7 Essential Things to Do First

This guide highlights seven essential tasks to complete when you first begin your journey in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Following these steps will give you a massive advantage in the early game, securing powerful skills and equipment to survive the outskirts.

1. Unlock the Mikiri Counter Immediately

This should be the very first skill you buy. It costs 1 Skill Point from the Shinobi Arts tree.

• Why: Thrust attacks from bosses and spear-wielding guards deal massive posture damage if they hit you. The Mikiri Counter allows you to stomp their weapon, completely nullifying the threat and dealing huge posture damage back.

2. Speak with Hanbei the Undying

You can find Hanbei standing to the right of the Dilapidated Temple, near the training area.

• Why: Hanbei is a practice dummy that cannot die. Use him to practice thrust counters, sweep jumps, deflect timings, and dodge counters. It's the best way to train your muscle memory without any penalty for dying.

3. Visit Hirata Estate Early

Get the Young Lord's Bell Charm from the old lady in the ruined building in Ashina Outskirts. Pray at the golden Buddha statue inside the Dilapidated Temple to travel back 3 years. See Walkthrough Act 1: Hirata Estate Part 1.

• Why: Hirata Estate holds essential early-game prosthetic tools like the Flame Vent and Loaded Axe. Collecting these early will make fighting the Chained Ogre and shield-bearing bandits in Ashina Outskirts much easier.

4. Purchase the Shinobi Firecracker

Climb the tall rock hill near the gatehouse in Ashina Outskirts to find the Crow's Bed Memorial Mob merchant. Buy the Robert's Firecrackers tool for 500 Sen. See Walkthrough Act 1: Ashina Outskirts Part 1.

• Why: The Firecracker tool stuns beasts (horses, bulls, apes) and human enemies. It is essential for interrupting heavy attacks and giving you time to heal.

5. Find the First Two Gourd Seeds

Upgrading your Healing Gourd is vital for sustaining yourself during boss duels.

• First Seed: Defeat General Naomori Kawarada (first mini-boss in Ashina Outskirts). See Walkthrough Act 1: Ashina Outskirts Part 1.
• Second Seed: Found inside a chest in the gatehouse building right after defeating the Chained Ogre. See Walkthrough Act 1: Ashina Outskirts Part 2.

6. Help Tengu of Ashina Hunt "Rats"

After defeating Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa, enter the tower at the far side of the arena. Talk to the Tengu of Ashina and accept his request to kill the "rats." Defeat the small assassin guards near the Ashina Castle gate, then return to Tengu. See Walkthrough Act 1: Ashina Outskirts Part 2.

• Why: Tengu rewards you with the **Ashina Esoteric Text**, unlocking the Ashina Arts skill tree. This tree contains the Ichimonji and passive deflect buffs, which are some of the best skills in the game.

7. Buy Coin Purses from Merchants

Whenever you have extra gold and are not ready to buy upgrades, purchase Coin Purses from any Memorial Mob merchant.

• Why: Dying completely takes away 50% of your loose gold. However, gold stored in purchased Coin Purses is 100% safe. It acts as an early-game banking system.

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