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Should I Do Anything Before Genichiro in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice?

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Yes, absolutely. Defeating Genichiro Ashina on top of Ashina Castle is a significant hurdle in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Rushing into this fight unprepared can lead to frustration and a feeling of being stuck. Taking some time to explore, upgrade, and hone your skills will dramatically increase your chances of victory and make the overall experience more enjoyable.

Preparation is Key: Setting Yourself Up for Success

Genichiro isn’t just a test of reflexes; he’s a test of your understanding of Sekiro’s core mechanics. He forces you to master deflecting, mikiri countering, and utilizing prosthetics. Before facing him, ensuring you’ve internalized these skills and have the resources to support them is crucial.

Skill Point Farming and Combat Art Acquisition

Investing time in farming experience to unlock new skills is highly recommended. Certain skills, like the Mikiri Counter, are almost essential for the Genichiro fight. Other useful skills include the Ichimonji Double, which deals significant posture damage, and skills that improve your healing efficiency. Good farming locations before Genichiro include areas around Ashina Outskirts and Hirata Estate.

Prayer Bead Hunting and Vitality Upgrades

Prayer Beads, found throughout the game, increase your vitality and posture. Gathering these and converting them into Necklaces at the Sculptor’s Idol is paramount. Explore previously visited areas thoroughly, looking for hidden paths and challenging mini-bosses. Even a small increase in health can make a significant difference in surviving Genichiro’s relentless attacks.

Prosthetic Tool Enhancements

Your Prosthetic Tools can provide significant advantages in combat. Upgrading the Loaded Shuriken to the Spinning Shuriken variant allows for ranged interruption and deals posture damage even when Genichiro is guarding. The Flame Vent can deal burn damage, opening him up for follow-up attacks, and the Loaded Axe can break his guard if timed correctly. Experiment with different tools to find which ones best suit your playstyle and the specific challenges of the fight.

Item Gathering and Stockpiling

Stock up on essential items like Healing Gourds, Pellets, and Divine Confetti (if you’ve acquired it). Healing Gourds are your primary source of healing, and having as many uses as possible is vital. Pellets provide a consistent health regeneration effect, which can be useful for mitigating chip damage. Divine Confetti is not crucial for Genichiro but can make certain other encounters easier should you choose to backtrack.

Understanding Genichiro’s Attack Patterns

While not strictly something you do before the fight, watching videos or reading guides about Genichiro’s attack patterns can drastically improve your performance. Knowing when to deflect, when to dodge, and when to attack is critical for breaking his posture and ultimately defeating him. Recognizing his perilous attacks and reacting accordingly is especially important.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Preparing for Genichiro

Here are some common questions players have before facing Genichiro:

What’s the minimum vitality I should have before fighting Genichiro? Aim for at least four Prayer Necklaces, providing a decent amount of health. More is always better, of course.
Is the Mikiri Counter skill absolutely necessary? While not technically required, it makes the fight significantly easier. Genichiro frequently uses thrust attacks, and the Mikiri Counter punishes him severely, dealing massive posture damage. It is strongly recommended.
Which Prosthetic Tools are most effective against Genichiro? The Loaded Shuriken (especially the Spinning Shuriken) for interrupting his bow attacks and the Flame Vent for burning him are particularly effective. The Loaded Axe can break his guard with precise timing. Experiment to find what works best for you.
Where can I find more Prayer Beads before fighting Genichiro? Revisit areas like Ashina Outskirts, Hirata Estate, and the surrounding areas of Ashina Castle. Look for hidden paths, miniboss encounters, and areas you may have missed previously.
How do I effectively farm experience points? Find an area with relatively weak enemies that you can quickly defeat without taking much damage. Repeat the process of defeating them and resting at an Idol. The area around the Outskirts Wall – Stairway Idol in Ashina Outskirts is a popular early-game farming spot.
Should I upgrade my attack power before fighting Genichiro? Increasing your attack power is always beneficial. Defeat mini-bosses like Chained Ogre, General Naomori Kawarada, and General Tenzen Yamauchi to acquire Memories, which can be used to boost your attack power.
Is it worth using Divine Confetti on Genichiro? No, Genichiro is not a spectral enemy and does not require Divine Confetti. Save your Divine Confetti for other encounters.
What’s the best strategy for dealing with Genichiro’s bow attacks? Deflect them if you’re close enough, or use the Loaded Shuriken to interrupt him before he can fire.
How important is posture management in the Genichiro fight? Extremely important. Focus on deflecting his attacks perfectly to fill his posture bar quickly. Avoid getting your own posture broken, as it leaves you vulnerable to attack.
What’s the deal with Genichiro’s lightning attacks in the final phase? When Genichiro uses lightning attacks, jump in the air and press the attack button just before you get hit to “lightning reverse” the attack, sending the lightning back at him. This deals massive damage.
Is it possible to cheese Genichiro? While there might be some minor exploits, they are generally unreliable and not recommended. It’s better to learn the fight and defeat him legitimately.
What Combat Arts are most useful in the Genichiro fight? Ichimonji Double is a strong option for dealing posture damage, and Breath of Life: Light can provide additional healing on deathblows. Experiment to see what fits your playstyle.
Should I explore Hirata Estate completely before Genichiro? Yes, exploring Hirata Estate provides valuable resources, including a Prayer Bead and the Flame Vent Prosthetic Tool. It also provides more combat experience, making you a stronger player.
I keep getting overwhelmed by Genichiro’s attacks. What should I do? Focus on learning his attack patterns and practicing perfect deflections. Don’t be afraid to block when you’re unsure, but prioritize deflecting to build his posture damage. Remember to be aggressive and keep the pressure on him.
Is there a specific item I should bring to the fight besides Healing Gourds and Pellets? Pacifying Agent can be helpful if you’re struggling with terror buildup from other enemies in Ashina Castle, allowing you to focus on Genichiro without worrying about getting terrorized before the fight. However, it is not essential for the fight itself.

Final Thoughts: Patience and Persistence are Key

Genichiro is a challenging but ultimately fair boss. By taking the time to prepare adequately, hone your skills, and understand his attack patterns, you’ll significantly increase your chances of victory. Don’t get discouraged by early defeats; learn from your mistakes and keep practicing. Overcoming Genichiro is a rewarding experience and a crucial step in your journey through Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Good luck, Wolf!