HOW DO I GET BETTER AT THIS GAME #sekiro

Hey fellow shinobi! If you're anything like me, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice probably kicked your butt at first. I remember feeling so frustrated, wondering how anyone could 'get good' at this game. But trust me, with a few crucial shifts in mindset and strategy, you can absolutely conquer it. I'm sharing my personal journey and the tips that turned the tide for me! 1. Master the Deflect, Don't Just Dodge This is perhaps the single most important lesson. Coming from other Souls games, my instinct was always to dodge, but Sekiro rewards aggressive deflecting. When you successfully deflect an enemy's attack, it deals significant posture damage to them, often opening them up for a Deathblow. It took me ages to unlearn my Dark Souls habits, but once I committed to the deflect, everything clicked. Practice against weaker enemies or in the Dilapidated Temple with Hanbei the Undying until it becomes second nature. 2. Aggression is Your Best Defense Unlike other FromSoftware titles where patience and waiting for openings are key, Sekiro often rewards relentless aggression. Keeping pressure on your opponent prevents their posture bar from recovering. I used to play too passively, and it consistently led to my demise. Pushing forward, even when it felt scary, often yielded better results, especially against bosses. 3. Utilize Your Shinobi Tools & Combat Arts Don't just rely on your katana! Your Shinobi Prosthetic Tools and Combat Arts are incredibly powerful and often situational game-changers. For instance, the Loaded Axe can break shields with ease, while the Shuriken is great for knocking aerial enemies down. Playing around with different tools in my Inventory and adjusting my Options for quick-swapping made a huge difference in versatility. Experiment with them; they can provide crucial openings or deal extra damage when you need it most. 4. Understand Posture and Vitality Sekiro has two 'health' bars to manage: Vitality (HP) and Posture. While chipping away at Vitality is always an option, breaking an enemy's posture is often the faster path to a Deathblow. I initially focused too much on Vitality, but realizing that posture damage was often the quicker kill, especially against bosses, changed my whole approach. Boosting my Attack Power felt great, but understanding the posture mechanic was the real secret. Some enemies are more vulnerable to posture damage, others to direct Vitality damage – learn the difference. 5. Explore and Use Consumables Sekiro is filled with incredibly useful consumables. Your Healing Gourd is your primary healing source, but don't hoard items like Divine Confetti, Ako's Sugar, or Gokan's Sugar. These temporary buffs can dramatically swing a tough boss fight in your favor. I used to save them 'for later' and then never use them! They're meant to be used, especially on bosses. Always keep an eye on your Healing Gourd charges and remember you can upgrade it. 6. Embrace Death and Learn from it (Also, "Unseen Aid") Death is a fundamental part of Sekiro. You will die, a lot. But each death is a learning opportunity. Pay attention to enemy attack patterns, learn their tells, and figure out the best timing for deflects and counter-attacks. Don't let the 'Locked' feeling get to you. The game even has a mechanic called Unseen Aid to soften the blow of dying by preventing loss of experience and money, so it's clear the developers expect you to die. Use each failure to refine your strategy. 7. Skill Point Allocation & Practice As you defeat enemies and bosses, you'll earn experience to gain Skill Points. Invest these points wisely in skills that complement your playstyle. Whether it's enhancing your Combat Arts, improving your posture recovery, or gaining new passive abilities, skills can significantly impact your effectiveness. I found that investing in certain active skills and passive buffs really smoothed out some of the harder encounters. Keep an eye on your to next Skill progress and make sure to unlock powerful abilities. Practice makes perfect, and each xt Skill Point felt like a small victory. Sekiro is tough, but incredibly rewarding. These tips aren't magic bullets, but they were my personal turning points that helped me finally "get good" at this masterpiece. Keep practicing, stay aggressive, and you'll be a master shinobi in no time!