BEATING GENICHIRO AFTER 20+ ATTEMPTS!

Okay, Sekiro fam, let's talk about Genichiro Ashina. Seriously, this guy almost made me uninstall the game! My original post was just a short celebration, but I've had so many people ask about how I finally managed it, especially after my '20+ attempts' ordeal, so I wanted to share more of my experience and what finally clicked for me. This boss fight is a true test of everything Sekiro teaches you: deflecting, dodging, and finding those critical openings. For me, it was a three-phase nightmare, each one ramping up the pressure. Phase 1: Way of Tomoe He starts off relatively straightforward, but don't get complacent! His flurry attacks are fast, and you need to get your deflect timing down ASAP. My biggest mistake here was trying to be too aggressive. Genichiro punishes greed. Focus on parrying his combos, especially that leaping thrust – it’s a perfect opportunity for a Mikiri Counter. When he uses his bow, don’t just block; try to deflect the arrows back to build his posture. Patience is key in this phase. Building his posture is much more reliable than chipping away at his health. Phase 2: More Aggressive Way of Tomoe He keeps his moves from Phase 1 but adds new, more dangerous attacks. The biggest addition is his 'floating passage' combo – it's relentless! You have to deflect almost every single hit to build his posture. He also gets a piercing attack that you must Mikiri. If you miss it, you're in for a world of pain. I found staying close and constantly deflecting was the best approach. Running away just gives him space to use his bow, which can be annoying to deal with. Phase 3: Way of Tomoe, Lightning of Tomoe This is where things get real, and where most of my '20+ attempts' came from! Genichiro starts using his lightning attacks, specifically the 'Lightning of Tomoe'. This is intimidating, but it’s actually your biggest opportunity for damage if you master the "Lightning Reversal." When you see the Kanji warning and he jumps into the air, prepare for it. Jump yourself, press attack just before the lightning hits you, and you'll send it right back at him, stunning him and dealing massive damage. It takes practice, but once you get the timing, it turns the tide of the fight. Seriously, practice that Lightning Reversal! If you miss, you get shocked and open to his follow-up. Don't panic roll away; jump and be ready to reverse. He also gets a new perilous sweep attack here, which means you need to jump over it and punish him. General Tips That Saved Me: Spirit Emblems: I found the 'Ashina Cross' combat art useful for quick damage when he was vulnerable, but preserving emblems for the 'Chasing Slice' after a deflect felt more impactful. Healing: Don't be afraid to use your gourd! Look for openings after deflecting a big combo or after a successful Lightning Reversal. Posture vs. Vitality: For Genichiro, I focused almost entirely on building posture. His health bar is tough to chip down effectively, but his posture breaks relatively quickly if you're consistently deflecting. Charms: The Mortal Draw combat art is also very powerful if you have the emblems, especially in phase 2 and 3 when he's more aggressive and creates more openings after specific moves. Don't Give Up: It truly felt impossible for a while. Every time I died, I tried to learn one small thing. What attack got me? What could I have done differently? That incremental learning was what eventually led to my epic win. That feeling of finally seeing "Shinobi Execution" pop up after so many tries? Absolutely priceless. I hope this extended guide helps anyone else struggling with this legendary boss. Keep at it, Sekiro is all about perseverance!