit Mirror listed below to catch them quickly.
| # | Location |
|---|---|
| 16 | Behind the buildings south of Emma’s Hall. |
| 17 | In a small shrine area west of Emma’s Hall. |
| 18 | At the dead end west of the Kiyomizu-zaka Slope Spirit Mirror. |
| 19 | Near the shrine behind the merchant, at Yorimasa’s Monument. |
| 20 | In the tower next to the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Shrine. |
| 21 | Behind the houses south of the Kiyomizu-zaka Slope Spirit Mirror. |
| 22 | In the courtyard of Emma’s Hall. |
| 23 | In a hut far east of the Gojo Street – East Spirit Mirror. |
| 24 | West of the Gojo Street – West Spirit Mirror. |
| 25 | Just west of the bamboo forest in the south of Kyoto. |
| 26 | Near the bamboo forest in the south of Kyoto. |
| 27 | In the back of Emma’s Hall. |
| 28 | Near the Farm southwest of the Kiyomizu-zaka Slope Spirit Mirror. |
| 29 | At the base of the bridge where you fight Benkei, west of the Gojo Street – West Spirit Mirror. |
| 30 | On the dock south of the Sanbar – Near Stage Spirit Mirror. |
| 31 | In an alleyway south of the Shijo Street Spirit Mirror. |
| 32 | On the shore north of the Kamo River – East Spirit Mirror. |
| 33 | In the southwest corner of Kyoto. |
| 34 | On the farm south of the Yasaka Shrine Spirit Mirror. |
| 35 | Behind a shack northeast of the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror. |
| 36 | In an alley south of the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror. |
How to confirm the trophy unlocked
The For the Love of Dog trophy and achievement pop automatically the instant you rescue the 36th Lion Dog. You can track your running total in the Curious Cases tab of the menu, which lists the Lion Dogs in numerical order. If the count reads 36 of 36 and the trophy has not appeared, you are still missing one that the list marked from a different visit.
Common reasons a Lion Dog will not appear
- You have not finished “What Lurks in the Shadows” yet, so no Lion Dogs spawn anywhere.
- On an outlying map, the region is not fully liberated and its final boss is still alive. Those Lion Dogs only appear once the map is cleared.
- A pawprint sits behind a Malice Barrier that you have not cleared, as with the first one north of the Nio-nom Gate Spirit Mirror.
You can free-roam and mop up every collectible right up to the Point of No Return before the final mission, “The Clash At Rendaino.” Keep a manual save at that point and you can return to finish any Lion Dogs you missed, along with the rest of Kyoto’s collectibles.
