Guides / Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

Ashina Castle (Shinobi Invasion)

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition guide · Returning after acquiring the ingredients to confront the Great Shinobi Owl ✓ Checked against sources

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Ashina Castle enters a dusk state after collecting the key quest items, locking all castle Sculptor's Idols and forcing entry through the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance. Interior Ministry forces and rogue shinobi occupy the fortress in conflict with the surviving Ashina defenders. Wolf must scale the tower to reach the roof where the Great Shinobi Owl awaits for an encounter that dictates the game's branching storylines.

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Prayer Bead: Dropped upon defeating Lone Shadow Masanaga the Spear-Bearer outside the Great Serpent ShrineYellow Gunpowder: Dropped alongside a Prayer Bead by Lone Shadow Masanaga the Spear-Bearer at the Great Serpent ShrineAromatic Branch: Obtained by defeating the Great Shinobi Owl atop the castle tower after choosing to remain loyal to KuroMemory: Great Shinobi Owl: Awarded immediately upon defeating the Great Shinobi OwlMemory: Isshin Ashina: Awarded along with the One Mind combat art by siding with Owl and defeating Emma and Isshin Ashina

Achievements here

Great Shinobi - Owl MissableChoose to break the Iron Code and remain loyal to Kuro on the castle roof, then defeat your foster father.

Isshin Ashina MissableChoose to obey the Iron Code and abandon Kuro when speaking to Owl atop Ashina Castle, then defeat Emma and Isshin Ashina.

Shura MissableChoose to obey the Iron Code when prompted by Owl atop Ashina Castle and defeat Emma and Isshin Ashina to reach the Shura ending.

Achievement guide and roadmap →

Items

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Prayer Bead: Dropped upon defeating the Chained Ogre chained at the ground floor of the Upper Tower - AntechamberPrayer Bead: Dropped upon defeating Lone Shadow Vilehand in the Ashina Dojo

Secrets

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A back entrance behind the Great Serpent Shrine allows you to sneak behind Lone Shadow Masanaga the Spear-Bearer to execute a stealth Deathblow before standard combat begins.

Key fights

Great Shinobi Owl

Enemies: Great Shinobi Owl

Threats: Firecrackers, anti-healing Lloyd-style smoke orbs, wide-cleaving slashes, shuriken throws, and executing Mikiri Counters against Wolf's thrusts

Weaknesses and resistances: Susceptible to vitality vitality chipping after deflecting heavy jumping strikes and vulnerable to dodge counters

Tactics: Avoid using thrust attacks, dodge through his jumping flip slash to punish his recovery, and step away from his healing-prevention smoke canisters

Rewards: Memory: Great Shinobi Owl, Aromatic Branch

Lone Shadow Vilehand

Enemies: Lone Shadow Vilehand and a Lone Shadow minion

Threats: High-speed sweeping kicks, heavy sword combos, and poison-coated unarmed strikes

Weaknesses and resistances: Mikiri Counter against the perilous thrust kick

Tactics: Use Puppeteer Ninjutsu on the bystander ninja to turn the fight into a two-on-one duel, then prioritize deflecting combos and countering the final thrust kick

Rewards: Prayer Bead, Lump of Fat Wax

Lone Shadow Masanaga the Spear-Bearer

Enemies: Lone Shadow Masanaga the Spear-Bearer

Threats: Rapid consecutive kicks, poison buildup, and aggressive sweeping slashes

Weaknesses and resistances: Mikiri Counter against perilous thrust kick

Tactics: Clear the nearby hounds beforehand, initiate the fight with a stealth Deathblow from the shrine's rear, and cure poison with Antidote Powder

Rewards: Prayer Bead, Yellow Gunpowder

Enemies

Lone Shadow Shinobi

Weak to Deflection and Mikiri Counter against thrust kicksSteal / drop Pellets and Ministry upgrade items

Deadly assassins allied with the Interior Ministry that utilize rapid sword slashes, sweeping kicks, and heavy poise.

Chained Ogre

Weak to Fire and Flame Vent

A secondary ogre trapped inside the lower ground floor of the castle tower that breaks free when approached.

Not listed for this area: shops and people.

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Ashina Depths

Hirata Estate (Father's Memory)

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Sources checked: ign.com, samurai-gamers.com, youtube.com, gamewith.net, psu.com