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FromSoftware's brutal samurai epic Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is tough to master, but we've got you covered with these 9 top combat tips.
If there's one thing FromSoftware games are renowned for, it's the tough as nails combat in their games. New release Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is no different. Mastering the grappling hook, deflection, and when to attack will take time, and the intricacies associated will take some time to adjust to – and even longer to perfect.
But where do you start? That's a tricky question, but hopefully all you'll need can be found in the following tips. It won't be long until Wolf will start to bare his fangs.
1. Practise every skill you have
Right after the initial area, you'll find yourself in an old abandoned temple that's inhabited by a few rough looking patrons. One of which, Hanbei the Undying, will be integral to learning all your new techniques.
Living up to his name, Hanbei can endure as much punishment as you dish out, and then some. Every time you unlock a new skill or ability, Hanbei will be waiting and offer up his pincushion like body as a testing ground. Make sure you utilise Hanbei as much as possible, as many of the skills you pick up along the way can prove quite tricky to pull off in the heat of the battle if they're brand new.
2. Scout the area
As tantalising as Sekiro's combat may be, only fools rush in. Before engaging, it's imperative that you check your surroundings. More often than not there'll be enemies lurking around every corner. Whether it's something as simple as hugging a wall and peering around the corner, or finding a perch for a much needed bird's eye view, make sure you know what you're running in to. You might even find an opportunity to eavesdrop some conversations, and get some vital information for upcoming battles that you might not have found otherwise.
3. Always lead with stealth kills
A stealth kill is effectively a free kill in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Almost every enemy poses a massive threat, and something as innocuous as a shortsword can do some big damage. So, to limit as much damage as possible, try and sneak up behind the biggest in the pack, hide in the long grass, or launch into a dive bombing attack to eliminate the biggest guy you can see at the start of an encounter. You might even be able to whittle off a whole load of henchman should you coordinate your stealth attacks properly.
4. Know when to run
It's as simple as the title suggests, you need to know when the odds are stacked against you. Running will allow enemies to simmer down and prevent a substantial amount of deaths, while keeping the ever present Dragon Rot that may be applied upon death at bay. Grappling spots are ideal for this, but that's not to say that turning tail and outright running for your life isn't just as effective – just make sure that you break the line of sight with enemies to make it that bit easier.
5. Perfection in deflection
The deflect mechanic is especially important throughout all of Sekiro. Deflecting, and the extras skills associated with it, will net you far more damage than blocking, as well as reducing incoming posture damage. A well timed deflect will also net you a sensationally rewarding counter attack. As the saying goes, the best offence is a good defence, and heeding this advice will make your time with Sekiro that bit more enjoyable.
6. Find the right tools for the job
One of the key factors in what makes Sekiro so special is his prosthetic arm. Within this arm Sekiro can store up to three different shinobi tools that can defuse any situation. From firecrackers to extendable spears, and going as far as a set of fans that can manipulate the wind, there's a tool for every occasion – in fact there's three. Some highlights would have to be the firecrackers that come in handy against any animals, and the flame vent that helps for enemies with glowing red eyes.
7. Positioned for posture
The posture gauge will define how you approach your enemies throughout the entire game. Both you and those who you attack need to be mindful of how close it is to full, as this will result in a devastating deathblow for your enemy or a guardbreak for Sekiro.
As your gauge nears full, you might want to hang back and let it drain, but when your opponent's is nearly full, it's the best time to push forward and get ready to deliver one final strike. Attacking may do some reasonable posture damage, but your best bet at racking up posture damage is through deflecting your opponent's attacks, and then countering. When you finally get the knack for it, you'll be dishing out lessons to enemies for bad posture.
8. Grind out skills
As you'll lose a chunk of experience and half of your currency, it's best to find an area you're comfortable with and slowly but surely build up a load of resources to invest in new equipment and skills. It might not be the most glamorous activity, but acclimatising in an area that's slightly below your ability, and netting a lot of resources in doing so, will serve you well in the future.
9. Use all the items you find
Nearly every trinket you pick up along your way in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is useful. There might be temptation to sell these items to the various vendors you stumble across, but while things like Divine Confetti and Snap Seeds might not have an apparent use, they will come in handy later.
Then you have all the various sugars you can use to increase various stats. These will provide vital boosts for the tougher bosses, and help you pull through some really trying fights, so you'd better learn to love that sweet tooth – just remember that you can't stack these sugar effects, or use two at the same time.
Although we don't have all the answers, we hope that these tips have gone some ways to helping you understand and make the most of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It won't be long until you're toppling bosses and mini-bosses alike, and laughing about that time you lost to two giant chickens because you forgot to deflect.
