Game Tips - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Comprehensive Game Tips for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

This guide provides actionable tips for all skill levels, grouped by key gameplay areas. Each tip includes an explanation of why it works and when to apply it for maximum effectiveness.

---

Combat Tips

Beginner: Master Deflection, Not Just Blocking

Explanation: Holding L1/LB reduces damage but builds your posture. Tapping L1/LB just before an attack lands (deflection) deals massive posture damage to the enemy and prevents your own posture from breaking on deflected hits.

When to use: Against all humanoid enemies (Samurai, Ninja, Bosses). Essential for breaking posture to land deathblows.

Why it works: Sekiro’s combat is posture-centric. Enemies with full posture are vulnerable to immediate deathblow, regardless of health. Deflection is the fastest way to fill their posture bar.

Intermediate: Counter Perilous Attacks Correctly

Thrust attacks (red kanji dodge): Use the Mikiri Counter skill. Press dodge toward the thrust at the last moment. This deals heavy posture damage and often leads to a counter-opening.

Sweep attacks (red kanji sweep): Jump on top of the enemy (press jump then jump again to push off their head). This deals posture damage and sometimes knocks them down.

Grab attacks (red kanji grab): Dodge sideways or backward. Never try to deflect or Mikiri.

Why it works: Perilous attacks are punishable windows. Proper counters turn danger into massive advantage.

When to use: As soon as you see the red kanji. Memorize which attacks are thrust/sweep/grab for each enemy type.

Advanced: Aggression and Posture Manipulation

Keep attacking until the enemy deflects you: When an enemy deflects your attack (bright spark, loud clang), they will counterattack. Immediately prepare to deflect that counter. This loop is the cornerstone of high-level combat.

Use Ichimonji (Double) after a failed deflect or to regain your own posture: Hold attack during an opening to use the combat art. It recovers a large chunk of your posture while dealing posture damage.

When to use: Against bosses like Genichiro, Lady Butterfly, or Isshin. Never let enemies regain posture; stay in their face.

Why it works: Most bosses recover posture quickly when idle. Constant aggression prevents recovery and forces them to stay on the defensive, limiting their dangerous moves.

Exploration Tips

Use the Grappling Hook constantly: Many enemies can be ignored, and secret areas are only reachable via grapple points. Scan the environment for the white indicator.

Eavesdrop on enemies: Crouch near groups or behind walls. You'll learn weaknesses (e.g., a boss fears fire, an enemy sleeps) or get directions to hidden items.

Look for small ledges and wall cracks: Sekiro can jump and grab edges. Many prayer bead locations or upgrades are tucked away off the beaten path.

When to explore: After unlocking a new area, fully explore before progressing the main story. You'll find Gourd Seeds, Prayer Beads, and prosthetic upgrades.

Why it works: Exploration yields permanent upgrades (health, posture, healing) that make combat much easier.

Resource Management Tips

Always have a Slightly Alive Gourd (healing): Conserve at least 1 Gourd charge during fights. You can use it after a deathblow to heal safely.

Liberally use Pellets and other consumables: They are plentiful. Use them in tough fights to avoid wasting Gourd uses.

Maximize Spirit Emblem usage: Firecrackers, Shurikens, and other prosthetics are very strong. Manage your emblems (max 20+ with upgrades) and buy them from merchants when cheap.

When to use: Pellets during boss runs; Gourd only when posture is also low or you have a breather. Prosthetics for humanoid bosses that can be stunned.

Why it works: Over-saving leads to inventory clutter and harder fights. Using consumables reduces difficulty significantly.

Economy and Upgrade Tips

Spend Sen (money) before bosses: You will likely die and lose half your Sen. Buy gold purses from merchants (they retain value even after death) or upgrade tools/skills.

Prioritize Buying: Gourd Seeds, Prayer Beads (when missed), Upgrade Materials (like Adamantite Scrap), and Firecrackers (for beast enemies).

Best farming spot early game: Ashina Outskirts – the path near the Chained Ogre and the soldiers near the gate. Later: Ashina Castle Antechamber (stealth kill the ministry ninja for ~1,000 XP and sen).

When to farm: When you are a few Sen short of an important purchase. Never farm for XP unless you are also gaining Sen.

Why it works: Sen is the primary currency for upgrades. Losing it repeatedly stalls progression. Gold purses act as a bank.

Builds (Prosthetic & Skills) Analysis

Recommended Prosthetic Loadouts

General Purpose: Shuriken (to interrupt enemies mid-air), Firecracker (stuns all beasts and most humanoids), Loaded Umbrella (blocks terror/lightning, allows counter).

Vs. Beasts (Blazing Bull, Headless Ape, Demon of Hatred): Firecracker + Flame Vent (Oily Finger + Flame for burn).

Vs. Undead (Headless, Schichimen Warrior): Loaded Umbrella (Purple) + Divine Confetti. Umbrella blocks their terror attacks.

Vs. Guardian Ape: Firecracker for first phase; Spear (drag centipede) for second phase.

Skill Tree Priority

Shinobi Arts (top tree):

Ashina Arts:

Prosthetic Arts:

When to choose: As soon as you have 2 skill points, get Mikiri. Then focus a single tree to unlock powerful combat arts.

Boss and Mini-Boss Strategies

Learn the dance: Each boss has a rhythm of attack sequences. Deflect the first flurry, then counter. If they pause, usually you can get 1-2 hits before they defend.

Use the environment: For example, the Chained Ogre can be cheesed with grapple attacks; Lady Butterfly can be stunlocked with Shurikens when she is on wires.

Always equip the correct prosthetic: If a boss is weak to fire (Beasts, Corrupted Monk), use Flame Vent. If they use lightning (Genichiro, Isshin), use the Lightning Reversal skill or Loaded Umbrella.

When to heal: Only heal during a stagger (after a deathblow) or after dodging a long recovery attack. Never heal while the boss is active – they will punish.

Why it works: Bosses have clear patterns. Exploiting their weaknesses reduces fight length and number of mistakes.

Stealth Tips

Always try for a stealth deathblow on mini-bosses and first phases of bosses: You can often stealth kill one health bar, turning a two-phase fight into one phase.

Use Gachiin’s Sugar/Spiritfall before sneaking: Makes you almost invisible. Use it before large groups or boss arenas with adds.

Crouch walk to avoid detection: Many enemies hear sprinting or grappling. Crouch when close.

When to stealth: Always at the start of an encounter. Also when farming or bypassing annoying enemies.

Why it works: Stealth kills bypass the hardest part of many fights. It’s a core mechanic, not a coward’s way.

Advanced Optimizations

Equip the Charmless and Demon Bell for max challenge and higher reward: Charmless means you take chip damage on blocks; Demon Bell increases enemy difficulty and drop rates. Only for those comfortable with perfect deflections.

Use the Contact Medicine before boss fog gates: It sets you on fire but gives a huge attack buff if you also use Yashariku’s Sugar (dangerous but melts bosses).

Speedrun trick – skip the Blazing Bull: You can run past him to Ashina Castle. Not recommended for first playthrough.

When to use these: After beating the game once. Not advisable for beginners.

---

Final Words

Sekiro rewards aggressive, precise play. Deflect often, use your full toolset, and don’t be afraid to die – each death teaches a pattern. Remember: hesitation is defeat.