- Primary Spec: The sakura stand ronin is a high-tier dual-wielding swordsman spec inspired by Samurai Jack.
- Key Prerequisites: You must have True Anubis equipped and be at least Mastery 5 to begin.
- Unawakened Route: Solve the Library bookcase puzzle, find the Understrand, chant at the Holy Grail, and defeat the boss.
- Awakening Route: Complete the Heretic of Blades PvP quest, perform the 8 light chants, and defeat the Sword Saint.
- Top Feature: Resistant to Time Stop abilities via the Swordsman's Reflex passive.
Prerequisites & Initial Prep
To embark on the journey of obtaining the legendary sakura stand ronin spec, you must first secure several high-tier prerequisites. Attempting to start the questline without meeting these benchmarks will result in the Strange Book refusing to speak to you, halting your progress before it even begins.
Video Highlights:
- Prerequisite Check: Detailed look at the required True Anubis stand and Mastery 5 level.
- Puzzle Solutions: Step-by-step visual walkthrough of the Library bookcase order and laptop code submission.
- Boss Showdown: Combat tactics for defeating both the Unawakened and Awakened Ronin bosses.
To obtain True Anubis, players typically use the Haunted Sword on Standless to get base Anubis, then complete further progression steps via the Kisu NPC. Once you have True Anubis and have reached Mastery 5, you are fully prepared to begin.
| Requirement | Target | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Required Stand | True Anubis | Must be actively equipped to interact with the Strange Book |
| Mastery Level | Level 5+ | Essential level requirement to initiate the quest |
| Quest Location | The Library | The starting point located near the cafe/shop area |
Make sure you reset any skins on your True Anubis before attempting to talk to the Strange Book. Some players have reported quest-trigger bugs when using skinned versions of the stand.
Step-by-Step Guide to Ronin [Unawakened]
Once you meet the prerequisites, you can begin the questline to unlock the Unawakened version of the sakura stand ronin. This process involves a complex sequence of puzzles, map navigation, and an initial boss fight.
The Library Puzzle
Go to the Library and interact with the Strange Book on the desk. Agree to the prompt to receive a random 6-digit code (e.g., 365124). Interact with the bookcases from left to right in the exact order of the digits, then submit the code on the laptop to the right of the bookcases. Interact with the Strange Book again to proceed.
Access the Back Alley
Locate the Back Alley entrance in the Dark Alley (across from Carmen). Find the small hole leading to a cave, and follow the path to the door leading to the Back Alley and Sakurian City. Keep heading right until you find another cave.
Find the Understrand Book
Inside the cave, continue heading right. When you encounter a spiderweb, turn right and then left to enter "The Understand". Interact with the Strange Book on the pedestal to receive a sequence of words. Screenshot or write down these words.
Chant at the Holy Grail
Head to the Holy Grail located in the middle of the Hall of Heroes. Stand inside the red circle and type the sequence of words you received into the chat, one word at a time. Once finished, click "Call Upon Chant" to summon the boss.
Defeat the Blade Within
Defeat the boss, Ronin [The Blade Within], to complete the quest. Return to the Strange Book in The Understrand to officially unlock Ronin [Unawakened].
The words given by the Understrand book must be typed in chat exactly as they appeared, with correct capitalization and spelling, one word at a time, to trigger the boss fight.
Evolving to Ronin (Successor of Niten Ichiryu)
To upgrade your Ronin to its fully Awakened form, Ronin (Successor of Niten Ichiryu), you must undertake the "Heretic of Blades" questline. This phase shifts from puzzle-solving to player-versus-player combat and location-based rituals.
First, equip Ronin [Unawakened], return to the Library, and interact with the Strange Book to accept the "Heretic of Blades" quest. You must hunt down and defeat a player using one of several specific combat styles.
Heretic of Blades Targets (Defeat 1):
- Astolfo
- The Black Silence
- Herrscher of Flamescion
- Cid Kagenou
- The Red Mist
- Hie Hie no Mi
- Stop Sign | Raiden
- Emperor
After defeating your target, return to the Back Alley book to receive the next step. You will be tasked with reciting one of eight ancient chants while posing in the light at specific locations across the map.
The eight chants you must use are: Dagaz, Berkano, Laguz, Inguz, Teiwaz, Othala, Mannaz, and Ehwaz. Once you have completed all chants, interact with the Back Alley book again to initiate the final duel against your inner self, The Sword Saint. Defeating this boss and returning to the Strange Book in The Understrand unlocks the Awakened Ronin spec.
When typing the chants in the light, make sure your character is actively posing. A confirmation message will pop up on your screen if the chant is successfully registered.
Ronin Boss Fight Strategies: Phase 1 & Phase 2
Both boss fights in the sakura stand ronin questline are highly mechanical and punish aggressive button-mashing. Understanding the boss's attack patterns and knowing when to block or counter is key to survival.
| Boss Phase | Boss Name | Key Attack | Counter Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | The Blade Within | 100-Blade Spiral | Always block the spiral; do not attempt to parry |
| Phase 2 | The Sword Saint | Teleport Slash | Let the teleport land, block immediately, then counter |
Phase 1: The Blade Within Tactics
- Avoid the Spiral: The boss will throw out a massive barrage of blades followed by a five-slash combo. Keep your block up during this entire sequence.
- Bait the R Move: After the slashes, get close to the boss to bait their Ronin R move, then immediately dash away to avoid getting caught in it.
- Execute Counter: Once their R move finishes, execute your own Ronin R move to deal heavy damage. If you get hit during the setup, abort your combo and run away to reset.
Phase 2: The Sword Saint Tactics
- Teleport Baiting: Let the Sword Saint succeed in using their teleport move on you. As soon as you see the boss disappear from your screen, immediately hold down your block button.
- Punish Combo: The moment the teleport attack ends, immediately retaliate with
M1x3, E, T, and R. If landed correctly, this combo will deal massive damage without letting the boss recover. - Reset and Repeat: Dash away immediately after the combo to avoid any counter-attacks, and wait for the boss to teleport again.
Do not attempt to parry the spiral attacks in Phase 1. The multi-hit nature of the attack makes parrying highly inconsistent and will likely break your guard. Stick to standard blocking.
Ronin Moveset & Combat Showcases
The sakura stand ronin spec offers two distinct playstyles depending on whether you are using the Unawakened or Awakened version. While Unawakened focuses on physical dual-wielding pressure, the Awakened Successor version introduces powerful wind clones.
| Move | Unawakened Version | Awakened (Successor) Version |
|---|---|---|
| M1 Combo | Two Katana slashes, Wakizashi X-cut, Roundhouse Kick | Wind-infused strikes summoning gust clones |
| E Move | Katana air slice and downward severing slash | Upward swipe leaving a Godai sigil above target |
| R Move | Defensive hop back followed by diagonal chest cut | Rapid wind-clone slashes ending with a rear cut |
| T Move | Double diagonal cut sending four flashy projectiles | Counter stance summoning clones from all sides |
Unawakened Playstyle
- Raw physical pressure
- Quick M1 cooldowns
- Simple, reliable combos
Awakened Playstyle
- Technical wind clones
- High-damage Godai sigils
- Exceptional AoE coverage
Swordsman's Reflex
- Time Stop resistance
- Passive combat advantage
- Immune to freeze setups
The Swordsman's Reflex passive makes Ronin one of the absolute best counters against stands like The World or Star Platinum in high-level PvP. You can freely move and execute counters even while time is stopped.
FAQ & Troubleshooting
Q: Can I start the sakura stand ronin quest without True Anubis?
No. True Anubis must be actively equipped to interact with the Strange Book in the Library and begin the questline.
Q: What should I do if the laptop code in the Library fails?
Double-check the order of the bookcases you interacted with. The sequence must match the exact digits of the code from left to right (e.g., Bookcase 3, then 6, then 5, etc.).
Q: How do I trigger the Phase 2 boss fight for the Awakened Ronin?
After completing the Heretic of Blades PvP quest and reciting the eight chants in the light, interact with the Back Alley book to start the Sword Saint boss fight.
Q: Is the Ronin spec effective for PvE farming?
Yes. The Awakened Ronin (Successor of Niten Ichiryu) features incredible AoE wind-clone attacks and high burst damage, making it excellent for clearing mobs and farming bosses.
If you are struggling with the PvP portion of the awakening quest, try coordinating with a friend or finding players in the official Sakura Stand Discord trading channels who are willing to trade kills.