To defeat Genichiro Ashina in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, prioritize learning his attack patterns and perfecting your deflection timing. Use quick attacks to break his posture and follow up with punishing blows. Utilize your abilities like Mikiri Counter and lightning reversal to gain an advantage and emerge victorious in this challenging boss fight.
Understanding the Enemy
Genichiro Ashina is a formidable opponent in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. To beat him, you first need to understand his attack patterns and behavior. Genichiro has three main phases with distinct move sets in each phase. In the first phase, he primarily uses sword attacks and a bow to shoot arrows. In the second phase, he introduces lightning attacks, and in the final phase, he becomes even more aggressive and agile.
Combat Strategies
During the first phase, focus on parrying his sword attacks to build up his posture meter. Only attack when you see openings, as Genichiro can easily punish reckless aggression. You can also use Mikiri Counter to deal posture damage when he thrusts his spear. Additionally, keep an eye on his bow attacks and use the environment to block them. In the second phase, be prepared to jump and counter his lightning attacks to deal significant damage to him instead of dodging them.
Enhancing Your Abilities
Before facing Genichiro, make sure you have upgraded your character and unlocked essential skills. Enhancing your vitality and posture will give you more survivability during the fight. Skills like Mikiri Counter, Ichimonji, and Shinobi Eyes can also be incredibly useful in dealing damage and breaking Genichiro's posture. Furthermore, upgrading your prosthetic tools and using items like Divine Confetti and Snap Seeds can give you an advantage in the battle.
Environmental Awareness
Utilize the environment to your advantage when fighting Genichiro. The top of Ashina Castle offers a large space for maneuvering, ideal for dodging his attacks and creating distance when needed. You can also use pillars and trees to block his bow attacks and create openings to strike back. Furthermore, the cliffs can be used strategically to perform deathblows and gain an advantage in the fight.
Patience and Persistence
Be patient and persistent when facing Genichiro. Learning his move patterns and mastering your timing is crucial in defeating him. Take the time to study his attacks and find opportunities to counteract them effectively. It may take several attempts to grasp his mechanics fully, but each try will bring you closer to victory. Stay calm, focus on your defense, and seize the right moments to attack to overcome this challenging boss.