Onimusha: Way of the Sword early upgrades: check clothing if you keep dying

If you often fall before learning an enemy, inspect clothing at a Spirit Mirror: its upgrades affect health and stamina. If survival is comfortable but fights drag, compare the sword's attack gain; if you use Oni Armaments often, inspect the gauntlet and Oni Power. Choose for the problem you have, not a mandatory one-size-fits-all build.

Three equipment tracks

These tracks use different materials. Red souls are not a direct substitute for every equipment material: skills and other upgrades can use red souls, while the equipment screen lists its own requirements. Read the actual quantity and unlock state in your game.

At the Spirit Mirror

1. Progress through The Oni’s Apprentice to unlock equipment enhancement, then open “Enhance Equipment/Abilities” at a usable Spirit Mirror.
2. Select clothing, sword or gauntlet. Read the next enhancement's effect and ingredient quantities, then compare them with your inventory.
3. If you keep dying, start with clothing; if combat takes too long, inspect the sword; if you rely on Oni Armaments, consider the gauntlet. If materials are missing, explore, search containers and complete encounters; do not treat an uncertain drop as guaranteed.
4. Confirm the cost and enhance, then see whether it helps in combat. Skills have separate prerequisites and costs, so a red-soul balance alone does not mean every item is available.

If the option is missing, check story unlocks and materials first; do not assume every mirror has every feature from the start. Equipment enhancement state can also differ in a subsequent playthrough; follow the in-game description.

Sources: in-game equipment tips, Spirit Mirror unlock and materials, equipment versus skill costs.