A Tempest at the Temple

A Tempest at the Temple takes you back to Kennin-ji Temple, where a Rift blocks the Dharma Hall and Burai — Lightning Keeper waits inside. This guide covers the approach, courtyard, practical boss tactics and the conversation that completes the task after the fight.

Inputs use the displayed PlayStation bindings: Cross (×) to interact, Square (□) to attack, Circle (○) to evade, L1 to guard, R2 for the Oni Bow, L2 to absorb and R1 for the equipped Oni Armament.

Speak with Takamura inside Rokudo-chinnoji Temple

After Shadows Fall, return to a Spirit Mirror and choose Travel → Eastern Kyoto → Rokudo-chinnoji Temple. From the mirror, step onto the wooden veranda and enter the room with the red altar at its far end.

Approach Takamura, seated before the altar, and press Cross at Talk. Finish the conversation with him, Okuni and Shizuka. Your objective becomes Head for Kennin-ji Temple.

Select the image for a larger view.

Use the mirror to replenish your supplies before leaving. Earth-Shakers, the paired hammers, are useful for reducing Burai's stamina; prepare them if you want to use the strategy below.

Approach Kennin-ji from Kamo River - East

Choose Travel → Eastern Kyoto → Kamo River - East. From the red-lantern Spirit Mirror, follow the lane beside the long plaster wall toward the red-painted hall and bamboo fencing.

Deal with the enemies outside that hall, then take the passage on its right when facing the red building. Continue through the opening into the narrow lane between walls. Follow it to the gate flanked by two stone lanterns.

Select the image for a larger view.

Go through the gate, continue between the twisted root-like growths and pass the inner gateway. Cross the red-maple courtyard toward the large hall. As you approach, the objective changes to Seal the Rift.

Seal the courtyard Rift and enter the Dharma Hall

Fight the enemies around the stone path and hall steps. Keep space to evade away from a group, then use short Square attacks after their swings finish. The bow can reach enemies that are awkward to approach.

If the Rift is building up above the hall, face it, hold R2 to aim and release R2 to shoot. As in Shadows Fall, disrupting it does not complete the sealing step.

Once Absorb Rift — L2 appears, face the Rift and hold L2 until it collapses. The barrier across the hall doorway disappears, and your objective changes to Enter the Dharma Hall.

Select the image for a larger view.

Go up the central stone steps and through the open doorway. Finish the entrance scene to begin Defeat Burai.

Defeat Burai, Lightning Keeper

Burai combines long sword swings, fast rushing attacks and volleys of purple lightning orbs. Keep enough space to see his weapon and the orbs at the same time. A short counter after a finished attack is safer than continuing a long combo as he winds up again.

Move across the lightning volley

When purple orbs gather around Burai, stop attacking and watch for the lines of lightning spreading across the floor. Move sideways and use Circle as the volley reaches you, aiming for the gaps rather than backing straight along a beam. Resume your approach after the volley passes.

Select the image for a larger view.

There is a brief recovery opportunity after this attack, but Burai can follow with a jump or another sword swing. Take a short opening and return to defense when he moves again.

Defend through the sword rush

At close range, hold L1 to guard while learning his sword timing. For a timed Deflect, keep L1 held and press Cross just before the strike lands. Counter with a short Square sequence when his swing finishes.

When he raises the weapon and rushes forward in a purple flash, stay ready for follow-up strikes. Do not assume that defending the first hit ends the sequence. His later attacks can come quickly; leave space to evade and avoid healing directly in front of a prepared rush.

Use Earth-Shakers and attack exposed weak points

When you have an opening and enough Oni Power, use the equipped Earth-Shakers with R1. Their hammer strikes deal heavy stamina damage. Hold R1 to charge if Burai's recovery gives you enough time; do not begin a charge while he is already attacking.

Absorb nearby blue souls with L2 when there is room to do so, restoring Oni Power for another use. Continue to mix short sword counters with the hammers instead of waiting beside him with an empty gauge.

When Burai is staggered and a Square weak-point prompt appears, approach and press Square to take the attack. He can recover afterward, so repeat the defensive pattern until he falls.

Select the image for a larger view.

Keep this pattern through the remainder of the fight: avoid the lightning spread, defend or evade the sword sequence, punish the recovery and use the weak-point openings. His defeat is followed by a short scene and the objective Head for Rokudo-chinnoji Temple.

Leave Kennin-ji and finish the woman's dialogue

From the courtyard outside the hall, head back through the inner gateway and follow the stone path out through the gate you used on arrival. As you leave, a woman in blue with a head covering approaches near the outer buildings and stone lanterns.

Select the image for a larger view.

Finish her dialogue about the trouble at Yasaka Pagoda. Story Complete — A Tempest at the Temple appears, followed by To Live is to Suffer. This conversation completes the task before you reach Rokudo-chinnoji Temple; follow the new Yasaka Pagoda objective for the next part.

Optional discovery inside Yasaka Pagoda

For The Leaning Pagoda of Kyoto, travel to the Yasaka Pagoda Spirit Mirror. Approach the tower, go up its short stone entrance steps and enter the open doorway.

Climb the first interior ladder, then step onto the wooden landing beside the square lattice window. Approach the purple trace on the floor and press Cross (×) — Examine. Finish the investigation and check for Curious Cases Updated — The Leaning Pagoda of Kyoto.

Select the image for a larger view.

You can descend by the same ladder and leave through the entrance. This discovery is a separate stop from the Kennin-ji and Burai route.