Sekiro: Defeating Genichiro Ashina For New Players

Hey guys! So, you're new to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and you've made it to Genichiro Ashina? Awesome! But also… oh boy. Genichiro is often the first major skill check in the game, a point where many players, even seasoned veterans of FromSoftware titles, find themselves stuck. Don't worry, you're definitely not alone! He's designed to push you to truly understand the game's core mechanics: deflecting, posture breaking, and utilizing your tools effectively. This guide is here to help you break down the fight, learn the strategies, and ultimately, overcome this challenging boss. We'll go through his attack patterns, effective strategies, and some general tips to improve your Sekiro skills. Trust me, beating Genichiro is a huge step forward, and it’ll feel amazing when you finally do it. You got this!

Understanding Genichiro: More Than Just a Boss

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the fight, let's talk about why Genichiro is such a roadblock. He's not just a tough enemy; he's a teacher. He forces you to learn the fundamental combat system of Sekiro, which is vastly different from other action games or even FromSoftware's previous titles like Dark Souls or Bloodborne. In Sekiro, aggressive play and precise timing are key. Forget dodging around enemies and chipping away at their health bars. Here, you need to meet force with force, deflecting attacks to break their posture and create an opening for a Shinobi Execution.

Genichiro is a master of both swordplay and the bow, switching seamlessly between the two. This means you need to be able to react to a variety of attacks, from fast sword slashes to perilous thrusts and sweeps. He also utilizes the lightning of Tomoe in his final phase, adding another layer of complexity to the fight. But don't be intimidated! Each of his attacks has a tell, a specific animation or sound cue that signals what he's about to do. Learning these tells is crucial for successful deflections and counterattacks. Think of this fight as a dance: you're learning the steps, anticipating your opponent's moves, and responding with precision. This isn't about memorizing a sequence; it's about understanding the rhythm of the fight. By the end of this encounter, you'll have a much deeper understanding of Sekiro's combat and be well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. So, let's break down the fight into phases and discuss how to handle each one.

Phase 1: The Sword Saint's Disciple

The first phase of the Genichiro fight is a test of your basic swordplay skills. He'll use a mix of standard sword attacks, perilous attacks (thrusts and sweeps), and the occasional quickdraw. The key here is to aggressively deflect his attacks. Don't try to dodge too much in this phase; deflecting builds up his posture much faster, and it gives you opportunities to counterattack. When Genichiro attacks, you want to meet his blade with yours, timing your deflects perfectly to create a spark and a distinct clash sound. This means you've successfully deflected the attack, and it won't damage you or break your posture. In fact, successful deflects will damage Genichiro's posture. Pay close attention to his movements. He often chains several attacks together, so be ready to deflect multiple times in quick succession. Don't get greedy with your own attacks. After a successful deflection, you might get one or two hits in, but then be ready to deflect again. Overextending will leave you vulnerable. Look out for his perilous attacks. He has both a thrust and a sweep attack in this phase. The thrust attack is telegraphed by a long wind-up and a glint of light on his blade. You can counter this with a Mikiri Counter by pressing the dodge button (usually Circle or B) towards him just as he thrusts. This deals significant posture damage. The sweep attack is indicated by him crouching low to the ground. You can jump and then press the jump button again in mid-air to perform a jump kick, which also deals posture damage and avoids the sweep. Mastering these counters is essential for this fight and for the rest of the game. Also, don't forget to use your combat art. The Ichimonji Double combat art is particularly effective in this phase. It deals significant posture damage and can stagger Genichiro, giving you a breather. Use it when you have an opening, but don't rely on it exclusively. The key to this phase is aggression and precise deflections. Stay on the offensive, deflect his attacks, counter his perilous attacks, and chip away at his posture. Once his posture bar is full, you can perform a Shinobi Execution to move on to the next phase.

Phase 2: The Bow and the Blade

Phase two is where Genichiro really starts to mix things up. He'll still use his sword, but he'll also incorporate his bow and arrow into his attacks. This phase requires you to be more adaptable and pay close attention to his positioning. He often starts this phase by leaping backwards and firing a volley of arrows at you. You can deflect these arrows, but it's often easier to dodge them by sprinting to the side. Just be mindful of your stamina. After firing the arrows, he'll often close the distance quickly and attack with his sword. Be ready to deflect these attacks just like in the first phase. He'll also use a powerful leaping attack in this phase, which can be difficult to deflect if you're not prepared for it. The key is to watch for the wind-up and deflect just as he lands. If you mistime the deflect, you can also dodge to the side to avoid the attack, but deflecting is the preferred option as it will open him up for a counterattack. One of the most important things to watch out for in this phase is his perilous thrust attack. He telegraphs this attack clearly, giving you a good opportunity to perform a Mikiri Counter. Don't miss it! A successful Mikiri Counter will deal massive posture damage and bring you closer to breaking his posture. He also has a perilous sweep attack in this phase, which is similar to the one in phase one. Remember to jump kick to avoid it and deal posture damage. The mix of ranged and melee attacks in this phase can be overwhelming at first, but the key is to stay aggressive and close the distance. Don't give him too much space to use his bow effectively. Deflect his sword attacks, dodge his arrows, counter his perilous attacks, and keep chipping away at his posture. Just like in phase one, once his posture bar is full, you can perform a Shinobi Execution to move on to the final, and arguably the most challenging, phase.

Phase 3: Way of Tomoe (Lightning!)

Alright, guys, this is it! The final phase, and Genichiro pulls out all the stops. He sheds his armor, becomes much more aggressive, and most importantly, gains the ability to use lightning attacks. This phase can be intimidating, but it's also incredibly rewarding once you learn how to handle it. The lightning attacks are the key to victory in this phase. Genichiro will charge himself with lightning and then unleash it either through a sword attack or by leaping into the air and firing it down at you. If you get hit by the lightning, you'll be stunned and take a lot of damage. However, there's a trick to using the lightning against him. When Genichiro is charged with lightning, you can jump into the air just as he unleashes the attack and get hit by the lightning yourself. While in the air and charged with lightning, quickly press the attack button to redirect the lightning back at Genichiro. This will deal massive damage to his health and posture, and it will also stun him, giving you a huge opening for follow-up attacks. This is called the Lightning Reversal, and it's essential for beating this phase. Timing the Lightning Reversal can be tricky at first, but with practice, you'll get the hang of it. The key is to jump into the air just before the lightning hits you and then quickly press the attack button. If you do it correctly, you'll see a visual cue and hear a distinct sound effect. If you're struggling with the timing, try practicing it a few times without attacking Genichiro. Just focus on getting the Lightning Reversal down. Besides the lightning attacks, Genichiro will also use a mix of sword attacks and perilous attacks in this phase. His sword attacks are generally faster and more aggressive than in the previous phases, so you need to be even more precise with your deflections. His perilous attacks include both thrusts and sweeps, so be ready to Mikiri Counter or jump kick accordingly. The best strategy for this phase is to bait out his lightning attacks and then use the Lightning Reversal to deal massive damage. In between lightning attacks, focus on deflecting his sword attacks and countering his perilous attacks. Don't get greedy with your own attacks; focus on staying alive and waiting for the next opportunity to use the Lightning Reversal. This phase is all about patience and timing. Once you master the Lightning Reversal, you'll be able to defeat Genichiro and move on to the next challenges in Sekiro. Remember, you've come this far, and you're capable of overcoming this hurdle. Keep practicing, stay focused, and you'll beat him eventually! You got this!

General Tips for the Genichiro Fight (and Sekiro in General)

Okay, so we've talked about each phase of the fight, but let's zoom out and discuss some general tips that will help you not only against Genichiro but throughout your entire Sekiro playthrough. These are the kinds of things that, once they click, will make you a much more effective shinobi. First and foremost, practice your deflections. I can't stress this enough. Deflecting is the most important skill in Sekiro, and the Genichiro fight is designed to make you master it. Go back to easier enemies and practice deflecting their attacks until it becomes second nature. Learn the timing, learn the visual cues, and learn to trust your reflexes. The more comfortable you are with deflecting, the easier every fight in the game will become. Secondly, use your healing gourd wisely. You only have a limited number of uses, so don't waste them. Try to heal when you have some distance from Genichiro, or after you've successfully performed a Mikiri Counter or Lightning Reversal. If you try to heal in the middle of his attack chain, you'll likely get hit and waste your healing. Thirdly, don't be afraid to use your prosthetic tools. The Shuriken is particularly effective in this fight. You can use it to interrupt his attacks, close the distance quickly, or deal a small amount of vitality damage. The Firecrackers can also be useful for creating openings, but be careful not to overuse them, as Genichiro will eventually adapt and become resistant. Fourthly, pay attention to your posture. Both yours and Genichiro's. If your posture bar fills up, you'll be stunned and vulnerable to attack. Try to avoid getting your posture broken by deflecting attacks, using the Loaded Umbrella prosthetic tool, or backing away to let it recover. Conversely, focus on breaking Genichiro's posture. Deflecting his attacks, countering his perilous attacks, and using combat arts are all effective ways to build up his posture. Finally, don't give up! Genichiro is a tough boss, but he's also a fair boss. He's designed to test your skills and push you to improve. If you're struggling, don't get discouraged. Take a break, watch some videos, read some guides, and then come back and try again. Every time you fight him, you'll learn something new, and you'll get a little bit better. And when you finally beat him, the feeling of accomplishment will be incredible.

Mastering Sekiro's Combat: Beyond Genichiro

Defeating Genichiro is a significant milestone in Sekiro, but it's just the beginning of your journey. The skills you've learned in this fight will be essential for overcoming the challenges that lie ahead. The relentless aggression, the precise deflections, the counters to perilous attacks – these are the cornerstones of Sekiro's combat system. As you progress through the game, you'll encounter new enemies, new bosses, and new challenges that will test your skills in different ways. You'll need to learn new techniques, master new prosthetic tools, and adapt your strategies to each situation. The key is to keep learning, keep practicing, and keep pushing yourself. Don't be afraid to experiment with different approaches, try new combat arts, and explore the world around you. Sekiro is a game that rewards curiosity and persistence. And remember, you're not alone on this journey. The Sekiro community is full of helpful players who are willing to share their tips, tricks, and strategies. Don't hesitate to reach out for help if you're struggling. So, congratulations on making it this far! You've overcome one of the biggest hurdles in Sekiro, and you're well on your way to becoming a master shinobi. Keep fighting, keep learning, and keep exploring. The world of Sekiro is waiting for you.