Sekiro’s Shura Ending: The Price of Loyalty to Owl
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So, you’ve reached the pivotal moment in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. You stand before Owl, your adoptive father, and are faced with an ultimatum: uphold the Iron Code and forsake Lord Kuro, or break it and remain loyal to him. You chose to side with Owl. What happens now?
Simply put, siding with Owl in Sekiro locks you into the Shura ending, the game’s “bad” conclusion. This immediately cuts off access to the majority of the game’s content and alternative endings. The game immediately confronts you with two boss fights: Emma, the Gentle Blade, and Isshin Ashina. Upon defeating them, the credits roll, and your playthrough ends abruptly. You’re effectively skipping the latter half of the game, including many of the optional areas, bosses, and story beats that lead to the other, more fulfilling conclusions. Your character, Wolf, succumbs to his inner bloodlust and becomes Shura, a demon of pure violence.
Choosing this path means forfeiting the chance to explore the full scope of Sekiro’s world and unravel its complex narrative. The Shura ending is the fastest way to “beat” the game, but it’s considered the least satisfying and leaves a lot of the story unresolved. It also locks you out of obtaining certain key items, including Lazulite, an upgrade material for your prosthetic tools.
The Downward Spiral to Shura
Siding with Owl triggers a chain of events that starkly contrasts with the other ending paths. While the other endings focus on protecting Kuro and severing the immortality curse, choosing the Iron Code initiates Wolf’s descent into darkness.
After making your choice, Emma will confront you, expressing her disappointment and attempting to stop you from betraying Kuro. This results in a boss fight against Emma, the Gentle Blade. Following her defeat, Isshin Ashina, driven by his own twisted sense of ambition and a desire to see Ashina rise to power again, confronts you. This leads to a second, more challenging boss battle.
Successfully defeating both Emma and Isshin solidifies Wolf’s transformation into Shura. He fully embraces the bloodshed, forsaking his duty and compassion. The ending cinematic depicts Wolf, consumed by his inner demon, surveying the burning ruins of Ashina Castle, his humanity lost forever.
The Consequences of Choosing Owl
The consequences of choosing the Shura ending extend beyond just the immediate story implications. This choice dramatically affects:
- Gameplay: You miss out on a significant portion of the game’s content, including new areas, bosses, and upgrades.
- Story: You completely alter the narrative’s trajectory, leading to a tragic and unsatisfying conclusion. You won’t understand the full depth of Kuro’s burden, the Divine Heir’s role, or the complexities of the immortality curse.
- Character Development: Wolf’s character arc is cut short, preventing him from growing and evolving beyond his initial role as a shinobi.
- Replayability: While Sekiro offers multiple endings, choosing the Shura ending on your first playthrough can diminish the overall experience, as you won’t get to see the other, more rewarding conclusions.
Avoiding the Shura Ending
If you’re aiming for any of the other endings (Immortal Severance, Purification, or Return), you must choose to break the Iron Code and stay loyal to Kuro. This will allow you to progress through the rest of the game and unlock the requirements for each specific ending.
To ensure you’re on the right path, always prioritize protecting Kuro and upholding your oath. Explore all dialogue options carefully and pay attention to the consequences of your choices. Consulting a reliable guide (like this one!) can help you navigate the branching paths and avoid accidentally triggering the Shura ending. If you want to learn more about gaming and society, you should visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
FAQs: The Shura Ending Deconstructed
1. Is the Shura ending considered the “bad” ending?
Yes, the Shura ending is generally considered the “bad” ending in Sekiro. It is a tragic conclusion where Wolf succumbs to bloodlust and loses his humanity.
2. How many bosses do I have to fight to get the Shura ending?
After siding with Owl, you must defeat two bosses: Emma, the Gentle Blade, and Isshin Ashina.
3. Does choosing the Shura ending lock me out of other endings?
Yes, choosing the Shura ending immediately locks you out of the other three endings: Immortal Severance, Purification, and Return.
4. Can I still get all the achievements/trophies if I get the Shura ending first?
No. To unlock all the achievements and trophies, you will need to experience the other endings. That is why it is better to get the Shura ending on a subsequent playthrough if you want all the achievements and trophies.
5. What are the prerequisites for the Shura ending besides siding with Owl?
There are no specific prerequisites for the Shura ending beyond making the choice to side with Owl when prompted. You simply need to reach the point in the story where you’ve collected the essential items for ending the immortality plague.
6. Is Emma a difficult boss in the Shura ending?
Emma is a relatively quick and agile boss. Her attacks can be tricky to deflect, but with proper timing and aggression, she can be defeated relatively easily. Many find Isshin Ashina to be the greater challenge.
7. Is Isshin Ashina the same as Sword Saint Isshin?
No, Isshin Ashina is a different form of Isshin. He wields fire-based attacks and is more aggressive than his Sword Saint counterpart.
8. What happens to Kuro if I choose the Shura ending?
Wolf obeys his master one last time, taking Kuro’s life.
9. Can I reverse my decision if I accidentally choose to side with Owl?
Unfortunately, no. Once you make the choice to side with Owl, the game will proceed down the Shura ending path. There is no way to undo this decision in the same playthrough.
10. What’s the significance of the Iron Code?
The Iron Code represents the absolute obedience and loyalty expected of a shinobi towards their master. By siding with Owl, Wolf is adhering to this code, even at the expense of his own values and relationships.
11. Does the Shura ending provide any unique items or rewards?
No, the Shura ending does not provide any unique items or rewards that cannot be obtained in other playthroughs.
12. Is the Shura ending canon?
Whether the Shura ending is considered “canon” is a matter of interpretation. It’s one of the possible outcomes of the story, but it’s generally considered the least desirable and narratively fulfilling.
13. Does the Shura ending affect New Game Plus?
The Shura ending allows you to carry over your items, skills, and prosthetic upgrades into New Game Plus, just like the other endings.
14. How does the Shura ending tie into the lore of Sekiro?
The Shura ending explores the theme of unchecked violence and the consequences of succumbing to inner darkness. It highlights the dangers of blindly following orders without questioning their morality. The Shura ending also makes you appreciate the narrative of all the other possible endings.
15. Are there any benefits to getting the Shura ending?
The only benefit is that it is the fastest way to see the credits roll in Sekiro. It also provides a stark contrast to the other endings, highlighting the importance of making the “right” choices and remaining loyal to Kuro. Getting this ending also helps you better prepare for the other endings, because you can use what you know about bosses, weapons, and items.