In this Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Beginner’s Guide, we will guide you on how you can start your unforgiving journey in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice may be from FromSoftware but it is technically not a souls game but it is still challenging if you are not aware of how to play it. You will need to keep a few tips and tricks in your mind if you want to complete the title.
We have curated this Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Beginner’s Guide in which will guide you on some of the basic mechanics of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice so that you can easily jump in the action and survive the onslaught of bosses and enemies. We will also share some tips and tricks with you which will surely come in handy as you begin your journey as a Shinobi to bring back your master.
Beginner’s Guide – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Beginner’s Guide details everything that you need to know while starting the game for the first time as well as after making some progress in it.
Train Like a Proper Shinobi
With a game like Sekiro, practice is never enough however the game offers a very easy and safe option to practice all the moves and attacks that you want to. Head to the Dilapidated Temple and speak with Hanbei the Undying who will help you train as much as you like. Hanbei cannot die and hence you can beat the living crap out of him.
This is your perfect training opportunity and the game does not limit this in any way. You can practice for as long as you want to by treating Hanbei as a training dummy. Return to him every time you unlock new skills and tools to practice with them and get better at using them. Every skill and tool will unlock fresh tutorials for you to try out at Hanbei.
Install New Upgrades to the Shinobi Prosthetic
In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you will be using your Prosthetic to do a variety of things such as moving around, blocking enemy attacks and killing enemies with different built-in weapons. In the beginning, it will only allow you to zip around levels using the grappling hook. As you progress in the game, you will find more upgrades for your Prosthetic however they will not work right away.
Every time you pick up something new, you must head back to the Dilapidated Temple to allow the Sculptor to install the upgrade to your Prosthetic. You can have three Prosthetic attachments at the same time which can be switched easily with a tap of a button. If you want to equip the fourth option, you will need to replace the one in your inventory as the maximum number of allowed tools in a loadout is three.
For more information on the Prosthetic, check out our detailed guides on all Prosthetic Tools and where to find them.
Be Stealthy Where Possible
Stealth is a vital part of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. There will be some instances where stealth will not be an option but if the game allows you to be stealthy, you must be stealthy as it will make the game considerably easy for you. Most of the levels in Sekiro are open and wide which means that they are filled with enemies as well. If you keep running around, you will attract the attention of all the enemies around you and you will end up getting surrounded by enemies at the end.
To avoid such situations, you must try to use stealth wherever it is possible. The game will provide will all the tools that you will ever need to sneak around so you must use them whenever possible. You can move around in stealth in a crouched position and then use your grappling hook to reach higher places and stay out of enemy’s sight. Getting to a high location will also help you look around and identify enemy paths and locations giving you time to come up with a strategy.
Gaining height will also help you kill certain enemies instantly with vertical takedowns. Even if you manage to sneak around an enemy, you can still take them down instantly with a stealth kill. Make sure that there are no enemies in close vicinity before you make your move otherwise you will attract their attention and end up getting noticed anyway. Staying in Stealth will also allow you to eavesdrop on enemies and unlock hints and more.
Death and Resurrection
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice treats death very differently. When your health reaches zero, you will get a chance to continue the action by using Resurrect. If you still die in the game, you will lose half of your XP bar and also half of your Sen which is gold. In addition, if you die, you will also risk other NPCs of the game by spreading Dragonrot to them. The more you die in the game, the more you infect the NPCs in the game hence you should try to stay alive all the time.
When your health reaches zero, you will be given an option to Resurrect. If you don’t respond at this time, you will not come back to the same spot but rather you will respawn back at the last Sculptor’s Idol that you used. You have only two Resurrect chances and using one will quickly bring you back to life with half of your health. Rest at a Sculptor’s Idol to restore your health or kill some enemies to do the same.
However, Unseen Aid will prevent you from losing your XP and Sen when you die and respawn at the Sculptor’s Idol. By default, there is a 30% chance of getting it whether you use Resurrect or not. Try to be stealthy and careful in combat to avoid dying again and again in the game because it has its consequences for you and the world around you.
Posture is Important
Maintaining your posture is important in combat in Sekiro. Both you and your enemies come with Posture meters in the game. If this meter fills up, you can kill the enemy with one hit kill using Shinobi Death Blow. Different enemies have different rates at which their posture meter fills up but deflecting their attack and reducing their health bars with attacks help in speeding it up.
If you attack your enemies and they block your attack, you will end up taking posture damage so watch out as this mechanic works in both ways. Be patient with your attacks and always try to get the upper hand by breaking the posture of your enemies. Remember that a harder enemy will take much longer as compared to easier enemies.
Do Not Be Afraid to Get Wet
In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you can swim so do not be afraid to jump in the water if you want to move around in stealth. Sometimes you will have no other option but to swim around to advance in the game so never be afraid to jump in the water. Sometimes you will also end up finding some hidden items, secret paths, and extra items if you swim and reach out of the path areas.
Explore Each Level
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is not a linear game and will give you big and open areas to explore. You can explore each level at your own will and try to find all the secrets hidden in it. Use your grappling hook to reach difficult areas and find some hidden and useful items. Sometimes you will also find some NPCs in such secret area to speak with and encounter enemies which are otherwise not part of the main story. Always explore the levels in Sekiro.
Skill Points and Upgrades
Leveling up works a little differently in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Every time you earn XP, it will count towards your Sill Point meter which will eventually fill up and give you a Skill Point. These Skill Points are used to purchase different skills from different skill trees in the game. You can purchase a lot of new moves, abilities and different passive upgrades which are extremely helpful in different situations.
If you manage to find some Prayer Beads, you can also upgrade your vitality and posture meter. They are found in different locations and are mostly found by killing mini-bosses. Find some Gourd Seeds and you can also upgrade your Healing Gourd which is your main healing item for the game. Find memories and they will increase your attack power.
Use Items
You will find plenty of useful items in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice which will help you in different situations. You must always use different items in the game because there is no use stocking them up and later dying in combat. You will find health items and many other useful pickups throughout a level. Keep an eye out for them and use them when the need arises to gain an advantage over your enemies.
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This concludes our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Beginner’s Guide. If you want to add anything to this guide, feel free to use the comments section below.
