How Many Lapis Lazuli Can You Snag in a Single Sekiro Run?
You can acquire a total of six Lapis Lazuli in a single playthrough of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. These precious stones are vital for upgrading certain Prosthetic Tools to their ultimate forms, significantly enhancing their combat capabilities. Getting all six requires careful planning, dedication, and often, a willingness to engage with some of the game’s tougher challenges.
Where to Find All Six Lapis Lazuli
While six Lapis Lazuli are available, obtaining them isn’t simply a matter of exploration. They are primarily tied to defeating specific bosses and engaging in certain optional quests. Here’s a breakdown of how to acquire each one:
- Demon of Hatred: Defeating the Demon of Hatred, a formidable optional boss found in the Ashina Outskirts after the siege on Ashina Castle, rewards you with one Lapis Lazuli. This fight is notoriously difficult, demanding precision and patience.
- Great Colored Carp (Twice): Yes, you get two Lapis Lazuli from the same source. To get these, you’ll need to undertake the Great Colored Carp questline. This involves feeding the Carp with Precious Bait (obtained from various vendors) until it’s full. Eventually, you’ll need to make a moral choice about how to deal with the Carp – either killing it directly or allowing it to be poisoned. Regardless of your choice, you will get two Lapis Lazuli.
- Shura Ending (One Must Be Missed): The remaining three Lapis Lazuli are only obtainable by progressing down one of the three “non-Shura” endings. If you trigger the Shura ending by siding with your father, you will miss out on obtaining these Lapis Lazuli during that playthrough. These Lapis Lazuli are obtained by defeating the Demon of Hatred, and by feeding the Great Colored Carp.
The Importance of Choosing Your Ending Wisely
The Shura ending locks you out of the Divine Dragon fight, which is required for the other three endings. Therefore, in the playthrough where you choose to embrace the Shura ending, you will miss getting the final Lapis Lazuli that would normally drop from a specific enemy encountered during the Divine Dragon storyline. Therefore, choosing the Shura ending means you will only get 3 Lapis Lazuli during that playthrough.
Upgrading Your Prosthetic Tools
The Lapis Lazuli are used to unlock the final upgrades for specific Prosthetic Tools. These ultimate forms offer enhanced abilities and strategic options in combat. The tools that require Lapis Lazuli for their final upgrade are:
- Loaded Axe: Upgrades to the Lazulite Axe
- Flame Vent: Upgrades to the Lazulite Flame Barrel
- Shuriken Wheel: Upgrades to the Lazulite Shuriken
- Sabimaru: Upgrades to the Lazulite Sabimaru
These upgrades are powerful, and choosing which tool to upgrade first depends on your playstyle. Consider which tools you use most frequently and which upgrades offer the greatest tactical advantage for your approach to combat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lapis Lazuli
Here are some common questions and answers to further clarify the acquisition and usage of Lapis Lazuli in Sekiro:
1. Can I farm Lapis Lazuli?
No, Lapis Lazuli cannot be farmed. They are limited to the specific sources mentioned above. Once you’ve collected all six in a single playthrough, you’ll need to start a new game or utilize New Game Plus to acquire more.
2. What is the best way to get the Lapis Lazuli from the Great Colored Carp?
The method you use doesn’t affect the outcome. You will get two Lapis Lazuli regardless of whether you kill the carp yourself or let it be poisoned. Choose based on your preference.
3. Is the Demon of Hatred fight required to get all Lapis Lazuli?
Yes, defeating the Demon of Hatred is essential for obtaining one Lapis Lazuli, unless you’re going for the Shura ending. This fight can be challenging, so prepare accordingly.
4. How do I trigger the Demon of Hatred fight?
The Demon of Hatred becomes available after the Ashina Castle siege. Return to the Ashina Outskirts and grapple onto the kite near the Old Grave idol to reach the battlefield.
5. What is the “Shura” ending, and how do I get it?
The Shura ending occurs when you choose to obey the Iron Code and side with your father, Owl, at the Ashina Castle rooftop. This choice locks you out of the other endings and certain content, including some Lapis Lazuli.
6. What happens if I miss a Lapis Lazuli in my first playthrough?
You can acquire the missing Lapis Lazuli in New Game Plus. All boss encounters and questlines are reset, allowing you to obtain any previously missed items.
7. Are the Lazulite Prosthetic Tool upgrades worth it?
Yes, the Lazulite Prosthetic Tool upgrades are generally considered to be very powerful and worthwhile. They offer unique abilities and strategic advantages in combat. The Lazulite Shuriken and Lazulite Axe are often cited as particularly useful upgrades.
8. Can I upgrade all Prosthetic Tools to their Lazulite form in one playthrough?
No, you cannot. Since you can only obtain six Lapis Lazuli per playthrough, and each upgrade requires two, you can only upgrade three Prosthetic Tools to their Lazulite form in a single run.
9. Which Lazulite upgrade should I get first?
This depends on your playstyle. The Lazulite Shuriken is excellent for interrupting enemy attacks and dealing posture damage. The Lazulite Axe is effective against shielded enemies and deals significant damage. The Lazulite Flame Barrel can be potent against certain enemy types.
10. Do Lapis Lazuli carry over to New Game Plus?
Yes, Lapis Lazuli carry over to New Game Plus. This allows you to upgrade more Prosthetic Tools to their Lazulite forms over multiple playthroughs.
11. What are the prerequisites for starting the Great Colored Carp questline?
You need to have progressed far enough in the game to reach the Guardian Ape’s Burrow area. The questline begins at the Hirata Estate and involves interacting with specific NPCs.
12. Is it possible to accidentally waste Lapis Lazuli?
No, you cannot accidentally waste Lapis Lazuli. Once used to upgrade a Prosthetic Tool, the upgrade is permanent.
13. Are there any hidden Lapis Lazuli locations that aren’t mentioned?
No, there are no secret or hidden locations for Lapis Lazuli beyond the sources outlined earlier. The only way to obtain them is through the Demon of Hatred and the Great Colored Carp questline for most of the possible endings.
14. Does difficulty level affect Lapis Lazuli drops?
No, the difficulty level you choose does not impact the availability or drop rate of Lapis Lazuli. They are always found in the same locations regardless of the difficulty setting.
15. Can I refund Lapis Lazuli if I don’t like the Prosthetic Tool upgrade?
No, there is no way to refund Lapis Lazuli once you’ve used them to upgrade a Prosthetic Tool. Choose your upgrades carefully!