If you’re staring at “Follow the golden ginkgo leaf to upgrade” and wondering where the leaf went, you’re not alone. The Onryo armor doesn’t upgrade at the armorer and it doesn’t ask for materials. It levels up automatically as you push the main story forward and take down key targets. That golden ginkgo prompt is simply the game nudging you to track a main objective and follow the Guiding Wind.

What makes the Onryo armor different

  • You start the game wearing it.
  • Perks focus on fear: kills with Spirit Attacks or thrown melee can terrify nearby enemies; terrified enemies take extra damage; your wolf can appear when foes panic.
  • Upgrades are automatic and tied to main story progress. You won’t improve it at the forge, and you won’t spend coin, silk, or flowers on it.

Expect multiple ranks over the campaign (up to a late-game cap). Each rank passively strengthens the set’s perks as you clear major story beats.

How to actually trigger Onryo upgrades

Progress the main tale and eliminate major targets. The game treats these as milestones and bumps the armor when you hit them. If you’ve been side‑tracking on bounties or exploration and your Onryo hasn’t moved, jump back onto the main thread:

  • Open the map (press the touchpad).
  • Select a main story objective or a Revenge target card so it’s tracked. The map marker uses a golden ginkgo leaf icon.
  • Swipe up on the touchpad to summon the Guiding Wind and ride it to the objective.
  • Complete the mission or defeat the target. Armor ranks update automatically after the milestone.
Tip: If you don’t see a golden ginkgo marker, you likely haven’t tracked a main objective. Set one on the map first, then use the wind.

Quick reference: Onryo vs. every other armor

Armor How upgrades work Where you upgrade
Onryo Armor Automatic ranks from main story milestones (defeating key targets, major tale progress) Nowhere — upgrades are granted on completion
All other body armors Spend coin and materials per level Ginji the Armorer (e.g., at the Old Inn)

Why the golden ginkgo prompt is confusing

The Onryo message makes it sound like a collectible trail will appear. In practice, “follow the golden ginkgo leaf” means “track your next main objective and use the wind to reach it.” The game’s navigation system only points you to whatever you’ve actively tracked. Without that, there’s no path and no leaf.

Fastest way to rank it up

  • Prioritize main tales over side content when you want the next rank.
  • Hunt the big-name targets early (The Oni, The Kitsune, and other members of the Yotei Six) as their missions tend to gate story progression.
  • If you’re short on clues for a target, keep clearing story quests to surface a Golden Revenge card that unlocks the pursuit.
Note: You can still clear every side activity later. Nothing about the armor progression is missable.

Where Ginji fits in (and where he doesn’t)

Ginji upgrades most body armors with coin and materials; he also sells armor dyes for flowers. He does not upgrade the Onryo set. If you’re at the forge trying to force an Onryo rank, you’re in the wrong place — get back on the main tale.

Onryo armor perks at a glance

  • Spirit Attack or thrown melee kill → chance to terrify nearby enemies.
  • Terrified enemies take increased damage.
  • When enemies are terrified, your wolf has a chance to appear.

As the armor ranks up through the story, these effects become more reliable and more impactful, reinforcing a fear‑driven playstyle without any crafting detours.

The takeaway is simple: don’t wait on a menu or a merchant for the Onryo’s upgrades. Track a main objective, follow the wind, and take down the next major target. The armor will keep pace with your story, no shopping list required.