You've probably heard it a thousand times: "Hesitation is defeat." It's the meme that launched a thousand broken controllers. But honestly, most people struggle with a Sekiro shadows die twice walkthrough because they try to play it like Elden Ring or Dark Souls. You can’t dodge-roll your way out of this one. If you try to play passively, the game will chew you up and spit you out before you even reach the first real boss.
Sekiro is a rhythm game disguised as a samurai epic. If you aren't clashing swords, you're losing.
The Early Game Trap: Ashina Outskirts to Gyoubu
Most players hit a wall at the Chained Ogre. You’re likely trying to dodge his grabs, getting caught, and then getting tossed off a cliff. Basically, the trick here is fire. You’ve gotta grab the Flame Vent from the Hirata Estate (accessible via the bell you get from the old woman in the Outskirts) before you even bother with the Ogre.
Once you get past the big guy, you’ll meet Gyoubu Oniwa. He’s on a horse. He’s loud. He’s intimidating. But he's actually a lesson in the Grappling Hook. When you see the green icon over his head, grapple. It stuns him for a second. Also, buy the Shinobi Firecracker from the Memorial Mob merchant on the high cliff before the battlefield. It scares the horse. Literally.
🔗 Read more: Why House M.D. - The Official Game Still Matters to Fans of the Show
Critical Skills to Unlock First
Don't just spend your skill points on whatever looks cool. You need a plan.
- Mikiri Counter: This isn't optional. It’s the only way to deal with thrust attacks without crying.
- Breath of Life: Light: This heals you when you perform a deathblow. In a game with limited healing, this is your lifeline.
- Ichimonji: It’s a slow overhead strike, but it recovers your posture while damaging the enemy’s. It’s arguably the best combat art in the game.
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Walkthrough: The Mid-Game Pivot
After Gyoubu, the world opens up. You’ll head toward Ashina Castle, and this is where the "git gud" moment happens. Genichiro Ashina is waiting at the top of the tower. He is the ultimate skill check. If you haven't learned to deflect—not just block, but deflect—he will destroy you.
The fight is a dance. Attack until he deflects you (you'll see a larger orange spark and hear a higher-pitched cling), then immediately prepare to deflect his counter-attack. It's a back-and-forth loop. If you give him space, he’ll just pepper you with arrows. Stay in his face.
Branching Paths: Where to Go After Genichiro
Once Genichiro is down, Kuro gives you a grocery list of items needed to sever immortality. You can tackle these in almost any order, but there’s a "smart" way to do it:
- Senpou Temple: Go here first. It’s beautiful, full of monks who want to kick your ribs in, and leads to the Folding Screen Monkeys. It’s the easiest of the three main paths.
- Sunken Valley: This is where the Guardian Ape lives. He’s a nightmare. Bring firecrackers for the first phase and the Loaded Spear for the second phase (to pull the centipede out of his neck when he's stunned).
- Ashina Depths: You’ll end up in Mibu Village. It’s creepy and the enemies never stop spawning. The boss here, the Corrupted Monk (Illusion), is weak to Snap Seeds and Ash.
Hidden Mechanics Nobody Talks About
Did you know that jumping is often better than dodging? For sweep attacks (the red kanji symbol where the enemy swings low), you have to jump. If you jump and then press the jump button again while in the air over the enemy’s head, you’ll do massive posture damage.
Also, Dragonrot isn't as scary as the game makes it sound. It won't kill your NPCs. It just pauses their quests and lowers your "Unseen Aid" (the chance you don't lose money/XP on death). Don't waste your Dragon Blood Droplets until you've cleared a major boss and want to talk to NPCs again.
The Ending Choice: Don't Ruin Your Save
Late in the game, you’ll return to Ashina Castle and find your father, Owl, on the roof. He’ll give you a choice. This is the biggest "point of no return" in the game.
- Obey the Iron Code: This leads to the Shura ending. The game ends very shortly after. You miss out on the final 25% of the game, including the best areas. Only do this on a second playthrough.
- Stay Loyal to Kuro: This is what you want. It unlocks the Fountainhead Palace and the "true" endings.
Ending Your Run Properly
The final boss, Isshin the Sword Saint, is widely considered one of the hardest bosses in gaming history. There is no cheese. There is no shortcut. You just have to learn the fight. He has four phases (if you count Genichiro at the start).
The best advice? Don't run away. His spear has insane reach. If you stay close, you can predict his moves. When he starts using lightning in the final phase, jump and get hit by it mid-air, then mash R1/RB before you hit the ground. It’s called Lightning Reversal, and it’s the most satisfying way to end the game.
Your Next Steps
If you're stuck right now, stop bashing your head against the wall.
- Go back to Hanbei the Undying at the Dilapidated Temple and practice the Mikiri Counter until you can do it with your eyes closed.
- Hunt for Prayer Beads. If you're getting one-shot, your health is too low. Many mini-bosses are optional but carry the beads you need to survive.
- Upgrade your Prosthetic. The Loaded Umbrella is a godsend for bosses with massive AOE attacks.
Start by heading to the Hirata Estate if you haven't already. The tools you find there make the rest of the Ashina Outskirts ten times easier.