Skills

1. Mikiri Counter 

Skill Tree: Shinobi Arts

Skill Type: Shinobi Martial Arts   

(2 skill points required) 

The Mikiri Counter is a very powerful counter ability against thrust attacks. Thrust attacks cannot be blocked unless deflected or Mikiri Countered.  

A successful Mikiri counter deals insane posture damage against your foe and opens a window for a deadly follow-up attack. Although this is an essential skill that’s available early on, it takes time and practice to master the Mikiri Counter. 

Tips:  

• Trust the Warning Rune 

• Prepare Counter at the site of the red warning rune 

• Careful that the red rune could also signal for slash attacks that you need to jump over to dodge the attack. 

• Trust the Sound Cue 

• High-pitched sound occurs 
• Initiate Mikiri Counter towards your foe as soon as the cue ends 

• The timing of the cue is always precise and accurate so TRUST IT .

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2. Suppress Presence 

Skill Tree: Shinobi Arts  

Skill Type: Latent Skill 

(2 skill points required) 

Unlocked by resting at Sculptor’s Idol, the Suppress Presence skill is crucial as far as being a Shinobi goes. This latent skill means that you can move about around your enemies without them easily noticing you.  

Therefore, if unseen, you can instantly assassinate your enemies from behind or deplete health bars from bosses. A shinobi’s job is to be stealthy. So be sure you take this skill as soon as you can to gain that sneaky edge above your foes. 

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3. Breath of Life: Light 

Skill Type: Latent Skill 

Unlocked by skills points used at Sculptor’s Idol 

The Breath of Life skill allows for Wolf to gain vitality after a successful deathblow. This skill can be really useful for easier enemies rather than 1v1 boss encounters. Extremely useful in quick succession within fights between dogs or the legions of goons that stand in your way.  

Whether you’re in stealth, from above, or behind your enemies, a successful deathblow will guarantee you more health in the process.  

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4. Chasing Slice 

Skill Tree: Prosthetic Arts Skill Type: Shinobi Martial Arts 

(1 skill point required) 

The Chasing Slice Art can be unlocked at the Sculptor’s Idol. This skill is essential in many different ways as it allows for Wolf to release firecrackers, shurikens, spears, etc, to disrupt enemy attacks in order for you to close distance on enemies – especially ranged enemies. For opponents that leap around the map, you can release your shurikens to knock them down in order to deliver a quick slice. Furthermore, you can use your firecrackers to stun multiple enemies in order to dash at them all at once.  

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5. Ichimonji 

Skill Tree: Ashina Arts 

Skill Type: Combat Arts Skill 

(2 skill points required) 

Once again, you can unlock this skill at the Sculptor’s Idol. The Ichimonji Skill is used to deal heavy posture damage to your enemy while gaining posture of your own. This is also very useful to prevent enemy counterattacks as it adds a follow-up attack. 

You can upgrade this skill to Ichimonji: Double for 3 additional skill points in the Ashina Arts Skill Tree.  

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Items 

* All Item locations used through the knowledge of the Sekiro Wiki Site.

6. Gourd Seeds 

Gourd seeds are essential to collect throughout your Sekiro playthrough. These seeds allow you to upgrade your Gourd capacity in order to maximize your healing potential. They can be found in shops, on the ground, and in chests. In total, there are 9 gourd seeds in which you need to collect to give to Emma. Once collected and given to Emma, you will then have the max capacity of 10 uses for the Healing Gourd.  

Locations: 

• Ashina Outskirts – In the building right after the Chained Ogre 
• Ashina Outskirts – Bought from the Battlefield Memorial Mob Vendor for 1,000 Sen
• Ashina Castle – Just before the “Upper Tower – Antechamber”  
• Dilapidated Temple – One can be bought from Fujioka the Info Broker for 2,000 Sen upon arrival 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – In front of the first immortal monk you encounter in the Senpou Temple 
• Sunken Valley – From the “Under-shrine Valley” Idol, progress forward and after encountering the fourth rifleman on the path, climb up the wall on the left to find the gourd seed in a small hut.  
• Ashina Depths – In the center of Mibu Village, by the orange glowing tree guarded my enemies 
• Fountainhead Palace – In a chest in the last room of the palace by the “Palace Grounds”  

7. Coin Purses 

Coin Purses in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is essential when obtaining Sen, the game’s gold currency. This gold is used to purchase prosthetic tool upgrades, spirit emblems, and various other items. There are three purses you can find throughout the land: 

Light Coin Purse 

The Light Coin Purse is the smallest coin purse found containing 100 Sen. 

Locations:  

• Possible loot drop (uncommon) from Senpou Battle Monk 
• Purchase from Merchants for 110 Sen. 
• Scattered occasionally throughout the landscape. 
• Dilapidated Temple– In the behind area of the main temple. 
• In the broken house where Inosuke Nogami’s Mother is, on the first floor will have the item.  
• 3x can be purchased from Fujioka the Info Broker for 110 Sen 
• Dungeon Memorial Mob – 4 can be bought for 110 sen 
• Ashina Outskirts – In the area where you encounter the remnants of  Kuro and Genichiro, go upstairs and find the Light Coin Purse. 
• Shugendo Memorial Mob – 2 can be bought for 110 sen 
• Hirata Estate – Close to Pot Noble Harunaga, there would a ledge containing the item. 
• Hirata Estate – You will meet a dying NPC, who tells you to take the Shinobi Axe from the temple. You can double jump on the left wall here and gain access to an inner courtyard. One enemy awaits here, so defeat him with caution. There’s 1x Light Coin Purse inside one of the houses. 
• Hirata Estate – After defeating the rooster enemies in the courtyard.You should also climb to the roof of this structure, where you will find 1x Light Coin Purse in a bird’s nest. 
• Hirata Estate – In the Main hall area with a pond, from it and use it to lure over one of the guards in the building ahead. Kill him and pick up 1x Light Coin Purse, then dispatch nearby enemies as best you can. 
• Hirata Estate– After defeating Juzou the Drunkard the player would encounter a shinobi door. After going through it you will find the item. 
• Sunken Valley Passage – 1x can be looted at the bottom floor of the Valley Floor Poison. 
• Ashina Depths – After passing by the Old Monk, you’ll find 1x on a platform you can jump on. 
• Ashina Depths – Looted inside the temple of the Mist Noble. 
• Ashina Castle – After the area where there would be poisonous lizards, as you return to the castle you will encounter the item.  
• Ashina Castle – Go back to where the praying woman is, and jump and grapple to make it across the moat. If you fall, you’ll get 1x Spirit Emblem and can grapple back up from the other side. Once across, go left inside a building to pick up 1x Light Coin Purse. 
• Ashina Castle – Inside the castle, there would be an area where you would hug the wall and use a hidden passage. You’ll get 1x Light Coin Purse, 1x Heavy Coin Purse (behind a breakable screen) and a treasure chest with 1x Prayer Bead. 
• Ashina Castle – After meeting Blackhat Badger, when you go outside the room in the courtyard. The item would be there along with other items.  
• Mibu Village – 1 can be found past a pack of wolves near the first idol located. 
• Mibu Village – Dive in the middle of the large lake near the village entrance to find 2x. 
• Abandoned Dungeon – From the Underground Waterway idol and this time go toward the water. Pick up 1x Scrap Iron and swim across the water until you see a boat and some items. 
• Fountainhead Palace – 1 can be found inside the nest by the waterfall 
• Fountainhead Palace – From the balcony overlooking the lake, drop down to ground level and make your way past the pillars, 1 can be found next to the beasts that await. 
• Fountainhead Palace – Dive under the building where the woman is found on the rooftop and swim toward the moon and keep the wall on your right to go past a group of aggressive fish to find 1; while another can be found inside a sunken building, and 1 more can be acquired inside the cave of the Great Carp – but beware to head inside the cave once the Great Carp is dead. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – On top of the Ni-Oh gate 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – Along the temple path, in the right area would ledge that has the item. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – On top of the Maple tree in the part of the walkthrough Continue On. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – On the part of the walkthrough named the “Jump Through the Window” in the room where Rat enemies are. 

Heavy Coin Purse 

The Heavy Coin purse can be found in various locations and contains 500 Sen. 

Locations:  

• Purchase from Merchants for 550 Sen. 
• Scattered occasionally throughout the landscape.
• Dungeon Memorial Mob – 3 can be bought for 550 sen 
• Shugendo Memorial Mob – 3 can be bought for 550 sen 
• Ashina Outskirts – In Ashina Castle Gate Fortress, underneath the building defended by a Rifle Wielding Guard. 
• Ashina Reservoir revisited – In the area under the bridge leading to Abandoned Dungeon, guarded by two Poison Assassins. 
• Ashina Reservoir revisited – In the locked samurai gatehouse to the right of a chest containing Gyoubu’s Broken Horn. 
• Sunken Valley – Located inside the heavy gunner room past the Gun Fort Idol. 
• Sunken Valley Passage – 1x can be looted next to the Bodhisattva Idol. 
• Ashina Depths – 1x can be looted near a cliff edge of the Poison Pool. 
• Ashina Depths – 1x can be acquired inside the temple of the Mist Noble. 
• Ashina Castle – Hidden behind a wooden cart near the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance idol. 
• Ashina Castle –  Inside the castle, Right where you got Ako’s Sugar, hug the wall and use the hidden passage. You’ll get 1x Light Coin Purse, 1x Heavy Coin Purse (behind a breakable screen) and a treasure chest with 1x Prayer Bead. 
• Ashina Castle – 100% one-time-only drop from the spear-wielding monk near the Old Grave idol. 
• Fountainhead Palace – 1 can be found ahead of the area from the large courtyard. 
• Fountainhead Palace – From the balcony overlooking the lake, drop down to ground level and make your way past the pillars and around a branch you’ll find 1. 
• Fountainhead Palace – Before reaching the Feeding Grounds, follow the waterfall down to the lowest level (before the actual water) and go to the bridge to kill a masked enemy where you’ll find 1 next to the enemy. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – In the area to the right of the first Temple entrance. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – 100% one-time-only drop from the first Senpou Battle Monk in the area with the giant maple. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kong – In the walkthrough for the area “Optional: White Pinwheel”, there would be a ramp area that would require a drop.   
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – In the building on the way toward the Bell Demon’s Temple idol, guarded by a Centipede Man. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – In the walkthrough for the area “Down the Slope”, in the area overlooking broken bridge. 

Bulging Coin Purse 

The Bulging Coin Purse contains the highest amount of gold at 1000 Sen. 

Locations: 

• Purchase from Merchants for 1100 Sen. 
• Scattered occasionally throughout the landscape. 
• Shugendo Memorial Mob – 2 can be bought for 1100 sen 
• Fountainhead Palace – 1 can be found in the area where the Sakura Bull of the Palace is encountered. 
• Fountainhead Palace – from the great sakura branch, after killing the enemy, look down from this point and you’ll spot a branch with the item inside a nest. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – Defeat the monks and continue to find 3x Straw-Hat enemies in the part of the location described in the walkthrough named “Return to the Large Fire” 

8. Prosthetic Tools

In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, prosthetic tools are special equipment used in various ways to overcome your enemies. Here are a few extremely helpful tools to find and why they are important. 

Shinobi Firecracker  

• Explosive Flash 
• Extremely useful towards beasts and animals 
• Briefly stuns and blinds foes 
• Scares away beasts 

Location: 

Sold by the Battlefield Memorial Mob or Crow’s Bed Memorial Mob merchant for 500 Sen in Ashina Outskirts.  

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Loaded Shuriken 

• Damages Health 
• Damages Posture 
• Useful for enemies that take to the air 

Location: 

Ashina Outskirts – Inside a building with a hole in the wall near the “Outskirts Wall – Gate Path” Idol. 

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Flame Vent 

• Deals fire damage 

• Inflicts Burn Status 
• Those with ‘Red Eyes’ fear the flame 

Location: 

Inside the campfire that is surrounded by enemies, near the “Estate Path” Idol in Hirata Estate. 

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9. Spirit Emblems

Spirit Emblems are absolutely necessary if you want to even use your prosthetic tools such as the Shinobi Firecracker or the Loaded Shuriken. Each use of your prosthetic tools uses a certain amount of spirit emblems. [Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]For instance, a shuriken throw uses one spirit emblem as the Shinobi Firecracker uses three. The most amount of Spirit Emblems you can carry is 15. So use them wisely and always make sure to restock your spirit emblems for 10 Sen each at the Sculptor’s Idol as you see fit.  

Here’s a great video on how to farm gold, EXP, and Spirit Emblems! 

10. Dragon’s Blood Droplet 

Dragon’s Blood Droplets will allow Wolf to resurrect after death. But if you resurrect too many times, you collect an item called Rot Essence which is something you don’t want to obtain. Rot Essence will decrease something called your Unseen Aid Percentage. Unseen Aid is what increases the chances of you not losing experience and Sen.  

Collecting Dragon’s Blood Droplets is also the only way to cure Dragonrot.  

Altogether, there are 17 droplets that you can obtain.  

Locations: 

• 1x is received after giving Emma a blood sample form a Dragonrot-afflicted NPC 
• 2x can be purchased from Battlefield Memorial Mob for 150 Sen 
• 2x can be purchased from Fujioka the Info Broker for 180 Sen 
• Dungeon Memorial Mob – 1 can be bought for 180 sen 
• Shugendo Memorial Mob – 1 can be bought for 180 sen  
• Pot Noble Koremori – 1 can be bought for 1 Treasure Carp Scale 
• Toxic Memorial Mob – 2 can be bought for 80 sen 
• 1x can be found at Old grave idol in Ashina Castle – Turn left from the idol and continue along the path through the watchtower, the droplet can be found at a gravestone there 
• Sunken Valley Passage – After performing a finishing deathblow on the Great Serpent, you will land on the other side of the hanging bridge that the serpent broke earlier where 1x can be looted from the path ahead. 
• Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo – In the room within the Main Hall Sculptor’s Idol. You can grapple onto the beams and jump on the Buddha to pick up 1x Dragon’s Blood Droplet. 
• Ashina Castle – One can be found by a defeated purple warrior near the Serpent Shrine Idol after Ashina has been invaded. 
• Ashina Outskirts – One can be found by what used to be a shortcut in the temple where you met Tengu of Ashina, after defeating Demon of Hatred. 

All for One 

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a complex game mentally, mechanically, as well as the hidden knowledge throughout. But with the right items and skills, it will surely help you in your endeavors to take your enemies by storm whether it be stealthily or all out ‘Rambo-Style.’ 

To Recap: 

Skills: 

• Mikiri Counter
• Suppress Presence
• Breath of Life
• Chasing Slice
• Ichimonji

Items: 

• Gourd Seeds
• Coin Purses
• Prosthetic Tools
• Spirit Emblems
• Dragon’s Blood Droplets

We hope our article on the 10 Best Skills and Items in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, help you out tremendously.

Partially made possible thanks to Sekiro wiki on https://sekiroshadowsdietwice.wiki.fextralife.com/

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