Welcome back! Tracking down all 40 Prayer Beads is an absolute marathon, but it is the ultimate way to prep your shinobi for the endgame. Collecting four Prayer Beads allows you to craft a Prayer Necklace at any Sculptor's Idol, permanently upgrading your maximum Vitality and Posture.

Mechanic Summary: Prayer Beads are primarily dropped by mini-bosses. Others are hidden in secret chests behind illusion walls, submerged underwater, or sold by specific merchants. Here is the exact breakdown for all 40 Prayer Beads across 12 game progression regions.

1. Ashina Outskirts (5 Beads)

General Naomori Kawarada: Dropped upon defeating this mini-boss near the Outskirts Wall - Gate Path.
Chained Ogre: Dropped upon defeating this mini-boss at the Outskirts Wall - Stairway.
General Tenzen Yamauchi: Dropped by this mini-boss in the courtyard immediately after the Chained Ogre.
Tengu of Ashina's Attic: After defeating main boss Gyoubu Oniwa, enter the building where you meet the Tengu. Grapple up the wooden rafters to find a chest at the very top.
Blazing Bull: Dropped upon defeating this beast mini-boss just before the Ashina Castle Gate.

2. Hirata Estate - First Visit (3 Beads)

Shinobi Hunter Enshin of Misen: Dropped by the spear-wielding mini-boss at Bamboo Thicket Slope. See Hirata Estate Complete Guide.
Juzou the Drunkard: Dropped by the poison-spitting mini-boss in the Main Hall courtyard.
Audience Chamber Secret Room: In the hallway patrolled by a bandit and archer near the Hirata Audience Chamber idol, press yourself against the wall with the hanging scroll to reveal a hidden Shinobi room with a chest.

3. Ashina Castle - First Visit (5 Beads)

General Kuranosuke Matsumoto: Dropped by the mini-boss at the top of the main stairs leading into the castle.
Lone Shadow Longswordsman: Dropped by the mini-boss in the starting well located in Ashina Reservoir.
Seven Ashina Spears - Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi: Dropped by the mini-boss stationed at Moon-view Tower in Ashina Reservoir.
Upper Tower Secret Room: From the Upper Tower - Antechamber idol, enter the room with two blue-robed samurai. Hug the wall directly between the two suits of armor to reveal a secret room with a chest.
Ashina Elite - Jinsuke Saze: Dropped by the fast-striking mini-boss in the Ashina Dojo.

4. Abandoned Dungeon (1 Bead)

Dungeon Memorial Mob: Purchase this bead for 1,400 Sen from the merchant located in a tent inside the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance.

5. Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo (3 Beads)

Armored Warrior: Dropped by the heavy knight you must push off the bridge at Shugendo.
Long-arm Centipede Sen-Un: Dropped by the clawed mini-boss waiting in the Temple Grounds building.
Temple Grounds Pond: Requires the Mibu Breathing Technique. Dive to the bottom of the pond near the Temple Grounds idol.

6. Sunken Valley (4 Beads)

Snake Eyes Shirafuji: Dropped by the gun-wielding mini-boss near the Sunken Valley idol.
Long-arm Centipede Giraffe: Dropped by the flurry-attacking mini-boss inside the Gun Fort.
Under the Gun Fort Cavern: Drop through the hole in the floorboards after Giraffe. Navigate the dark cavern path with your grapple to find the bead surrounded by poison geckos.
Under-Shrine Valley Pyramids: From Under-Shrine Valley idol, backtrack and grapple across the chasm to a hidden area filled with small grave pyramids.

7. Ashina Depths - First Visit (6 Beads)

Snake Eyes Shirahagi: Dropped by the mini-boss located in the Poison Pool.
Poison Pool Giant Buddha: Grapple up to the top of the giant Buddha statue's head in the Poison Pool area.
Tokujiro the Glutton: Dropped by the drunkard-style mini-boss hiding in the Hidden Forest.
O'Rin of the Water: Dropped by the ghostly musical mini-boss just before Mibu Village.
Mibu Village Lake: Requires Mibu Breathing Technique. Dive into the large lake in Mibu Village to find a submerged chest.
Mibu Village Priest's Attic: Climb under the floorboards of the house at the end of Mibu Village. Use the revolving shinobi door to enter the attic.

8. Ashina Castle - Shinobi Invasion (3 Beads)

(Appears after collecting Lotus of the Palace, Shelter Stone, and Mortal Blade)

Chained Ogre (Rematch): Jump down to the bottom floor from Upper Tower - Antechamber. Defeat the captive ogre below.
Lone Shadow Vilehand: Dropped by the poison-ninja mini-boss waiting in the Ashina Dojo.
Lone Shadow Masanaga the Spear-Bearer: Dropped by the mini-boss accompanied by wolves at the Great Serpent Shrine.

9. Ashina Depths - Ape Rematch (2 Beads)

Headless Guardian Ape (Duo): Defeat Guardian Ape in Sunken Valley, then travel to the cavern between Poison Pool and Hidden Forest. Defeating the Headless Ape and his brown mate drops two beads at once.

10. Hirata Estate - Second Memory (2 Beads)

(Requires following the Purification ending path. See All Endings Guide)

Lone Shadow Masanaga (Rematch): Dropped by the mini-boss standing in the fiery courtyard where Owl was originally dying.
Juzou the Drunkard (Rematch): Dropped by Juzou, who has returned to the Main Hall courtyard.

11. Fountainhead Palace (3 Beads)

(Requires staying loyal to Kuro on the rooftop)

Sakura Bull of the Palace: Dropped by the cherry-blossom bull found behind the Flower Viewing Stage.
Okami Leader Shizu: Dropped by the lightning-throwing mini-boss sitting on the massive Sakura tree branch.
Great Carp Lake: Dive to the bottom of the lake near the underwater Headless to find a chest inside a giant fish skeleton.

12. Ashina Castle - Set Ablaze (3 Beads)

(Endgame state after defeating the Divine Dragon)

Seven Ashina Spears - Shume Masaji Oniwa: Dropped by the mini-boss standing near the burning Ashina Reservoir.
Shigekichi of the Red Guard: Dropped by the armor-clad drunkard mini-boss in Ashina Outskirts (where the first Chained Ogre was).
Ujinari Mizou: From Ashina Dojo idol, go downstairs and slash through the paper wall at the base of the stairs to find a secret red-eyed mini-boss.

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