Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Guide#
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is FromSoftware’s Sengoku-period action-adventure, directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, co-directed by Kazuhiro Hamatani, and produced by Yuzo Kojima. Set in the Ashina domain during the final years of Japan’s warring states era, it casts you as Wolf, a shinobi fighting to rescue his young lord, Kuro, the Divine Heir. Where Dark Souls teaches you to circle and dodge, Sekiro demands you meet steel with steel: posture and deflection sit at the heart of combat, backed by grappling-hook mobility and stealth assassinations. It is a strictly single-player experience — no multiplayer modes and no official difficulty options.
Game Information#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | FromSoftware (director Hidetaka Miyazaki, co-director Kazuhiro Hamatani, producer Yuzo Kojima) |
| Publisher | Activision worldwide; FromSoftware self-published in Japan; Cube Game in Asia (including Simplified Chinese) |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Release Date | March 22, 2019 — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC launched simultaneously worldwide; the Google Stadia version arrived in October 2020 |
| Mode | Single-player only — no multiplayer, no official difficulty options |
| Endings | 4: Shura, Immortal Severance, Purification, and Dragon’s Homecoming |
| Boss Scale | 13 main bosses award Battle Memory (17 counting ending branches); roughly 30-37 minibosses drop prayer beads |
| Prosthetic Tools | 10 in total (the grappling hook is a base prosthetic function, not counted among the tools) |
| Pricing | $59.99 at launch in the US and 268 yuan in China; checked on October 7, 2026, the Steam sale offered $29.99 (-50%, through October 8, 2026) in the US and 134 yuan (-50%) in China |
| GOTY Edition | Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - Game of the Year Edition launched October 29, 2020 alongside the free update; 4,800 yen on PS4 in Japan, and includes a remade prologue strategy guide |
Reception: Scores, Awards, and Sales#
| Item | Data |
|---|---|
| Metacritic Average | PC 88 / PS4 90 / Xbox One 91 |
| Famitsu Score | 37/40 |
| The Game Awards 2019 | Game of the Year and Best Action/Adventure Game; five nominations in total |
| Other Awards | Excellence Award at the Japan Game Awards 2019; Gold Prize at the PlayStation Awards 2019 |
| Steam Positive Rate | 94.29% (roughly 356,000 reviews) |
| Launch Performance | 2 million copies sold in the first 10 days; over 108,000 units on Steam on day one — the third-highest day-one Steam figure for a Japanese game at the time — with a peak of about 125,000 concurrent players |
| Cumulative Sales | 3.8 million by August 2019; surpassed 5 million (announced July 30, 2020); passed 10 million (officially announced by FromSoftware on September 26, 2023) |
Core Mechanics#
| Mechanic | Description |
|---|---|
| Posture and Deflection | The core combat loop: precise deflections and sustained pressure build up the enemy’s posture damage; break their posture to open a deathblow window |
| Perilous Attacks | Unblockable moves in three types — thrusts (counter with the Mikiri Counter), sweeps (jump over them), and grabs (create distance) — each demanding its own answer |
| Resurrection | Two nodes to start: one restored by resting at a Sculptor’s Idol, the other charged by deathblows. After defeating Lady Butterfly, give the Sakura Droplet to Kuro to unlock a third node — three revives maximum |
| Grappling Hook | Built into the prosthetic arm itself and not counted among the ten tools: the foundation of vertical traversal, rooftop and cliff approaches, and stealth |
| Stealth Deathblows | Use the hook and terrain to get behind enemies for deathblows — the main way to thin a crowd before it surrounds you |
| Prosthetic Arm | The left arm equips 10 tools, most of which consume spirit emblems; you carry 15 by default, up to 20 with skills |
| Dragonrot | A real death (returning to a Sculptor’s Idol) can randomly infect NPCs with Dragonrot; infected NPCs do not die, but their side quests stall until cured with a Dragon’s Blood Droplet at an idol |
The Prosthetic Arm: Ten Tools#
| # | Tool |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shuriken |
| 2 | Flame Vent |
| 3 | Loaded Axe |
| 4 | Firecracker |
| 5 | Loaded Spear |
| 6 | Loaded Umbrella |
| 7 | Sabimaru |
| 8 | Mist Raven |
| 9 | Divine Abduction |
| 10 | Finger Whistle |
- Collecting all 10 tools earns the “All Prosthetic Tools” achievement — a must-check for completionists.
- Lapis Lazuli is the key material for final prosthetic upgrades, dropped by the optional hidden boss Demon of Hatred.
- Each tool’s acquisition location, upgrade route, and combat applications are detailed in the prosthetics sub-guide (see Full Guides below).
Collectibles Overview#
| Collectible | Total | Effect and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer Beads | 40 | Every 4 beads forge a necklace at a Sculptor’s Idol, raising max vitality and posture; a full set boosts vitality by 200%. Minibosses are the main source |
| Gourd Seeds | 9 | A full set raises the Healing Gourd to 10 uses; 2 must be purchased — 1,000 sen from the Battlefield Memorial Merchant and 2,000 sen from info broker Fujioka |
| Sakura Droplet | 1 | Dropped by Lady Butterfly; give it to Kuro to unlock the third resurrection node |
The Four Endings#
| Ending | Key Choice | Final Offering |
|---|---|---|
| Shura | Atop Ashina Castle, stand with Owl and obey the Iron Code, abandoning Kuro | None |
| Immortal Severance | At the same choice, defy the Iron Code and stay loyal to Kuro, then defeat Owl | Divine Dragon’s Tears |
| Purification | The “defy the Iron Code” route; complete Emma’s eavesdropping side quest and defeat Owl (Father) in the Hirata Estate memory | Divine Dragon’s Tears + Everblossom |
| Dragon’s Homecoming | The “defy the Iron Code” route; complete the Divine Child of Rejuvenation’s long questline at Senpou Temple to obtain the Frozen Tears | Divine Dragon’s Tears + Frozen Tears |
Note that the optional hidden boss Demon of Hatred, which appears on the outskirts of Ashina after the interior ministry invasion, has no direct bearing on any ending. The Shura route also locks out late-game areas such as the Fountainhead Palace, which affects some collectibles.
Bosses and Challenges#
- Thirteen main bosses award Battle Memory — seventeen when ending-branch encounters are counted — and the Gauntlet of Strength adds four “Inner” boss variants.
- Roughly 30-37 minibosses drop prayer beads, for about 41 boss-type encounters in total (an alternative count of 17 main bosses plus 37 minibosses takes in all content).
- The Inner bosses — Inner Genichiro, Inner Father, and their peers — appear only at the end of Gauntlet routes; there are 4 routes in total.
- Reflection of Strength lets you re-fight any defeated boss at a Sculptor’s Idol to drill the fight as often as you like.
- Boss-by-boss tactics for every main and optional encounter are covered in the bosses sub-guide (see Full Guides below).
Updates and Spin-offs#
- 1.03 / 1.04 early patches: released April 23 and April 26, 2019; version 1.04 fixed the Blazing Bull’s health and posture values.
- 1.05 free update (October 29, 2020): added Reflection of Strength, Gauntlet of Strength, and Remnant (30-second action recordings with messages), plus three outfits — Old Ninja of Ashina, Shura, and Tengu. The Game of the Year Edition launched the same day.
- 1.06 free update (November 20, 2020): fixed camera-lock issues for certain bosses in Reflection and Gauntlet, along with irregular behavior from Inner Genichiro.
- Anime spin-off: an animation project was announced at gamescom 2025, produced by Qzil.la; the theatrical anime film Sekiro: NO DEFEAT is scheduled for a Japan-only release on September 4, 2026.
Getting Started: Ten Tips#
| # | Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Make deflection your first reflex | Posture and deflection form the core loop; only a broken posture opens the deathblow window |
| 2 | Learn the three perilous attacks | Thrusts, sweeps, and grabs each need a specific response — one generic reaction fails repeatedly |
| 3 | Exploit the hook and stealth | Deathblows from rooftops and behind thin out crowds and cut the risk of being surrounded |
| 4 | Manage your resurrection nodes | You start with only 2 nodes (one restored by resting at an idol, the other charged by deathblows) and a hard cap of 3 |
| 5 | Limit real deaths | A real death can infect NPCs with Dragonrot and pause their quests — keep Dragon’s Blood Droplets in reserve |
| 6 | Clear minibosses early | They drop prayer beads, and all 40 raise vitality by 200% — real, tangible growth |
| 7 | Plan your gourd seeds | All 9 seeds give 10 Healing Gourd uses, and 2 of them must be bought from merchants |
| 8 | Stockpile spirit emblems | Prosthetic-tool attacks consume emblems; you carry 15 by default and up to 20 with skills |
| 9 | Decide your ending route early | The Iron Code choice atop the castle is a one-way branch — favor full collection over the Shura route |
| 10 | Practice with Reflection of Strength | There is no difficulty setting; re-fighting beaten bosses is how you drill your posture timing |
FAQ#
Is Sekiro multiplayer?#
No. Sekiro is a purely single-player game with no multiplayer modes and no official difficulty options.
How many endings are there?#
Four — Shura, Immortal Severance, Purification, and Dragon’s Homecoming. They branch at the Iron Code choice atop Ashina Castle and hinge on which items you ultimately give Kuro.
How many bosses does Sekiro have?#
Thirteen main bosses award Battle Memory, seventeen if you count ending-branch encounters, plus roughly 30-37 minibosses that drop prayer beads. The Gauntlet of Strength adds four Inner boss variants.
How do resurrections work?#
You begin with two resurrection nodes: one is restored by resting at a Sculptor’s Idol, the other charges through deathblows. After defeating Lady Butterfly, give the Sakura Droplet to Kuro to unlock a third node — three revives maximum.
What is Dragonrot, and how do I cure it?#
A real death can randomly infect NPCs with Dragonrot. Infected NPCs do not die, but their side quests stall until you cure everyone at a Sculptor’s Idol using a Dragon’s Blood Droplet.
How many prayer beads and gourd seeds are there?#
Forty prayer beads — every four forge a necklace that raises max vitality and posture — and nine gourd seeds, which bring the Healing Gourd to ten uses. Two seeds must be purchased: 1,000 sen from the Battlefield Memorial Merchant and 2,000 sen from info broker Fujioka.
Which platforms is Sekiro available on?#
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam), all released on March 22, 2019; a Google Stadia version followed in October 2020.
Can I lower the difficulty?#
There is no difficulty setting. Instead, the free 1.05 update added Reflection of Strength, letting you re-fight any defeated boss at a Sculptor’s Idol to practice as much as you need.
Related Games#
- Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree — the large DLC expansion for FromSoftware’s open-world RPG
- Elden Ring — the open-world soulslike masterpiece
- The First Berserker: Khazan — a hardcore Korean action RPG
- Lies of P — a dark fairy-tale soulslike action RPG
- Black Myth: Wukong — a Chinese-mythology action RPG
Related Rankings#
Best Soulslike Games, Ranked · Hardest Bosses of All Time, Ranked · Best RPGs of All Time, Ranked
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — beginner basics and controls, the combat and posture systems, all ten prosthetic tools and skill trees, boss-by-boss tactics, every prayer bead and gourd seed location, all four endings, the Reflection and Gauntlet challenges, and the full version history — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s Sekiro section.