Board 8 > Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Playthrough Topic *SPOILERS*

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'd honestly say Bloodborne was already punishing you for not being aggressive
---

Yeah staying in her face seems to be the best strategy, minimizes all of her ranged shit. Havent read the spoiler tagged stuff, will definitely do so if Im having troubles. Thank you for tagging it.

Also, regarding spoilers, if theres something super missable item-wise or lore-wise, definitely let me know. Like where it is, essentially. Any doubts, just ask. Thank you for all the comments so far :)

---

Got her!!

Second try tonight (third overall). I was getting greedy when I died. Keep having dark souls in my head, but no, I cant stagger her out of the low sweep shes about to do, so no, dont go in for the atta............ ahh crap Im dead.

Second try went much better. Was patient, jumped over the sweeps, avoided all grabs but one, and even managed a jump kick on one of the sweeps. Aaaaaand down she goes.

Got the memory, and then the Hirata Estate thing ends with me getting stabbed through the chest. Owl maybe? No idea.

Time to go back towards Ashina Castle back to wherever I thought the beast thing was going to be. Found it, stabbed a dude, and a giant fucking bull bursts out of its pen, murdering the guys over there. Died the first time because I was running around with no idea what to do. Did learn I can deflect him, and he had no perilous attacks. Killed him the second time, as I mixed in some circling with deflecting, and used the firecracker.

There seems to be a lot of places to go now. Ended up back in Ashina Resevoir, went back to where Kuro was held at the beginning of the game, and found a Seven Ashina Spears dude. Man, that guy caved my skull in right away. I mikiri countered his thrust, and he hit me after anyway. Also, even with guarding and deflecting, his hits did an insane amount of posture damage. Went back and nope, he killed me again. Able to get the stealth first kill at least.

Is this dude supposed to be fought now? Or should I go farther into the castle? Oh btw, killing the bull got me a second full prayer necklace, so that was cool!

---

I think there's only like a handful of enemies you're not supposed to fight early but you'll know when you fight them most likely. But yeah just go to a different area if you're having trouble somewhere

---

Technically you can fight any enemy you come across at any point in the game, but that seven spear guy is one of the hardest mini-bosses around so I advise tackling him later when you're stronger

There's a ton of places for you to go now so just focus on exploring everywhere you can find

---

He's tricky in that he doesnt become vulnerable after a Mikiri counter. But he uses thrusts so often that you should still do it to build up his stagger bar

Also the early sneak attack you can get on him does make it possible to defeat him early on
---

Interesting. Will likely try him once or twice more and, if I cant beat him, Ill go a different direction. Playing this again shortly!

---

mccheyne posted...

Also, regarding spoilers, if theres something super missable item-wise or lore-wise, definitely let me know. Like where it is, essentially. Any doubts, just ask. Thank you for all the comments so far :)

Look up a no spoiler guide for how to get the true ending. You're quite a ways away from where you need to start doing super obscure stuff but like 1/4th of the game is after the first big decision (which is obvious) and the last bit requires even more than usual From Software nonsense.

Anyway I'm surprised how much of this game i still have muscle memory of. I'm cruising right now and I haven't touched it since release

---

Ill keep that in mind after I get to this decision!

Decided NOT to try the ashina spear guy yet. I want to get up to 3 skill points and get the increased posture damage with mikiri counters, then Ill try.

Went the other side way, killed two dudes, one gave me a key. Ahh for the temple thing near the spear dude. Went to get it, turns out its another prosthetic. Damn you get a lot of these. Going by the eavesdropping, youre supposed to use it for a big angry dude in armour. Are they referring to the ashina spears guy?

I keep going, and see a giant dude with a bell, and a few dogs. I stealth kill the dogs with shurikens from above, then stealth kill the big dude. Guess I didnt need the spear.

Kept going, found the abandoned dungeon. Didnt mean to keep exploring here, but I totally did. Fuck these stupid locusts everywhere, and the zombie dudes that eat your face. Eventually swim through a river, kill some fish that arent treasure carp and dont like me much, kill some dudes, activate a lift, and end up in Senpou Temple, Mt Kongo. Also get warned by some spirit woman to basically get out or Ill die. Hmm, yep, have strayed too far. Back down into that dungeon, as there was another way I didnt go!

---

You shouldn't listen to the spirit lady

The spear can rip off that shoddy armor the big guy with the bell was wearing, but as you see there's no need. It's pretty much pointless aside from a single moment much later on.

Also I don't necessarily think you should worry about any guides on your first playthrough. There are a few endings, and the one you will get without following a guide is fine enough. You won't miss any gameplay.

edit: actually I take that back, you could potentially miss a cool optional boss

---

I'm sure you guys will hint at things regarding said cool optional boss so I don't miss it!

So I went the other way in the Abandoned Dungeon, and found some weird purple dude with floating purple orbs everywhere. I got too close and he starting sending them my way. Is this one of those headless dudes? I didn't get a good look because I tried to get outta there as fast as I could. Unsure if I should fight him yet, but left him for another time.

Went back to Ashina Castle, and actually started to go through it. Killed the General at the top of the stairs after a few tries. My timing wasn't great earlier, and I kept mistaking his sweep for a thrust. Timing the mikiri counter for that quick thrust after his two hit combo was tough too, but eventually got him down!

Some insane ninja fucks ambush me from the rooftops, so I flitted about the roofs trying to take them out. Found some dude who was kinda hiding, took out soldiers around him and he said he'd sell me stuff later. Does he appear at the temple, ala Dark Souls and the Firelink Shrine/Majula? My guess is yes.

So I'm walking along a rooftop, hear someone yell "Woooooooo!" and then I get run the fuck over from the sky. Ahhh so that's what those kites are for. Man that was scary. Saw the second one later on, and was able to deflect that. Found the idol in the amphitheater (and a gourd seed, fuck yeah, got 5 healing gourds now), and stopped for now.

I love the mix of stealth and action, it blends quite nicely and has been quite fun to navigate so far!

---

Did a bunch more exploring from here. Those dudes in the blue robes are no joke, thats for sure. Fighting them 2 on 1 is near impossible.

I found the old grave idol, and dragon blood droplet, and looted all over that area. Those cannon guys suck, damn theyre annoying.

Another pathway led to an area with a few monkeys. I kept following it a bit and found the sunken valley. Talked to a dude that mentioned a gun Fort ahead. Yeah, were not gonna mess around there yet, but got the idol close to it I think!

Also found a friendly big hat dude, who I was able to buy a prosthetic from (umbrella). Also found the poison sword prosthetic somewhere.

And finally, we reach the Ashina Dojo, and the Ashina Elite, with two health bars, inside. That dude probably killed me 7-8 times. He hits fast as hell, and even when I block or deflect, it does vitality damage (not to mention a bunch of posture damage). So I tried mixing that in with some quick dodging and slashing, right when I saw him about to unsheath his murder katana. Took a couple tries, but finally got him. That dude was no joke. Saved and am done for the night.

I have no idea if theres a secret or something for that fight, but he caved my face in quickly and brutally. Even when I won, I was in full adrenaline mode. I think tomorrow, Im gonna try that seven spears guy again. I got the shinobi eyes ability, or whichever one raises posture damage again by mikiri counter.

---

The trick really is purely to master the art of deflection.
Its where you start to understand that missing the timing by a second is just gonna get your posture damaged
But if you manage to get the timing right (a quick double tap whenever he makes his double quickslash always worked for me), that guy's posture goes down in a heartbeat

also WOOOOOOOOOOOOO guys are the best
---

That dude has some of the if not the strictest timing in the game

Right when you see the flash from his sheath you need to double tap L1 as quickly as your finger can manage. It's tough but nice that he does it so frequently and he's right next to an idol so he's good to practice on. Once you do get the timing of his double slash he crumbles in just a few seconds.

And against seven spears guy mikiri counter is still your best option but don't attack after pulling it off so you can deflect his counter swipe, which will throw him off balance

---

I guess my deflect timing was just a bit off. I was likely a couple tenths of a second late. Oh well, thankfully managed to take him out anyway. Eating dinner, then will likely play for a bit!

---

Andddddd my save file for ps4 corrupted when I had basically caught up to exactly where you were. I should have known - I was getting weird crashes and framerate drops I never had before when I played at release.

Oh well, this is a game I should have always had on PC anyway. I have no issue giving From more of my money

Starting over!

---

Good luck man! Corrupted save files always scare me, Ive lost some in the past due to that.

So went back to Ashina Resevoir to take on the seven Ashina spears dude. Went better, killed him first try, though he killed me once and I had to use 3 of my 6 gourds. Just focused on countering all his thrusts, and deflecting. Got him off balance a couple times with good deflects, which let me get a couple slashes in.

As Im going back to the idol, I guess I went a different way and found a well, and a dude standing there. I sent him towards the abandoned dungeon, I assume to the guy I talked to there before? Then moving farther above ground, I see a dude with two health bars below. I deathblow him from above, then deflect and counter my way to victory over the Lone Shadow Longswordsman without taking any damage. Yeah, I dont know how either, I was astounded at the end of the battle. Reminded me of that asshole ninja from Hirata though.

Went further and found a secret way into the Abandoned Dungeon, and the dude with all the purple orbs. Emboldened by my successes, I tried to take him on. Tried to deathblow him from above, but I guess I wasnt quite close enough? Got a few slashes in, but spent most of the battle running away from the terror orbs. Then got terrored to death anyway.

Alright, back up the castle from the dojo. Apparently its like, 10 seconds to the top from here, and theres a cutscene with Genichiro and........Emma? And then him asking for immortality from Kuro, who declines. Oh fuck, I have to fight him?! The dude who cut my arm off??

I have to say, I fucked up his perilous attacks mightily. Grabbed twice, mistook his sweeps for thrusts two or three times, and didnt recognize the thrusts quick enough a few times. Got him down to halfway on his second health bar on my first try though, so I thought it was a good test run! Dont have anymore time tonight, so Ill go back at him tomorrow!

---

mccheyne posted...

Good luck man! Corrupted save files always scare me, Ive lost some in the past due to that.

Thanks! Game is already running much better and looks better on my PC. Biggest worry is that since I did so much of it already I have a tendency to not explore every nook and cranny like I do on my first playthroughs, so I'm hoping I don't speedrun it too much to catch up and miss some random gourd seed or something.

Anyway, good job on Genichiro. He was the first real wall in Sekiro when it came out - you can get through most of the game playing it like Dark Souls, but he punishes you so hard if you haven't figured out the "get in their face and deflect" gameplay element yet.

---

mccheyne posted...

Reminded me of that asshole ninja from Hirata though.

Well it is the same ninja lol

Which is why you already had his moveset downloaded into your memory

---

Some purple ninjas become minibosses yeah
---

I honestly enjoy the combat a lot, moreso than dark souls so far. Makes you have to think about whether youre dodging or deflecting, also countering, also perilous attacks, etc. Very intuitive.

CassandraCain posted...

Well it is the same ninja lol

Which is why you already had his moveset downloaded into your memory

Ohhhh this makes sense. Also, I think I have the skill where I get health back upon a deathblow, so I may have taken a hit or two.

---

I still don't know how to beat Snake Eyes without cheesing him in the poison. The one thing in the game I haven't beat legit. I tried twice already and I can't do anything to him. Don't know why.

You can probably check these spoilers in a boss or two.

---

but anyway I hate spoilers being posted for stuff you haven't seen yet so that's the last time I'll do it in this topic. It was just me posting about my frustration with struggling with some complete random thing.

---

PS: Snake Eyes is a her

Its possible to sneak up on her.
The other one is a tough cookie too, since you cant sneak up on that one.
I just use the terrain to my advantage there and deflect the grab (its the only grab you can deflect, I think!)
---

Its better to avoid her perilous attack completely, it takes a year for it to connect and has a very short range which makes it pretty easy to just leisurely stroll away from

What I do is slash two or three times then wait for her to follow-up, she usually does a long wind up before swiping. Deflect that then slash a few more times and keep on with that pattern, makes her a lot more manageable

She's one that will teach you very quickly why mashing R1 is never a good idea

---

GOT HIM!!

Took until try #12 or 13 I think, but Genichiro Ashina/Way of Tomoe is down. I kept fucking up the timing for the mikiri counters on his thrusts in the first two phases, maybe I was stunned so I couldnt do it? No idea. I ended up step dodging when he jumped in the air before slamming down (which normally baits the thrust) and just hitting him. Maybe if I deflect it, I can mikiri counter, but if I only block, I get hit regardless?

Anyway, try #4 I killed his second health bar, and was pumped.............for about 20ish seconds. Then this lightning bastard leaps at me. I mikiri countered his initial diving thrust purely on instinct, but his lightning killed me soon after, and I got pissed because I knew Id have to take off the two health bars again.

On my winning try, I mainly baited his long range thrust, and his lightning move. Mikiri countered the thrusts, and learned how to time the jump and shoot lightning back at him to stun him for some hits. Does crazy damage, so I can stack the posture damage too.

As angry as I was at the thrust crap in the first two phases, that was definitely my favourite fight so far! Great tone to it, one on one in a fairly big area (though got killed because of camera cornering twice), in a relatively honourable duel.

He STILL revives after and Im wondering how many times I have to fight this fuck, but he jumps off the ledge into lightning flashes. And Im off to see Kuro.

---

Woo! Yeah I didn't want to say anything earlier obviously because I knew third form was coming, but honestly 12-13 tries is really good! I think my first playthrough he whooped me a lot more than that. Also one of my favorite fights - it does feel like a true duel between a samurai and a ninja.

---

Genichiro seems to use the thrust a lot more in the 1st phase, and then mixes it up a lot later on.
I just found it easier to interrupt his sweeps than jump over them. Jumping over him in general confuses him though.

Nothing is as sweet as drinking a gourd right at the start of the 3rd phase and then Mikiri-ing his opening attack within seconds.

Good that you remembered the lightning deflection
---

Definitely was a proper duel, and yes, I definitely enjoyed his first move in the third phase being predictable so I could heal if needed.

Talked to Kuro, he told me to go find Isshin. So I talked to him, and he told me to find the mortal blade, which is in the temple I found earlier. I gave him his own sake too, which was amusing.

Back to Kuro, he wants me to find out the secret to the aroma of fountainhead or something. The waters flow to the sunken valley? Also, there was a key to the gun Fort laying beside his feet, so I have that. Gave him the Sakura droplet so now I have an extra resurrection thing? Also have to find a dude that stole a tree branch.

So basically either the temple or the sunken valley. Unsure which one to do next. Also, tried to pick help Kuro but game made me choose iron code. Then let me help Kuro anyway lol

---

Its to emphasize that in many ways, you are not Wolf/Sekiro and he is strict in his own ways still.

I'd suggest doing the temple first, but its all doable.
---

Went to the temple via idol. Killed a whole fuckton of monks. Some with stealth and a few in combat. Theyre a bit erratic but not too bad. Until I come to two ninja like dudes with double ended spears/twin blades. Fuck those guys, ended up stealth killing them eventually.

Saw a crazy woman (I think) asking for rice. More of those stupid little hat assassins, and I definitely hate those guys. Also found a temple place with more monks, and some weird humanoid creature who continually spits poison at me. I kill it, and it revives itself after a few seconds. I guess this is one of those infested people Isshin mentioned?

I also find two different pinwheels, a white one and a red and white one I believe.

Finally, I enter a big wooden bridge hallway and this giant armoured knight dude enters the other side. Something about his son. Uhh do I know this guy, or his son? Holy shit he hits hard as hell, and I die my first try because Im confused as hell how to damage him.

Second time Im much more cautious. A lot of deflects, build his posture, but a deathblow is a big push, not a kill. Then it clicks in my head. Hes destroying the sides with wild swings, Im supposed to use the deathblow to push him off the bridge.

Problem is, even knowing that, I deathblow him like, 6 times before Im able to line it up nicely. Thankfully his swinging patterns arent difficult, and he thrusts so mikiri counters help. Off the edge he goes, yelling Roberrrrrttttttt!! Do I know a Robert in this game? No idea.

I find an idol shortly after and stop for the night.

---

Thats the worst boss in the game because its a dumb gimmick and the whole Robert thing was clearly lore they ran out of time for. Unless something has been discovered since release its a storyline they dropped but kept the boss in just because

---

Aecioo posted...

Thats the worst boss in the game because its a dumb gimmick and the whole Robert thing was clearly lore they ran out of time for. Unless something has been discovered since release its a storyline they dropped but kept the boss in just because

Robert's Firecrackers

---

Xiahou Shake posted...

Robert's Firecrackers

Oh I know. Doesn't mean it's not a single line of throwaway lore tied to a bad boss

---

I thought he was cool because he was so out of place

---

Lore in fromsoft games can be way more obtuse than that
---

Hey I love Roberto's dad, he's a fun fight with a neat gimmick


---

Also I take back worst boss. Second worse behind the puzzle boss

---

Don't know what the puzzle boss is, but I enjoyed the Robert's dad fight relatively. Definitely different, and makes you get your deflecting up to snuff. Definitely not ahead of Genichiro, Lady Butterfly, etc., but definitely unique.

Gonna get back to this in a couple hours, after some errands.

---

From constantly tries bosses that are more puzzle than fight, like Bed of Chaos. This one is no bed of chaos but it still stands out for being super out of place

---

I appreciate it for being out of place, I wouldnt consider there to be a "worst" boss in the game. It certainly is the weakest of the bunch but I've always enjoyed them trying to mix things up as a break from the usual.

Except bed of chaos there is no excuse for that atrocity

---

I assume said puzzle boss is fairly close to where I am then?

Ugh, we don't speak of Bed of Chaos. Fuck that boss and everything to do with it. The amount of times I died because I got swept into breaches in the ground........ Not to mention when I was almost at the end, and basically spontaneously combusted. I didn't think to heal because I thought it was done. Man was I angry.

---

CassandraCain posted...

I appreciate it for being out of place, I wouldnt consider there to be a "worst" boss in the game. It certainly is the weakest of the bunch but I've always enjoyed them trying to mix things up as a break from the usual.

Except bed of chaos there is no excuse for that atrocity

The excuse is they ran out of money/time. Its my favorite game of all time but the last... fifth? is super underwhelming. Bed of Chaos is the worst thing they've done though and it stands out as such a huge blemish in an outstanding game

---

This topic is inspiring me to maybe go back and beat the final boss. I got stuck on him for a few hours and decided I'd had enough. I can't imagine jumping back in after 6 months and being okay though.

---

skullbone posted...

This topic is inspiring me to maybe go back and beat the final boss. I got stuck on him for a few hours and decided I'd had enough. I can't imagine jumping back in after 6 months and being okay though.

There's always those "memories" where you can fight previous bosses at the idol. Maybe practice on Lady Butterfly or Genichiro?

---

That's actually a new thing they just added right? Maybe I'll give that a shot

---

skullbone posted...

That's actually a new thing they just added right? Maybe I'll give that a shot

Ok I'm not crazy. I haven't played since release and I was confused by that option since I had no memory of it

---

It was added last week. The fights are fixed though so they are more difficult than their ng versions. So if you haven't played in several months it might be easier to just start a new game.

---

skullbone posted...

This topic is inspiring me to maybe go back and beat the final boss. I got stuck on him for a few hours and decided I'd had enough. I can't imagine jumping back in after 6 months and being okay though.

I wish I could say there is a trick to it, but I mostly did it by memorizing the patterns and liberal use of certain tools
---

htaeD posted...

I wish I could say there is a trick to it, but I mostly did it by memorizing the patterns and liberal use of certain tools

Yeah I'm not one to usually give up with games so I'm not sure why I lost interest. I watched a video yesterday and it seems pretty doable.

---