How are you supposed to fight in Sekiro?
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a challenging action-adventure game developed by From Software, requires a unique strategy for combat. Unlike previous Dark Souls games, Sekiro introduces a new world of feudal Japan, more dynamic combat mechanics, and intense boss battles. Whether you’re a seasoned Sekiro player or new to the series, understanding combat tactics is crucial to making progress. In this guide, we’ll explore effective strategies for fighting in Sekiro.
Deflections are Key
One of the most crucial features of Sekiro’s combat is the deflection ability. By timing it perfectly, you can cancel your opponent’s attack while staying safe. This reduces posture damage and leaves opportunities to counterattack. You’ll need to master both proactive and reactive deflection.
Proactive deflection involves anticipating opponents’ attacks and deflecting them before they land, dealing damage in the process.
Reactive deflection involves deflecting delayed, telegraphed attacks shortly after they begin.
Practice reactive deflection by fighting training dummies and getting comfortable with the timing.
Posture and Damage
Posture is a novel addition to Sekiro. Whenever you take damage without getting a hit, or without deflecting an incoming attack, your posture builds. If your posture bar fills, you might pass out, leaving your vulnerable to attacks.
Your goal is to decrease opponent posture while maintaining or restoring your own. Combine proactive and reactive deflections, and use stances (more on this in Stances) to do this effectively.
Abdies and Stances
Abdies are short-range, agile techniques that allow fast close-range combat. With your sword, you perform small, quick slashes dealing decent damage. As a counter to this aggressiveness, stances open your guard, making for less defensive options. To negate this, use speedster stance, which lowers your posture building for a short time at the cost of reduced Posture Recovery.**
Consider adapting your playstyle during matches. Switch back to your default stance immediately when the opponent is injured. This ensures protection as they recover.
| Abdie | Description | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Quick-Spin | Fast, swirling, low-damage stabs | High Speed |
| Low Sweeper | Low, aggressive strikes, moderate damage | Medium Speed |
| Stance | Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Speedster | Improves speed, reduces enemy speed | Increases adversary strength, lowers posture |
Mastering Camera Positioning
Know Your Camera: Adjust camera angles to help deflect, dodge, and observe your opponents. To exploit enemy openings, pay attention to their Telegraphs (visual representations of attacks). Change perspective to anticipate your adversary’s movements.
Move close to your opponent only when you have established camera control. By setting up your camera optimally, you’ll dodge potential attacks and create avenues for counterattacks.
Use this camera positioning guideline:
- Distance:
- Close = fast, aggressive combat,
- Medium = versatility in movement and attack spacing
- Far away = precise, long-ranged attacks
- Zoom:
- Long lens = focus on ranged attackers
- Macro: zoom in for localized battle
Boss-Induced Strategies
During Sekiro’s intense fights with mini-bosses and bosses, strategic maneuvering is crucial.
Apply these boss-dodging techniques:
- Dagger rush: Quickly dash inward at the boss, maintaining space and creating an
opening for counter-striking.
If facing a boss with homing attacks, always look for opportunities to deflect early projectiles.
How To Practice
Make Mistakes: Don’t shy away from mistakes!
Each encounter is an open practice ground for improving
Take the time to rehearse:
- Start slow, focusing on
• Deflection execution (Proactive and Defensive
• Posture Control
• Posture Recovery
• Mastery over stances and transitions) - Gradualily increase difficulty
Increase Your Chances of Mastering Sekiro’s Defl…