Summary
WhenSekiro: Shadows Die Twicereleased back in 2019, its harsh difficulty didn’t come as a surprise to most FromSoftware fans. What was something of a surprise was its combat system, which was wildly different from the studio’s other releases in a number of ways. This new combat system can makeSekiro: Shadows Die Twicechallenging for both FromSoftware veterans and newcomers, but mastering some of the less obvious basics of the game can make it considerably easier.
Sekiro,likeBloodbornebefore it, is an evolution of typicalDark Soulscombat in the sense that it is still about positioning and careful, deliberate movements. Still, it operates at a much faster tempo, encouraging aggression more than its high fantasy predecessors. Series staples like the stamina bar have been removed entirely, which gives the game a sense of intense speed and non-stop movement, and the fundamentals of mechanics like posture further reward aggressive play. There are advanced techniques and abilities inSekiro, especially when factoring in items, Shinobi Arts, and the Shinobi Prosthetic Tools, but there are just as many simple rules that can help carry a player to victory.
Sekiro’s Unwritten Rules
Every Enemy Attack Is an Opportunity
Like in all Soulsborne games, fights inSekirofollow a certain rhythm. Given the pace ofSekiro’s combat and its focus on deflections, aggressive play will almost always be more effective than conservative strategies. Keeping that in mind, it’s important to understand that there are no unavoidable enemy attacks in the game, as the majority of blows can be successfully deflected with the proper timing. While some attacks cannot be deflected (denoted by a red kanji symbol), these moves can still be avoided and exploited, opening an opportunity to deal significant posture or health damage. Essentially, every attack from an enemy can be used against them in some way.
How to Counter
Thrust attack
Mikiri Counter: dodge into the thrust to deal massive posture damage.
Sweep attack
Jump above the enemy and press the jump button again to kick their head, dealing massive posture damage.
Grab attack
Dodge to the right or left, then use the opening to land a few attacks.
Prosthetic Tools Can Turn the Tide of Battle
Players will quickly learn that there is more toSekiro’s Shinobi Prosthetic than its traversalcapabilities; it is a potent tool with a wide range of gameplay applications in the form of Prosthetic Tools, which can be swapped out at will and provide incredible combat opportunities. There are several unique Tools, all of which can be upgraded and expanded in several ways, but all of them have the power to make even the most challenging fights considerably easier.
Knowing how to use these special moves effectively is key, however. For instance, the Loaded Shuriken seems rather underwhelming when used against an enemy on the ground, but throwing one at an enemy in midair will make them fall to the ground, which can be incredibly helpful in fights against agile opponents. All the Prosthetic Tools have similar tricks and exploits to discover, and learning them can be the difference between life and death duringSekiro’s toughest boss encounters.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis built around one of the deepest and most satisfying combat systems of any FromSoftware game, but it can be tricky to get a hang of. Even those familiar with games likeDark SoulsandElden Ringcan struggle with it, as it’s so fundamentally different in certain ways from those games. But most fans of the game would agree that it’s more than worth it to learn the ABCs of the gameplay, asSekirois one of the best games FromSoftwarehas ever released.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
WHERE TO PLAY
Carve your own clever path to vengeance in the critically acclaimed adventure from developer FromSoftware, creators of the Dark Souls series.In Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice you are the ‘one-armed wolf’, a disgraced and disfigured warrior rescued from the brink of death. Bound to protect a young lord who is the descendant of an ancient bloodline, you become the target of many vicious enemies, including the dangerous Ashina clan. When the young lord is captured, nothing will stop you on a perilous quest to regain your honor, not even death itself.Explore late 1500s Sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world. Unleash an arsenal of deadly prosthetic tools and powerful ninja abilities while you blend stealth, vertical traversal, and visceral head to head combat in a bloody confrontation. Take Revenge. Restore Your Honor. Kill Ingeniously.
