6 Tips for Playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Withou Destroying Your Controller

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a third-person action-adventure game that is being produced by FromSoftware, the same team behind other titles such as Bloodborne and Dark Souls. The game is set in the Sengoku period of Japan and follows a ninja-like warrior who has been left for dead and is out to take revenge on the man who left him in this state.

This guide will give some tips for playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. I found these tips helpful when I was playing the game. I hope that this guide will help you to understand the game better and allow you to enjoy the game more.

Tip 1: Learn Your Shield

Like a lot of games, Sekiro has an attack and block button, along with a grab button. The block button is pretty standard, but the grab button is going to be the one you'll end up using a lot.

It's not a throw, so you can't use it to teleport behind enemies, but it's the only way to deflect an attack. You basically press the grab button while an enemy is attacking to bat their weapon away, but you have to time it pretty well.

If you're not used to the timing, it's easy to get caught by the enemy after you deflect their attack, so keep practicing.

Tip 2: You Can't Dodge Everything

Sekiro is a pretty fast-paced game, especially when you're playing with a controller. The game's dodge roll, which is mapped to the R1 button by default, is a great way to get out of the way when you're getting attacked, but you can't use it all the time.

If you roll past an enemy, you'll just run out of stamina, and you'll have to wait for it to recharge before you can roll again. You also have to be careful when you roll because you'll be vulnerable when you get up.

You can roll around enemies, but you'll have to decide if it's worth it to do so.

Tip 3: Learn How to Parry

If you're playing with a controller, the parry move is mapped to the L2 button by default, and you can probably guess what it does. When you see an enemy winding up for an attack, you can press the parry button to deflect it.

You can't roll or attack right after you parry, but you can get a lot of damage in before your enemy attacks again. Of course, the timing for the parry is pretty strict, but if you get used to it, you'll be able to get a lot of damage in.

Tip 4: Use the Environment

The environments in Sekiro are pretty destructible. You'll be able to break a lot of things by using your attacks, and you can use this to your advantage.

For example, if you see an enemy with a shield standing in front of a wall, you can break the wall down to make it harder for them to block your attacks.

You can also use this to attack enemies who are high up on ledges or to knock over large objects that enemies are hiding behind.

Tip 5: Exploit Enemy Weaknesses

Every enemy in the game has a weakness. Some are resistant to certain types of attacks, and some are weak to certain attacks. In some cases, you can use this to your advantage. 

For example, some enemies are weak to fire, and if you have a torch you can set them on fire and stagger them for a few seconds. If an enemy is resistant to a certain attack, you'll have to get creative to take them out.

Tip 6: Use Your Tools Effectively 

The implements at your disposal are as pivotal as your blade. Grasping their mechanics and efficacy against adversaries is crucial. The Shinobi Firecracker, for instance, can momentarily incapacitate foes, allowing you to gain the upper hand. An immobilized foe becomes an effortless target.

Furthermore, the Shinobi Firecracker can serve as a means of diversion. Engaging a cluster of adversaries, you can deploy the Shinobi Firecracker to disorient them, creating an opening to swiftly neutralize them.

The Bottom Line

The game is challenging but rewarding. It's Ghost and Goblins, but with better level designs. While the game isn't perfect (no game is) I feel that the pros outweigh the cons. If you like difficult games, Sekiro is a must-play. And with the tips above, I believe, it will be easier for you to play Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice game.