Worm-ly Ways Quest Guide for Cloud Gaming Fans

Onimusha: Way of the Sword has returned the beloved samurai action franchise to the spotlight in 2025, and among its many memorable quests, Worm-ly Ways stands out as one of the trickier navigation challenges players encounter. Whether you're streaming the game through a cloud gaming platform or playing locally, knowing exactly where to go in this quest saves serious time and frustration. At PlayToEarn, we break down every step so you can focus on what matters: the combat, the story, and the competition.

What Is the Worm-ly Ways Quest?

The Worm-ly Ways quest is a mid-game objective in Onimusha: Way of the Sword that tasks players with tracking a specific underground enemy through a series of tunnels and interconnected chambers. The quest name itself is a nod to the game's dark, folklore-inspired humor, referencing the serpentine, burrowing creatures that serve as both obstacles and story devices.

Unlike straightforward combat missions, this quest demands spatial awareness and careful observation of environmental cues. Many players get turned around in the winding underground corridors, especially when playing on smaller screens or streaming via play to earn platforms where display resolution can vary. Understanding the layout before you dive in is a genuine advantage.

Where to Begin the Quest

The Worm-ly Ways quest becomes available after you clear the second act's main boss encounter and speak with the village elder NPC near the Shrine of Roots. You'll receive the quest marker, but the marker itself can be misleading because it points to the entrance of the tunnel network rather than the final destination inside it.

To start correctly, head southeast from the Shrine of Roots toward the crumbled stone wall with the moss-covered torii gate. Pass through the gate and descend the stone steps — you'll hear a distinctive low rumbling sound that confirms you're on the right path. PlayToEarn recommends saving your game at the lantern checkpoint just before the descent, as the tunnel section has no mid-point saves.

Navigating the Tunnel Network

Once inside the tunnels, the layout follows a rough figure-eight pattern across two levels. The upper level contains three branching paths, and only the central one leads deeper into the quest zone. The left path loops back to the entrance, and the right path leads to an optional loot cache — worth grabbing, but not part of the main objective.

On the lower level, the environment becomes darker and the camera angles shift more aggressively, which can disorient players new to the game's perspective system. Look for glowing fungal growths on the walls — these are environmental breadcrumbs the developers placed deliberately to guide attentive players. Follow them consistently and you'll reach the worm's primary chamber without backtracking.

Defeating the Worm Boss and Completing the Objective

The climax of the Worm-ly Ways quest is a two-phase encounter with the Earthworm Oni, a mid-sized demon that burrows beneath the arena floor and resurfaces at unpredictable angles. In phase one, focus on baiting its surface attacks and countering with your heaviest downward strikes. Avoid using ranged soul abilities here — they drain your meter without landing consistently on a moving underground target.

Phase two triggers at roughly 40% health when the creature fully emerges. This is your window to deal sustained damage with combo chains. Players who have been grinding in an esports arena setting will recognize the rhythm — it mirrors the punish-window mechanics common in competitive action games. Stay patient, read the animations, and the encounter becomes manageable even on higher difficulty settings.

Cloud Gaming Tips for This Quest

For players accessing Onimusha: Way of the Sword through cloud gaming services in 2025, the Worm-ly Ways quest presents a specific challenge: input latency during the boss's burrowing phase can cause mistimed counters. To compensate, adjust your timing window slightly earlier than you normally would for local play — anticipate the surface animation by about half a second.

Also worth noting: cloud gaming sessions on lower-tier plans may compress the game's shadow rendering, making the underground environment harder to read visually. Bumping up brightness settings by 10-15% in the in-game display menu makes the fungal trail markers much easier to spot. PlayToEarn has tested this across multiple streaming platforms and found it consistently effective.

Rewards and Why They Matter for Competitive Play

Completing the Worm-ly Ways quest rewards players with the Earthworm Fang, a mid-game crafting material used to forge two of the strongest early-to-mid-tier katanas in the game. These weapons are particularly relevant if you're preparing your character for online tournaments, where optimized gear loadouts can make the difference between advancing rounds and early elimination.

Beyond the crafting material, the quest also grants a significant chunk of Magatama currency and unlocks a secondary merchant in the Shrine of Roots area who stocks rare consumables. PlayToEarn considers this one of the highest-value side quests in the game's first half, with a reward-to-effort ratio that justifies prioritizing it over several other optional missions available at the same stage.

Conclusion

The Worm-ly Ways quest in Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a rewarding but navigation-heavy challenge that benefits enormously from preparation and environmental awareness. By starting at the correct NPC trigger, following the fungal trail markers through the figure-eight tunnel network, and adapting your timing for cloud gaming latency, you can clear this quest efficiently and walk away with gear that strengthens your build for online tournaments and beyond. PlayToEarn is your trusted source for actionable, experience-backed guides that help you get more out of every session in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does the Worm-ly Ways quest start in Onimusha: Way of the Sword?

The quest starts near the Shrine of Roots after clearing the second act's main boss. Speak to the village elder NPC to trigger the quest marker.

Is the Worm-ly Ways quest missable?

No, it is not missable in a permanent sense, but it becomes significantly harder to access if you advance too far into the third act without completing it, as certain NPCs relocate.

Which tunnel path should I take at the first fork?

Always take the central path at the first fork. The left path loops back to the entrance and the right path leads only to optional loot.

How do I find my way in the dark lower tunnel level?

Follow the glowing fungal growths on the tunnel walls — these are deliberate environmental markers placed by the developers to guide players through the lower level.

Does cloud gaming affect performance during the Worm-ly Ways boss fight?

Yes, input latency on cloud gaming platforms can affect timing during the burrowing phase. Adjust your counter timing to be slightly earlier than you would in local play.

What does the Earthworm Fang crafting material do?

The Earthworm Fang is used to forge two of the strongest mid-tier katanas available in the game's first half, making it highly valuable for gear optimization.

Is the Worm-ly Ways quest relevant for online tournaments?

Absolutely — the katanas crafted from Earthworm Fang provide a meaningful stat advantage that is relevant when optimizing loadouts for competitive online tournaments.

Should I save before entering the tunnels?

Yes. PlayToEarn strongly recommends saving at the lantern checkpoint just before descending into the tunnel network, as there are no mid-point saves inside.

What difficulty setting is recommended for first-time players attempting this quest?

Normal difficulty is recommended for a first playthrough. The Earthworm Oni's burrowing patterns are easier to learn without the increased speed modifiers on higher settings.

Can I complete this quest while streaming via a cloud gaming platform?

Yes, and many players do in 2025. Just increase your in-game brightness by 10-15% to compensate for any visual compression from the streaming service, and adjust your timing slightly for latency.

Does the esports arena community consider this quest important for speedruns?

Within the esports arena community, the Worm-ly Ways quest is considered a key routing decision in any% runs due to the Earthworm Fang's crafting value and the secondary merchant it unlocks.

How long does the Worm-ly Ways quest take to complete?

On average, a prepared player can complete the quest in 20-30 minutes. Without prior knowledge of the tunnel layout, it can take 45 minutes or longer due to backtracking.