Sekiro All 4 Endings Master Guide

Welcome to the master endings guide for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice! There are a total of four distinct narrative endings: Shura, Immortal Severance, Purification, and Return (Dragon's Homecoming).

Summary Table of All Endings

Ending Name	Rooftop Choice	Required Final Key Items to Give Kuro
1. Shura (Bad Ending)	Obey the Iron Code	None (Concludes early on rooftop)
2. Immortal Severance	Stay Loyal to Kuro	Divine Dragon's Tears
3. Purification	Stay Loyal to Kuro	Divine Dragon's Tears + Aromatic Flower
4. Return (Homecoming)	Stay Loyal to Kuro	Divine Dragon's Tears + Frozen Tears

What Paths Open AFTER Defeating Great Shinobi Owl?

Once you select "Break the Iron Code, Stay Loyal to Kuro" and defeat Great Shinobi Owl on the Ashina Castle rooftop, the game opens into 3 distinct branching paths that can be pursued in parallel:

Detailed Key Item Acquisition Guide

If you are aiming for the Purification or Return endings, you must collect these specific items. All items below must be obtained BEFORE defeating the Divine Dragon!

Key Item (Ending)	When You Can Get It	How to Get It	When You Should Get It
Father's Bell Charm (Purification)	After defeating Great Shinobi Owl	Eavesdrop on Kuro, speak to Emma at Old Grave and Dilapidated Temple, then eavesdrop on her and the Sculptor.	Immediately after defeating Great Shinobi Owl on the rooftop.
Aromatic Flower (Purification)	After receiving Father's Bell Charm	Pray at the Buddha statue in the Dilapidated Temple to enter Hirata Estate Memory II, then defeat Owl (Father).	Any time before the Divine Dragon, ideally when you want a challenge and +1 Attack Power.
Holy Chapter: Infested (Return)	Any time after reaching Senpou Temple	Given by the High Priest in the Main Hall (before Genichiro), or found underwater in the Temple pond (after Genichiro).	As soon as you reach Senpou Temple.
Holy Chapter: Dragon's Return (Return)	After Divine Child falls ill and moves to Halls of Illusion	Found inside the dark cave near the Senpou Main Hall idol, next to the skeleton of the High Priest.	After giving the Divine Child the first Holy Chapter and a Persimmon.
Fresh Serpent Viscera (Return)	After acquiring Puppeteer Ninjutsu (Screen Monkeys)	Use Puppeteer on the kite rat at Senpou, grapple across, drop down, and plunge-attack the Great Serpent.	Any time after getting Puppeteer Ninjutsu.
Dried Serpent Viscera (Return)	After reaching Sunken Valley (Poison Pool)	Distract the serpent with Puppeteer Ninjutsu on the monkey, then run into the shrine it was guarding.	While exploring the Sunken Valley, before or after the Guardian Ape.
Frozen Tears (Return)	After giving both Viscera to the Divine Child	Eavesdrop on the Divine Child eating the Viscera, rest, then speak to her.	Immediately after acquiring both Viscera, to lock in the Return ending early.

1. Shura (The Early Bad Ending)

This is the short, dark conclusion to the game. It locks you out of Fountainhead Palace and ~35% of all Prayer Beads and upgrade materials.

1. Step 1: Ascend Ashina Castle rooftop during the siege and interact with Great Shinobi Owl.
2. Step 2: Select dialogue choice: "Obey the Iron Code, Forsake Kuro".
3. Step 3: Defeat Emma, the Physician (Phase 1) and Isshin Ashina (Phase 2 & 3) back-to-back on the rooftop.
4. Step 4: The campaign ends immediately with the Shura ending cutscene and trophy/achievement!

2. Immortal Severance (The Standard Ending)

This is the default main story conclusion requiring no secret quest steps.

1. Step 1: On Ashina Castle rooftop, select dialogue choice: "Break the Iron Code, Stay Loyal to Kuro".
2. Step 2: Defeat Great Shinobi Owl on the rooftop.
3. Step 3: Progress through Fountainhead Palace and defeat the Divine Dragon to receive the Divine Dragon's Tears.
4. Step 4: Complete the final boss fight against Genichiro, Way of Tomoe & Sword Saint Isshin in Ashina Reservoir.
5. Step 5: Interact with Lord Kuro on the ground and present Divine Dragon's Tears only.

3. Purification (Secret Boss & Aromatic Flower Ending)

This path unlocks Hirata Estate Memory II, two exclusive Prayer Beads (#33 & #34), and the secret boss fight against Owl (Father). All steps MUST be completed BEFORE defeating the Divine Dragon!

1. Eavesdrop on Kuro: After defeating Great Shinobi Owl, rest at Kuro's Room idol. Stand behind the paper screen partition wall in Kuro's room and eavesdrop until he says "...do what must be done."
2. Talk to Emma Upstairs: Speak with Emma at the top of the stairs in Kuro's room. Agree that Kuro must be saved.
3. Rest & Re-speak: Rest at the idol, speak to Emma again to receive Tomoe's Note.
4. Old Grave Meeting: Fast travel to Old Grave idol in Ashina Castle. Speak to Emma beside the gravestones.
5. Dilapidated Temple Eavesdrop: Travel to Dilapidated Temple, move behind the building, and eavesdrop on Emma and the Sculptor through the hole in the paper wall.
6. Claim Father's Bell Charm: Enter the temple, confront Emma about what you overheard, and receive the Father's Bell Charm (Key Item).
7. Hirata Estate Memory II: Pray at the Buddha statue in Dilapidated Temple to enter Hirata Estate II. Defeat Lone Shadow Masanaga (Prayer Bead #33) and Juzou the Drunkard II (Prayer Bead #34).
8. Defeat Owl (Father): Enter the basement audience chamber and defeat Owl (Father) to claim the Aromatic Flower (Key Item)!
9. Final Choice: At the end of the game (post-Sword Saint Isshin), interact with Lord Kuro and present Divine Dragon's Tears + Aromatic Flower.

4. Return / Dragon's Homecoming (Secret True Ending)

This is the complex "true" ending requiring ritual interactions with the Divine Child of Rejuvenation. All steps MUST be completed BEFORE defeating the Divine Dragon!

1. Holy Chapter Infested: Acquire Holy Chapter: Infested (given by Main Hall monk before Genichiro, or underwater in Senpou pond after Genichiro) and hand it to the Divine Child in the Inner Sanctum.
2. Rice & Persimmon Ritual: Request Rice 3 times until she falls ill. Feed her a Persimmon (purchased from Shugendo Mob merchant for 30 Sen). Receive Rice for Kuro.
3. Deliver Rice to Kuro: Give the rice to Lord Kuro in his room. Rest, and he will make Sweet Rice Balls. Eat one in front of him.
4. Halls of Illusion Meeting: Return to the Divine Child, then meet her in the Halls of Illusion.
5. Holy Chapter Dragon's Return: Dive into the dark cave pool near Senpou Main Hall to retrieve Holy Chapter: Dragon's Return. Hand it to the Divine Child.
6. Collect Fresh Serpent Viscera: Use Puppeteer Ninjutsu on the kite monk at Senpou Temple entrance to raise the kite. Grapple across the mountain, drop into Sunken Valley cavern, and execute a sky plunge Deathblow on the Great Serpent to get the Fresh Serpent Viscera.
7. Collect Dried Serpent Viscera: Travel to the toxic cave at the bottom of Sunken Valley (near Poison Pool). Use Puppeteer Ninjutsu on the monkey on the ledge to distract the serpent, then snatch the Dried Serpent Viscera inside the shrine.
8. Receive Frozen Tears: Hand both Viscera to the Divine Child. Rest, eavesdrop on her eating them, rest again, and receive the Frozen Tears (Key Item)!
9. Final Choice: At the end of the game (post-Sword Saint Isshin), interact with Lord Kuro and present Divine Dragon's Tears + Frozen Tears.

Tactics & Strategy Warning: Click to Reveal Secret Boss & Ending Tactics

Father's Bell Secret Boss: Owl (Father) in Hirata II memory is significantly faster than Great Shinobi Owl. Jump sideways over his spectral fire owl attack in Phase 2, then immediately perform a Mikiri Counter into his follow-up thrust for massive posture damage.

Story Spoiler Warning: Click to Reveal Narrative Outcomes

Purification Outcome: Wolf sacrifices himself using the Mortal Blade so Lord Kuro can live as a normal mortal man.

Return Outcome: Kuro's soul is cradled inside the Divine Child as Wolf and the Divine Child journey west to the birthplace of the Divine Dragon.