For players diving into New Game Plus or aiming for specific achievements in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, efficient progression is key. This guide outlines a swift route, prioritizing speed and essential boss encounters to get you through the game quickly. This path is optimized for experienced players familiar with Sekiro’s mechanics and level layouts, focusing on bypassing unnecessary areas and enemies.
Early Game Rush to Genichiro
Begin by immediately heading towards Ashina Castle. After defeating Gyoubu Oniwa, grapple your way up to Ashina Castle Gate Fortress and sprint past enemies towards the Upper Tower – Antechamber Idol. Your first major objective is Genichiro Ashina atop Ashina Castle. This early confrontation is crucial as it unlocks further progression paths within the game.
Senpou Temple – Blade Acquisition
Following Genichiro’s defeat, make your way to Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo. This area is essential for acquiring the Mortal Blade. Focus on reaching the Inner Sanctum Idol, navigating past minimal enemies, including Armored Warrior and Folding Screen Monkeys encounters. Obtaining the Mortal Blade from the Divine Child of Rejuvenation in Senpou Temple is necessary to unlock key areas later in the game.
Sunken Valley Passage – Stone Retrieval
Next, proceed to the Sunken Valley Passage. Your goal here is to obtain the Shelter Stone. Travel through the Gun Fort, bypassing most enemies to reach the Bodhisattva Valley Idol. From there, backtrack slightly to access the Sunken Valley Depths via the snake cave entrance near the Bodhisattva Valley. Acquire the Shelter Stone from the Corrupted Monk in Mibu Village. Getting the stone before the flower allows you to skip the Headless Ape’s second phase later, streamlining the process.
Post-Ape Ashina Castle Infiltration
With the Shelter Stone in hand, teleport back to the Bodhisattva Valley Idol and defeat the Guardian Ape. Upon its defeat, idols in Ashina Castle will become unusable. Utilize the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance Idol and grapple back towards the Upper Tower – Antechamber. Navigate through the Ashina Castle dojo area, defeating Lone Shadow Longswordsman and Seven Ashina Spears Shikibu Toshikatsu. Proceed through the window in the dojo to reach the upper Ashina Castle levels.
Final Bosses
From the upper levels of Ashina Castle, you are now positioned to face the final bosses required for the Shura ending or to progress towards other endings by completing Fountainhead Palace and Hirata Estate (though Hirata is skipped in this fastest route). This streamlined path efficiently guides you to the game’s conclusion, ideal for subsequent playthroughs.
This progression guide prioritizes speed and essential items. For a first playthrough, exploring Hirata Estate and fully exploring areas for prayer beads and gourd seeds is highly recommended to enhance your character’s abilities. However, for repeat playthroughs focused on speed or achievements, this route offers the most direct path to Sekiro’s endgame.
