Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - List of Bosses and Boss Guide
In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, players face a variety of challenging bosses, each demanding a unique strategy and a deep understanding of the game's mechanics. This guide covers all the main bosses, offering tips and strategies to defeat them. You can purchase your copy of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice on Steam, the PlayStation Store, or the Xbox Store using PaysafeCard.
1. Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa
Gyoubu Oniwa is the first major boss in Sekiro, mounted on a large horse and wielding a long spear. He charges at players, dealing heavy damage if not avoided.
How to defeat Gyoubu Oniwa:
- Use the grappling hook: When Gyoubu charges, you can grapple to him by looking for the green icon. This pulls you closer for quick strikes.
- Dodge and counter: His attacks are slow but wide-ranging, so dodge towards him or sideways, then counterattack after he finishes his combo.
- Break his posture: Focus on breaking his posture rather than lowering his health. Block or deflect his attacks to quickly fill his posture meter.
2. Lady Butterfly
Lady Butterfly is a fast, agile boss encountered early in the game. She uses illusionary magic and swift strikes to overwhelm players.
How to defeat Lady Butterfly:
- Deflect attacks: Lady Butterfly's strikes are fast, but they can be deflected. A well-timed deflection can prevent damage and quickly fill her posture meter.
- Deal with illusions: In the second phase, she summons illusions to distract you. Use the Snap Seeds found in the Hirata Estate to dispel them or simply dodge and focus on Lady Butterfly herself.
- Attack after her Combo: After she completes a series of attacks, she’s vulnerable for a moment. Use this window to land some hits.
3. Genichiro Ashina
Genichiro is one of the most difficult early-game bosses, with three phases, including a deadly lightning-infused phase.
How to Defeat Genichiro Ashina:
- Deflect, deflect, deflect: Genichiro’s attacks can all be deflected with precision. Perfect deflections are key to breaking his posture and ending the fight quickly.
- Lightning reversal: In his third phase, he uses lightning attacks. You can perform a Lightning Reversal by jumping just before the lightning hits, then pressing the attack button while in the air to send it back at him.
- Watch for perilous attacks: He uses several perilous attacks, which you must dodge or counter by jumping over his sweep attacks or using Mikiri Counter on his thrust attacks.
4. Guardian Ape
The Guardian Ape is a terrifying and unique boss, attacking ferociously with its bare hands and a deadly scream. It also has a second phase where it picks up a sword.
How to defeat Guardian Ape:
- Phase 1 - dodge and attack: The ape’s first phase relies on brute strength and erratic movements. Stay close, dodge its wide swings, and punish it with quick attacks.
- Avoid the Terror Scream: It occasionally uses a loud scream that inflicts Terror status, which can kill you instantly if the gauge fills. Run away or hide behind obstacles when it screams.
- Phase 2 - sword combat: In the second phase, the Guardian Ape wields a sword. Stay close and deflect its attacks, as it is slower and more predictable than in the first phase. Use firecrackers to stun it and deal some extra damage.
5. Folding Screen Monkeys
This boss fight is more of a puzzle than a typical battle. You must catch and kill four monkeys spread across a large arena.
How to Defeat Folding Screen Monkeys:
- Understand the puzzle: Each monkey has a unique behaviour, making them tricky to catch. The invisible monkey can be tracked by listening for footsteps, the monkey with sharp ears runs when you make noise, and the monkey with sharp eyes spots you from a distance.
- Use stealth: Creep around the environment and use stealth tactics to surprise the monkeys. Use the tools in the arena, like ringing bells or hiding in tall grass, to catch them off guard.
- Patience is key: Take your time in this fight and analyse the environment and patterns to successfully hunt down each monkey.
6. Guardian Ape (Headless and Mate)
Later in the game, you face a rematch with the Guardian Ape, but this time, it’s headless and joined by another ape.
How to Defeat Guardian Ape and Mate:
- Focus on the smaller ape first: In this two-on-one fight, it’s best to focus on killing the smaller mate first. The smaller ape is weaker but still deals significant damage if left unchecked.
- Separate the apes: Try to separate the apes to make the fight more manageable. Use the environment and your tools, such as the Firecrackers or Shinobi Fire, to stun or disable one while you focus on the other.
- Use the Mortal Blade: The Mortal Blade is critical in the second phase to permanently kill the headless Guardian Ape. Once you’ve defeated it, use the Mortal Blade to deliver the final blow.
7. Divine Dragon
The Divine Dragon fight is a cinematic experience more than a traditional boss battle. You must deal with the dragon’s minions first before engaging the dragon itself.
How to defeat Divine Dragon:
- Defeat the Old Dragons of the Tree: Start by killing the small dragon-like enemies. They don’t pose much threat but defeating them is necessary to progress to the next phase.
- Use the lightning to attack: In the second phase, the Divine Dragon sends waves of lightning attacks. Grapple onto the trees, wait for the lightning to strike, and perform a Lightning Reversal to deal damage to the Divine Dragon.
- Dodge the wind attacks: The dragon will also send powerful wind attacks your way. Stay mobile and avoid these attacks to survive the encounter.
8. Owl (Father and Great Shinobi Owl)
You face the Great Shinobi Owl twice in the game, with both battles requiring expert timing and strategy. Owl uses a combination of powerful attacks and healing-blocking techniques.
How to Defeat Great Shinobi Owl:
- Stay Aggressive: Owl is a defensive boss who punishes passive play. Stay aggressive to keep his posture gauge filled.
- Deflect His Firecrackers: Owl uses firecrackers and poison attacks that can break your posture. Try to deflect or dodge them and get close to deal damage.
- Avoid the Healing Block: He can throw a smoke bomb that prevents healing. Avoid healing while the symbol is active and wait for it to wear off before using your Healing Gourd.
How to Defeat Owl (Father):
- Watch for Perilous Attacks: Like his Great Shinobi version, Owl (Father) uses a mix of sweep and thrust attacks. Use the Mikiri Counter to handle thrust attacks and jump over sweeps.
- Punish After His Combo: He has several long attack chains that leave him open after finishing. Wait for his combo to end and land some hits before backing off.
- Firecrackers Are Useful: Use Firecrackers to stun Owl and create openings for damage.
9. Isshin, the Sword Saint
Isshin is the final and toughest boss in Sekiro. He has four phases, each with increasingly dangerous moves.
How to Defeat Isshin, the Sword Saint:
- Phase 1 (Genichiro): The fight begins with Genichiro, who is mostly the same as the previous encounter. Deflect his attacks and use the Lightning Reversal during his lightning attacks.
- Phase 2 and 3 (Isshin): Isshin has fast sword attacks that can be deflected, but he also has wide, powerful swings. Stay aggressive, deflect his attacks, and use the Mikiri Counter to deal with his thrusts.
- Phase 4 (Spear and Lightning): Isshin uses both a spear and lightning attacks in his final phase. Perform Lightning Reversal to turn his lightning against him, and be mindful of his spear’s long reach. Deflect his blows and look for openings to counter.
Sekiro boss guide and order: Unique challenges that make for interesting gameplay
Each boss in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice offers a unique challenge, but with patience and mastery of the game's mechanics, every fight can be overcome. Focus on deflection, posture breaking, and learning the enemy's moves, and you'll emerge victorious.
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