Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is not an easy game, we know. Oh boy, do we know. Thankfully, though, there’s a few tips and tricks that will make your time in Japan a little less bloody.
First check out Sekiro’s launch trailer
Don’t be afraid to run
It’s easy to let pride take over, we know, but being successful in Sekiro is knowing when to retreat. Whether you’re on the last slither of health, or choose to revive yourself after dying, it’s always a smarter option to run back to the nearest idol, replenish your health and try again with fresh eyes and more knowledge than before.
Visit the Dilapidated Temple often
The Dilapidated Temple might be one of the first areas you visit, but it is also one that you should certainly swing past multiple times throughout your journey – particularly to visit helpful NPCs. The Sculptor will provide your Prosthetic limb with essential upgrades while Emma can help cure Dragonrot and increase your health. Then there’s Hanbei the Undying, who perhaps most helpful of all, allows you to utilise him as a living punching bag to hone new skills, abilities and moves without draining valuable health.
Stealth is always best
Although it’s made by the team behind Dark Souls, if you treat Sekiro like that series, you will be crushed early on. Running headfirst into battle is rarely the best plan. Instead, use the environment to your advantage and quietly take out a few foes before making yourself known. Thinning the herd will be crucial to staying alive until your next checkpoint.
But try not to avoid mini bosses
Aside from a handful of boss encounters, most enemies can be avoided – including a range of mini-bosses that require multiple deathblows. A word of advice though: skipping them will actually be a disservice to your progress and stunt your learning of Sekiro’s combat mechanics. If you aren’t capable of handling a minor boss, there’s a large chance you’ll struggle by the time you reach one that has to be beaten to continue onwards.
Learn all about the deadly Lady Butterfly
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Purchase the Mikiri Counter
Levelling-up in Sekiro allows you to unlock new skills. One of the first ones you should aim to unlock is the Mikiri Counter, which grants you the ability to counter enemy thrusts. Its usefulness won’t be immediately apparent, but trust us, it won’t be long until you run into a foe with a truly terrifying spear that packs a hell of a punch.
Find the Young Lord’s Bell Charm
Tucked away in the Ashina Outskirts, right before you encounter a brutal ogre, you’ll find an old lady who gifts you a crucial item – the Young Lord’s Bell Charm. It mightn’t seem like much, but offering the charm to the Buddha Statue in the Dilapidated Temple will unlock a hidden memory of events that transpired at the Hirata Estate, three years prior. Miss it and you’ll blow past a huge area of the game that also contains valuable items that lead to upgrades for your Prosthetic.
