Samurai Warriors 5/Story Mode

Samurai Warriors 5, as a re-imagining of the story has changed the story's chronology to focus more on Nobunaga Oda and Mitsuhide Akechi, ending at the Honnōji incident instead of later on in the era like prior games in Samurai Warriors. The main story routes focus almost exclusively on the perspective of the Oda and their affiliated clans, other perspectives can be found in the second path for side battles. Free Mode versions of each stage can also be selected after completing each stage in Story Mode, allowing the use of most characters in the roster.

Rare weapons are acquired in this game by completing two specific stages on hard mode or higher with specific characters (typically the characters who favor said rare weapon). Each stage must acquire the S rank in all four categories of ranking to count towards unlocking the highest tier weapons (each category can be completed on separate runs if getting all S evaluations at once proves too difficult). Stages can be completed on Story Mode or Free Mode, and the partner character does not matter. The player does not even have to play as the required character, as long as they are one of the two characters selected at the start of the stage.

On this list of stages, characters with their names in bold must partisipate in the stage they're attached to in order to complete one of the two stages needed to unlock a rare weapon. Only the three great unifiers (Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, Ieyasu) help unlock weapons they do not favor alongside their favorite weapons. Hisahide Matsunaga and Tadakatsu Honda help unlock the Rare Weapons Kusarigama and Ninja Blade respectively instead of their favorite weapon type. Only Kōzuki Castle has more then one character required to complete it for unlocking rare weapons (both the Katana and Bow require that stage from the Mōri's side).

Nobunaga's Path
Details Nobunaga's rise from the 'Fool of Owari' into the unstoppable Demon King.

Lower path
* For the Sledge rare weapon ** For the Drum rare weapon

Chapter 5
After Nobunaga's actions in quenching resistance around Kyoto, as he ages into a hardened warlord by the events that transpire around him, he looks to unite the land and expand his conquests on all sides.

Mitsuhide's Path
Details Mitsuhide's life from being a fledgling wanderer, to serving Nobunaga, to his eventual betrayal. Mitsuhide's relation with various clans and friends will act as a driving point behind his actions.

Secret History
Listed as the Reverie Chapter. Detailing various hypothetical and other clan perspectives which were not eligible to be represented in either main tale. Complete Nobunaga's story to gain access to upper route of 3 stages and Mitsuhide's to get access to lower branch of 6 stages.

Lower path
* For the Blade and Matchlock rare weapon

DLC
Accessible by purchasing the Season Pass DLC. Contains six fictional stages spread across two waves. Also listed as the Reverie Chapter.

Free Mode
Free Mode is unlockable during chapter 1 of Nobunaga's Path and can be used to replay any completed stage with almost any character in the roster. For some stages, certain characters cannot be used.