Bakumatsu Kourinden ONI Karma Guide – Every Choice & Effect

GAME TRANSLATE · SNES GUIDE

Bakumatsu Kourinden ONI
Karma Guide

How the karma meter works, what it really changes, and every karma choice in the game with its exact value.

Last updated: September 29, 2026

Karma (業) is the hidden moral score behind almost every conversation in ONI. It decides whether samurai greet you or draw their swords, which allies will join, and whether you can earn the last summons. The numbers on this page come straight from the game’s event script, so they replace the rough “+2 / −2” figures found in older guides.

How karma works

Karma is a number from 0 to 100. You never see the number itself: the status menu shows a title instead. Choices move it up or down, usually by 1 to 5 points; the biggest swings are 10 or 11 points.

Karma	Title	Karma	Title
0	Villain	51–60	Nice Guy
1–10	Wicked	61–70	Good Man
11–20	Wanted	71–80	Big Shot
21–30	Bad Guy	81–90	Governor
31–40	Rascal	91–99	Sage
41–50	Ordinary	100	Godlike

What karma actually changes

We searched the whole event script for karma checks. There are only six thresholds, and here is every one of them:

Karma	What happens
0	Rest at home in Iida Town and Yakubyougami, the god of plague, visits Yamato in a dream.
below 21	Resting at home brings Binbougami, the god of poverty, instead. Both dreams are warnings only.
below 20	46 people across Japan, mostly samurai and ronin, attack instead of talking (full list below). Five of them are recruitable allies: Naozane, Kaishuu, Takeaki, Katsura and Kurama. Beat one and he is gone for good. The checkpoint guards between west and east Honshu attack too.
below 40	The offering box in the Tsukumogami shrine (east of Umibe Village) accepts money and resets your karma to 46. Price: 100 gold, doubling each time up to 6,400.
70+	The Djinn on the plain east of Hill Village (America) lends you his power.
100	Rest at home and Mayuki’s blessing teaches Yamato the Seven Gods. Seima Doji, the last summon, needs it.

The 1999 GameFAQs guide also mentions better drops, cheaper shops and stronger summons at high karma, and weaker ones at low karma. Those effects are not in the event script; if they exist, they live in the battle code, which we have not verified.

The biggest karma swings

Biggest gains

+7 — The bushido master's eight pupils (Chapter 3)
+5 — Return the Store Key (Chapter 7)
+4 — Inari (save the fox) (Chapter 11)
+3 — Give the boy a Kabuto (Chapter 4)
+3 — Gold Pill for the Kagoshima old woman (Chapter 11)
+3 — Medicine for the Grande girl (Chapter 19)
+2 — Give the coughing old man a Herb (Chapter 2)
+2 — Ayashibi in Okayama (see the Youkai Village list) (Chapter 4)

Biggest losses

−11 — Shinpachi's cut (Chapter 3)
−10 — Take Hijikata's sword (Izumi Kami) (Chapter 3)
−10 — 'Go with Natsume?' at the Mt. Tsurugi Spirit Hole (Chapter 13)
−10 — Interest-free loan (10000 gold) (Chapter 17)
−10 — Fort chests cost karma (Chapter 20)
−5 — Tanukichi founds the Youkai Village (Chapter 15)
−5 — Help Timba carry the cargo (Chapter 16)
−5 — Don't fight Tamiara's ghost (Chapter 21)

Hide done Missables only

Every karma choice in the game

In play order. Values are exact; “Yes/No” refers to the answer you give. Tick them off as you go; the ticks are shared with the Complete Walkthrough.

Event	Where	Karma	Ch.
Fight the Mt. Maru ghost at once Karma	Mt. Maru: the cave	+1 (only if you never refused); each No: −1	Ch. 1
Herb in Yachiho's house (theft) Karma	Iida Town: the house east of the well (upper door), the jars just below Yachiho	−2	Ch. 1
Pill in your family's storehouse (theft) Karma	Iida Town: the storehouse south of your house, shelves on the left wall	−1	Ch. 1
Give the coughing old man a Herb Karma	Toyama Village: the inn (north-west house by the well)	+2	Ch. 2
Speed Orb in a Toyama home (theft) Karma	Toyama Village: the house just north of the bridge, upper room next to the bully	−2	Ch. 2
Shinpachi's cut Karma	Kyoto: right outside the house east of the HQ, after Shinpachi's hunt	Yes: −11 · No: 0	Ch. 3
Take Hijikata's sword (Izumi Kami) Karma	Kyoto: Shinsengumi HQ, the sword stand by the left wall of the upper-right room	−10	Ch. 3
The bushido master's eight pupils Side quest	Kyoto: the ronin master by the east road, right end of the central wall	+7	Ch. 3
Ayashibi in Okayama (see the Youkai Village list) Youkai Village	Okayama Village: south-east corner	No: +2 · Yes (exterminate): −2	Ch. 4
Give the boy a Kabuto Karma	Izumo Village: the house just south of the burned Saigami estate	+3	Ch. 4
Power Orb in an Izumo home (theft) Karma	Izumo Village: the upper house on the west side, the pot by the back wall (where the old man and old woman sit)	−2	Ch. 4
Escort the old woman from Nikkou to Edo Karma	Nikkou Village: house in the north-west, next to the samurai	+2 (on arrival in Edo)	Ch. 6
Korobo in Nikkou Youkai Village	Nikkou Village: beside the elder's house	+2	Ch. 6
Tanumi in Nikkou Youkai Village	Nikkou Village: north-east, near the top of the village	No: +2 · Yes: −2	Ch. 6
The savings jar in Edo (theft) Karma	Edo: the western house of the pair on the west side, one row south of Tasuke's house	−2	Ch. 6
Return the Store Key Karma	Mt. Houju: temple, the Monk	+5	Ch. 7
Storehouse chests (theft) Karma	Mt. Houju storehouse: Kunai (small middle room), Gold Pin (lower-left room)	−2 each	Ch. 7
Gold Pill for the Kagoshima old woman Karma	Kagoshima Village — the small south-west house	+3	Ch. 11
Inari (save the fox) Summon	Kagoshima Village — north-west corner	+4 (refuse: −4)	Ch. 11
'Go with Natsume?' at the Mt. Tsurugi Spirit Hole Karma	Mt. Tsurugi: the Spirit Hole below the summit	Yes twice +2 / any No −10	Ch. 13
Ayashibi (Beppu Village) Youkai Village	Beppu Village — a boy in the middle of the village	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Ayashibi (Okayama Village) Youkai Village	Okayama Village — a man in the east part of the village	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Bakebi (Umibe Village) Youkai Village	Umibe Village — the boy in the far south-west corner	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Kaparou (Yamashiro Village) Youkai Village	Yamashiro Village (Shikoku) — south part of the village	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Kappa (Kourai shrine) — needs the Ranjatai Youkai Village	The Kourai (Kappa) shrine on the western Honshu map — step on the spot in front of the pond	Yes +2 / No: no change, the Kappa keeps the Ranjatai and is lost	Ch. 15
Kappa (Rokkou Village) Youkai Village	Rokkou Village — south-east part of the village (a boy has caught a kappa)	Yes +2 / No −2	Ch. 15
Kooni (Iida Town storehouse) Youkai Village	Iida Town — the storehouse south of Yamato's house (where Mom's Box was)	Yes +2 / No −2	Ch. 15
Korobo (Nikkou Village) Youkai Village	Nikkou Village — middle of the village	+2	Ch. 15
Korori (Umibe Village) Youkai Village	Umibe Village — the man on the west side, north part of the village	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Pokkun (Herai Village) Youkai Village	Herai Village — north-west part of the village	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Tanujou (Iida Town) Youkai Village	Iida Town — a man in the middle of town	Yes +2 / No −2	Ch. 15
Tanukichi founds the Youkai Village Youkai Village	Beppu Village (Shikoku, Ch. 13) — the man in the north-west corner	Yes +2 / No −5	Ch. 15
Tanumi (Nikkou Village) Youkai Village	Nikkou Village — north-east part of the village	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Tsurube (Takachiho Village) Youkai Village	Takachiho Village (Kyushu) — the boy in the north part of the village	Yes +2 / No −2	Ch. 15
Tsurube-otoshi (Hachinohe Village) Youkai Village	Hachinohe Village — the man at the north edge of the village	No +2 / Yes −2	Ch. 15
Yukihime (Toyama Village) Youkai Village	Toyama Village — north-west part of the village	Yes +2 / No −2	Ch. 15
Accept the Shogun's order Karma	Gyuuki Cave entrance, Ezo	Yes +1 / No −3	Ch. 16
Give the boy a Pill Karma	Abashiri Village — right-hand small house (south row)	+2	Ch. 16
Help Timba carry the cargo Karma	Hakodate Village — the inn, on your first visit	Yes +2 / No −5	Ch. 16
Interest-free loan (10000 gold) Karma	Yokohama — back room of the item-shop building	Borrow −10 / repay +10	Ch. 17
Medicine for the Grande girl Karma	Grande Village, outside, by the north fence	+3	Ch. 19
Agree to hunt the man-eating monster (Fort Key) Karma	Hill Village, right-hand tent on the upper east side	+2 if your first answer is Yes; each No costs 1	Ch. 20
Fort chests cost karma Karma	Fort south of Hill Village	-2 each (-10 total)	Ch. 20
Don't fight Tamiara's ghost Karma	Ruins temple, altar chamber (lowest door)	No: +2; Yes: -5	Ch. 21
Ruins Village chests cost karma Karma	Ruins Village courtyard	-2 each	Ch. 21
Ranjatai in Abashiri Karma	Abashiri Village, house	-5	Ch. 22
Refuse to return to the Shogun Karma	Yokohama: the first time you try to leave town after returning from America (west exit, north gate or east side)	Yes: -5 (a second Yes is a game over)	Ch. 22
Ranjatai for sale (50000 gold) Item	Ihika Village, bottom-left building, first counter	none (unlike the Abashiri one, −5)	Ch. 25

Stealing: what counts

Searching pots, drawers and chests inside other people’s homes is theft. A ronin in Iida Town even warns you at the start. These are all the spots that cost karma:

Chest: Kunai, Mt. Houju storehouse — −2 (Chapter 7)
Chest: Gold Pin, Mt. Houju storehouse — −2 (Chapter 7)
Chest: Remedy, Fort — -2 (Chapter 20)
Chest: Kobu Herb, Fort — -2 (Chapter 20)
Chest: Power Orb, Fort — -2 (Chapter 20)
Chest: Speed Orb, Fort — -2 (Chapter 20)
Chest: Guard Orb, Fort — -2 (Chapter 20)
Chest: Ice Charm, Ruins Village — -2 (Chapter 21)
Chest: Gewehr, Ruins Village — -2 (Chapter 21)
Chest: Holy Charm, Ruins Village — -2 (Chapter 21)
Pill in your family's storehouse (theft) — −1 (Chapter 1)
Herb in Yachiho's house (theft) — −2 (Chapter 1)
Speed Orb in a Toyama home (theft) — −2 (Chapter 2)
Power Orb in an Izumo home (theft) — −2 (Chapter 4)
The savings jar in Edo (theft) — −2 (Chapter 6)
Take Hijikata's sword (Izumi Kami) — −10 (Chapter 3)
Ranjatai in Abashiri — -5 (Chapter 22)

Several of them are also remembered by the god Kongouyasha in Ezo: see Secrets.

Every “Cut down, no pardon!” duel

With karma below 20, each of these people attacks instead of talking. Winning pays out gold but costs karma and removes them for good; losing costs gold. With karma 20 or more they just talk.

Where	Who	Win	Lose	Karma
Abashiri Village (indoors)	Ronin	+800	−1,500	−2
Abashiri Village (indoors)	Ronin	+400	−800	−2
Checkpoint (Honshu west/east)	Samurai	+500	−800	−2
Checkpoint (Honshu west/east)	Samurai	+1,000	−1,200	−2
Edo	Ronin	+500	−1,000	−2
Edo	Samurai	+150	−500	−2
Hachinohe Village (indoors)	Kurama ⚠ lost as an ally	+1,000	−1,500	−2
Hachinohe Village	Ronin	+400	−800	−2
Hakodate Village	Ronin	+300	−500	−2
Hakodate Village (indoors)	Ronin	+1,000	−1,000	−2
Hakodate Village (indoors)	Ronin	+500	−1,000	−2
Hakodate Village (indoors)	Samurai	+400	−800	−2
Hakodate Village (indoors)	Samurai	+600	−1,000	−2
Herai Village	Samurai	+400	−800	−2
Herai Village	Samurai	+100	−200	−2
Iida Town	Naozane ⚠ lost as an ally	+400	−600	−2
Iida Town	Ronin	+350	−400	−2
Izumo Village	Ronin	+100	−200	−2
Izumo Village (indoors)	Ronin	+200	−1,000	−2
Izumo Village	Samurai	+400	−800	−2
Kagoshima Village (indoors)	Ronin	+400	−800	−2
Kagoshima Village (indoors)	Ronin	+900	−1,800	−2
Kagoshima Village	Samurai	+600	−700	−2
Kyoto	Ronin	+350	−600	−2
Kyoto (indoors)	Ronin	+400	−700	−2
Kyoto	Samurai	+1,000	−2,000	−2
Kyoto (indoors)	Samurai	+300	−600	−2
Niigata Village (indoors)	Ronin	+200	−400	−2
Niigata Village	Samurai	+400	−500	−2
Nikkou Village	Ronin	+1,000	−3,000	−2
Nikkou Village	Samurai	+200	−300	−2
Okayama Village	Ronin	+150	−500	−2
Okayama Village	Takeaki ⚠ lost as an ally	+1,000	−3,000	−2
Rokkou Village	Kaishuu ⚠ lost as an ally	+600	−800	−2
Rokkou Village	Ronin	+300	−800	−2
Rokkou Village	Ronin	+300	−600	−2
Rokkou Village	Samurai	+200	−300	−2
Takachiho Village (indoors)	Ronin	+300	−600	−2
Toyama Village	Ronin	+200	−500	−3
Toyama Village (indoors)	Ronin	+1,200	−2,000	−2
Umibe Village (indoors)	Katsura ⚠ lost as an ally	+800	−1,200	−2
Umibe Village (indoors)	Ronin	+200	−500	−2
Umibe Village (indoors)	Samurai	+400	−800	−2
Yamashiro Village	Ronin	+600	−700	−2
Yamashiro Village	Samurai	+1,200	−2,500	−2
Yokohama	Samurai	+2,000	−3,000	−2

Keeping your karma where you want it

Easy points

Spare every harmless youkai: most are worth +2 each (Youkai Village).
The hidden bushido quest in Kyoto is worth +7 (how).
Return the Store Key at Mt. Houju: +5.
Pay for the fox in Kagoshima: +4, and the money comes back.

Traps

Never take Hijikata’s sword (−10) or Shinpachi’s cut (−11).
On Mt. Tsurugi answer Yes twice to “Go with Natsume?”; any No is −10.
The Yokohama loan is −10 until you repay it.

Heading for 100

Everything above adds up to far more than 100, so a clean playthrough reaches Godlike well before the end. If you slipped, repay the loan (+10) and finish the Youkai Village before the final chapter, then rest at home for the Seven Gods.

Rescue from low karma

Below 40, the offering box east of Umibe Village sets you straight to 46 for 100 gold the first time. It is the fastest way back above 20.