You’ve been there. Staring at the screen, three prayer beads in your inventory, wondering where the hell the fourth one is. It’s frustrating. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice doesn't just hand you power; it hides it behind some of the most annoying, aggressive, and sometimes downright weird encounters in gaming history.
Mini bosses in this game aren't just "smaller bosses." They are the gatekeepers of your health bar. Honestly, if you aren't hunting down all mini bosses sekiro has to offer, you're basically choosing to play on "Hard Mode" without even knowing it. Most players hit a wall at Genichiro or the Guardian Ape simply because they skipped a few samurai generals or didn't realize there was a purple ninja hiding in a well.
Let's break down exactly who these guys are, where they're hiding, and why some of them disappear if you progress too fast.
The Early Game Gatekeepers
When you first step out into the Ashina Outskirts, the game is trying to teach you a lesson. Usually, that lesson involves being drop-kicked by a giant in a loincloth.
Leader Shigenori Yamauchi is technically your first. He’s in the tutorial. Most people forget him because he’s basically a glorified grunt, but he sets the tone. Then comes General Naomori Kawarada. He’s the guy standing in the courtyard right after the first idol. Pro tip: sneak around the left side and get a stealth deathblow. It makes the fight 50% shorter.
Then there's the Chained Ogre. Everyone hates the Ogre. He’s the first real "vibe check." If you don't have the Flame Vent from Hirata Estate, you’re going to have a bad time. He tracks your dodges like a heat-seeking missile.
Shortly after, you’ll run into General Tenzen Yamauchi. He’s surrounded by a small army. Seriously, kill the mobs first. If you try to duel him with four riflemen shooting at your back, you’re going to die. It’s not about honor; it’s about winning.
Why You Keep Missing Mini Bosses in Hirata Estate
Hirata Estate is a trip. It's a memory, but the items you get there—like the prayer beads—are very real.
Shinobi Hunter Enshin of Misen is the reason the Mikiri Counter exists. If you haven't unlocked that skill yet, go back to the Dilapidated Temple and grind. You need it. He’s got a spear, and he loves to poke. Step on that spear. It feels amazing.
Then there is Juzou the Drunkard. He’s huge, he spits poison, and he has a mob of bandits. There’s an NPC named Nogami Gensai standing by the water nearby. Talk to him. He’ll charge in and distract Juzou while you thin out the crowd.
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The Ones Most People Skip
- Lone Shadow Masanaga the Spear-bearer: He only shows up in the second version of the Hirata memory. If you aren't going for the Purification ending, you’ll never even see him.
- Tokujiro the Glutton: He’s basically a Juzou clone hiding in the Hidden Forest. He’s surrounded by monkeys. Yes, monkeys.
The Supernatural and the Stressful
As you get deeper into the game, things get weird. Headless and Shichimen Warriors are technically mini bosses, but they don't give you prayer beads. They give you Spiritfalls—reusable buffs that consume Spirit Emblems.
The Headless are terrifying. They slow down your movement and build up Terror. If that bar fills, you're dead. Instantly. You need Divine Confetti to even scratch them. There are five of them scattered throughout the world, including two hidden underwater in the late game.
O’Rin of the Water is another one that trips people up. She’s a ghost in Mibu Village. You don't even have to fight her if you just walk past, but why would you? She’s one of the most rhythmic, dance-like fights in the game. Just don't talk to her unless you're ready to parry for your life.
Tracking All Mini Bosses Sekiro: Mid to Late Game
Once Ashina Castle gets invaded, the map changes. This is where people get confused. Some bosses disappear, and new ones spawn in the exact same spots.
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Seven Ashina Spears - Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi stands at the Moon Lookout. He is arguably harder than some main bosses. His timing is delayed, his reach is insane, and he hits like a freight train. But he drops a bead, so you have to deal with him.
In the Sunken Valley, you’ll find the Snake Eyes sisters. Shirafuji is on a cliffside, and Shirahagi is in the Poison Pool. They use guns as clubs. It’s annoying. You can actually let the poison in the pool kill Shirahagi if you’re feeling lazy, but it takes forever.
The "Centipede" Problem
There are two Long-arm Centipede bosses: Sen-Un in Senpou Temple and Giraffe in the Gun Fort. These are basically rhythm games. Don't even try to attack. Just tap the deflect button in time with their claws. Clang-clang-clang-clang. You’ll break their posture in seconds.
The Final Assault: Don't Miss These
When the sky turns red and the Interior Ministry invades, you need to do a final lap of Ashina.
- Seven Ashina Spears - Shume Masaji Oniwa: He’s at the reservoir, standing next to a fire-breathing buddy. Use Gachiin’s Sugar to sneak up and Puppet the friend. It makes the fight a 2v1 in your favor.
- Shigekichi of the Red Guard: He’s in the Outskirts where the first General was. He’s another drunkard variant, but with fire.
- Ashina Elite - Ujinari Mizuo: He’s hiding in a secret room below Isshin’s dojo. He has red eyes, which means he’s weak to fire but incredibly aggressive.
If you're looking for the Sakura Bull of the Palace, he’s behind the buildings in Fountainhead Palace. He’s basically the Blazing Bull but purple.
Actionable Strategy for Hunting Mini Bosses
If you want to maximize your health and posture, you can't just wing it.
- Always scout for a stealth blow. Almost every mini boss (except the Centipedes and some ghosts) allows for at least one stealth deathblow. This cuts the fight difficulty in half immediately.
- Watch the "Point of No Return." Killing the Divine Dragon changes the world state. If you haven't killed the mini bosses in Ashina Castle or the Outskirts by then, some of them—and their prayer beads—might be gone for that playthrough. Check the offering box at the temple if you think you missed one; sometimes they show up there.
- The Umbrella is your best friend. The Loaded Umbrella prosthetic trivializes many of these fights, especially the projectile-heavy ones like Snake Eyes or the Terror-inducing Shichimen Warriors.
Collecting all the beads is the difference between surviving a hit from the final boss and getting one-shotted. It’s tedious, sure. But finally seeing those ten prayer necklaces in your inventory? That’s the real victory.
Go back to the reservoir. Check the wells. Look under the floors. There is always one more ninja waiting in the shadows.
Next Step: Check your inventory for the number of Prayer Necklaces you have; if you have fewer than ten, cross-reference your completed areas with the locations of the Seven Ashina Spears and the Lone Shadow variants, as these are the most commonly missed encounters.