Is Hirata Estate Owl Optional in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice?
Yes, defeating Owl at Hirata Estate is entirely optional in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. While the Hirata Estate itself is crucial for unlocking certain prosthetic tools and memories needed to progress in the game, choosing to betray Kuro and side with Owl leads to an alternative, shorter ending path. Opting to remain loyal to Kuro and fight Owl unlocks a more challenging, but ultimately more rewarding, path towards the game’s true ending(s).
The Two Paths: Loyalty vs. Betrayal
The key decision point arrives after defeating Genichiro Ashina at Ashina Castle. Following the “Iron Code” as Owl instructs leads you to betray Kuro, starting a chain of events that drastically alters the storyline and the challenges you will face. Choosing to disobey Owl and uphold your vow to Kuro maintains the established storyline and opens up the possibility of multiple different endings.
Consequences of Siding with Owl
- Simplified Ending: Betraying Kuro locks you into the “Shura” ending, generally considered the shortest and easiest to achieve.
- Reduced Boss Encounters: You bypass a significant portion of the game, including challenging bosses found only on the path of loyalty.
- Unique Boss Fight: You fight Emma, the Gentle Blade, and Isshin Ashina back-to-back. These fights are unique to the Shura ending path.
- Loss of Story Depth: The Shura ending provides less narrative closure and fewer opportunities to explore the game’s world and lore.
- Missed Content: You miss out on crucial items, skills, and optional areas accessible only by remaining loyal to Kuro.
Why Fight Owl at Hirata Estate?
Choosing to remain loyal to Kuro and reject the Iron Code triggers the second encounter with Owl at the Hirata Estate, accessed via Kuro’s Charm (explained below). This fight is arguably one of the most challenging in the entire game, demanding precise deflects, strategic use of prosthetic tools, and a deep understanding of Owl’s attack patterns.
How to Unlock Owl’s Second Encounter
The fight with Owl at Hirata Estate is not available on your first visit. Instead, you need to take certain steps after defeating Genichiro to unlock the opportunity to revisit the estate and face him once more:
- Defeat Genichiro Ashina: This is the primary trigger, occurring at the top of Ashina Castle.
- Speak to Kuro: After defeating Genichiro, Kuro will task you with finding a way to sever the ties of immortality.
- Seek Information: Speak to Emma and Lord Isshin Ashina to gather clues about how to sever immortality. Follow their questlines and exhaust their dialogue options.
- Eavesdrop: Eavesdrop on Kuro and Emma through the door of Kuro’s room (you will need to hide behind a screen or wall to do this undetected). Then eavesdrop on Emma and the Sculptor.
- Receive Father’s Bell Charm: After completing the eavesdropping steps, speak to Emma. She will give you “Father’s Bell Charm.”
- Offer the Bell Charm at the Dilapidated Temple: Present the Father’s Bell Charm at the Buddha statue in the Dilapidated Temple. This will transport you to the second version of Hirata Estate, where you can confront Owl again.
Why You Might Want to Skip Owl (and the Shura Ending)
While the Shura ending offers a shorter and potentially easier route to “completing” the game, it sacrifices much of what makes Sekiro so compelling. The path of loyalty leads to a more complete understanding of the story, greater character development, and the satisfaction of overcoming significantly tougher challenges. Furthermore, only by choosing loyalty can you unlock the other, more intricate endings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Hirata Estate Owl
Here are some frequently asked questions surrounding the encounter with Owl at Hirata Estate and its implications:
1. What happens if I die during the Owl fight at Hirata Estate?
Dying during the Owl fight at Hirata Estate simply returns you to the nearest Sculptor’s Idol. You can resurrect and attempt the fight again as many times as needed (provided you have Resurrection Power).
2. Is the Owl fight harder at Hirata Estate than the one at Ashina Castle?
Yes. Owl (Father) at Hirata Estate is widely considered one of the most difficult bosses in the game. He has more aggressive attack patterns, utilizes firecrackers and poison more frequently, and deals significantly more damage.
3. What are the rewards for defeating Owl at Hirata Estate?
Defeating Owl (Father) grants you the Aromatic Flower, used in achieving certain endings, as well as his Memory (used to increase your Attack Power) and the Hidden Temple Key.
4. Can I still access the Hirata Estate after choosing the Shura ending?
No. Once you trigger the Shura ending by betraying Kuro, you will not be able to access the Hirata Estate again during that playthrough. You would need to start a new game or play in New Game Plus.
5. Does defeating Owl at Hirata Estate affect other boss encounters?
Indirectly, yes. Defeating Owl at Hirata Estate is necessary to access the Fountainhead Palace and other areas crucial for achieving the Purification and Return endings. It unlocks a large part of the game that is inaccessible with the Shura ending.
6. What’s the best strategy for beating Owl (Father)?
The best strategy involves aggressive, but controlled, aggression. Stay close to him, deflect his attacks perfectly, and punish his openings after he uses firecrackers or performs certain perilous attacks. Mikiri Counter is effective against his thrust attacks.
7. What prosthetic tools are most effective against Owl (Father)?
The Firecrackers are incredibly useful for interrupting his attacks and creating openings. The Mist Raven Feathers can be used to evade his perilous attacks.
8. Does the difficulty of the game change if I choose the Shura ending?
The Shura ending is generally considered easier because it shortens the game and removes many challenging encounters. However, Emma and Isshin Ashina are tough bosses for players who are unprepared.
9. Are there any specific skills I should acquire before fighting Owl (Father)?
Investing in skills that improve your posture and vitality is crucial. Skills like Mikiri Counter, Ichimonji: Double, and Emma’s Medicine: Potency will significantly increase your survivability.
10. What are the different endings in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice?
There are four main endings: Shura, Immortal Severance, Purification, and Return. The Shura ending is the only one locked behind betraying Kuro.
11. Can I get all the endings in a single playthrough?
No. You can only achieve one ending per playthrough. To experience all endings, you’ll need to play through the game multiple times using New Game Plus.
12. Does choosing the Shura ending lock me out of any achievements/trophies?
Yes, choosing the Shura ending locks you out of the achievements/trophies related to the endings only accessible through the path of loyalty (Immortal Severance, Purification, and Return).
13. Is it recommended to do the Shura ending on my first playthrough?
While it’s a valid option, most players recommend experiencing one of the other endings on their first playthrough. This allows you to fully explore the world, understand the story, and challenge yourself against the game’s most difficult bosses.
14. What level should I be before attempting to fight Owl (Father) at Hirata Estate?
There is no “level” in Sekiro, but it’s generally recommended to have a high Attack Power (ideally above 10) and maxed-out Vitality before tackling Owl (Father). Practice deflecting his attacks to familiarize yourself with his patterns.
15. How does Kuro’s Charm affect the Owl fight?
Kuro’s Charm is a key item that can increase the game’s difficulty. With Kuro’s Charm, perfect deflections are crucial, as blocking attacks will result in chip damage. This increase in difficulty will make every single fight tougher, including the one against Owl.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to fight Owl at Hirata Estate or choose the Shura ending rests on your personal preference. However, understanding the implications of each choice will help you make an informed decision and enjoy Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to its fullest potential.