Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition

Preparation (Optional)
This is the first major boss fight in the game but before starting here are a few suggestions, which are completely optional, however they will make life easier. If you just want to go to the fight, skip to the The fight section below or to the 2 minute mark in the video.

- Shinobi Firecracker Prosthetic Tool: It's useful to have this tool to scare the boss' horse and allow you to get a few extra hits in. It's located in Ashina Outskirts on a hill, just after the fight with General Naomori Kawarada. This location is difficult to describe but it's in the video. You need to purchase Robert's Firecrackers from the Crow's Bed Memorial Mob and take it back to the Sculptor to fit but bear in mind you will need 500 Sen.

- Ugrading your health: You can do this by collecting four prayer beads from defeated mini-bosses. To get mine I killed:
1) General Naomori Kawarada
2) The Chained Ogre
3) The Shinobi Hunter Enshin of Misen
4) Juzou the Drunkard
There's a hidden prayer bead immediately after Juzou the Drunkard in the Hirata Audience Chamber, so you can get away with killing three bosses for your first health upgrade. I've shown the location in the video.

- Healing Gourds: As well as upgrading your health, I would also suggest getting some extra Healing Gourds. You'll get one after defeating General Naomori Kawarada and another in the room above the wall after beating the Chained Ogre.

- Grappling Hook Attack and Medicine Potency: The final stage of preparation is to buy the grappling hook attack skill and to upgrade your healing items with Emma's Medicine Potency skill. These are both in the Prosthetic Arts tree.

The fight
So, with all the preparation complete, here are some tips for the actual fight:

- As soon as the boss appears lock onto him by clicking the right stick and then attack him immediately - you can get 5/6 free hits before he starts attacking you.

- Try to stay close, it's all about getting the boss' posture bar in the center full and then going for a finisher. If you move too far away, his posture reduces and you'll have to fill the bar again. So focus on countering and chipping away his health but keep up the pressure.

- When he moves away, if a green triangle appears above him, use the grappling hook to pull yourself to his position and get a couple of hits in, then counter. Although if you see him start to swing a chain you might find it safer to move back out of range until the attack finishes.

- Try not to get too greedy with the hits, get a couple in and then counter his inevitable attack. It's very easy to be overwhelmed but if you counter and then get a few hits in you'll eventually wear him down.

- Pace yourself, this is a two stage fight but both parts are identical so you can use the same tactics. Keep an eye on your health and if you do die, as I did, resurrect as quickly as possible and begin attacking again. If you delay the boss' posture bar will reduce and you'll have to work on it again.

- Use the Shinobi Firecracker Prosthetic Tool to scare the horse, then move in and attack for some easy hits but beware he does counter quite quickly.

This fight took a long time to get the hang of but once it clicked, I could get him almost to the end of his second health bar regularly. Not to say this is an easy fight, it isn't but it is doable and it's quick if done correctly. I've consistently managed to get this to around 4 minutes.

There is a simple method to this tough boss

As soon as the battle starts run to him, lock on and hit him 6 times. Immediately hold block. Dont deflect just hold block. After a few attacks he will thrust his spear and it will get stuck in the ground. Hit him 3 times and immediately block. You know his spear is stuck as it kicks up lots of dust.

Rinse and repeat.

If your posture bar is high jump back and maintain a distance. Hold block down and this quickly drains your posture meter. As you are a distance away if you notice the grapple sign above his head. Grapple and hit him 3 times. Then hold block.

In this video guide I will show you how to defeat Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa. You will get to him after you encounter the big white snake. Then go through some more enemies and jump over a wall into an open field. A few helpful things to use would be the fireworks found available to buy from the memorial mob and the grappling hook attack found in the prosthetic arts skill page. Once past the snake just check in with the sculptor and it should be available then. A memorial mob can be found in the very beginning pf the game on top of a large rock structure next to the old lady who gives you the bell. Use the grappling hook attack when the prompt is available and if you think you have time to throw down some fireworks, go ahead and get a few extra hits. Otherwise if he is not giving you the option to use the grapple hook throw some fireworks down but make sure he is close enough to get the stun. If you can counter the strikes he throws at you even better to break his posture. If not when he charges just hold the block button and then try some fireworks and wait for the grapple hook prompt. It will take awhile but repeat until he is dead.

I found one of the easiest ways to deal with him, is to keep at a healthy distance, and mostly abuse the grapple and the fire cracker prosthetic. You can also parry the first slash as he's running at you since it's the easiest to help chip at the poise.