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How to Prevent Dragonrot in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Preventing Dragonrot in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is largely about playing well and minimizing deaths. While some deaths are inevitable, consistently dying spreads this debilitating disease throughout the game’s world, impacting the characters you rely on. The most direct way to mitigate Dragonrot is to use a Dragon’s Blood Droplet and Healer’s Blessing at a Sculptor’s Idol. However, these resources are limited, making proactive prevention essential.

Understanding Dragonrot

Before diving into prevention, it’s crucial to understand what Dragonrot is and its consequences. Dragonrot is a disease that spreads in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice when the protagonist, Wolf, dies. The more Wolf dies, the higher the chance Dragonrot will infect important NPCs (Non-Player Characters).

The Impact of Dragonrot

Dragonrot significantly impacts the game by:

Halving the Unseen Aid chance: Unseen Aid is a mechanic that gives you a percentage chance of not losing half your Sen and Skill Experience upon death. Dragonrot dramatically reduces this chance, making deaths even more punishing.
Halting NPC questlines: Infected NPCs will be too sick to perform their usual duties, preventing you from advancing their storylines and potentially missing out on valuable items and upgrades.
Narrative implications: While not a direct gameplay penalty, seeing the characters you’re trying to protect succumb to Dragonrot adds to the game’s somber atmosphere and provides a compelling reason to improve your skills.

Strategies for Preventing Dragonrot

The primary strategy for preventing Dragonrot is simple: die less. However, achieving this requires a multi-faceted approach incorporating skillful gameplay and smart resource management.

Mastering Combat

Deflection is Key: Sekiro’s combat heavily emphasizes deflection. Learning to perfectly deflect enemy attacks is crucial for building Posture and breaking their guard, leading to a Vital Strike. Practice your timing until deflecting becomes second nature.
Learn Enemy Attack Patterns: Each enemy, especially bosses, has unique attack patterns. Observe these patterns carefully and learn the appropriate responses (deflect, dodge, jump). Anticipating attacks significantly reduces your chances of being caught off guard.
Utilize Prosthetic Tools: Wolf’s Prosthetic Arm is equipped with various tools that can be used to exploit enemy weaknesses. Experiment with different tools to find which ones are most effective against specific enemies. The Loaded Shuriken, Firecrackers, and Loaded Spear are all particularly useful.
Aggressive Offense: While defense is vital, Sekiro‘s combat rewards aggressive offense. Maintain pressure on your enemies to disrupt their attacks and prevent them from recovering their Posture. Remember the game emphasizes “Hesitation is defeat.”

Strategic Exploration and Resource Management

Stealth is Your Friend: When possible, utilize stealth to eliminate enemies before engaging in open combat. Backstabs and aerial deathblows can thin out enemy ranks and make challenging encounters more manageable.
Collect and Use Healing Gourds and Pellets Wisely: Don’t waste your Healing Gourds or Pellets. Save them for moments when you are truly in danger. Also, look to upgrade your Healing Gourd uses.
Explore Thoroughly: Hidden throughout the game world are items that can improve your survivability. Prayer Beads increase your Vitality and Posture, while Memories boost your Attack Power.
Don’t Be Afraid to Retreat: If an encounter is proving too difficult, retreat to a Sculptor’s Idol to regroup and strategize. There’s no shame in coming back later when you’re better prepared.
Skill Point Management: Invest in skills that improve your survivability, such as those that enhance your vitality, posture, or allow for easier dodging and deflection.

Using Dragon’s Blood Droplets and Healer’s Blessing

While preventing Dragonrot is ideal, it’s sometimes unavoidable. When Dragonrot does occur, you’ll need to use a Dragon’s Blood Droplet and Healer’s Blessing at a Sculptor’s Idol.

Obtaining Dragon’s Blood Droplets: These are rare items found throughout the game, often as rewards for defeating bosses or completing side quests.
The Healer’s Blessing: After using a Dragon’s Blood Droplet for the first time, Emma will give you the Healer’s Blessing, which is a reusable item that’s required to cure Dragonrot.
Curing Dragonrot: At a Sculptor’s Idol, interact with it and select the option to use a Dragon’s Blood Droplet. This will cure all infected NPCs, restoring their ability to assist you and restoring your Unseen Aid chance.

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How often does Dragonrot spread?

Dragonrot has a chance to spread each time you die. This chance increases the more you die without curing it. There’s no fixed number of deaths that trigger Dragonrot.

2. How do I know if someone is infected with Dragonrot?

You can check the status of NPCs by interacting with the Sculptor’s Idol and selecting the “Dragonrot Restoration” option. This will show you which characters are infected.

3. Can Dragonrot permanently kill an NPC?

No, Dragonrot cannot permanently kill an NPC. Curing Dragonrot will restore them to full health.

4. Is there a limit to the number of times I can cure Dragonrot?

Yes, Dragon’s Blood Droplets are finite. While you can find a decent number throughout the game, you’ll need to use them judiciously.

5. What happens if I run out of Dragon’s Blood Droplets?

If you run out of Dragon’s Blood Droplets, you won’t be able to cure Dragonrot until you find more. This will halt NPC questlines and reduce your Unseen Aid chance.

6. Does dying to the same enemy repeatedly increase the chance of Dragonrot spreading?

Yes, the more consecutive deaths you experience, the higher the likelihood of Dragonrot spreading.

7. Can I prevent Dragonrot entirely?

While it’s very difficult, it is theoretically possible to prevent Dragonrot entirely by never dying. However, this requires exceptional skill and knowledge of the game.

8. Does Dragonrot affect my ability to beat the game?

Not directly. Dragonrot primarily impacts NPC questlines and the Unseen Aid mechanic. However, a reduced Unseen Aid chance can make the game significantly more challenging.

9. Are there any mods that remove or lessen the effects of Dragonrot?

Yes, there are mods available that can remove or lessen the effects of Dragonrot. However, using mods may impact your ability to earn achievements or play the game as intended. Check NexusMods or other Sekiro mod sites for details.

10. Does Dragonrot spread in the early game?

Yes, Dragonrot can spread from the very beginning of the game. It’s important to be mindful of your deaths even in the early stages.

11. Should I cure Dragonrot immediately after it appears?

Generally, it’s a good idea to cure Dragonrot as soon as possible, especially if it’s impacting NPCs whose questlines you want to progress. However, if you’re confident in your ability to minimize deaths, you can delay curing it to conserve Dragon’s Blood Droplets.

12. Does Dragonrot impact my ending?

Dragonrot itself does not directly impact which ending you receive. However, completing NPC questlines may be required for certain endings, and Dragonrot can halt those questlines.

13. Can I farm Dragon’s Blood Droplets?

You cannot directly farm Dragon’s Blood Droplets. They are primarily obtained as rewards for defeating bosses and completing specific quests.

14. Are there any benefits to having Dragonrot?

No, there are no direct benefits to having Dragonrot. It’s purely a negative status effect.

15. Does Dragonrot make bosses harder?

Dragonrot does not directly make bosses harder. It only impacts the Unseen Aid mechanic and NPC questlines. However, if you’re relying on an NPC for assistance, their infection could indirectly impact your ability to defeat a boss.

By understanding the mechanics of Dragonrot and implementing these preventative measures, you can significantly reduce its impact on your Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice playthrough and improve your overall experience. Focus on mastering combat, exploring strategically, and managing your resources wisely to minimize deaths and protect the characters you care about. Good luck, Sekiro.

How do you prevent Dragonrot?