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Ashina Castle

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition guide · Infiltrating the castle tower to confront Genichiro Ashina ✓ Checked against sources

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The Wolf ascends from the outer rooftops into the heart of Ashina Castle to rescue Lord Kuro from Genichiro Ashina. Navigating through the Upper Tower requires slipping past elite samurai and specialized ninjas patrolling hallways, attics, and dojo floors. The route culminates at the Castle Tower Lookout, where defeating Genichiro in a climactic duel unlocks the path toward severing immortality.

Achievements here

Revered BladeMeet Lord Kuro inside the Moon-viewing Tower in the prologue reservoir, where he bestows your katana upon you.

Genichiro AshinaAscend to the roof of Ashina Castle and conquer Genichiro across both combat phases.

Achievement guide and roadmap →

Items

0/5

Upper Tower - Antechamber: Gourd SeedUpper Tower - Antechamber, inside a chest in the room containing the Sculptor's IdolSabimaru: Ground level at the bottom of the central vertical drop from the Antechamber, located in an ornate chestPrayer Bead: Upper Tower - Antechamber, inside a treasure chest behind a hidden shinobi revolving wallImmortal Severance Text: Handed directly by Lord Kuro inside Upper Tower - Kuro's Room after Genichiro is defeated

Key fights

Ashina Elite - Jinsuke Saze

Enemies: Ashina Elite - Jinsuke Saze

Threats: Ashina Cross draw attack dealing heavy vitality and chip damage even through regular blocks, low sweep perilous attack

Weaknesses and resistances: Consecutive rapid deflections, Loaded Umbrella

Tactics: Tap deflect twice in rapid succession as soon as his sheath flashes with white light to deflect both hits of his Ashina Cross, causing catastrophic posture damage to him in just two rotations

Rewards: Prayer Bead

Genichiro Ashina / Genichiro, Way of Tomoe

Enemies: Genichiro Ashina

Threats: Rapid bow snipes, multi-hit sword flurry, jump slam followed by thrust or sweep perilous attacks, and lightning-infused thrusts and bow shots in the final phase

Weaknesses and resistances: Mikiri Counter for thrusts, jumping over sweeps, Lightning Reversal for lightning attacks

Tactics: Remain aggressively glued to him to force deflect cycles; Mikiri Counter his jump thrust in phase one, watch for his sweep in phase two, and jump into the air to catch and redirect his lightning before landing in the Tomoe phase

Rewards: Memory: Genichiro, Bloodsmoke Ninjutsu

Enemies

Ashina Samurai (Blue Robe)

Weak to Deflecting consecutive sword swings rapidly builds their posture

Formidable swordsmen patrolling the Upper Tower who hit hard but are prone to backstab stealth deathblows.

Tips

When fighting Genichiro in his final Way of Tomoe phase, wait for him to leap into the air with lightning, jump up to get struck midair, and press the basic attack button before touching the ground to perform a Lightning Reversal that stuns him and deals massive posture damage.

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Hirata Estate

Abandoned Dungeon

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Sources checked: ign.com, steamcommunity.com, fextralife.com, reddit.com, pushsquare.com, gamewith.net, gamespot.com