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Can You Fight the Corrupted Monk Before Genichiro Ashina in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice?

Yes, you can fight the Corrupted Monk before Genichiro Ashina in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This is achieved by bypassing the main path through Ashina Castle and instead venturing through the Sunken Valley Passage and Mibu Village. While not the “intended” progression route, it is entirely possible and offers a different experience for players. It requires a bit more exploration and a good understanding of the game’s movement mechanics. This alternate path significantly alters the early game’s difficulty curve.

Understanding the Intended Progression

Typically, players progress through the game by first confronting Genichiro Ashina atop Ashina Castle. Defeating him unlocks further areas and events crucial for the storyline, including accessing Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo, and eventually, the Sunken Valley Passage. This progression is deliberately structured to introduce players to combat mechanics, prosthetic tools, and enemy types in a gradual and manageable way.

How to Bypass Genichiro and Reach the Corrupted Monk

The key to facing the Corrupted Monk early lies in exploring the Ashina Depths. After unlocking the Dilapidated Temple, focus on exploring the Ashina Outskirts.

Reach the Ashina Depths: From the Outskirts Wall – Gate Path idol in Ashina Outskirts, progress until you reach the area with the Chained Ogre. Defeat (or bypass) the Ogre, and continue through the level. Eventually, you’ll reach a point where you can jump down into a well. This well leads to the Ashina Depths.
Navigate the Ashina Depths: The Ashina Depths is a complex area. You will need to carefully explore and grapple to reach the Hidden Forest.
Unlocking the Mibu Village Idol: From the Hidden Forest, find your way through the mist (watch out for illusionary enemies) to reach the Mibu Village. From there, you can activate the Mibu Village idol.
Confronting the Corrupted Monk: Proceed through Mibu Village, following the main path. Eventually, you’ll arrive at the Water Mill, followed by the Wedding Cave Door and, finally, the Corrupted Monk guarding the Mibu Waterfall.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fighting the Corrupted Monk Early

Choosing to fight the Corrupted Monk before Genichiro presents both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

Earlier Access to Key Items: Defeating the Corrupted Monk grants you the Memory: Corrupted Monk and the Dragon’s Blood Droplet. The Memory boosts your attack power, while the Droplet is crucial for healing Dragonrot.
Altered Game Flow: Challenging the intended order provides a fresh perspective on the game. It can be an interesting experience for players who have already completed Sekiro and are looking for a new challenge.
Potential for Early Prayer Beads: Progressing through the Sunken Valley Passage allows you to collect prayer beads which can increase your vitality.
Psychological Advantage: Defeating a boss perceived as “late-game” early can give you a boost of confidence.

Disadvantages:

Increased Difficulty: Facing the Corrupted Monk with limited upgrades and skills is significantly more challenging. Your health and damage output will be lower compared to facing her later.
Potential for Confusion: Bypassing Genichiro can lead to confusion regarding the storyline and character motivations, especially for first-time players.
Missed Tutorials: Genichiro’s fight acts as a crucial learning experience for mastering deflections and Mikiri counters. Skipping it can leave you unprepared for later bosses.
Limited Resources: You will have fewer resources to purchase items and upgrade your prosthetic tools.

Strategy for Defeating the Corrupted Monk Early

If you decide to tackle the Corrupted Monk early, preparation is key:

Master Deflection: Deflecting her attacks is crucial for building up her posture. Practice your timing and learn her attack patterns.
Utilize Prosthetic Tools: The Firecrackers are extremely useful for stunning her, allowing you to get in free hits. The Loaded Axe can also deal significant posture damage if you can land a clean hit.
Stealth and Posture Damage: You can deal significant posture damage from stealth before the fight even begins. Approach from behind while she is praying to deal a significant blow.
Be Patient: This fight will likely take longer and require more attempts than facing her later. Don’t get discouraged and learn from each attempt.
Consider the “Puppeteer Ninjutsu”: If you defeat the Folding Screen Monkeys before the Corrupted Monk you will get the Puppeteer Ninjutsu. This can be used to create an ally from one of the smaller enemies in the area and give you a slight advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it possible to completely skip Genichiro Ashina in Sekiro?

While you can fight the Corrupted Monk early, completely skipping Genichiro is not recommended. Defeating him is necessary to progress the main storyline and unlock crucial abilities. Even if you defeat the Corrupted Monk early, the game will eventually require you to fight Genichiro.

2. What are the key skills I should have before attempting to fight the Corrupted Monk early?

Prioritize skills that enhance your combat abilities, such as the Mikiri Counter, Deflect, and Chasing Slice. Also, improving your vitality and attack power through Prayer Beads and Memories is highly recommended.

3. What prosthetic tools are most effective against the Corrupted Monk?

The Firecrackers are invaluable for stunning the Corrupted Monk, creating opportunities for attacks. The Loaded Axe can also be effective for dealing posture damage. The Mist Raven can also be useful for dodging attacks and creating openings.

4. How much harder is it to fight the Corrupted Monk before Genichiro?

It is significantly harder. Your health, damage output, and available skills will be much lower, making the fight a test of skill and patience. Expect to die many times.

5. Will defeating the Corrupted Monk early affect the storyline or future events?

Defeating the Corrupted Monk early doesn’t drastically alter the storyline, but it can change the order in which you experience certain events. However, the main story beats will remain the same.

6. What are the rewards for defeating the Corrupted Monk?

You receive the Memory: Corrupted Monk, which increases your attack power, and the Dragon’s Blood Droplet, which is used to cure Dragonrot.

7. Where is the Hidden Forest located in the Ashina Depths?

The Hidden Forest is a mist-filled area within the Ashina Depths. You can access it by carefully exploring the Ashina Depths after falling into the well in the Ashina Outskirts and grappling to different platforms. Look for paths that appear to lead nowhere; often, they conceal secret passages.

8. Is the Corrupted Monk the same in all encounters?

No, there are two versions of the Corrupted Monk. The first encounter in Mibu Village is an illusion. This fight only has one health bar. The second encounter at the Fountainhead Palace is the “true” Corrupted Monk and has three health bars.

9. What is the recommended attack power and vitality before fighting the Corrupted Monk early?

There isn’t a strict “recommended” level, but generally, having at least 2-3 Prayer Necklaces worth of vitality and 2-3 Memories worth of attack power will make the fight more manageable.

10. Can I still access the Sunken Valley after defeating Genichiro?

Yes, accessing the Sunken Valley Passage through Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo remains the standard way. Defeating the Corrupted Monk early doesn’t lock you out of the main path.

11. What is the best strategy for dealing with the illusions in the Hidden Forest?

Pay close attention to the sounds and visual cues. The illusions often flicker or disappear briefly. Trust your instincts and be ready to deflect or dodge sudden attacks.

12. What is the importance of curing Dragonrot?

Dragonrot affects the NPCs in the game, preventing you from progressing their storylines and potentially blocking access to certain quests and items. Curing it is essential for fully experiencing the game.

13. What is the Water Mill and Wedding Cave Door?

These are landmarks you need to navigate through when progressing from the Mibu Village to the Corrupted Monk. The Water Mill is a dilapidated structure, and the Wedding Cave Door marks the entrance to the area where the fight takes place.

14. Is there an easier way to bypass Genichiro early?

There are no easier ways to bypass Genichiro. The Sunken Valley Passage via Ashina Depths is the only viable route to reach the Corrupted Monk before Genichiro.

15. Should I fight the Corrupted Monk early on my first playthrough of Sekiro?

For a first playthrough, it’s generally recommended to follow the intended progression path and fight Genichiro first. This allows you to learn the game’s mechanics at a more manageable pace and experience the storyline as intended. Saving the alternate route for a subsequent playthrough can offer a fresh and challenging experience.

Can you fight the corrupted monk before Genichiro?