Getting Started

Getting Started: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – A Beginner's Guide

Welcome to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This guide is designed to get you through your first hours with confidence, covering everything from controls to survival tips. Sekiro is a challenging game that rewards patience, practice, and knowledge. Let’s begin.

Character Creation

There is no character creation. You play as Wolf, a disgraced shinobi with a fixed appearance and name. Your only customization later is cosmetic (outfits unlocked via achievements or DLC). Focus on learning Wolf's moves, not on looks.

Controls (All Platforms)

The game uses the same control logic across platforms, but button names differ. Practice in the tutorial area (the Dilapidated Temple) with Hanbei the Undying.

IMPORTANT: Remap controls if needed. Many players prefer moving jump to a thumb button on PC to preserve camera control. Experiment.

UI Overview

Your HUD displays:

• Health Bar (top left): Green bar. When it reaches zero, you die.


• Posture Bar (below Health): Yellow bar. Fills when blocking or deflecting. When full (red), you are staggered and vulnerable. Enemies also have posture – break it for a deathblow.


• Resurrection Nodes (top left, below Health): Small circles. You can self-resurrect one or two times after dying (requires full node). They refill by killing enemies or using certain items.


• Emblems (top center): Used for prosthetic tools and certain combat arts. Max 20 (can be increased later). Spend on upgrades sparingly early.


• Item Quick Slot (bottom right): Your equipped items. Use D-Pad to cycle; press Q/D-Pad Down to use.


• Skill Points (bottom center): Earn XP to get a point; spend at Sculptor's Idols.


• Sen (Money) (top right): Spend at merchants. You lose half on death (but can buy Coin Purses from merchants to store safely).




First Hour Walkthrough



1. Opening Cutscene & Tutorial: After a brief story, you regain control in a cave. A wolf attacks – follow on-screen prompts to attack and deflect. You'll die (scripted). Learn the Resurrection mechanic: press R1/Tab to come back. Then escape the well by climbing the wall.

2. Ashina Outskirts (First Area): Exit the well. You'll see a Sculptor's Idol – interact to light it (this is your checkpoint/save point). Always light every idol you find.

3. First Enemies: A few soldiers patrol. Use stealth: crouch (Ctrl on PC, R3 on consoles? Actually standard crouch is not in Sekiro; you press dodge while not moving to crouch? No – you can crouch by holding the dodge button when not sprinting. On PC, hold Shift then press S? Actually better: bind crouch to a key. Default crouch is pressing the dodge button while not moving. For simplicity: you can go prone? No. Use 'Q' to sneak? Actually, quick crouch is not default. Many players rebind. For now, just walk slowly behind enemies and perform stealth deathblows (Press attack when close and undetected).

4. Reach the Sculptor: Follow the path, defeat a few weak enemies, and you'll meet the Sculptor at the Dilapidated Temple. He explains resurrection and the prosthetic arm. After some dialogue, you receive the Shinobi Prosthetic and can now use tools.

5. First Prosthetic Tool: Loaded Shuriken. Find it in a chest just outside the temple (around the corner). Equip it at an idol. Also grab the Healing Gourd from the Sculptor (he gives it after you die once or rest at an idol).

6. Practice with Hanbei: A friendly undying warrior near the temple. He teaches you basic attacks, deflecting, and the Mikiri Counter (a crucial skill: press dodge into an enemy thrust to counter). Spend at least 10 minutes here until you can consistently deflect and Mikiri.

7. First Real Boss – Chained Ogre: Later in Ashina Outskirts. But your first hour should focus on getting to the temple, lighting idols, and understanding the game systems.



Essential Early Objectives




• Light every Sculptor's Idol – they are checkpoints and fast travel points.


• Get the Healing Gourd – if you somehow missed it, rest at any idol and talk to the Sculptor.


• Find the Loaded Shuriken – essential for stunning enemies and hitting distant foes.


• Learn Mikiri Counter – purchase from the Skill Tree (Shinobi Arts) for 1 skill point. It turns enemy thrusts into deathblows.


• Upgrade your Healing Gourd – find Gourd Seeds (first one is near the Chained Ogre area, on a cliff). Give them to Sculptor to increase heals.


• Unlock the Shinobi Medallion (offensive tool) – not necessary day one, but get it early from the merchant in Ashina Outskirts (near the first area after the well). It costs 500 sen (skip if tight on money).




What to Do First vs Avoid



Do:

• Explore every corner; items are hidden in nooks.


• Talk to NPCs twice (they may give hints or items).


• Kill every enemy you can safely; early leveling is slow but essential.


• Use stealth: deathblow from behind to instantly kill most grunts.


• Rest at idols often to reset enemies and save progress.


• Spend Sen at merchants on Coin Purses to preserve money upon death.


Avoid:

• Rushing into groups – you are easily overwhelmed. Fight one-on-one when possible.


• Spamming attack – this will drain your posture and leave you open. Deflect and counter instead.


• Ignoring the posture system – blocking (holding deflect) is okay, but deflecting (timing it perfectly) builds enemy posture faster and prevents your posture from breaking.


• Trying to fight the Chained Ogre without fire (later you get the Flame Vent prosthetic, which does massive damage). You can skip him initially and come back.


• Using skills that cost emblems (like Double Ichimonji) excessively early – emblems are scarce until you find more or buy them.

Early Resource Priorities

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Not deflecting: Blocking is safe but doesn't build enemy posture. Learn the timing for perfect deflections (press guard just as the attack lands).


• Neglecting vitality upgrades: Pray at idols with "Prayer Beads" (found by killing mini-bosses). Every 4 beads give a permanent health and posture boost. Prioritize finding mini-bosses in Ashina Outskirts.


• Ignoring items: Ash (blinds enemies), Firecrackers (stun beasts and humans), and the Flame Vent (sets enemies on fire) are lifesavers. Use them.


• Running away too much: Sekiro rewards aggression. Stay close to enemies, cycle between attacking and deflecting. If you run away, you lose posture advantage and enemies recover.


• Skipping the skill tree: Spend skill points early on Mikiri Counter, Shinobi Eyes (extends Mikiri), and Breath of Life (restore health on deathblow). These fundamentally change how easy combat becomes.

Day-One Checklist

Your first play session should achieve these tasks:

1. ✅ Light the first Sculptor's Idol in the well.
2. ✅ Reach the Dilapidated Temple and meet the Sculptor.
3. ✅ Get the Healing Gourd (talk to Sculptor after resting at idol if not given).
4. ✅ Find the Loaded Shuriken in the chest near the temple.
5. ✅ Spend 10-15 minutes training with Hanbei (learn deflect, Mikiri, and attack combos).
6. ✅ Purchase and equip the Mikiri Counter skill (requires 1 skill point – kill a few enemies to get it).
7. ✅ Explore Ashina Outskirts up to the first locked gate. Light all idols along the way.
8. ✅ Find the first Gourd Seed (on the cliff path left of the first patrol area, near a weeping woman).
9. ✅ Spend leftover Sen on a Coin Purse (buy from the merchant near the Outskirts idol).
10. ✅ Attempt the Chained Ogre boss at least twice to learn his moves – but don't rage-quit. You can come back later with fire.

By completing this checklist, you'll have a solid foundation. Remember: death is part of the learning. Each death teaches you a move. Embrace it, and you'll soon master the blade.