Combat Arts: Choosing Your Style — Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Guide
As the loyal Wolf, you command an array of combat arts and ninjutsu techniques, with the grappling hook being crucial for navigation. Sekiro's open areas are rich with item drops, NPCs, secret passages, and hidden lore, and the prosthetic tool facilitates vertical traversal. Curiosity, however, comes with its own risks in this FromSoftware title.
As a shinobi, you gain skill points through combat experience. You have two primary skill trees: Shinobi Arts and Prosthetic Arts. Shinobi Arts focuses on stealth tactics and essential abilities like Mid-Air Deflections and Mikiri Counters. Prosthetic Arts, conversely, tailors your prosthetic tools to different playstyles, supporting both stealth and direct combat.
Other Arts can be discovered in the world, and there is a separate tree dedicated to upgrading and modifying your prosthetic tools. Investing in these is valuable as they expand your arsenal against various enemy types. Sekiro's enemies employ diverse tactics, and skill trees provide counter-options.
You will encounter NPCs such as mysterious doctors, noble warriors, information brokers, and overgrown monks. Engaging in conversation can lead to side quests and quest rewards. While you can attack some NPCs, it is generally advised against, as their dialogue can permanently alter your playstyle.
To earn the Master of the Arts Achievement, you must grasp the inner mysteries of any combat style. The Tengu of Ashina, found at the Great Serpent Shrine, will ask if you have learned any secret techniques, referring to unlocking the Final Art of any Arts Tree. Focus your Skill Points to achieve a Final Art for this achievement.
The available skill trees include:
- Shinobi Arts
- Prosthetic Arts
- Ashina Arts
- Temple Arts
- Mushin Arts
- Ninjitsu Techniques
Near the Sculptor’s Idol, up a snowy path, you can find Hanbei the Undying. He offers to be your training partner, opening "Training" and "Talk" options. He explains his "undying" nature due to an infection and points out the Offering Box, a system for recovering lost items. Hanbei can be killed with the Mortal Blade, dropping the Hidden Tooth.