How Many Prayer Beads Do You Get in Sekiro?
You can acquire a total of 40 Prayer Beads throughout your playthrough of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. These beads are crucial for increasing your Vitality (health) and Posture, making you more resilient in combat against the game’s challenging enemies. Collecting four Prayer Beads allows you to craft a Prayer Necklace at any Idol, permanently boosting your survivability. Thus, you can create a total of 10 Prayer Necklaces.
Understanding Prayer Beads and Their Importance
Prayer Beads are among the most essential collectibles in Sekiro, directly impacting your ability to withstand enemy attacks and maintain your posture. Unlike other FromSoftware games that rely heavily on leveling stats, Sekiro emphasizes skill-based combat. However, even the most skilled players will benefit from the increased Vitality and Posture provided by Prayer Beads. These upgrades offer a tangible advantage, allowing you to make more mistakes and survive longer in the relentless fights the game throws your way. The more you have, the longer you can survive.
Acquiring all 40 Prayer Beads also unlocks the “Lazuline Upgrade” Trophy/Achievement, encouraging players to explore every nook and cranny of the game world and master the art of combat. Because the increase in Vitality and Posture also increase your Damage Output with some combat arts, finding all 40 prayer beads is crucial for any players that seek to optimize their builds.
Locating All 40 Prayer Beads
Prayer Beads are primarily obtained by defeating Mini-Bosses scattered throughout the game’s various locations. Unlike regular enemies, Mini-Bosses are tougher and require more strategic approaches to defeat. Some Prayer Beads are also found in treasure chests, often hidden in less obvious locations. Careful exploration is key to finding them all. Finding them takes time, patience, and skill.
Here’s a general guide to finding them:
- Ashina Outskirts: This starting area contains a good number of Prayer Beads from Mini-Bosses like General Naomori Kawarada and General Tenzen Yamauchi.
- Hirata Estate: Accessing this optional area via Emma provides several more opportunities to acquire Prayer Beads by defeating enemies such as Juzou the Drunkard.
- Ashina Castle: As you progress through the main story, Ashina Castle will offer numerous challenges and Prayer Bead rewards, including the Seven Ashina Spears – Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi.
- Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo: This area is another rich source of Prayer Beads, requiring you to navigate treacherous environments and overcome formidable opponents.
- Sunken Valley: Expect fierce battles against gun-wielding enemies and unique bosses in this location, where Prayer Beads are part of the loot.
- Ashina Depths: Brace yourself for a darker, more challenging section of the game, offering both hidden Prayer Beads and challenging mini-boss encounters.
- Fountainhead Palace: The last area offers some of the most challenging battles with very rewarding loot like Prayer Beads
Mastering the Art of Exploration
To effectively collect all Prayer Beads, focus on thorough exploration. Check every corner, listen for audio cues that might indicate a hidden path or enemy, and don’t be afraid to backtrack to areas after gaining new abilities. For example, the Mist Raven prosthetic tool can allow you to access previously unreachable areas. Additionally, utilize the eavesdrop mechanic to gather clues on enemy weaknesses or potential treasure locations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Prayer Beads
1. How do Prayer Beads increase my stats?
Each Prayer Bead collected does not directly increase your stats. Instead, collecting four Prayer Beads allows you to create a Prayer Necklace. Each Prayer Necklace permanently increases your Vitality (health) and Posture.
2. Can I miss Prayer Beads in Sekiro?
Yes, it is possible to miss Prayer Beads. Some Mini-Bosses are only available during specific points in the story, and if you fail to defeat them before progressing, they may disappear. Make sure to explore thoroughly and defeat all Mini-Bosses as you encounter them.
3. What happens if I die before collecting a Prayer Bead after defeating a Mini-Boss?
Once you defeat a Mini-Boss and they drop a Prayer Bead, it’s automatically added to your inventory. You don’t need to pick it up manually, so you can’t lose it upon death.
4. How many Prayer Necklaces can I create in one playthrough?
Since you need four Prayer Beads to create one Prayer Necklace, and there are 40 Prayer Beads in the game, you can create a total of 10 Prayer Necklaces.
5. Are Prayer Beads affected by the Unseen Aid mechanic?
No, Prayer Beads are not affected by the Unseen Aid mechanic. Once a Prayer Bead is acquired, it is permanently in your inventory.
6. Do enemies respawn after I die or rest at an Idol?
Regular enemies will respawn when you die or rest at an Idol. Mini-Bosses, however, do not respawn once they are defeated, meaning their Prayer Beads are permanently acquired.
7. Is there a way to track which Prayer Beads I’m missing?
The game itself doesn’t provide a detailed tracking system. You’ll need to keep track of which Mini-Bosses you’ve defeated and where you’ve explored. Using online guides or checklists can be very helpful.
8. What is the difference between Vitality and Posture?
Vitality represents your health. The more Vitality you have, the more damage you can sustain before dying. Posture is a gauge that fills up as you block enemy attacks. Once an enemy’s Posture is broken, you can perform a Deathblow, instantly killing them. Increasing your Posture allows you to sustain more damage before your own posture is broken.
9. Do Prayer Beads carry over into New Game Plus?
Yes, any Prayer Beads you collected in your previous playthrough will carry over into New Game Plus. However, you can still find and collect all 40 Prayer Beads again to further increase your Vitality and Posture.
10. Are there any missable locations that contain Prayer Beads?
Yes, the Hirata Estate is a missable location that contains several Prayer Beads. If you don’t access this area early in the game, you might miss out on these valuable upgrades.
11. Do Charms (like Kuro’s Charm) affect the acquisition or effectiveness of Prayer Beads?
No, Charms do not directly affect the acquisition or effectiveness of Prayer Beads. Kuro’s Charm affects how you receive damage and deflect attacks, but it doesn’t change how Prayer Beads impact your Vitality and Posture.
12. Can I trade Prayer Beads with other players?
No, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a single-player game, and there is no trading or multiplayer interaction.
13. Are there any Prayer Beads that are particularly difficult to obtain?
Some Prayer Beads are more challenging to obtain due to the difficulty of the Mini-Bosses guarding them. For example, the Headless Mini-Bosses are notoriously difficult and require specific items and strategies to defeat.
14. How important are Prayer Beads for completing the game?
Prayer Beads are crucial for completing the game, especially on subsequent playthroughs or at higher difficulties. The increased Vitality and Posture significantly improve your survivability, making challenging bosses and encounters more manageable.
15. Is there a list of all Mini-Bosses that drop Prayer Beads?
Yes, numerous online guides and wikis provide a comprehensive list of all Mini-Bosses and their locations. Searching for “Sekiro Prayer Bead locations” will yield many helpful resources. You can also reference in-game dialogue or item descriptions for clues.