Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Sekiro

You play Wolf, a shinobi with a prosthetic arm and a katana. The opening teaches movement, stealth and basic combat in the Ashina Outskirts. Tenzen Yamauchi, a mini-boss with a nodachi, stands in the Outskirts courtyard just after the Chained Ogre; the fight is optional, and his thrust is a good place to practise the Mikiri Counter and his sweeping attack is one to jump over (Fextralife).

The Gourd Seed is a key early upgrade item: give seeds to Emma, usually found at the Dilapidated Temple, and each one adds a Healing Gourd charge up to ten. The Sculptor, also at the temple, fits and upgrades prosthetic tools once he has the Mechanical Barrel (obtained after defeating Gyoubu Oniwa), paying with Sen and upgrade materials. Boss Memories are different: offer them at a Sculptor's Idol to raise Attack Power.

Core Mechanics to Master

Deflecting means guarding as an attack lands. It deals only minor Posture damage compared with a Mikiri Counter, but it keeps you in the fight. Thrust attacks cannot be guarded, which is why the Mikiri Counter matters.

The Mikiri Counter is a skill in the Shinobi Arts tree that costs 2 Skill Points, spent by praying at a Sculptor's Idol. To perform it, face the enemy and step straight into the thrust with a neutral dodge, after the warning sound. Dodging as soon as the kanji appears will not trigger it, and standing too close can spoil the angle.

Prosthetic Tools and Resurrection

The Loaded Umbrella shields you from projectiles and light attacks, can be used to deflect with R2/RT, and can block grab attacks, but does not protect against low attacks such as sweeps. Resurrection lets you revive where you died: one charge returns when you rest at a Sculptor's Idol, and the second recharges as you defeat enemies and land Deathblows. If you die without resurrecting, you lose half your Sen and Skill experience, with a chance of Unseen Aid preventing that loss.

Essential Tips

1. Learn the warning kanji. A red symbol marks a dangerous attack; thrusts call for a Mikiri Counter and sweeps for a jump.
2. Pacifying Agent reduces Terror buildup for 30 seconds and is the usual preparation against Terror enemies such as the Headless.
3. Use the Loaded Umbrella against grabs and projectiles, but not against sweeps.
4. Save Memories for Idols. Attack Power rises only through boss Memories, so you cannot raise it beyond what the Memories you find allow.
5. Resurrect on purpose. A charge lets you retry on the spot and avoids the Sen and experience penalty of a full death.

Lady Butterfly (Hirata Estate)

Lady Butterfly is fought in the Hidden Temple inside the Hirata Estate, which needs the Hidden Temple Key. In phase 1 she throws kunai and jumps into the rafters; in phase 2 she adds projectiles, illusions and homing butterflies. A Snap Seed dispels the illusions, but it is not required: you can kill the phantoms (each dies in one hit) or run around the arena's edge. Fextralife recommends defeating Gyoubu Oniwa first, since his Memory raises your Attack Power and makes her Posture easier to break.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to play Dark Souls before Sekiro?
A: No. Sekiro has no character builds and no co-op, so it plays differently from the Souls games.

Q: How do I handle Genichiro's lightning?
A: The lightning appears in his second phase (Way of Tomoe). Watch for the warning, jump, and press attack just before you land to send the electricity back at him for heavy damage and a stun.

Q: How many endings are there?
A: Four: Shura, Immortal Severance, Purification and Return. Return has the longest optional questline according to Fextralife.

Q: Does Sekiro have multiplayer?
A: No. It is single-player only.