Locations, How to Unlock, Spirit Emblem Costs, and Pros & Cons Breakdown for Every Technique
In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Combat Arts are special equipped sword techniques, while Ninjutsu Techniques are powerful follow-up moves executed after backstab Deathblows. Master every art with this complete guide!
When & Where: Early Game — Unlocked in the Shinobi Arts Skill Tree (given by Sculptor at Dilapidated Temple after earning 1st Skill Point).
How to Get: Spend 1 Skill Point in Shinobi Arts tree.
Best Used For: Group crowd control; deals chip damage through enemy blocks.
Free (0 Emblems); fast 360-degree double spin; deals chip vitality damage through guard.
Low posture damage against heavy bosses; leaves back exposed if surrounded.
When & Where: Unlocked in Shinobi Arts Skill Tree.
How to Get: Spend 2 Skill Points (Nightjar Slash) / 3 Skill Points (Reversal upgrade).
Best Used For: Closing distance rapidly or leaping backward after striking.
0 Spirit Emblem cost; excellent gap-closer to punish retreating enemies; Reversal allows hit-and-run tactics.
Low posture damage; easily parried by deflecting bosses.
When & Where: Late Shinobi Arts Tree.
How to Get: Spend 6 Skill Points for Shadowrush (Secret Technique). Spend 9 Skill Points in Mushin Tree for Shadowfall upgrade.
Best Used For: Piercing heavy thrust attack that vaults Wolf into the air for follow-up plunge attacks.
Un-blockable long-range thrust; vaults Wolf into air to avoid ground sweeps; massive posture damage.
Can be Mikiri Countered by Shinobi bosses (like Great Shinobi Owl!); costs 2 Emblems.
When & Where: Early to Mid Game — Ashina Arts Skill Tree (Given by Tengu of Ashina past Gyoubu arena after "Rat" hunt quest).
How to Get: Spend 2 Skill Points (Ichimonji) / 3 Skill Points (Ichimonji: Double).
Best Used For: Heavy overhead strike that deals huge posture damage AND instantly recovers your own posture!
0 Spirit Emblems; single best posture recovery tool in game; massive posture damage on enemies; interrupts enemy wind-ups.
Slow overhead charging animation; requires sidestep or stun opening to land safely.
When & Where: Late Ashina Arts Tree.
How to Get: Spend 5 Skill Points (Ashina Arts Secret Technique).
Best Used For: Lightning-fast double-sheath iaijutsu strike for burst vitality damage.
Ultra-fast double slash; deals high vitality damage through guard; stylish quick-draw execution.
Requires holding sheath stance; costs 2 Emblems; high skill point investment.
When & Where: Mid Game — Temple Arts Skill Tree (Esoteric Text found in small shrine near Main Hall in Senpou Temple).
How to Get: Spend 2 Skill Points (Praying Strikes) / 3 Skill Points (Exorcism).
Best Used For: Unarmed elbow and shoulder strikes that prevent enemy counter-attacks.
0 Emblems; instant wind-up; prevents enemies from deflecting back; safe posture pressure.
Deals almost zero vitality damage; short melee range.
When & Where: Late Temple Arts Tree.
How to Get: Spend 3 Skill Points (Leaping Kicks) / 4 Skill Points (High Monk).
Best Used For: The ultimate counter against enemy perilous sweep attacks!
0 Emblems; deal colossal posture damage when jumping over perilous sweeps; continuous kick combo.
Sub-optimal if used on grounded non-sweeping enemies.
When & Where: Mid Game — Senpou Temple Inner Sanctum.
How to Get: Automatically unlocked upon drawing the Mortal Blade from the Divine Child (Requires defeating Genichiro Ashina and Screen Monkeys). Upgrade in Mushin tree.
Best Used For: Massive un-blockable dark slash dealing huge vitality and posture damage to all enemies and bosses (even works with 0 Spirit Emblems!).
Highest vitality & posture damage in the entire game; pierces guards completely; usable even when out of Spirit Emblems.
High 3 Emblem cost; long charging animation; leaves Wolf immobile during swing.
When & Where: Hirata Estate / Fountainhead Palace Pot Nobles.
How to Get: Buy Floating Passage text from Pot Noble Harunaga for 5 Carp Scales. Buy Spiral Cloud Passage text from Pot Noble Koremori for 9 Carp Scales.
Best Used For: Rapid 5-slash flurry that deals continuous chip damage through enemy guard.
Floating Passage costs 0 Emblems; continuous pressure combo; deals guaranteed chip damage.
Easily deflected by late-game boss masters; Spiral Cloud costs 9 Carp Scales + 5 Emblems.
When & Where: Endgame — Final Boss Reward.
How to Get: Automatically awarded upon defeating Sword Saint Isshin in Ashina Reservoir field.
Best Used For: High-speed long-range vacuum shockwave blade beam.
Extreme range blade beam; massive vitality damage; charges up for secondary shockwave burst.
Requires complete game completion; 2 Emblem cost; long charge-up.
When & Where: Shura Ending Boss Reward.
How to Get: Automatically awarded upon defeating Isshin Ashina on Ashina Castle rooftop (Shura ending).
Best Used For: Rapid iaijutsu sheath slash followed by a storm of invisible blade cuts.
Immense multi-hit blade storm; stuns bosses in place; huge posture buildup.
Exclusive to Shura ending; costs 3 Emblems; long sheath animation.
When & Where: Mid Game — Ashina Castle Top Floor.
How to Get: Automatically awarded upon defeating Genichiro Ashina (3 phases) on Ashina Castle rooftop.
How to Trigger: Execute a backstab Deathblow, then press R1 / RB / Attack again.
Best Used For: Creates a massive cloud of blood fog that blinds all surrounding enemies, enabling instant chain stealth Deathblows in group fights.
Instantly resets stealth mid-combat; allows backstabbing multiple tough guards in seconds; huge area radius.
High 6 Emblem cost; requires an initial backstab Deathblow setup.
When & Where: Mid Game — Senpou Temple (Halls of Illusion).
How to Get: Automatically awarded upon defeating the Folding Screen Monkeys (Requires Genichiro defeat to ring bell!).
How to Trigger: Execute a backstab Deathblow, then press R1 / RB / Attack again.
Best Used For: Mind-controlling enemies to turn them into temporary allies who fight for you (Mandatory for Senpou kite crank & Sunken Valley cave serpent monkey!).
Turns strong mob enemies into distraction tanks; required for Great Serpent plunge quest; lasts 45 seconds.
Costs 5 Emblems; mind-controlled ally can accidentally block your path.
When & Where: Mid to Late Game — Ashina Depths (Poison Pool Burrow).
How to Get: Automatically awarded upon defeating the Headless Ape & Brown Mate duo in Ashina Depths.
How to Trigger: Execute a backstab Deathblow, then press R1 / RB / Attack again.
Best Used For: Coats Kusabimaru in blood, drastically extending your sword's strike range and dealing extra vitality/posture damage for 30 seconds.
Doubles katana strike reach; pierces guard with bonus blood damage; lasts 30 seconds across all sword attacks.
Highest emblem cost (7 Emblems); requires initial backstab setup.
| Technique | Type | Unlock Source | Emblem Cost | Top Pro | Top Con |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ichimonji: Double | Combat Art | Ashina Arts Tree (Tengu Quest) | 0 | Recovers own posture while crushing enemy | Slow charging wind-up |
| Mortal Draw | Combat Art | Inner Sanctum (Mortal Blade) | 3 | Highest damage in game; usable at 0 Emblems | 3 Emblem cost & immobile swing |
| High Monk | Combat Art | Temple Arts Tree | 0 | Melts posture on perilous sweep jumps | Low utility on non-sweep moves |
| Whirlwind Slash | Combat Art | Shinobi Arts Tree | 0 | Fast 360-degree double chip spin | Low posture damage vs bosses |
| Bloodsmoke | Ninjutsu | Genichiro Ashina Boss Drop | 6 | Blinds groups for chain stealth kills | 6 Emblem cost |
| Puppeteer | Ninjutsu | Screen Monkeys Boss Drop | 5 | Mind-controls enemies into ally tanks | 5 Emblem cost |
| Bestowal | Ninjutsu | Headless Ape Duo Boss Drop | 7 | Doubles sword reach & blood damage | 7 Emblem cost |